There were voices. Loud voices, arguing.
“We should see what that is.” I gasped, wishing for space. What had I intended when I started this argument? It wasn’t to end up pinned against a wall, our lips inches apart, my mind moments away from giving him my lips. It wasn’t feeling. It wasn’t this.
“The only thing that interests me is right here.” He bit my earlobe, tugging gently, then kissed the space behind my ear. “You were the one who wanted to have this out.”
“Why do you want me? Is it because you’ve been told you’re entitled to me?”
His forehead thudded against the wood next to my head, our cheeks pressed together. When he spoke, his breath was warm on my neck. “I may own you, Madeline, but I don’t know if you’ll ever be kept.”
I gasped and turned toward him, lips brushing his cheek as he lifted his head to meet my eyes. Did he really believe that?
“Then let me leave, Meyer. Allow me to live my life. Don’t keep me here as a prisoner.”
He laughed and shook his head, stepping back and pulling me away from the wall. “That can’t happen, Mads, and I wish you’d stop asking.” We propelled into the sunlight together, squinting as our eyes adjusted to the bright light. The voices were louder now. I focused on the distance. Standing near the house, arguing loudly with Joshua and some other security I didn’t recognize, were my parents.
I wrenched my arm from his grip and ran.