Page 31 of I'm Watching You

Richard pinned Christina’s hands down over her head as his heavy body pressed her into the mattress. She could feel his erection pressing against her skin and knew what would come next. His breath smelled of stale cigars and whiskey. She felt dirty and so unclean when he touched her.

She didn’t want his idea of lovemaking. She didn’t want him.

But she was careful to hide her revulsion and fear. The last time she’d tried to resist him, he’d slapped her hard across the face, and after he’d raped her he’d locked her in a dark closet all night long.

Richard thrust inside her, using as much force as he could.

She couldn’t suppress a wince.

He smiled and pushed into her again and again until tears spilled down her cheeks and stained the silk pillow under her head.

He slipped his hands under her buttocks and gripped hard. He was enjoying her suffering.

‘You love this, don’t you?’ he whispered against her ear.

Christina swallowed. She couldn’t bring herself to respond.

He straightened and slapped her hard against the face. ‘Say you love this.’

She tasted blood. ‘I do.’

Richard smiled, satisfied. He cupped her full breasts with his large hands. ‘I want us to have a child, Christina. I want a child to bind us together forever.’

Fear burned inside her. She begged God not to give her a child.

How had her life gotten so messed up? How had she slid from independence to this?

He moved inside of her, faster and faster. He fisted his fingers in her long dark hair and pressed his cheek to hers. His beard scratched her skin. His breath was hot against her face. Sweat dripped from his body.

‘Say you love me,’ Richard commanded.

She didn’t speak. Saying the words always made her ill.

‘Say it!’ he urged. He tightened his hold on her hair and pulled until sections started to come out.

Pain seared Christina’s scalp. She started to weep again. ‘I love you.’

He grunted, satisfied. Even in his own twisted way, he needed assurances. He released her hair and kissed her lips. ‘I love you, Christina. We’ll be together forever. Until death do us part.’

The words were heartfelt. He did love her. And at one time she had loved him.

Richard found his release. He collapsed on top of her, his body damp with sweat. Tenderly he stroked her hair.

‘We are destined to be together forever.’

Nicole Piper awoke with a start. Her mind was still clouded by the dream and for a moment she was confused and afraid.

She didn’t know where she was as she swung her legs over the side of the overstuffed couch. A book that hadbeen in her lap fell to the floor. Sweat dampened her brow. Her heart raced.

Drawn window shades bathed the room in near darkness and added to her disorientation. Overwhelmed by the sensation that she wasn’t alone, she frantically searched the living room’s shadowed corners for any sign of her husband, Richard.

A chill prickled her skin. ‘Who’s there!’

No one answered.

‘Richard, are you there?’

Still nothing. And yet the feeling that someone watched lingered.

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