Page 70 of The Dark Obsession

Revulsion and hatred fill my body. My stomach heaves, acid filling my mouth. I struggle to swallow it down.

“Rosalie, you don’t seem to realise just how much I love you.” He moves around to face me, always keeping contact.

I see his pale face, his jaw set, as if chiselled from stone.

His dark eyes flicker unusually fast when he looks me up and down. A thick stream of saliva drips from his lips through his bared teeth. “You really look delicious tonight.” He drags his finger down the middle of my chest and stops at my jeans.

“Get off me,” I whisper through clenched teeth.

He savagely grabs my face between his large hands, his nails burrowing into my cheeks. His wet lips smack against mine.

I don’t move. I squeeze my eyes shut, recoiling from the wetness he tries to force between my lips with his tongue.

A loud groan shatters his effort to remain quiet. The silent night disintegrates into a strange crashing sound.

I scrunch my eyes closed tighter. Something collides with my shoulder, causing me to shout out and I land awkwardly onto Rafael’s bed. It’s like I’m unable to move, I can feel Dale’s hands pressing me down into the mattress. The banging grows louder as the bedroom door rattles.

“Rose,” Rafael’s voice calls angrily.

“I’ll see you soon, baby.” His eyes are the only thing I can see and they stare manically into mine. He leans into my paralysed body, his tongue moving swiftly from my cheek and down my neck. Dale lets out another repugnant groan and turns from me.

I lie still, the heavy banging against the door getting louder.

“Rosalie,” Adriel says in a calmer tone. “Talk to us.”

“If he’s done anything to her—” More banging drowns out Rafael’s words.

I sit up unsteadily, finally free from Dale’s grasp. “Raf.”

“Rose,” Rafael says hysterically, and with a loud thud, the door snaps open.

The light flicks on, blinding me momentarily. A lot of hurried movement passes throughout the bedroom. A cool hand moves my shirt to cover my chest, then touches my head.

“Rose,” Rafael’s voice shakes. “Look at me.”

I stare at his red and watery eyes. He’s frowning. I try to figure out if he’s mad or upset. I struggle to answer, I’m lost in my own head with no way out right now.

Rafael’s fingers brush across my cheek. He blinks several times at me, then at his hand.

A stinging sensation prickles my skin where Rafael’s fingers just touched.

“You’re bleeding.” Rafael inspects the side of my face. His skin whitens as we speak; the vein which runs up his neck bulges.

“We need to call the police,” Adriel says from the balcony.

My heart thuds again. “No!”

“Rafael …” Adriel begins as he walks into the room.

Rafael tilts my face in his direction so I’m looking at him and raises a finger to silence Adriel. “Why not, Rose?”

“I can’t deal with more.” My eyes flood with tears. “Please, maybe he’ll stay away now.”

“Don’t be naïve.” Adriel hurries back to the balcony and looks outside.

“Not tonight.” I rest my head on Rafael’s hand.

“What if there is a next time, and it’s worse?” Adriel’s voice grows louder as he returns to the bedroom.

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