Page 23 of The Dark Obsession

Spit splashes across my face with each word, his hot breath not enticing but fear-inducing. A great knot sticks in my throat, forcing me to choke out my words of denial, with no chance to swallow or even breathe before he pushes my face away. Where his hands have been, a burning sensation remains.

He turns his back to me and thunders from the room, leaving me with nothing but the crackling of the now dying embers in the fire.

My heart pulsates in my empty chest; my eyes well up with unstoppable tears. Each fleeting thought ends ridiculously with calling Rafael. I need to feel safe. I fall to my knees, an unmistakable mess. I want to cry. I want to scream, to run, but my body cowers to the floor as he enters the room and walks in my direction. I glance up, and for a split second, I’m not scared; I’m horrified.

“Rosa,” his shaking voice whispers. “I’m so sorry.”

I look up again. He’s on his knees next to me. I jump back a little, my body pushing against the sofa.

He holds his hands together, prayerlike. “Please, I didn’t mean this. I have been cheated on too many times before. I am scared of being hurt again.” He pauses, his eyes red and filled with tears. He puts his hand on my shoulder, ignoring my wincing, and lifts me to my feet. “My father left me with some bad traits, but I’m trying.”

I keep my eyes focused on my bare feet.

“I saw a part of my father in myself tonight. Listen to me, baby. Believe me when I say this won’t happen again. I will not let my father, nor his ways, break what we have.” He puts his finger under my chin and lifts my head, then wipes a tear from my cheek with his thumb. “Please.”

“I don’t know, Dale. Right now, I just want to go home, please.” I stutter between sniffs and hiccups. My body quivers.

“Okay, of course. I’ll drive you.” He proffers his hand and passes me my shoes, then leads me from the house.

I focus on my feet and follow like a puppy. Home is where I need to be, where I long to be, and where I’ll feel safe again, away from him.

Chapter 11

Rushing through my front door, I give Dale no sign of goodbyes or forgiveness. I notice my car parked on the road outside my house, just like Rafael said, before I slam the door behind me, letting my emotions really kick in. My head pounds relentlessly as I fall to the floor in a heap.

“Rosa,” I hear a voice echo from up the stairs. “Rosalie!”

Warm and familiar arms lift me off the floor. I’m safe; I’m home. My brother huffs as he carries me into the front room and sits on the sofa with me still safe in his arms. He rubs my back and tries to sit me upright, but my head falls back then lolls onto his shoulder. “What’s going on, Rosalie?”

“Nothing, Ben. Just a stressful day.”

“You don’t collapse on the floor because of a stressful day, Rosa.”

I stare into my brother’s wide, diamondlike eyes as they home in on my red cheeks.

He surveys me, then focuses in on my love-bitten neck and shoulders. “Who did that to you?”

“Nothing, Ben. Please …” I wobble from his arms and stand shakily. I walk to the front room door. “It’s just stress. Trust me.”

He jumps to his feet and grabs my wrist. “I don’t believe you for one second! What happened?”

I yank my arm from his grasp. “He’s just a bit rough.” My lip quivers before I sob out, “He wasn’t happy that I went with Rafael for dinner.”

“Did he hurt you?” Benjamin whispers.

I step closer to Benjamin, my skin crawling. “Not purposely,” I whisper, barely making a sound.

Benjamin’s arms shake as he wraps them around me. “Rose, I don’t want you near him again.”

I nod in agreement and turn to go upstairs. I drag my feet up the stairs as fast as my stiff muscles allow. I push open my door and scan my bedroom, half expecting to find Dale sprawled across my bed. I sigh in relief, then drop my dress onto the floor, and climb into bed. I squeeze myself into a little ball as mascara taints my tears that stain my white sheets. What could I have possibly done to make Dale do this? Maybe I was rude; maybe I didn’t consider his feeling. I question my ability to think. Of course, it must have been my fault to bring the worst out in him.

The ding of my phone jolts me from my trance.“I’m sorry.”

I hiccup as I smile sheepishly.“I’m sorry for making you mad, let’s start again.”I reply.

Another text comes through almost instantly.“Of course, I’ll text you tomorrow. Good night.”

I ponder what Ben has just said, about not seeing him again. Guilt fills me to the brim. A lump forms in my throat at the thought of Dale coming close to me.

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