Page 20 of Accept Me (Fate’s Choice #4)

HUNTER

For the first time since I’d met him, Star’s face actually showed stronger emotions.

It was something completely new, entirely different from what I’d seen on him before.

He looked like a different person. His lips were trembling, and he was so pale I could’ve sworn his freckles had almost disappeared.

"I’m sorry," he said softly. "The last thing I want is for life to keep reminding you of what kind of contract you bought. I just want things to feel normal…"

"Star," I interrupted again. "I signed your contract with my eyes open. I knew exactly what I might be getting into. I’m not some teenage boy who’s going to throw jealous fits over this. Things like that can be handled between adults. And I really appreciate you telling me now, it shows me you’re serious about building something honest between us.

That means more to me than whether or not we still run into your clients now and then. "

Star blinked in surprise. I could tell my words meant a lot to him.

And then I saw it. A single crystal tear slid from the corner of his eye.

Something about that sight hit me in a strange, sharp way, like being flicked with a metal wire.

I had to look away. My hands clenched into fists because I wanted so badly to reach out, wipe that tear from his cheek, and take all the sadness away.

But we weren't there yet.

"Thank you…" he whispered, his voice trembling.

"You’ll just stay home," I said, keeping my voice steady. "I’ll go out and handle everything when he shows up with his people."

Star let out a shaky breath. "That’s not… all I have to tell you."

He was still pale, so pale I worried he might faint. His fingers were clenched tightly, I could see the whiteness in his knuckles.

"I’m listening," I said. "Tell me what you wanted to tell me, from the start. I can feel it in you."

He closed his eyes and sat there for a moment, breathing deeply.

"When we were still in the glass box, I told you how I got into escorting. I mentioned a man who forced me into it. His name was Dino. It was a strange relationship. At first, he seemed kind, maybe even obsessed with me. But everything changed when he found out what happened to me when I was sixteen. That’s when he revealed his kink, sharing.

He started inviting his friends, and they paid him…

he wanted sex right after someone else had been with me. That was the whole point for him."

He paused, his voice trembling.

"The problem was… it didn’t end there. When I ran away at the end of my freshman year in college, he didn’t let go.

He started stalking me. Following, showing up everywhere.

I made sure to live in a packed dorm, always surrounded by other students.

I never went to class alone. But he didn’t stop.

Sometimes he showed up every day, just standing outside.

I reported it to the college administration and told them I had a stalker.

They alerted campus security, and things got a bit better for a while.

But in my sophomore year, I moved off-campus because it was cheaper.

I lived with a few other omegas in a gated complex, but of course there were no campus guards anymore. "

Star’s voice dropped lower.

"I couldn’t even go outside alone. Dino found out where I lived and started showing up by the gate. It got terrifying. Every single day, I had to be alert, had to literally scan my surroundings…"

"That’s why you seemed so on edge in the parking lot?" I asked quietly.

He didn’t lift his head. His eyes were fixed on his clenched hands.

"Yes. It’s a habit now. Whenever I go out in public, I stay alert because I know he might be there. And he always… eventually shows up."

"Did you ever report him to the police?"

"I did. Many times. Near the start of my sophomore year, he managed to sneak back onto campus.

I was walking back from a lecture with a friend.

Dino jumped out from behind some bushes.

He grabbed me and tried to drag me off the path.

I pushed him off and started running, but he caught me again.

Luckily, the other omega screamed loud enough to draw a group of students, and they scared Dino off.

I used that incident to file a police report.

This resulted in a restraining order. Not that it stopped him…

He started sending letters—obsessive, disturbing letters—describing what he wanted to do to me, what he wanted others to do to me. "

His breathing grew quick and shallow. I could hear his heartbeat fluttering like a frightened bird.

"The last time I saw him was at graduation, three months ago. He was standing in the crowd, far enough away that I couldn’t report it.

Right after the ceremony, I moved out the city.

I was crazy careful, made sure I wasn’t being followed.

For the last three months, I barely left my apartment, I ordered everything in.

The only time I went out was to the pool in the basement.

Otherwise, I stayed locked up, terrified he’d catch up to me.

The first time I left the house was to go to the fair.

I’m just… sure he’ll find me eventually.

And the worst part? That client, Menzen, he knows Dino.

Not closely, but well enough that if he wants to, he’ll mention he saw me. "

He swallowed hard, then added in a whisper, "I apologize for spilling it all like this, but I had to tell you. I don’t want there to be lies between us."

I sat up straighter, taking a deep breath.

"Star," I said gently, "I’m so sorry you had to go through that. That kind of stalking—it can poison a person’s life, suck the joy out of life and harm the ability to trust. But… I’m not afraid of that man. If he dares show up here, I promise you, I’ll handle it. For good."

I leaned in a little, resting my elbows on the edge of the table and looking him straight in the eye.

"As it happens, I work from home too. I almost never travel. If I have to, I’ll take you with me. We’ll be together all the time."

Star’s deep navy-blue eyes stayed on my face. He swallowed nervously.

"You’re not mad? That this is all falling on you?"

"Mad? No. I’m not angry about something you couldn’t control. You didn’t do anything wrong."

"I did. I let him trick me. I agreed to let him lend me to his friends…"

"You were eighteen, weren’t you?"

"Yes. But what kind of excuse is that? I knew it wasn’t right. I hated it from the start. And the worst part is, I never really…"

His voice trailed off. He stared down at the table like he was afraid to meet my eyes, his nails scratching the surface nervously.

"Say it, Star," I whispered. "Say what you need to say."

"I’ve never had anything I could call good sex."

Silence settled between us.

Slowly, fearfully, he lifted his head. There was something painfully fragile in his expression. I was stunned that his eyes could show so much. When I first met him, they’d been unreadable, completely locked down. It must’ve taken so much effort to keep that mask in place.

"In order to explain it, I need to re-tell my story to you, but I need to add some important details…"

"Feel free to do so. I will listen and won’t interrupt."

He nodded.

"After what happened when I was sixteen, I spent two years in juvie, as you may remember. Sometimes other omegas would… offer things, but I didn’t want it.

I was scared. And I was never really into omegas anyway.

The day after I turned eighteen, I got released.

My money was tight, so I knew I had to find a job.

I walked into a restaurant that belonged to Dino, he hired me on the spot.

At first, I was kind of flattered. An older man paying me that much attention, and he was polite initially, charming, a real gentleman. Or so it seemed."

Star nervously twisted the silver rings on his fingers, flexing them and clenching his fists almost convulsively.

"He offered me a free room to help me save money, a tiny one above the restaurant. He said it was to support a student, and I believed him. He paid me a full cooking assistant salary even though I was working part-time. I was dazzled by his generosity, so after a few months of flirting and attention, I gave in, to my regret. But even then, I felt something was off. He was rough in bed. He didn’t care if I was aroused.

Then he began bringing his buddies around.

They were paying him well; they all kept coming back regularly. "

He clenched his fists tighter, his voice barely audible.

"And I hated every minute of it. I was never even remotely aroused. I… I’ve never had an orgasm with another person. Not once. I’m damaged, Hunter. You purchased my contract, but what you bought is… broken."

The words caught in his throat. His breathing hitched, his whole body rigid with tension and stress.

I wanted to reach out and take his hand, but his fists were clenched so tightly I wasn’t sure that would help.

"Star, thank you for sharing this with me. It gave me an important insight. Knowing what I know now, I’ve decided that, when it comes to that part of our lives…

I’m not going to initiate it, and I certainly won’t put any pressure on you.

I promise. Like I said before, I’m not fully ready for that kind of closeness either.

I mean, my body probably is, but my mind is conflicted…

" I tilted my head. His eyes were wide open, and he was listening intently.

"But one thing I have to say, and bear with me: I really believe the problem isn’t you.

It’s how you were treated. I don’t want to sound dismissive, as if I’m diminishing your assessment of your sexual problems, but…

the good news is… there’s a stage in an omega’s life where a lot of those fears and blocks just melt away on their own. "

"Heat," Star whispered.

"Yeah."