Dare Me

by River Laurent

  Oh, Quinn, Quinn, Quinn.

  I needed him more than I’ve ever needed anyone in my life.

  I’m head over heels in love with this man.

  We had only been apart less than an hour, and yet it felt as though we were making up for a lifetime of separation. It felt like someone had set off fireworks inside my head. I was so lost to him I didn’t hear the study door open behind us. There was no chance to jump apart when my father’s enraged, horrified voice thundered between the two of us.

  “Quinn?”

  Quinn pulled away from my lips at once, but his hand still remained curled possessively around my waist. My father’s incredulous eyes noted that.

  “Kevin,” Quinn replied slowly, his tone soothing, as if he was taming a wild animal. “I need to talk to you…”

  “Talk to me? Are you mad? What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” Dad roared, storming toward us. He pushed us apart so forcefully I stumbled and nearly fell.

  “Hey, don’t take this out on her!” Quinn protested angrily, as his hand shot out to steady me before my head could hit the door frame.

  “I can’t believe you’d do this, you little piece of shit,” Dad stormed. “You took advantage of my daughter.” Dad lifted his phone and hit a button. “There is an intruder in my house,” he said into it. I understood instantly that he was talking to the security guards at the gatehouse. He turned on Quinn, his voice low and harsh. “I trusted you and sent her to stay with you, and you took advantage of her.”

  “Kevin, it wasn’t like that-”

  “Don’t you tell me how it was!” Dad exclaimed angrily. “She’s a kid, Quinn. My kid.”

  I couldn’t just stand back and let my father make him out to be some sort of predator. “I’m twenty, Dad. I’m not a kid. No matter how many teddy bears you buy for me,” I said.

  “You’re not a part of this conversation,” Dad screamed. “Go to your room now. I’ll deal with you later.” He was so angry, he almost frothed.

  I reeled and stepped back. He had never spoken to me like that in my life, not even when I found a tin of blue paint, poured it in his bed and carefully placed his duvet over it. Not only was he covered in blue paint, but he had to order a new mattress the next day.

  “Kevin, this isn’t how I wanted to break the news to you, but it’s not what you think. I’m not taking advantage of Madison.” Quinn held his hand out toward my father in an imploring gesture. “I have feelings for her. I want to make something of this.”

  My father’s eyes bulged out of his head. “You have feelings for her. What the fuck is the matter with you? You’re old enough to be her father, you pervert,” he bellowed. His face was red with anger, and he looked like he could bust a gut.

  But none of that mattered to me. Because: Oh. My. God! Quinn felt the same way I did.

  My heart felt as if it would explode into a million dancing pieces of happiness as soon as I heard those words fall from his mouth. I knew then everything would to be all right. “Dad,” I called.

  My father didn’t even turn toward me. “Go to your fucking room now. Don’t make me tell you again.”

  Quinn turned to me. “Stay out of this, Madison.”

  At his words my father’s face deepened to a hue of red I’d never seen before. His jaw clenched, his posture stiffened, and quick as a cat, he swung his fist and slammed it hard into Quinn’s jaw.

  “Fuck!” Quinn swore, as he stumbled, his head snapping to the side. The pain made him grimace, but he straightened instantly and met Dad’s gaze. He spread his hands out. “I know you’re-”

  Pow! Another blow. A right hook this time.

  I slapped my hand over my mouth to keep from crying out.

  Outside, I could see the security detail pounding up the driveway. They would be upon us in minutes, but I didn’t know how to stop the inevitable. I felt completely and totally helpless. Quinn would get the shit kicked out of him, and it was all because of me. Tears poured down my face.

  “Dad!” I shouted desperately. “It’s not his fault. I seduced him, I wanted him, I pushed for this, Quinn didn’t want it, but I forced myself on him,” I screamed desperately, but no one took any notice.

  Using the wall to steady himself Quinn pulled himself upright. He ran his tongue along his bleeding lower lip as he tried to focus on Dad. I could tell he was hurt. Dad’s a big guy too, and packs quite a punch.

  “Kevin, if we could just talk about-”

  Before Quinn could even get another word out, the security detail was on him, landing blow after blow on him, so fast their flying fists were a blur of violence. The dull thud of testosterone fueled male skin connecting with outnumbered skin made me feel almost temporarily insane with fear and dread. Every cell in my body screamed at the wrongness of what was happening. I felt sick to see Quinn crumpling to the ground, not saying a word, determined to take any punishment he had to in order to atone for what the two of us had done together. What I had made him do.

  It couldn’t have gone on for more than ten seconds before I found myself screaming and lunging forward. My mind felt like it was on fire. My only thought was I had to stop them from killing Quinn.

  I was silenced suddenly, as one of the fists flying toward Quinn flailed out in my direction. The blow that caught me wasn’t nearly as hard as the ones that had been powering down on Quinn, but I saw stars and it was enough to send me flying backward.

  “Madison!” Quinn howled.

  I landed on the floor with a jolt of pain. Suddenly, Quinn pulled himself back to his feet shoving off the men hurting him as though they were nothing more than irritating insects, he strode over to me. Shaken and voiceless, I lay on my back and stared up at him. I could already see red bruises starting to appear on his head and neck. Dizzily, I rose up on my elbow and tried to focus on his face.

  “You so much as lay a hand on her again,” Dad began, but he trailed off, when Quinn turned toward him. I don’t know what he saw in Quinn’s face but he must have realized he had lost this battle.

  Quinn caught my chin, tilted it up toward him, and scanned my face worriedly. “Are you in pain?” he asked.

  I couldn’t speak. I shook my head wordlessly.

  “It’s okay. I’ve got you,” he said, and scooped me up into his arms.

  Quinn turned to my father, narrowing his eyes. “We’re going.” His voice was harsh.

  Dad was breathing fast, and his fists were clenched with fury, but didn’t try to stop Quinn. He focused on me. “Do you really want this, Madison?” His eyes were wide and half-begging me to tell him otherwise.

  I nodded. “I love him, Dad. With all my heart,” I said earnestly.

  A look of utter defeat crossed my father’s face. His shoulders slumped and stepped away from the door and gestured for us to go through. “Go on. Get out,” he muttered. He didn’t sound mad any more. Just sounded exhausted and lost.

  Quinn carried me out the door. When he reached the gatehouse, I said, “You can put me down now.”

  “Why?” he said and carried me to his car. With one hand he opened the door, placed me inside carefully. He closed the door and walked around to the driver’s side. He turned his head toward me. “So…” he began, “You love me?”

  “Yeah,” I admitted, scuffing my foot against the carpeted floor. “Sorry if this is all a bit sudden. You don’t have to say it back, or anything stupid like-”

  He touched his fingers to my lips.

  “It isn’t.” He shook his head. "And I want to say it back.”

  My eyes widened. “You do?”

  He looked deep into my eyes. “I do.”

  “Since when?”

  “Since you left my house and I felt as if I would die if I didn’t come here and take you back. You are a part of me, Madison. I was willing to give everything up for you. Kevin, the business I had worked all my life to build. Even my life.”

  “I’ve been in love with you since I was a girl,” I confessed mistily.

  “Wh
at?”

  “Yup, I had the biggest, most painful crush on you. Every night before I fell asleep I used to say a little prayer for you. Please God, save him for me and don’t let him find anyone else.”

  He shook his head in wonder. “Well, your prayer sure worked.”

  “Why wouldn’t it? I was totally dedicated to my goal. I never missed a single night.”

  He reached out and touched my cheek and I flinched without thinking. Instantly, he yanked his hand back as if I had burned him.

  “Oh shit, have I hurt you?” He stared at me in horror.

  “I’ll be okay,” I said waving my hand.

  “I’m so sorry,” he whispered harshly, almost as if he blamed himself.

  “It’s okay. I’m fine. How about you?”

  He shook his head. “Nothing a few kisses from your sweet lips can’t fix.”

  It hurt my cheek to smile but I did. “I’m looking forward to playing nurse.”

  He grinned. “I don’t want to end up in ER.”

  “Or the morgue if you don’t teach that mouth of yours some manners,” I shot back.

  He laughed. “You ready to go home?”

  Home. To his home. Oh, wow! This was real.

  I beamed and nodded. I had no idea what was going to happen next, but I knew it wouldn’t matter, nothing would, if Quinn and me were together.

  Epilogue

  Five Years Later

  Madison

  “Are you ready?” Dad called anxiously from outside the door of my old bedroom. He had been pacing back and forth outside my old room for the last fifteen minutes.

  I looked into the mirror and behind me, my friends, who had flown down from England, bustled about doing last minute things. My mother was fastening a broach on to her sky-blue Chanel type box-jacket. I let my eyes leave the commotion behind me and brought my gaze back to me.

  I stared at myself in wonder. My dress was dazzlingly beautiful. Long, with a sweetheart neckline. and layers and layers of silk and tulle. My face was a bit pale under the make-up but my eyes were shining. I still couldn’t believe today was here.

  Quinn and I were finally going to be husband and wife.

  It had been five years since we first declared our love for each other. For the first time for as long as I could remember Dad and Mum agreed on something. Quinn was bad for me, but nothing they would say would change my mind. Once I dramatically threatened to enter a convent if they didn’t allow me to be with Quinn.

  Dad and Quinn parted ways. They each began their own company.

  It took a long time after that for Dad to come around to the thought of us together. He refused to ask either of us about it. He would flush with anger whenever our relationship came up accidentally. Then Dad’s worst fears were realized when Quinn proposed eighteen months later. We were in bed when he casually slid a ring on my finger. “I saw that fucking waiter staring at you yesterday. There. Now it’s clear to all those assholes you’re taken. You’re all mine.”

  The wedding had to wait until I’d finished my studies, but there it was. A diamond ring on my finger. I was betrothed. The good thing was, after Quinn had put the ring on my finger, Dad had backed down.

  “So…he’s really serious?” he had asked, staring at my ring.

  “He is,” I had said softly.

  “You know. I never forgot this, but one night when you were eight years old, I was putting you to bed and you said, ‘Daddy, is it okay if I married Uncle Quinn?’ I thought it was funny then. Little did I know…”

  I had bowed my head. “I realize it’s a lot to ask, but…we want you to be involved in the wedding.”

  He had left a long pause before he replied, and I had held my breath the whole time.

  “Yeah,” he had managed at last, and I could hear in his voice it had pained him to say the words. “Of course, I will. You’re my baby.”

  And now, here he was, ready to give me away to the man of my dreams. He had started off quite offish about the whole thing, but he had gotten involved and interested eventually and even given Quinn his belated blessing.

  I turned away from my reflection and opened the door. Oh my Dad’s face was a picture of astonishment. Dad’s jaw actually dropped.

  “Jesus, Maddy,” he gasped, using the nickname he hadn’t used since I was a kid. “You look...incredible.”

  “You really think so?” I asked cheekily.

  He nodded slowly as if in a daze. “You are the most beautiful girl in the world,” he said softly.

  “Oh, stop. You old charmer, you.”

  “Oh Maddy,” he cried suddenly, his eyes welling up.

  “Don’t you dare make me cry, Dad,” I said waiving both my hands at my face.

  He pulled out the carefully folded handkerchief from his breast pocket, the one he was not supposed to use and dabbed it at his eyes. Then he took a deep breath and looked up at me. “So, shall we?”

  “I think we shall.” I grinned.

  Dad proffered his arm in my direction, and I took it.

  Then he opened the door for me, and we made our way downstairs, and prepared ourselves to welcome Quinn into the family for good.

  The End

  CINDERELLA.COM

  Published by River Laurent

  Copyright © 2017 by River Laurent

  The right of River Laurent to be identified as the Author of the Work has been asserted by her in accordance with the copyright, designs and patent act 1988.

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of the publisher, nor be otherwise circulated in any form of binding or cover other than that which it is published and without a similar condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.

  All characters in this publication are fictitious, any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

  ISBN: 9781910575-47-5

  Created with Vellum

  Cass

  “Open this damned door now,” my landlord yells, banging his meaty fists on my door.

  Not even daring to breathe, I press myself tightly against the wall in the only blind spot that cannot be seen through the keyhole of my tiny, one-room apartment.

  “I know you’re in there, Harper. I saw you go in,” he growls.

  Please God, please. Make him go away, I pray silently as a bead of sweat slips down the inside of my arm.

  “I have another key that I can use to get in,” he threatens darkly.

  I squeeze my eyelids tightly. Don’t fold, Cass. Don’t fold. Stay strong. He’s totally lying. Just trying to scare you. In the last year, I’ve seen him walking around with that heavy ring of keys only once.

  Suddenly, to my horror, I hear the jangle of keys.

  Oh, shit.

  My eyes fly open and I stop breathing. He brought the whole damned thing. I freeze with panic when I hear him put a key into the lock. I can’t face him and tell him another pile of lies. I just need to buy myself a little bit more time. One of the people from my job interviews could still call. In fact, that guy from Chips-R-Us said he’d call tomorrow. Impulsively, I drop to the floor and roll under the bed just as the door flies open.

  With my cheek stuck to the bare floorboard and my heart pounding like crazy, I stare wide-eyed at the doorway. Mr. Tanner is standing with his feet wide apart. From this angle, his legs look like tree trunks. For a few seconds, they remain planted on the floor while he surveys my small room. Then his feet move as if to leave. I clasp my hands together. Thank you, God. Thank you. But just as I exhale a sigh of relief, his scuffed black shoes turn back into the room.

  No!

  They come to a stop in front of the bed.

  Shit. Shit. Shit.

  Suddenly, his fat face appears in the gap between the floor and the bed.

  Busted.

  My cheeks burn, but I plaster a fake bright smile on my face. “Hi, Mr. Tanner.”
/>   There is no smile in response. His brown eyes are irritated. “You think this is funny?”

  I drop my smile instantly. “No, no. Of course not.”

  “Get out of there,” he orders.

  I scramble out and stand nervously in front of him.

  He smells of sweat and bacon. “I thought you said you’d have my rent money by today.”

  I swallow hard. “Yes, I know I said that. But I’ve had a bit of a problem, Mr. Tanner.”

  He folds his hands in front of his distended belly and stares at me coldly.

  “But please don’t worry about it. I swear I’ll have the money by this weekend.”

  He frowns. “That’s what you said last week and the week before that.”

  “Yes, and I should have had it.” I clear my throat. “I was let down, but this time I promise I’ll have the money.”

  “Look. I like you. You’re a good kid, but I ain’t runnin’ a charity here. If you don’t come up with the money by the weekend, and that means Sunday—6:00 p.m. at the latest—you’re out. Am I making myself clear?”

  I nod. “Absolutely, Mr. Tanner. I hear you loud and clear. I’ll have the money. I promise.”

  “I don’t get it. You work all the time. You never go out. What do you do with your money?”

  “I told you, Mr. Tanner. When my father was sick, I took a short-term loan from some people to pay for his medical bills. I have to service that loan every week. They’ve cut my hours at work, but I’ve gone for some interviews. I should hear back this week.” I bite my lip and look at him imploringly.

  “Hmmm…that’s a shame.” He sucks at his teeth. “You could, you know, pay your rent in different ways.”

  My eyes widen with disbelief. “What?”

  He scratches his double chin while his greedy eyes crawl over my chest like slimy fingers and his tongue comes out to wet his lips. “We could come to some…arrangement.”