Page 38 of I Shouldn't Feel This Way

“No.”

“Take it off.”

“No! Why?”

“Why are you so fucking stubborn? Take it off!” I closed the gap between us, unzipped her coat, and pulled it off her body by force. It fell to the ground.

I didn’t know what the hell was happening, but I could sense my self-control abandoning me with every passing second. The beast within was breaking the shackles off the wall, and I was worried because soon there would be nothing left to hold me back from her.

I swallowed hard and searched her eyes. She was scared of me. I could see it and feel it.Good.

“You don’t care about me!” Aria was furious, and it felt like instinct to pull her in my arms and convince her otherwise. But I resisted. “You don’t love me! You never have!”

I heatedly glared at her and controlled the anger in my voice as I said, “You don’t know half of what I feel for you.”

She stared at me, and I stared back with intimidation, causing her to retract.

It was happening. My right wrist went free, as the metal shackles fell to the ground. Now there was only the left side binding me, keeping me chained to the wall. I could feel my demon getting wilder, struggling to free itself from the prison in my mind.

“I hate you! I hate you, Noah!” She took another step back, and I matched her steps.

“The line between love and hate is very thin, Aria.” My chest was exposed, and I let her stab dagger after dagger deep into my heart because I was her father, I could survive it. But I still refused to cry in front of her.

“I want to go home. Take me home!” She stood her ground, refusing to give in.

I closed my eyes, clenching my jaw and focusing all my strength, as the gatekeeper that protected all my thoughts finally walked away from the door with the sign that read DO NOT ENTER. He was aware of what was waiting for me on the other side, and he knew there was no point in protecting it anymore because I had gained full knowledge of what was behind it.

I watched myself break free, rubbing both wrists before walking through the forbidden threshold. There was nothing and no one left to restrain my demon now. Expecting to enter into pitch darkness, I was stunned by a blast of white light that nearly blinded me. When my vision regained its focus, all I could see was a big, tall tree that had rooted itself on top of a clear, calm lake. The sky was champagne gold, splashed onto a pink canvas without a cloud in sight. From the distance I noticed a few air bubbles, as a head emerged from the water … and then shoulders, arms … Someone was walking out of the lake toward me.

There she was, just as I knew she would be. I was staring right at angel eyes. She was wearing a wet white dress that outlined her hourglass figure. The shape of her breasts and slender thighs were visible underneath the soaked fabric. Aria stepped toward me, holding out a golden apple in her right hand; it shimmered and sparkled magnificently in her palm. She smiled and waited for me to accept her generous offering. As much as I knew that I should resist, I wasted no time and took a bite … Another blast of white light.

“Take off your shirt.”

Everything happened so slowly in my head. It seemed hard to believe that only five seconds had gone by this entire time.

Aria looked at me, confused, placing one foot behind her.

“Take it off—everything—now,” I demanded, moving closer like a maddened, hungry wolf. But she didn’t move. “Am I not making myself clear?” I reached for the buttons of her jeans and unfastened them, unzipping her fly and pulling her pants down aggressively. I was more beast than man at the moment.

She pulled off her shirt and stepped out of her jeans.

“You win, Aria.” I set my conscience on fire, lifted her over my shoulder, and walked into the bedroom. She gasped as I threw her down on the bed and effortlessly ripped her panties off.

Fuck, she’s waxed. That can only mean …

“You little liar—you said you’re a virgin.”

“I am!”

“Well, I guess I’m about to find out.”

“Daddy, please—”

“What did you just call me?” I narrowed my eyes at her. “Daddies don’t fuck their daughters, Aria. If you want me as your lover, then say my name,” I commanded. “Say my fucking name!”

I was insanely power tripping.

“Noah, please go gentle,” she weakly uttered.

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