by Sam Crescent
Peter nodded. He wouldn’t want to leave Laura alone, period. He wouldn’t want to leave any woman alone at all, not if she belonged to him.
Silence fell on the room. “I’m pleased you survived,” Peter said, thinking about William’s words.
“I need to ask you something, and I don’t want you to take offence, okay,” Dean said.
Rubbing his hands together, Peter waited for Dean to speak.
“Why did you help me get better?” Dean asked.
Peter burst out laughing. “Is this a sick joke?”
“You’ve been in love with Laura for as long as I’ve known her. I knew, when I found out the news that no matter what happened, you’d be there to care for her. She would always have you.” Dean leaned forward, staring at him. “You want Laura, I know you do, yet you could have had her and you made me fight the cancer. You’ve done everything in your power to make sure Laura is happy. Why? You could be in my place right now. I know if I was to go, Laura would get the chance to fall for you.”
Peter shook his head, standing and pacing Dean’s office. “Why is it so hard for everyone to believe I’ve been a good guy? Why does there have to be an ulterior motive?” Running fingers through his hair, Peter stopped and glared at the man before him. “I was never going to let you die just so I could have a chance with Laura. I love her, yes, and I’ll do everything for her. But I would never be happy being second best, Dean. I could have made Laura love me, but you’d always be number one.”
Staring around the room, Peter needed to get out of their house. He couldn’t be here.
“I’ve got to go.”
Storming out of the house, he got behind the wheel. Laura was standing in the doorway looking at him. He threw the car into reverse and headed into town. There was only one person he wanted to see, one person who didn’t look at him like he was going to crack under the pressure, and that was Rose.
Finding the first available parking space, he climbed out of his car and headed into the library. When he didn’t see her at the counter, he searched the library looking for her. He found her alone in the history section.
Walking into the room, he closed and locked the door. She turned to look at him. The fear in her eyes died down and was replaced with pleasure.
“Peter,” she said.
He didn’t give her chance to ask him anything. Closing the distance between them, he wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her close.
Rose gasped. Staring into her clear blue eyes, he slammed his lips down on hers. He was being selfish, but he couldn’t stop himself.
Peter needed to feel her against him. The world was threatening to swallow him whole, and Rose was the only person who could ground him.
****
There was no chance Rose was going to break the kiss. Peter’s arms surrounded her, trapping her against his hard body and the book shelves. Closing her eyes, she opened her mouth for his searching tongue. He deepened the kiss, exploring her mouth.
His grip tightened on her ass as he rubbed himself against her.
She wrapped her arms around his neck, moaning. No words were necessary as he kissed her.
After what felt like days but she knew it was only minutes, Peter broke the kiss.
“I’m not backing away. Brad can go and suck his own dick. You’re eating lunch with me from now on, understand?” he asked.
Words failed her, and she nodded her head, agreeing with him.
“Good, I’ll see you tomorrow.”
And like that, Peter left the library. Lunch time was over, and now her thoughts were all over the place. What was she going to do?
Brad could ruin everything, and he’d not missed a lunch time yet. Pushing her troubled thoughts to the back of her mind, she finished her shift at the library and headed home.
She couldn’t stop thinking about that kiss. Peter sure knew how to use his lips. Rose had never been kissed before in her life. Pressing fingers to her lips, she couldn’t help but smile.
When she got home she was shocked to see her parents home. Entering the front door she found her mother waiting for her. “We’re having guests tonight. You’re to go get bathed and changed. I’ve set out an appropriate dress.”
Her mother dismissed her.
Not seeing the sense in arguing with her, Rose walked upstairs to her bedroom. She saw a peach dress laid out on the bed, along with a pair of black pumps. Shaking her head, she climbed into the bath and washed herself. All the time, she couldn’t stop thinking about Peter and his expert lips on hers. They were the only thoughts she wanted to have.
Once she was done in the bath, she dried her body and hair and started to get changed. She heard the door go, opening and closing.
Minutes passed, and her mother shouted up the stairs requesting her presence. Staring in the mirror, she saw the dress was a perfect fit. She hated it. Her stomach growled. She wasn’t allowed breakfast anymore, and her lunch consisted of fruit. Brad didn’t offer her anything more, and whenever he saw her lunch, he smirked.
Spending time with him and his crazy friends scared her. Her only consolation was the fact lunch was spent near other people.
Leaving her bedroom, she made her way downstairs to where her parents were waiting in the sitting room.
“There she is. Come on in, Rose,” her father said.
She froze when she saw Brad with his parents. What were they doing here? Swallowing past the lump in her throat, she headed toward the only seat available. The room was silent as she took her seat. Brad smiled at her.
“Can I get a refill?” Brad asked.
“Certainly. Rose, get Brad a refill on his wine,” her mother said.
Feeling sick to her stomach, Rose moved into the kitchen, grabbing the wine bottle. Brad still had his crazy smile as she refilled his glass. There was water for her. She poured out some wine and took her seat. Her thoughts returned to Peter and the kiss.
Soon they moved into the dining room. Rose blanked everything out. She’d learned from a young age to keep quiet at her parents’ dinners.
Brad spooned food onto her plate, and no one questioned what he fed her. She noticed he didn’t put much on her plate, and he didn’t give her seconds. When she reached for more food, her mother shot her a glare, stopping her from eating.
Tears filled her eyes, but she glanced down at her lap. She sank her nails into the flesh of her thighs, to stop herself from calling out.
After Peter’s kiss, this was turning into the worst night of her life.
“Rose, why don’t you and Brad go up to your room?” her father asked.
She frowned. “Why would I do that?” No boy was allowed in her room.
“Do it, and don’t argue.”
Brad grabbed her arm, leading her out of the room. “You should learn to do as you’re told,” he said, escorting her upstairs.
Dread filled her, making her stomach turn. She’d not eaten enough, but with Brad leading her upstairs she was thankful.
He knew where her room was, which she didn’t like.
Brad closed the door, taking a seat on her bed. “This is nice.”
“Why are you here, Brad?” she asked. “Our parents are not friends. There’s no reason for you to be here.”
“Well, you see, that’s where things are about to change.” He got off the bed, moving toward her. She took a step back. Brad reached behind him pulling out a small black box. “Our parents already think it’s a great idea. You’re going to be my wife, Rose.”
The wall stopped her from moving. His hand curved around her waist, halting her progress. Brad opened the box, but she couldn’t bring herself to look at him.
“We can’t get married. We don’t know each other, and we’ve not dated or anything.” Her pulse pounded as she saw her words were falling on deaf ears. Brad didn’t care, and from the look of it, neither did her parents.
They’d already agreed to this. She was alone.
“You’ll be my wife.” He released his hold o
Pain radiated in her chest. The ring was a perfect fit.
One of his hands banded around her waist as the other palm slammed beside her head, on the wall.
“And that fucking Peter Miller will keep his hands away from what is mine.”
Her eyes widened as she looked at him. He couldn’t have seen that kiss, could he?
“I saw the fucking kiss, Rose. You didn’t fight him. I saw everything. He didn’t close the fucking blinds.” He leaned forward. “I suggest you kiss me the same way, or I tell your parents everything. They’ll cut you off, and you’ll be on the streets with nothing.”
He kissed her lips, and Rose let him. She didn’t fight him, but she didn’t respond either.
Brad leaned away. “I suggest you kiss me, or I’ll make sure your food is taken away from you and your parents let you move in with me. I know Adam, Tyler, and John want a piece of you. I always share what’s mine with my friends.”
She watched him, feeling sick. Rose needed to stop this. He turned to leave her room. For now, she needed to follow his rules. She needed to find a way out of this. Grabbing his arms, she wrapped her arms around Brad’s neck and kissed him. Rose closed her eyes imagining it was Peter.
Rose vowed she would find a way to get out of this. She was never going to be at the mercy of Brad or his friends.
Chapter Four
Peter hadn’t seen Rose at the library the following day or the day after that. He found out from one of the women working there that she’d handed in her notice. Seeing no reason to stick around the library, he no longer went back. Laura had left the library stopping his visits and now Rose. What was wrong with him that the women always seemed to leave him?
Stop feeling fucking morbid.
Leaving the library he saw Gabriel leaving his patrol car. He waved at the other man. Peter had a lot of respect for Gabriel. He’d taken on Amy and another man’s kids and raised them as his own.
“Hello, Gabriel. We’ve not seen you or Amy at the club recently,” Peter said, hugging him.
“We’ve been looking at moving out of Cape Falls. Amy doesn’t like living here anymore. She wants to leave.”
His words shocked Peter. “You’re planning on leaving Cape Falls?”
“I’m looking at a position elsewhere. It’s not healthy here to raise two kids. The town folk are not accepting of our ways. The Steer brothers are fighting with Anna to stay. We talked with Paul and David, and they’re ready to leave Cape Falls altogether.”
This was news to Peter.
“Wow, okay. I never thought anyone would leave the town. It’s such a beautiful place,” Peter said.
“It’s a beautiful area, but the people bring it down. They’re awful, and I agree with Amy. Our kids will be going to the same school as the locals, and we can’t let that happen. So much has happened, and they’re already being picked on. I can’t let it happen.” Gabriel appeared to have aged years in the last few months.
“I’m sorry to hear that,” Peter said, meaning it.
“Speaking of trouble, do you know Rose Slater?” Gabriel asked.
“What about her?” Peter tensed thinking about the other woman.
“She keeps coming into the station and then turns around leaving it. I don’t know what to do with her. It happens a couple of times a day,” Gabriel said.
“I don’t know what’s going on,” Peter said.
He knew where she lived, and he was going to find out.
“Okay, I’ll come and see William soon. Don’t let him know about my leaving.”
Peter waited for Gabriel to leave before heading in the opposite direction. He was worried about Rose. Her quitting the library was not like her. She’d spoken to him about going to college and doing so many things. Why would she suddenly be frequenting the sheriff’s office?
None of it made sense to him.
Crossing town, he headed toward her home. There were no cars in the driveway. He opened the gate, going down the garden path toward her house.
Before he could bail out he knocked on the door. After several minutes Rose opened the door. Her eyes went wide when she saw him. He saw she was shaking, and she looked past his shoulder.
“What’s going on, Rose, and don’t fucking lie to me,” he asked, warning her.
“I don’t know what you mean.”
Frustration ate at him. Charging past her, Peter slammed the door. Rose looked sick. Her blonde hair was bound in a clip, and she folded her arms. He saw her shaking, and he also heard the sound of her stomach growling.
“What the hell is going on?” he asked. Peter cupped her cheek, and she stared at his chest.
Wanting answers, he charged down her house, and when he passed the kitchen he glanced inside.
“Peter, please, stop. You shouldn’t be here,” Rose said.
He stopped and looked at the kitchen. What he saw turned his stomach. Going inside, he tested the chains to make sure it wasn’t a trick. They were locked solid.
Opening the fridge he saw the lines on the milk and the monitoring of the fridge.
“What the fuck is this?” he asked.
She lifted a hand to her face, wiping her eyes. He saw the glint of a diamond on her ring finger.
Grabbing her hand, he looked at the ring.
“Tell me what’s going on now,” he said.
Tears filled her eyes as she stared at him. “My Mom and Dad will be home soon.”
“Then you better fucking explain fast.” He let go of her hand. “How does a woman who wants to go to college and enjoys working at the library suddenly get engaged and quit her job?”
“You don’t understand?”
“Why is that same woman being monitored on what she eats?”
Peter had heard about this sort of lifestyle before for a submissive. Some submissives allowed for this kind of lifestyle. Rose was not in a submissive relationship. She was in her parents’ house.
Leaving the kitchen, he opened doors, cupboards and drawers looking for the scales, tape measure and notebook. He found them in the long cupboard. Flicking them open he got the answers as to why her lunch had been reduced.
“Tell me what the fuck is happening, or I’m phoning Gabriel to report abuse.”
He grabbed his cell phone ready to do it.
“Don’t. It’s Brad and my family.”
Peter stopped, looking at her. “Speak, Rose.”
She looked behind her before speaking. “I’m engaged to Brad, the guy you saw at the library. He’s the one who organised that.” She pointed at the book in his hand. “If I don’t marry him then my parents will kick me out. I don’t have what it takes to survive on my own, Peter. I’ve got to do what they say.”
“You look hungry, Rose. What are your meal times now, and what are you allowed?” he asked.
Her cheeks were red. He didn’t give a shit about her embarrassment. This kind of control was not healthy, especially to a woman like Rose. They were starving her and could be doing long term damage.
“I’m allowed a slice of toast for breakfast, two pieces of fruit for lunch and some dinner. I also have to complete ten miles a day on the running machine. Brad doesn’t want a fat bitch, and I’m to stick to a strict regimen and be a v-virgin on my wedding day.” Tears were pouring down her face as she spoke.
His heart went out to her.
“Why didn’t you come to me?” Peter asked. He would have done something to help her.
“Why would I come to you, Peter? You’re in love with another woman. I’ve got no one else to turn to. I know this is my future.”
Peter closed the distance, cupping her face. “This future will get you killed, Rose. Brad’s the one in control, and what makes you think he’s not going to stop this control or make it worse? He could make you go days without food.” He stopped as his anger threatened to consume him. Rose was being abused, and from the look inside the book this had been her life for a good few months and he’d not seen it. “Do you love him?”
She shook her head. “He scares me, Peter. If I don’t do as he says he’s going to share me with his friends. I don’t want to do that. I wouldn’t survive that. I’ll be good. I promised.”
He shook his head. “No, that’s not going to happen. Brad is bad news.” Peter cupped her cheek, resting his head against hers.
“There’s no stopping it.”
“Yeah, there is.”
“How?” Rose asked.
“You’re coming with me.” He stormed up the stairs, opening the doors until he found her room.
****
Rose had to stop him, but as she followed him up the stairs and entered her room, she couldn’t form the words. She watched him throw her clothes into an overnight bag, pack up some of her books, and then he was done. Peter was saving her from her parents and from Brad. It was only a matter of time before something bad happened to her. She knew the rumours about Brad had to be true. The way he kept warning her about sharing her with his three friends scared her. Each time he mentioned it, he looked more and more aroused. There was no stopping him, and Brad was the one who held all the cards right now. He made sure she knew who was in control of her and the situation.
“You can’t take me with you. If Brad finds out…” She couldn’t finish her words.
“I’m counting on Brad finding out. I’m not afraid of that little prick.” The violence in Peter’s words shocked her. “No one should ever withhold food like that.” He dropped her cases and stood near a wall. She couldn’t tear her gaze away as he thumped the wall.
“Peter, don’t. You’ll hurt your hand.”
“I don’t give a fuck about my hand.” Peter turned to her, his hands cupping her face. “No one should ever do what they’ve done to you. He was wrong, and your parents were wrong to follow those orders.” He brushed her lips with his, and then they were walking down to the front door.
“Wait, I’ve got nowhere else to go. This is my only home, and I’m not cut out to be alone.”
Her mother’s past words stopped her in her tracks.
“You’re staying with me,” he said. “I would never let you go, Rose. You’ll be safe with me. I promise.”
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