Page 66
Story: Starlight Wishes
JEN
I OPENED THEoven door and slid in my chicken crepes in cheese sauce. The chunks of bread and Swiss cheese were ready in the oven proof bowls for the French onion soup that was simmering on the stove top. I wiped my hands on my apron and slid the neck loop over my head. Tyler should be here soon. He was going to come over after his workout at the gym to help me pack up some of my belongings, and I had promised to feed him. Not like I needed to negotiate feeding him; I had been his main source of food for the past few weeks. I had been beyond thrilled when he asked me to move in with him. It was only making it official; I spent most of my time over at his house anyway.
My phone rang, and I grabbed at it, hoping it was Tyler telling me he was on his way. Instead, it was a number I didn’t recognize. “Hello?” I was greeted with silence, and then a ‘click’ disconnecting the call.Rude. You could at least apologize for interrupting me.
The table was set, so all that was left to do was open the wine and then wait for Tyler. Deciding he shouldn’t be much longer, I retrieved the chilled Chardonnay from the fridge. I had just reached for the corkscrew when I heard my front door open and close.Perfect timing!
“I’m in the kitchen, Doc. I can’t wait for you to try . . .”
Tan arms slid around me and pulled me back against a warm chest. Only I was met by the smell of stale cigarettes instead of the citrusy smell I’d grown used to. I twisted around and tried to step away to avoid the disgusting smell. “Ew, Tyler, where have you—”
My heart rose to my throat, threatening to choke me. His hair was a bit more ragged and longer, and it was dark instead of the usual dirty blond I’d known. There was a new scar about an inch long along his left temple. But I’d know that face anywhere.
“Hello, Jennifer.” His voice sounded calm and in control, but his eyes were so cold it sent shivers down my spine.
“M . . . Mark. What are you doing here? How did you get in here?”
He sneered. “As usual, you underestimate my abilities.”
I tried to slip out of his arms, but his grip tightened. “Let me go, Mark.”
He laughed, a maniacal sound that would make a horror film producer proud. “I told you once I’d never let you go. And so I’m back.”
“Just go, Mark. My boyfriend will be home soon.”
He appeared genuinely amused by my statement. His grin, however, was sinister. “Ahh, the boyfriend. His stepmother was a wealth of information about him. She’s a pretty good fuck, by the way, but not as good as you.” His body pressed me into the counter from behind, and I could tell my fear turned him on. “I still remember how you called my name as I made you come. You can’t deny that, can you? And now you’re giving yourself to someone else. I don’t like that,” he whispered in my ear.
“As for the boyfriend, I’ve arranged a little decoy for him. We’ve got plenty of time, just you and me.” He ran his knuckles down my cheek. I jerked away, but he grabbed me by the hair and pulled hard, creating sharp tingles of pain where strands of hair pulled from my scalp. “I remember when you liked my touch. You remember that, don’t you, Jen? How much you enjoyed it when we made love? And then you had to go and ruin what we had. You chose your friends over me. You made me hurt you, do you remember? I didn’t want to do that, but you left me no choice. I loved you. You should have chosen me.”
Despite the pain, I twisted in his arms, feeling some of my hair pull loose even as I managed to jerk one arm free. “I would never choose someone who lies to me, Mark. I did love you until I learned how you manipulated me. That’s not love. That’s control. And now I know the difference.”
He moved forward until I was trapped between his body and the kitchen counter. “Well guess who’s in control again, Jennifer? This time, I’m not losing you. No matter what I have to do.” He bent his head to start kissing me as one hand groped at my chest. I tried to turn my head, but he grabbed my jaw and held my head in place and pinched my breast hard. I whimpered in pain, but at least my arms were free.
His menacing glare had meant business. I had absolutely no idea just how far he was willing to go, but I knew this time I wasn’t going without a fight. My free hand reached for anything behind me, but my cleaning habit hadn’t left much on the counter except a towel. I stretched just a little further and found the side of the pot that held the hot soup. Ignoring the burning pain, I grabbed the side of the pot and flung it in the direction of Mark. Scalding liquid splattered over both of us, but mostly him. The pot slipping uselessly to the ground from my burnt fingers, but it was enough to get him to release me. He clutched his face. Through his fingers, I could see his face turning red from the heat. I shoved him as hard as I could, desperation and adrenaline fueling my strength.
“You little bitch,” he howled.
I managed to dart around him and had almost reached the living room when he caught my hair once again and dragged me backward, back into the kitchen. He bent me forward over the countertop and shoved my face into the hard laminate. My forehead hit so hard my ears rang and all I could see was bright spots of white in the darkness. He stretched my arms above my head on the counter and held them in one hand. Tears of fear and pain ran down my cheeks. “Please, Mark. Don’t do this,” I cried.
Mark jerked my head up. A glint of silver caught my attention as Mark held a knife to my face. “Your fancy boyfriend isn’t going to want you if you’re all messed up, is he? He’s only into pretty faces. When I’m done, nobody will want you anymore.”
Oh, God, please help me!
He released my hands between us and undid the snap at my shorts and began to push them down. I wriggled and tried to kick, but he slammed my head onto the countertop again. Shock and pain stilled my movements and waves of dizziness swept through my head.
“Maybe I’ll just have you one more time before I mark you up.” He chuckled, an evil sound that sent chills up my spine. “Get it?Markyou up? I told you, you’ll always be mine.”
I didn’t trust Mark would let me survive to name him as the one responsible. All I could think of was Tyler. I didn’t want him to find my lifeless body, cut and bloody. I was just about to pass out. Maybe that would be for the best. Maybe it would be less painful.
‘You’re so strong, kitten. Stronger than you know. You’re a survivor. Dream big, sweetheart. I love you.’
Tyler’s words resonated in my head. From the corner of my eye, I could see the starfish he gave me on the beach, propped up on the counter next to the stove. I treasured it, a reminder of everything Tyler believed about me, and helped me to believe about myself. Mark was wrong. Tyler loved me and would always fight for me. I needed to fight for him. I reached toward the starfish. I felt Mark undo his belt and heard his zipper and felt him poke against my bare skin. I took a breath and braced myself for what was to come.
Tyler, I love you.
I OPENED THEoven door and slid in my chicken crepes in cheese sauce. The chunks of bread and Swiss cheese were ready in the oven proof bowls for the French onion soup that was simmering on the stove top. I wiped my hands on my apron and slid the neck loop over my head. Tyler should be here soon. He was going to come over after his workout at the gym to help me pack up some of my belongings, and I had promised to feed him. Not like I needed to negotiate feeding him; I had been his main source of food for the past few weeks. I had been beyond thrilled when he asked me to move in with him. It was only making it official; I spent most of my time over at his house anyway.
My phone rang, and I grabbed at it, hoping it was Tyler telling me he was on his way. Instead, it was a number I didn’t recognize. “Hello?” I was greeted with silence, and then a ‘click’ disconnecting the call.Rude. You could at least apologize for interrupting me.
The table was set, so all that was left to do was open the wine and then wait for Tyler. Deciding he shouldn’t be much longer, I retrieved the chilled Chardonnay from the fridge. I had just reached for the corkscrew when I heard my front door open and close.Perfect timing!
“I’m in the kitchen, Doc. I can’t wait for you to try . . .”
Tan arms slid around me and pulled me back against a warm chest. Only I was met by the smell of stale cigarettes instead of the citrusy smell I’d grown used to. I twisted around and tried to step away to avoid the disgusting smell. “Ew, Tyler, where have you—”
My heart rose to my throat, threatening to choke me. His hair was a bit more ragged and longer, and it was dark instead of the usual dirty blond I’d known. There was a new scar about an inch long along his left temple. But I’d know that face anywhere.
“Hello, Jennifer.” His voice sounded calm and in control, but his eyes were so cold it sent shivers down my spine.
“M . . . Mark. What are you doing here? How did you get in here?”
He sneered. “As usual, you underestimate my abilities.”
I tried to slip out of his arms, but his grip tightened. “Let me go, Mark.”
He laughed, a maniacal sound that would make a horror film producer proud. “I told you once I’d never let you go. And so I’m back.”
“Just go, Mark. My boyfriend will be home soon.”
He appeared genuinely amused by my statement. His grin, however, was sinister. “Ahh, the boyfriend. His stepmother was a wealth of information about him. She’s a pretty good fuck, by the way, but not as good as you.” His body pressed me into the counter from behind, and I could tell my fear turned him on. “I still remember how you called my name as I made you come. You can’t deny that, can you? And now you’re giving yourself to someone else. I don’t like that,” he whispered in my ear.
“As for the boyfriend, I’ve arranged a little decoy for him. We’ve got plenty of time, just you and me.” He ran his knuckles down my cheek. I jerked away, but he grabbed me by the hair and pulled hard, creating sharp tingles of pain where strands of hair pulled from my scalp. “I remember when you liked my touch. You remember that, don’t you, Jen? How much you enjoyed it when we made love? And then you had to go and ruin what we had. You chose your friends over me. You made me hurt you, do you remember? I didn’t want to do that, but you left me no choice. I loved you. You should have chosen me.”
Despite the pain, I twisted in his arms, feeling some of my hair pull loose even as I managed to jerk one arm free. “I would never choose someone who lies to me, Mark. I did love you until I learned how you manipulated me. That’s not love. That’s control. And now I know the difference.”
He moved forward until I was trapped between his body and the kitchen counter. “Well guess who’s in control again, Jennifer? This time, I’m not losing you. No matter what I have to do.” He bent his head to start kissing me as one hand groped at my chest. I tried to turn my head, but he grabbed my jaw and held my head in place and pinched my breast hard. I whimpered in pain, but at least my arms were free.
His menacing glare had meant business. I had absolutely no idea just how far he was willing to go, but I knew this time I wasn’t going without a fight. My free hand reached for anything behind me, but my cleaning habit hadn’t left much on the counter except a towel. I stretched just a little further and found the side of the pot that held the hot soup. Ignoring the burning pain, I grabbed the side of the pot and flung it in the direction of Mark. Scalding liquid splattered over both of us, but mostly him. The pot slipping uselessly to the ground from my burnt fingers, but it was enough to get him to release me. He clutched his face. Through his fingers, I could see his face turning red from the heat. I shoved him as hard as I could, desperation and adrenaline fueling my strength.
“You little bitch,” he howled.
I managed to dart around him and had almost reached the living room when he caught my hair once again and dragged me backward, back into the kitchen. He bent me forward over the countertop and shoved my face into the hard laminate. My forehead hit so hard my ears rang and all I could see was bright spots of white in the darkness. He stretched my arms above my head on the counter and held them in one hand. Tears of fear and pain ran down my cheeks. “Please, Mark. Don’t do this,” I cried.
Mark jerked my head up. A glint of silver caught my attention as Mark held a knife to my face. “Your fancy boyfriend isn’t going to want you if you’re all messed up, is he? He’s only into pretty faces. When I’m done, nobody will want you anymore.”
Oh, God, please help me!
He released my hands between us and undid the snap at my shorts and began to push them down. I wriggled and tried to kick, but he slammed my head onto the countertop again. Shock and pain stilled my movements and waves of dizziness swept through my head.
“Maybe I’ll just have you one more time before I mark you up.” He chuckled, an evil sound that sent chills up my spine. “Get it?Markyou up? I told you, you’ll always be mine.”
I didn’t trust Mark would let me survive to name him as the one responsible. All I could think of was Tyler. I didn’t want him to find my lifeless body, cut and bloody. I was just about to pass out. Maybe that would be for the best. Maybe it would be less painful.
‘You’re so strong, kitten. Stronger than you know. You’re a survivor. Dream big, sweetheart. I love you.’
Tyler’s words resonated in my head. From the corner of my eye, I could see the starfish he gave me on the beach, propped up on the counter next to the stove. I treasured it, a reminder of everything Tyler believed about me, and helped me to believe about myself. Mark was wrong. Tyler loved me and would always fight for me. I needed to fight for him. I reached toward the starfish. I felt Mark undo his belt and heard his zipper and felt him poke against my bare skin. I took a breath and braced myself for what was to come.
Tyler, I love you.
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