Love Story

Chapter 7

"Valleri what happened?" He asked, but he already knew.

She shrugged again pulling the sleeve back up on her shoulder. "I didn't move quickly enough"

"What do you mean you didn't move quick enough?"

"He caught me"

"He did this to you?"

Valleri sighed in frustration turning to face him. "YES OKAY? YES DAVID, MY DAD BEATS ME, and I know you and everyone else in that house knows it, can you please not play stupid about it?" Her voice cracked with emotion as he sat silent. "You guys aren't the only ones who are afraid of him, I am too. I'm sick of playing games of 'Hide the Bruises' so I can go out in public."

Her eyes met his and she felt her reserve start to crack, the lump in her throat growing a little bigger.

"Do you have anymore?"

She nodded silently.

"Show me"

Valleri swallowed again, unbuttoning the shirt the rest of the way, letting it fall open. Her abdomen and sides were covered in dark purple bruises.

"Oh Valleri"

She watched as his eyes ran back and forth over her stomach, then he looked at her.

"Save me" she whispered, the tears finally starting to fall. She was done playing the strong silent type. All of her defences fell in a matter of seconds.  "I trust you"

Right there in the clearing for the second time in two days Valleri completely broke down wrapped in David's arms.  She was the one to pull away again, just like the night before, but this time she said nothing, she wrapped her arms around his neck and reached up as best as she could without hurting herself further, and kissed him gently on the lips.

David leaned forward deepening the kiss, his arm around the small of her back as he laid her in the grass.  Valleri pulled him down on top of her before he pulled away.

"Val...."

"Shhh" Her fingers twisted around the hair at the base of his neck as she spoke. "I love you David; please, just get rid of today, make me forget it ever happened, take me away from here"

He said nothing else, just pushed the thin material off her shoulders as her fingers worked open his shirt, doing the same. David started at the top, working his way slowly down the length of her body, leaving a trail of soft kisses.

Valleri laid in the grass with her eyes closed; she had never felt someone be so tender. She could feel his kisses start down her mid-section. He kissed each one of her bruises even more gently than the rest of her.

She lifted her hips making it easier for him to slide her jeans down her legs. He kissed her thighs making her shiver. He moved again kissing her lips and her jaw. Their eyes met again, and the whole world seemed to stop.

 Valleri reached up and touched his face with her fingertips, his soft brown eyes staring back into hers.

"Make love to me"

He hesitated but didn't move. "I don't want to hurt you Val,-"

"You won't." She watched uncertainty cross over his features again. "Please"

She pulled him closer as his tongue slid between her lips, and their bodies fit together like two pieces of a puzzle. Valleri breathed against his neck moaning quietly as they moved. His name tumbled freely from her lips almost as easy as breathing.  Hearing her name whispered in her ear sent little jolts of electricity up and down her nerves.