Page 22 of Sacrificing Zoriah

“Zoriah,” Roman warns.

“Good night, Roman. Thank you for helping me,” I say as I turn to the door. Corbin is gone, and the door is shut now, so I pull it open. As soon as I am about to step out, he smacks it shut and turns me around.

“Zoriah, I am really trying here,” he says.

“Trying to baby me,” I frown. “I am far too tired to fight you, but I will. Please move.”

“Well, you dropped your shiv on the front porch when you got here. Sucks for you, so go lie down,” he says.

“Where are you supposed to sleep if I’m in your bed?” I ask with a sigh.

“In my bed, Zoriah. Where else do you think I’d be?” he says. “If you think I am leaving you alone for one fucking second, you are about to learn a lesson the hard way. Now, go lay your cute little ass in the bed so we can both get some rest.”

“You’ve already said you are not touching me until I say so,” I say with a defiant tone. “So, either make me and live up to your promise to fuck the attitude out of me or move your goddamn hand so I can go lay on the couch.”

Roman grunts his disapproval before leaning down and sweeping under my feet to pick me up. I unintentionally squeal as he carries me to the bed. He lays me down before reaching under my body to pull the covers out from under me. Once he has me covered, he leans down and whispers in my ear. “This is your last warning, mi amor. Don’t make me have to spend the rest of our lives apologizing for what I will do to you.”

I swallow hard and just look at him when he pulls back to study my face. I am not offended by his words. In fact, I want to pisshim off so he will hate-fuck me. I can be sore later. “Uh…” I say finally.

“I can see your thoughts, Zoriah,” he smiles sweetly. “They’re all over your face and between those gorgeous thighs you have pressed together.”

“Fuck, you’re hot,” I say bluntly. He chuckles at my honesty and sits beside me with one arm over my body as he props himself up on his hand. He takes my other hand into his and rests it on his thigh. “I’m sorry…”

“For what?” he asks.

“Being a pain in the ass,” I say. “I feel like I am losing my mind.”

“How so?”

“All I can think about right now is you fucking the life out of me all while my vagina is begging me to shut the fuck up. I am sore and tired, but it’s stuck in my fucking head,” I say. “I feel like what they did to me broke me… Like I am just as crazy as they are.”

“Riah, what you are feeling right now does not mean you are broken. Hypersexuality after sexual assault is a very normal and healthy response. You know the difference between consent and nonconsent because you literally just said that you knew I wouldn’t touch you because you didn’t say I could. I am not touching you right now, even if you say I can, because you just had a fifty-man train run on you. Trauma aside, your body needsto rest. I will not contribute to that pain. When you’ve rested for a few days, if you still want me to fuck the life out of you, I will learn CPR so I can bring you back and do it all over again. I love you, and I will let you lead the way because this is your show, not mine. I meant it when I said I would be anything you need me to be, including a booty call. Including a nurse. Including a boyfriend or even just a friend. Outside of that, there are still things I will not bend on. You will sleep in here with me because I cannot protect you if you are across the house if someone breaks in. You will not leave this house without me, Ben, or Corbin. When your dad is feeling better and stronger, then him also. At work, you will go to every meeting with me. Every break. Every trip. You are not my prisoner, but I have no problem making you feel like one if it means they never get to hurt you again.”

“I don’t know what to say,” I admit. “You are just so fucking sweet that it makes me want to cry again.”

“I don’t want you to say anything unless something is wrong,” he says. “Is anything wrong?”

“Uh… No. Not at all,” I say, trying to dampen my smile.

“Are you going to stay in bed?”

“Yes,” I laugh.

“Good girl. I am going to take a quick shower and come lie down with you,” he says casually as he stands and walks over and shuts the light off. Violent tremors quake through my bodythe moment I am unable to see. I cover my mouth to keep my sudden tears quiet, but he sits back down and pulls my hand away. “Talk to me, Riah.”

“I don’t like the dark,” I whimper. He leans over and switches the lamp on.

“Is that better?” he asks, wiping a tear from my cheek. I nod and go to roll to hide my face, but he stops me when he gently grabs my chin and shakes his head. “Don’t hide from me, please.”

“The reality of the situation is sinking in and… I just feel humiliated. From how I got here, to the state I was in, to you having to wash me. Now I am afraid of the dark. I am twenty-five, and the first thing out of my mouth was that I wanted my daddy. I feel like a fucking child but also a giant whore for all but telling you to fuck me. I’m out of my mind, and I don’t know how to make it better.”

“Zoriah, honey. Do you know how much it means to me that I was the first one you thought of when you escaped? I was the closest, yes, but you didn’t think to stop a random car or call the police. You came straight to me knowing that I would help and keep you safe. You being safe is all that matters to me. I don’t care what state you came here in because you came here alive. We didn’t have to go identify your body at a morgue. You see that, don’t you? You are a fucking survivor, Zoriah. You survived, and you will have to keep fighting to keep yourself above water, but you have us now. Lean on us for support because you know we won’t let you drown. Corbin and your father would cut off their own legs before they let anything happen to you. I would be right there with them, and I know Benwould do the same. Despite what you might think, we can keep up with you. You do whatever comes naturally, and we will be here to help. Okay?”

“Okay,” I say with a small voice.

“Do you want me to wait until you fall asleep to go shower?” he asks.

“Please,” I say.

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