Page 15 of Vaughn

"A man who tried to kiss me the first moment we were left alone. When I pulled away, he grabbed my hair, yanked me back to him, and told me I would learn to submit myself to him. That at forty he was in his prime, and he expected me to keep sweet for him every night."

"What the fuck does that even mean?"

Pushing my hair back, I blow out a breath. "I wasn't sure, not until that moment. I asked him, because I'd heard women and men speak on it previously. I wasn't prepared for what I was about to hear. He told me he would ruin my womanhood for any other man, that he wouldn't ask if I were in the mood, that he would take me every single night. He might've used the word railed, but I never understood what that meant. Then he grabbed hold of my breast and twisted it roughly." I shiver as I think back to the way every notion I'd had was shattered in those minutes. "I'd always seen him as a good man, a Godly man, but the way his eyes swept over me, the possession there, it scared me. I had a vision of what he would do when there was no one else around. At least when he tried to force himself on me, there were people around, and he was shameless. I tried to get away from him."

I'm taken right back to that night, when I'd yelled for someone to help me, but they wouldn't. I know they heard me, when I fought to get myself out of the room, and him off of me, they were standing around; watching. No one wanted to meet my eyes, and that said more than anything else could.

"Once I refused to accept the kiss and he twisted roughly on my breast, he pressed me up against the wall, shoved his knee in between my thighs and tried to go up my shirt. I pushed him off, and he said vile, vile things to me." I shudder as they replay in my mind.It doesn't matter if you want to satisfy me every night, Valentina. You will bend to my will. I can't wait to take what's mine. I can't wait to fuck you and ruin you for any otherman who might want you. You'll be damaged goods for them."That night I knew I had to leave. There was no way that man was going to let me go, not a chance that my father would listen about me not wanting to marry. There was no respect for me any longer, and I realized I had to save myself."

"That's a very brave thing to do, Val." She reaches over, grasping my knee. "I don't think I could've done it. What did you leave with?"

I remember those scary moments as I was about to leave. "A backpack full of clothes and around two hundred dollars I was able to steal. My heart pounded the entire time I was running through the woods to get to the main road."

"Oh my God, Val. You hitch-hiked?" She gasps, holding her hand to her chest. "Do you know how fucking dangerous that is? Someone could've hurt you."

"I got hurt at home, what was going to happen when I left that didn't happen to me while I was there? There were so many other things too, Gabby. I wasn't allowed to eat all the time, I had to ask permission from my dad to do anything, I wasn't allowed to watch the TV shows I wanted to, wear clothes that showed my legs, wasn't able to cut or highlight my hair, makeup wasn't a thing for me, and I'd never waxed my eyebrows."

We look at each other and giggle. Gabby laughs. "Not the non-waxed eyebrows."

"It was a scary situation, and I gripped a kitchen knife until I got to the hotel that I stayed at for a few days before I got the job here." I'm very aware of how lucky I was. "I'll be forever thankful for you, Gabby. You have no idea how much you changed my life."

She smiles, coming over for a hug. "While I know what you've told me has been difficult for you, I'm so thankful to have you in here. I know there's probably so much more you haven't told me,and I thank you for trusting me with your secrets. One thing I can promise you, is that you'll be safe here."

Eyes watering and throat tightening, I nod, barely pressing the words out. "This is the first place I've ever felt safe, and I have you to thank for that. You're the very first friend I've ever had."

Gabby reaches over, hugging me tightly. "If I had to choose a member of my family, Val. It'd be you. Thank you for allowing me to be your friend."

CHAPTER TWELVE

Vaughn

It looks as if she has to gather every bit of her guts to lean into me. It takes everything I have not to force it. I want to feel her lips on mine again, need to taste her, but as I told her, it'll be on her own time, at what pace she decides to set.

"Tell me if I do it wrong." She whispers.

"There's no way you're going to do anything wrong." I shake my head. "I can't imagine you doing anything I don't like."

"And my brain is telling me there's no way I can do anything you do like." She smirks.

But I see beyond that smirk. She's nervous, and scared. "I remember losing my virginity and kissing my first girl." I swallow, picking my words carefully. "It was the scariest moment of my life, and she was slightly more experienced than I was. I wanted nothing more than for her to take the lead, but she wanted me to, and I'm glad she did." I push my hands through her hair, cupping the sides of her head. "It gave me confidence in myself when she responded in a way that proved to me I provided her pleasure. Trust me when I say you are going to blow my mind. All you have to do is reach out and do it, Val."

Her hands move up from my shoulders to my hair. She digs her fingers through, and tilts my head to the side, before pushing it back against the couch. Before I can ask her what she's going to do, her lips connect with my throat. I've never been the type of guy who gets fucked up over necking, but goddamn when she drags her teeth against my flesh, my cock flexes against the zipper of my jeans. "Shiiitt....." I put my hands on her hips, holding her to me. "Whatever you do, don't stop that. It's so good." I tangle my fingers in her hair, holding her to me. "Can you feel me?" I thrust my hips up into her. "How hard I am? That's what happens when I get excited. That's one of the ways you'll be able to tell what I like and what I don't."

"Does it hurt?" She questions, those eyes of hers staring deep into my soul. "I was always told it was bad to make a man want you without taking care of them."

I reach forward, grabbing her chin with my fingers. "A real man can handle it. There is absolutely no reason a woman should be expected totake careof a man. Trust me when I say that to you. You're never going to have to worry about that with me, Val. I know that you'll learn that the more you touch me, but I want to continue to show you that you're safe with me."

She nods enthusiastically. "Can I keep going?"

I chuckle because she's gone from being completely timid, she's now excited to get back to what she was doing previously. "Yes, please do." I situate myself back against the couch, and expose my neck to her. "I'm ready when you are."

I don't dare close my eyes. I want to see what her face looks like when she decides what she's going to do. The moment she chooses, it's clear. Leaning forward, she nuzzles my throat, and then her lips connect to the flesh. She sucks, and the reaction in every part of my body is palpable. My heart rate increases, and I stretch my legs out in front of me to get some room for my cock.Digging my fingers into her hair, I hold her close, encouraging her to use that mouth of hers. Groaning, I hold on tight.

Val's hips start to grind into mine as she runs her lips and tongue up to my jawline. "I'm so hot." She moans, as she smears her kisses up to my ear, lightly biting at the lobe. "I don't know what I'm doing."

Fuck, my ears are one of my erogenous zones. "You're doing everything right. Just keep going."

"Can I rock my hips like this?" She questions, her nose flaring.

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