FUCKED.

8

I couldn't help but smile as Travis complimented me. "You look nice today," he said, a playful glint in his eye. I giggled, shoving him lightly. "That sleep did you good, girl. Looks like your assets are getting bigger."

His teasing made me laugh, but I couldn't resist giving him a gentle smack on the head. "You didn't smack me when I had you in—"

Before I could finish, he hit me back, not too hard, but enough to make me wince. "Stop hitting me, woman. It's irritating."

In a flash, he was behind me, trying to pull my hair. "Can you braid it for me, T? It's really hard to manage it without you distracting me."

He sighed dramatically but sat down on the bed. "This is the last time I'll braid your hair. I'm no—"

I didn't let him finish. I pressed my lips against his, cutting him off and signaling that I wanted him to hurry up. He understood immediately and began braiding my hair into two neat rows. Within minutes, he was done, and I looked in the mirror, admiring the cute hairstyle.

"I love it. It's perfect, T," I said, throwing my arms around him in a hug. He responded by playfully smacking my backside, turning me around for a kiss. His lips traveled from my mouth to my cheek, my neck, and my earlobes before finally settling back on my lips.

"Enough of that, you two. We have class in thirty minutes," Sapphire said, her voice breaking the intimate moment. "You can do this after class when we're not around, like you did yesterday."

Before she could finish, Travis and I were out the door and heading to the car. I glanced at him, and he held my hand firmly. "I'll drive us to the restaurant. You go to campus," he said, starting the engine.

The drive was filled with music and laughter. We sang along to Beyoncé's "XO" and danced to Rihanna's "Work" as we made our way to the restaurant to meet Jason. When we arrived, Jason greeted us with a smirk.

"My two favorite lovebirds. What can I get you?" he asked, his tone dripping with sarcasm.

I grinned and decided to play along. "Two tickets to hell and a high-five with a chair to your face," I said, holding my hair like a mischievous child.

Jason laughed. "After all the trouble you cause, you still manage to look innocent. I'll get you back for this, Coco."

I hugged Travis, who was laughing at our exchange. We ordered our food and tipped Jason generously for his good service before heading back to the car. Travis drove us to campus, and I had to resist the urge to kiss him in the car.

When we arrived, I held his hand, and we walked together. The stares of other students were unavoidable, but I didn't care. Travis shielded me with his body, hiding my face against his chest until we reached my class. Just before I entered, he spun me around and kissed me on the cheek, making me blush as I looked down and walked to my seat.

The class was a bust—the lecturer didn't show up. I tried calling Sapphire and Keisha, but neither answered. With no luck finding them, I headed to the top floor, hoping to catch up with them there. When I reached the secluded areas, I finally got access. I saw a text from Keisha saying she was still in class, and Sapphire's phone was still off.

I was about to give up when someone kissed me on the neck, making me moan. Expecting it to be Travis, I turned to see Iris. I froze, panic gripping me as I realized the situation was much more dangerous than I'd imagined.

"Call your friend and tell him you have to visit someone. It's an emergency," Iris demanded, his grip on my arm tightening painfully.

"Stop it, Iris. You're hurting me," I said, trying to pull away, but his hold only tightened. Tears started streaming down my face.

"Do it, or I'll gag you and make you do it myself," he threatened, his eyes cold and menacing.

I nodded, trembling as I pulled out my phone and dialed Travis's number. I put the call on speaker, hoping my voice would reveal my distress.

"Babe, you okay?" Travis's voice was concerned, but I could see Iris's rage building up.

"Hey," I said, trying to keep my voice steady despite my fear. "The lecturer didn't show up, and I have a paper tomorrow. I'm heading to the library to do some research and might visit some friends for the project. If the girls ask, just say the same."

"Sure, text me when you get back. And if any girl compliments your hair, tell them your BOOBOO did it for you. Bye."

The call ended, and Iris's expression darkened. "I'm going to have some fun with you, Chloe. And I actually like your hairstyle. It's cute."

I followed him to his car, feeling like a trapped animal. The drive to his house was silent, the only sound being the music playing softly in the background. I tried to calm my racing heart, focusing on the soothing melodies. Iris's hand found mine and guided it to his bulge.

"Do it," he ordered, his voice cold and unfeeling.

My stomach churned with fear and revulsion. I unzipped his jeans and took his erection into my mouth, trying to focus on getting through this nightmare. He groaned, and the car sped up. I kept performing the act until we arrived at his house.

Once inside, Iris ordered me to undress. Minutes later, I was in a Jacuzzi with him, feeling a mix of dread and helplessness. His kisses were harsh, his bites more painful than affectionate. He was marking me as his own, his touch claiming me in a way that was more aggressive than tender.

"You taste good, Chloe," he said, his gaze intense as he held my face. "I'm going to give you what that idiot isn't giving you enough."

He pulled me close, and his thrusts were relentless. I was exhausted, my body feeling as if it were being punished. He carried me to his bedroom, laying me on the bed.

"I'm going to ask you one question," he said, his tone softer but still menacing. "Be honest."

I wiped my tears, nodding. "I'm telling the truth, Iris. You have to believe me."

He didn't seem convinced. "Are you dating that guy?"

I shook my head, but he wasn't satisfied. "I need you to be honest, Chloe."

"I am honest," I pleaded, trying to sit up, but he pushed me back down.

"Never raise your voice when talking to me again," he warned, slapping me hard. "If you breathe a word to anyone about this, I'll kill you. You're not the first, and you won't be the last."

His threats chilled me to my core. As he smirked, I knew I was at his mercy. The terror of being utterly alone and controlled by him settled over me, and I could only hope to find a way out of this nightmare.