Once I’m no longer tied, I jump out of the boot and punch him in the chest. “What if I was claustrophobic, you arsehole?”
“You aren’t. You hide in your closet every time you write in your journals.”
My lips part. “Y-you know about them?”
“Maybe.”
Oh. My. God.
He’s not supposed to. Why the hell does he even know about them?
“How far did you read?”
“All.”
“You…you…you’re such a pervert!”
“Not as much as your entries about me lately.”
My cheeks heat to a deep shade of red. “Shut up.”
“Why? Are you shy you admitted that night-time is your favourite time of the day?”
“Whatever.” I fold my arms. “If you do that to me again, you’ll read about the black magic and the voodoo doll I’m preparing for you.”
He grabs me by the arm and tugs me close so I end up flush against his front. “If you say you hate me again, this will only keep escalating.”
“Escalating?”
“Uh-huh,” he whispers against the shell of my ear. “And that includes the fucking journal.”
I push away from him, about to get into the passenger seat, but he doesn’t release me.
Cole throws me into the back seat, closes the door, and pulls my dress up.
“S-someone will see,” I breathe out even as my legs wrap around his waist the moment he yanks his trousers down.
“They won’t.”
“What if they do?”
“What if they do, Silver? What if they fucking do?” He thrusts inside me in one long go that tears a moan out of my throat. “That won’t change the fact that I fuck you and sleep with you every night. It doesn’t change the fact that you’re mine.”
A shudder grips me in its clutches as he owns me in every sense of the word. Lately, it feels as if he’s not only fucking my body, but he’s also screwing my heart and soul.
He’s owning every part of me whether I like it or not.
At first, I thought this would be a fling and would soon end. I thought I’d get bored, tired, or maybe everything would fizzle out.
But it’s been months, whole damn months, and it’s only been fizzling up — not out.
What was I thinking? This is Cole. He’s owned a part of my soul ever since that day in this very park.
He’s always had me. One twisted way or another.
As we fall apart together, the realisation hits me like a thunderstorm. The feelings I have for him were never temporary and they never will be.
None of this will be temporary.
It’s all wishful thinking.
“Fuck,” he murmurs against my neck. “You’re messing me up, Silver. Why can’t I stop thinking about you for even a second?”
“They’re not real.”
“What isn’t real?”
“The feelings. Everything. They only exist because we can’t be together.”
“What the fuck are you talking about?” He lifts his head from my neck, watching me with disapproval. With anger.
I shove him away, and thankfully, he doesn’t protest as he pulls out of me, his cum dripping between my thighs.
Retrieving a tissue, I clean up, not wanting to meet his imploring gaze. “Take me to Mum.”
If I spend the night with her, surely I’ll clear my head and come up with a better plan for the future.
One that doesn’t destroy both our families.
Because at this pace, we’re heading straight to a cliff where both of us will fall.
Cole’s jaw ticks. He doesn’t say a word as he tucks himself in, gets out, and takes the driver’s seat.
I remain at the back, pretending to stare out the window, when I’m actually stealing looks at him.
Once we’re in the car park, he throws me a Snickers bar through the window, his face blank. “I bought it earlier. It’s melting.”
My heart warms. Cole doesn’t eat Snickers, or chocolate in general, but he always buys them for me. “Thanks.”
“I’m done playing your games, Silver. This is the last time you run from me.”
“What do you expect me to do?”
“I expect you to be with me because you want to, not run away because you can’t admit it to yourself.”
“What about everyone else?”
“Fuck everyone else. They don’t matter more than you and I.”
And with that, he leaves. I hit the button to Mum’s flat, my shoulders drooping as I absentmindedly eat the Snickers bar.
Maybe I should save it for when Mum and I watch a film — not The Notebook.
I enter the code to her flat and go inside, still nibbling on the chocolate.
It’s dark inside, the only light coming from her room. I’m just outside of it when the sounds filter in.
Moans. Groans. Slaps of flesh against flesh.
My cheeks heat. I probably should’ve called first. But then again, Lucien barely comes to Mum’s flat, and I kind of thought they were in a non-sexual relationship.
I turn around to leave when I hear the unmistakable name.
My fingers slowly push the door open. What remains of my Snickers drops to the ground. I’m scarred for life.
Mum is on her back as a man fucks her hard.
And that man isn’t Lucien.
It’s Papa.
Silver
The three of us sit in Mum’s living area.
To say the air is awkward and full of tension would be the understatement of the century. This isn’t how I’ve imagined our family reunion.
Mum ties the satin robe around her nightgown and keeps touching her hair, trying to submit the dishevelled blonde strands to order.
Papa appears completely normal, all tucked in his suit as if he were born in one.
God. I can’t believe I walked in on my parents having sex. It’s even more disturbing now considering they’re no longer married.
They sit beside each other while I’m across from them, arms folded like a judge out to prosecute her defendants.
Mum flashes me an awkward smile. “It’s not what it seems.”
I scrunch my nose. “I think I saw exactly what it seems.”
“Princess.” Papa clears his throat. “We’re sorry you had to witness that.”
“Shouldn’t you be sorrier about other people? I don’t know, like Helen and Lucien?”
“Lucien and I are just friends, Babydoll. We only go out together to avoid the hassle of finding dates to the countless of events we attend.”
“How about Helen then?” I jut my chin at Papa. “How could you do this to her?”
Mum studies her red nails. “They’re not sexually active.”
“Cynthia,” Papa reprimands