Page 33 of Dark Knight

“Your family, that’s not how it should have been for you, Bea,” Ariel says, stretching across the counter to hold my hand. “That’s not how most families are.”

“I know.” But I don’t, really. I only know what I've experienced.

“We’re your family now.” Lake lifts a hand to wrap across my shoulders and lays her head on me. From the look on Ariel’s face, I get the feeling this isn’t something Lake ordinarily does. I can feel the hurt in the girl. In the way she watches people around the house. The way she moves. Especially in the way she’s been trying to connect with me all day.

Lake has suffered.

She’s a kindred spirit, and I hate that for her so much.

“Excuse us,” Ariel whispers, pulling a confused Lilith from the room.

I wait a few minutes, thinking they’ll come back, but when they don’t, I ask Lake bluntly, “What happened to you?”

Startled, her hold on me tightens, and I feel bad for putting her on the spot, but I won’t take it back. From the things I keep hearing around the house and the way Nolan spoke of his sister earlier, I don’t think anyone has a clue what she's endured.

“I won’t judge, you know. and I won’t tell another soul unless you ask me to.” Her tear-filled face lifts to stare at me. Her wide blue eyes exhibit a need to unburden herself. “Not even Nolan,” I promise her.

“I knew your sisters…before.” That surprises me. “We went to the same private school, though they were some years ahead. But they knew who I was, who my family was.” I nod; I’m getting a pretty good idea about who the family is now, as well.

“I used to go to summer camps. Every year, it was something I looked forward to. Sometimes, I would get to go to a couple of different ones a summer. A few years ago, I went to a new one.” She turns to face the counter we’re sitting at, staring at the wall above the stove.

Remaining silent, I let her speak at her own pace. “It was fun at first. There were so many new people to meet. New games. New friend groups and activities.” Crossing her arms on the counter, she lays her head down and turns her face towards me. “I just wanted to be liked.”

Matching her action, I stare straight at Lake when I say, “I like you. You’re the best friend I’ve ever had, and I’ve only known you a day.” Whatever hurt she's suffered, Lake is one of the best people I know.

“Thank you.” She sniffles. “Your sisters, they…they were cruel. I don’t understand why I was targeted, but they paid a group of boys to do things to me. Things I can’t talk about. They ruined me. The demons that haunt me are never going away, and I can never recover what they took from me. I have to learn to live with it, and I’m terrified I’ll be alone forever.”

Pulling her into my arms, I sense her heartbreak and wish I could ease some of it. Help in some way. Ariel pops in and rushes to Lake’s side. Mouthing a thank you to me, she rushes the crying girl out of the room while Lilith returns to cooking.

“She hasn’t spoken before about what went on then. What you did just now, whatever she told you, whatever you did for her, thank you.” I hear the tears in Lilith’s voice.

It appears this family has been through absolute hell, and they’re all trying to navigate their way around the agony they each feel.

“Bea.” Nolan stands in the entryway, hair wet from a shower, shirtless, and wearing loose shorts. His heated gaze has me rising to my feet.

“See you later.” Lilith winks as Nolan pulls me out of the kitchen.

Dropping down, he presses a shoulder into my stomach and lifts me over his shoulder. “Oh crap!” I laugh, closing my eyes as he rushes up the stairs, slamming the door shut behind us and putting me on my feet.

“Strip” is his only instruction. This isn’t like the first time we were intimate or the second or third. There’s an intensity to Nolan that I’ve never seen, and I find myself yearning for more of it.

Nipping my lip, I turn my back on Nolan. When I hear him growl, a mischievous smile spreads across my face. “Don’t turn your back on me, little girl.” His warning is menacing.

“I would never.” I drop the shorts and panties I’m wearing. Stepping out of them, I lift one knee to rest on the bed.

“You’re playing with fire, Bea.” I can tell he's gotten closer. I practically feel his harsh breathing down my neck, but he doesn’t touch me. Not yet.

Crossing my arms, I grab the hem of my shirt, pulling it up and over my head before dropping it on the floor. “Little girl.” There’s a hitch in his breath I haven’t detected before.

Leaning down, I crawl forward a few feet before bending over to place my chest and head against the mattress with my hips in the air and hold my wrists at the small of my back while spreading my knees apart.

“Fuck,” he mutters, and the rustle of fabric sinks in as he drops his shorts before I feel the bed dipping as he climbs on behind me. “Are you submitting to me, Bea?” Desire permeates his tone.

Meeting his stare from behind, I swallow at the look in his eyes before tormenting him with, “Yes, Daddy.”

“You’re fucking decadent, little girl. A gift I surely don’t deserve, but I’m never giving you back. You understand me?” I nod as I lick my lips, eager to know what he wants to do with my submission.

“Good.” His hands cup my ass cheeks, massaging and squeezing as he shifts closer, pressing his engorged length between my legs. Rubbing it along my soaked pussy. It blows my mind that Nolan can take me away from the world with a look, a touch, a simple compliment. He makes me forget all the abysmal things that have transpired.

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