Chapter Nine
Liam gazed hungrily at me for the rest of the day, as if imaging another round of shower time. We had lunch with my parents and now we were sitting in my backyard, swinging gently on my two tire swings. Well, I was swinging, he was watching me and, every so often, would push me a bit.
"What happened with your ex?" he asked softly.
I rested my forehead on the top of the tire. "I don't want to talk about it. It's none of your business."
"You are my business. Tell me."
"He abused me, okay? He was all sweet and caring and then the moment I asked for something he flipped out and slapped me."
Liam frowned. "Oh."
"At first he was so sorry and guilty about it. It got to the point where he kept buying me expensive gifts and such. So, I forgave him. And then... It kept happening. Over and over. And each time he got less guilty until he just... Snapped... And he r-raped me."
•flashback•
I heard the front door open and shut. "Arianne?" Liam called.
I scrambled off of the bed, moving over to the corner again. He had been gone for hours, probably at work, and had locked me in the apartment.
"Ari?" he said softly as he opened the door.
I curled up tighter as he stepped in, frowning when he saw my position on the floor.
"Sweetheart, what's wrong?"
"Wh-why did you lock me up in here?" I whispered.
He crouched in front of me, sighing. "You don't have a job, you don't have a place to stay, and you don't know your way around. It was for your safety. I'm sorry if I scared you. Now come on, I brought home dinner," he explained, helping me to my feet.
His hand caught mine as he guided me to the kitchen, his thumb smoothing over my palm soothingly. I sat myself on a stool, watching him skeptically as he opened a box of pizza. The smell hit me hard and my mouth watered. He set a slice on a plate for me, pushing it in front of me.
"Thank you."
"You're welcome."
Liam sat on the chair beside me, putting a warm hand on my back. "I don't understand why you're so afraid of me," he said. "What did I do?"
"I want to leave, but you won't let me," I whispered.
"Ari, I'm keeping you safe."
"You made me undress in front of you..." I muttered, my face heating up.
He sighed, rubbing my shoulders carefully. "You needed to put on warm clothes or else-"
"But you didn't have to be in there!" I snapped.
He grabbed my chin sharply, pulling my head to look at him. "I thought you would need help! You have no idea how frail and sick you looked!" he exclaimed. "It wasn't even a big deal. Not to me at least."
I frowned. "I'm leaving today."
"No, you aren't."
"Yes, I am!" I argued.
Liam scooped me up in one smooth movement, taking my plate and his with us. "What are you doing?" I asked, worried.
"I have a guest room. You'll stay there from now on," he said.
"No, I wo-"
In seconds I was down and pressed against the wall, Liam's arms boxing me in. I gulped and glanced up at him, dark memories begging to pool into my head, to yank me into the past, to swallow me up.
We were in an empty room, no furniture except a bed and bedside table.
"Say it again, I dare you," he growled.
I shook my head hurriedly, chickening out.
"Good. Now eat. I'll be back later," he spat, motioning towards the pizza slice on the plate, which was sitting on the floor.
Liam stomped out, slamming and locking the door behind him. I pounded on the door relentlessly. "Let me out! Liam, please!"
But he didn't. I remained locked away, for hours.
•flashback end•
By the end of the story, Liam was leaning against the tree with me propped against him, his arms wrapped around me. I hadn't been paying attention, too lost in the painful words of my living nightmare to really feel myself being moved. As much as I hated to admit it, it felt nice to have his arms tucked around me, holding me protectively.
"That son of a bitch," he spat.
I laughed, looking up at him. "So... Yeah."
"I'm so sorry, Arianne."
I shrugged. "It's okay."
He shook his head. "It's not. Where is this pervert?"
"I don't know. When I went to the cops he ran off."
Liam tensed, pulling me closer. "So he's still out there? He could hurt you?" he said softly.
"I suppose. That's why I moved up there, to escape the fear of him returning and finding me and hurting me."
Liam pulled me completely into his lap, kissing my cheek. "Well, with me around, you won't have to worry. I'll protect you. Especially when you move in. Then he won't even be able to touch you. You'll never be in danger again."
Of course not. He'll never let me out of his reach again. I was moving in with him now.
****Sorry if this one was boring and so so so short. Next chapter will be longer, I promise!****
