Sleeping with a Bully

III. Solace

Nine years ago, John and Terry at age seven

"John, allow me to introduce to you my daughter, Terry."

Seven-year old Terry clutched the skirt of her mother's kimono tight and stared in front of her. A dark-haired boy her age stood in front of them, staring back at her in arrogant fashion. He was wearing a suit and possessed an air of maturity for a child. His green eyes seemed to see through her soul and she glanced down at her chiffon dress, feeling a bit timid.

When she looked at him again, he still did not quit staring at her. A faint smirk appeared on his lips when he caught her eyes, like he was laughing at her. Vexed at his snooty manner, she squared her shoulders and let go of her mother's skirt, lifting her chin at the same time. The boy's eyebrows rose.

"Terry, this is John. He's the son of our host for tonight," her mother continued to say, gently pushing her forward. "Say hello, Terry."

"Hello," she murmured.

"Hello, Terry" he replied in a cultured voice.

For a moment, the mother studied the both of them. Then a calculating look came upon her face and her eyes sparked with elation

"I'll be leaving her in your care for a while, John," she said, beaming happily. "Please look after her."

John nodded. "I will, Mrs. Evans."

Giving her daughter a warning, heated look and John's nursemaid a nod, she departed for the party, hoping the two children would get along well with each other.

But not ten minutes later, a scream was heard from the room where the two children were located. Everyone rushed over in panic. They opened the door, prepared for the worst, but when they saw them, they all froze in shock.

Terry, with a mutinous expression on her face and her hands curled into fists at her sides, was standing over John. John was lying on the floor, holding his leg, grimacing in pain.

She had kicked him.

**********

I was a whore.

The sheets rustled as I slowly disentangled the arm wrapped around my waist. I slid my legs to the side of the bed and buried my face into the palm of my hand while the other tightly gripped the sheet covering my naked body to my chest.

I was such a fucking whore.

Biting back a sob, I raised my head and looked out the window. Dawn was just breaking, rendering the large bedroom grainy and grey.

Was this the price I had to pay for my one night of freedom? I thought with despair. If so, then my messed up life had officially gotten even more messed up.

A hand snaked around my waist and I was pulled back into the bed swiftly. My breathing stopped when a body landed on top of me, effectively trapping me in with his arms.

"Get off of me," I demanded icily.

A smirk formed on his lips as his eyes roamed over my face.

"And where do you think you're going, Evans?" he murmured huskily, sending shivers along my veins.

"Somewhere you aren't, Steele," I snapped.

His face disappeared into the crook of my neck and he began placing light kisses along my jaw line. I bit my lip to stop the moan threatening from my throat.

"Let go of me," I hissed, trying to push him off.

Nipping my neck, he murmured, "No."

My body began to burn as he continued to trail his lips against my sensitive skin.