Page 510 of Rage

It’s been three months since the night with Ryan. I’ve been able to get my life in some sort of order, and working at this diner is the next step to becoming financially independent.

Having control over my life has been hard, and I worry constantly that I’m going to fail. Burke has been there every step of the way, and although I ache for him, he only cuddles me every night. Nothing else has happened. It’s like he’s afraid I’ll shatter like glass if we take it any further. I wish he’d make a first move.

“Clara, funny seeing you here. I thought that boyfriend of yours didn’t let you work?” The nasal voice that haunts my nightmares is alive and well behind me. Exhaling, I spin around and grab a menu.

“Andrew, isn’t this far of a distance for you to travel?” With the black plastic menu in hand, I glance over his head, but he’s here alone. The dirty flannel jacket he’s had since I was young stares back at me, and I refuse to make eye-contact with him.

“It’s not every day that you hear your little stepdaughter is allowed out into the open. Had to see it for myself. I didn’t believe the guys down at the bar. Here you are in the flesh, though.”

I grit my teeth and plaster my customer service smile on as I push the menu across the counter. “The special of the day is?—”

“I’m not here to eat, Kitty Cat. I’m here to collect the debts you owe me.” Tearing my gaze from the stark white countertop, I look into his deep brown eyes, noticing the fine lines etched by time. The sneer on his face fills me with unease.

“I don’t owe you anything. I left in good standing when you kicked me out. Don’t you remember?” I bite the words out, and he leans against the counter.

The scent of his greasy, thinning hair coming closer, along with the same soap that’s haunted me most of my life.

“Oh, she’s gotten a spark back. Can’t wait to extinguish that.” He winks at me before turning on his heels and leaving the diner.

“It’s pretty quiet. You can clock out love,” Debbie says from behind me. I bite hard on my lip, fighting back the tears that threaten to fall. “You okay?”

I shake my head no, and her arm circles around me, and she hugs me fiercely.

She’s the motherly figure I’ve needed and wanted my entire life. No one has ever known the truth about my biological mother. She was just a whore who skipped out with the newest dick in town and left me with that monster.

“I’m okay.”

“Nope. I’ll call Burke. Sit in the back, girly-pop. Was it that old fucker that was in here?” I nod as she leads me to the back. “Alright, he’s not allowed to come back. Let’s wait for your ride.”

“I told you I’d be back to steal everything good in your life. Mark my words, Kitty Cat. I wasn’t lying when I said I’d collect.” Andrew’s voice wakes me from my sleep, and when I glance atthe end of the bed, he’s standing there as clear as day. “Scream and I’ll kill the knight in shining armour next to you. Come on down here, show daddy how much you missed him.”

Bile rises in my throat, and I scramble back on the mattress toward the headboard. I swear his sharp nails are digging into the skin on my ankle. A shriek escapes me as his hand circles my calf. I kick out.

“Clara, wake up. Come on, it’s a dream.” Burke’s strong voice breaks through the haze and when I open my eyes again, no one is in the bedroom except the two of us. Light creates shadows on the wall as he turns on the lamp. My heart pounds against my ribs, and I burrow myself into his arms. “It’s okay, Dragonfly, I got you.”

He’s been calling me the name for weeks, but it still makes me stare up at him like he has two heads. “Dragonflies, spiritually, mean change, transformation, and strength, and if that isn’t exactly fucking you, I don’t know what is.” He strokes my hair as I clench onto his shirt.

“It’s kinda dumb.” I laugh, breaking the tension in the room. My jaw hurts from clenching my teeth, and I do my best to breathe past the nightmare that rocked through me.

“What happened tonight?”

“Don’t worry about it. I’m sorry for waking you.” I pull away from him, but he doesn’t let go of my hair. The soft glow of his nightstand lamp covers his face, and his icy blue eyes gaze down at me.

“Clara.”

“Same nightmare as the last few. It’s so fucking real, though. I can feel the way he grabs me, and it’s not fair. I never asked for the things he did to me, the things he stole from me. None of this is fair, and it’s not reasonable to make you deal with it.” I glance down at the black duvet, playing with a string poking out.

“You are mine, and I won’t let anything happen to you.”

We’ve been dancing to the same tune for over a month. He’s so certain that he desires someone as broken as me, and I keep waiting for the music to stop and him to give up on me. Despite my fears, Burke has been my rock, and I want him as much as he wants me. But I need him to show me how much he claims I’m his.

“Claim me. Replace their hurtful touches with yours.”

Burke’s hand twists in my hair and pulls my face to stare up into his eyes. I’m not sure what he’s looking for, but I don’t have time to question it. His lips crush mine, and I melt into his arms. My heart races, and butterflies explode in my stomach.

I kiss back fiercely until we pull away, gasping for air. He releases my hair, ripping the covers back as he turns toward me. Burke’s naked muscular body greets me, and he cups my jaw, turning my head as his lips trail down my sensitive neck.

My nerves go wild, his touch igniting the fire within. As his head moves down to my nipples, he sucks before his teeth run over the tender tips. Moaning, I slide my fingers through his short salt-and-pepper hair. His hand slips down and grips my neck harder, and spots dance across my vision before he releases me. The loving dominance is something I crave.

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