Dirty Secrets {A Crash & Burn Novella}

Chapter 4

Stella

As soon as Max left, I let the tears fall. I didn't want him to see me like this. Weak and vulnerable. But he did. I think that's why I felt so ashamed. My body was on fire from the belting I received from Paul. My parents weren't here. Not that they would comfort me. They pretty much sold my soul to the devil. They didn't care about me. Never have and never will. All they care about is their precious reputation in the church.

I managed to get out of bed and stepped into the bathroom. I looked at my reflection and took a deep breath. Last night, Paul beat the hell out of me. I applied some concealer to the bruise on my cheek and underneath my eye. I added some powder to finish covering the damage to my face. Just as I turned around, Max appeared in the door and frowned.

"Angel, you should be resting." He murmured.

"Max, you're hurt." I whispered.

I stepped forward and cupped his cheek. His nose was busted and had a black eye. He held my gaze as he wrapped his arms around my waist. He would always be my Dark Prince. If only we could get our happily ever after. But... fate fucked us. I was doomed to marry the bad guy in our story and he was bound to fall for someone else. If only... we could be together.

"Let me take you away from this, Angel. Let me be the one who saves you." He told me, his voice full of pain.

"You know I can't do that." I choked out.

"Dammit, sugar. If you don't get out now, you might not live to see another day. Next time, he could kill you and I don't know if I could live with myself if that ever happened to you."

"Max..." I let out a strangled cry. "I... I will be okay."

"He won't be around for a while."

"What have you done?"

"Paul is in jail. I made sure of it."

"That's why you're bruised up?"

He nodded. "I made him pay for hurting you. I had to do it."

"And now, you're hurt because of it."

"It was worth it. It will always be worth you. You're worth it, sugar."

I buried my face in his chest as I clenched his shirt and let the dam break. I couldn't hold it in anymore. He tightened his arms around me and brought me comfort. Just like he had since our first encounter.

I wished we could stay like this forever. Our time was limited. So, I had to make the best of it. Without hesitation, I closed the gap and kissed him. Desire set me on fire. It always did when I was this close to Max Spelling. Max groaned as I kissed him like my life depended on it. Max pulled away and pressed his forehead against mine. I felt safe in his arms. He brought me a security I'd never felt before.

"Come with me, Angel."

"Where?"

"To take a ride with me."

"Ok. Take me away, Max Spelling."

"With pleasure, Angel."

Max drove us to the clearing and helped me off his motorcycle. He wrapped his arms around me from the back and kissed the top of my head. "Do you like it?"

"What is this, Max?" I asked.

"This could be ours, Angel. Just you and me. We could be a family."

The cabin was beautiful. I wished we could have all of this. The cabin. A family. Our happy ever after. But I knew better. I'd already been promised to another man. A monster. I blinked back the tears as my heart clenched.

"I wish it could be that simple. I... can't. He'd..." I couldn't finish what I really wanted to say. That Paul would make Max pay for taking from him. And after, he'd hurt me just like he did before.

"You're killin' me, sugar." I could hear the pain in his voice.

I took his hands in mine and squeezed them hard. "Just hold me, Max."

"You asked me before if I'd found the girl I want. The answer is yes. You're all I want, baby. Let me be the man who protects you. Let me take you away from the evil bastard."

"Max, I..."

"Shh, you don't have to say anything. I just wanted you to know how I feel about you."

I twisted around and wrapped my arms around his neck, holding onto him.

Just kiss me.

Make me forget.

If only for a little bit.

And he does.

He crushed his lips against mine and claimed my mouth. Our tongues clashed, desperate to make the best of our time. He ground his hips and groaned in my mouth. "Fuck, sugar. You make it so hard to stop."

"Please, don't stop." I whispered against his lips.

"Angel, I don't want to hurt you. I..."

"Please, Daddy."

I'd heard the rumors. Max had a kinky side. The word was that he liked to be in control. He also liked to be called Daddy. His eyes darkened as he took each of my wrists in his hands. "Do you have any idea what you've done?"

"Yes, Daddy." I whispered.

"You feel this, sugar?" Max growled as he thrust his hips and rubbed his erection against me.

"It's so hard."

"And it's all for you, sugar. Right now, all I want to do is sink my dick into you, but I won't. Not while you're hurting. But soon, baby. Very soon, Daddy's gonna claim your body. And when I do, the only name you'll scream is mine."

"I want you now." I told him.

"No. Not while you're still healing. I won't do it, sugar."

"Please," I begged. "I want to make you feel good, Daddy."

He shook his head and closed his eyes. "No. You're not ready for that."

"I'm ready." I argued.

"Believe me when I say you're not. Not so soon after he..." Max trailed off.

"You can say it, Max. Raped."

"I hate this. I hate that he did that to you. He should have his dick chopped off for even touching you." He hissed through clenched teeth.

"I'm okay. See, I'm still living and breathing." I assured him.

"But for how long? How long until he does it again? Next time, you might not be so lucky to survive."

"I'll be just fine. I've been fine so far."

He scoffed. "You call this just fine, sugar. You're not fine and when he does it again, I'll hurt him twice as bad as he does to you."

It was a promise. Not a threat. I knew one thing for sure. When a Spelling makes a promise, he'll go through with it. He released one wrist and brought his hand to my face, cupping the side of my face. "He doesn't deserve an Angel. He never did."

Angel.

He thought I was an Angel?

If I was his Angel, he was my Prince Charming.

"One day we'll get our happy ending, but that day isn't today." I whispered.

"Soon, Angel. Soon, we'll get our love story. And when we do, I'm never letting you go."