Free Screaming in the Silence by Lydia Kelly Page A

knew he wasn't going to allow me to name my own terms, but this was more of a favor than anything else. "I'm not strong enough to stop you from taking what you want. But I'm also not strong enough to live with the abuse of being thrown aside when you're finished. All I ask is that when you're done, don't dismiss me like an afterthought. Let me stay for a moment so I can at least pretend that everything is going to be all right."
    His eyes softened again and he nodded. His hands gently lowered me back to the blanket and he positioned himself over me. "You will never feel alone again," he said before brushing his lips against mine. His kiss was passionate and gentle but I sensed the conflict in him. He was worried I would change my mind, start to fight him off. I could tell how badly he wanted me.
    He kissed me for what seemed like hours that day, slowly stripping away not only layers of my clothes but of my defensive wall as well. The noon sun found us lying side by side, me in nothing but my bra and panties, Kaden in only his boxers, our eyes closed in the resigned comfort of our new understanding.

Chapter 11
     
    "Raleigh, Darling, are you awake?" My mother's voice sounded like a distant whisper. I opened my eyes and realized she was standing over my bed. I was too uncomfortable to speak or to move, so I blinked at her from behind my heavy eyes.
    "How are you feeling today?" She asked, knowing very well that I wasn't going to respond.
    "You look much better," she continued, wiping the perspiration from my clammy face.
    I looked across the room as she turned her head. My father had entered the room, but I hadn't heard him. I saw his lips moving as he spoke to my mother but I couldn't hear the words. His face looked worn and his eyes looked tired. His head nodded towards the door and I felt my mother stand up. I watched her walk across the room and place a hand on my father's arm. But he wouldn't look at her. His eyes moved to my bed and I blinked under his stare. I had never seen him act so cold.
    My mother left when my father didn't acknowledge her, hanging her head and wiping away tears. As the door closed, my father walked slowly to my bed, his heavy eyes now filled with sadness and worry.
    I started to shiver as a cold wave passed over my body. My father looked at me helplessly and put a hand over his mouth as he choked back a sob. My body started to shake uncontrollably and my eyes closed in response to the terrifying tremors.
    "
Raleigh
?" I heard my father say.
    "
Raleigh
, wake up!
Raleigh
!"
    My eyes opened and I blinked at the sunlight. I could feel Kaden's lips on my ribs and looked down to see his dark hair just below the curve of my breast. He must have felt me move because he looked up and smiled.
    "I didn't want to wake you, but you're starting to turn pink."
    I looked down and saw that indeed my chest and belly were starting to redden in the afternoon sun. I pushed myself onto my elbows and looked at Kaden, his head resting nonchalantly on my lower abdomen, resisting an urge to reach up and run my fingers through his unruly black hair.
    He stared back for a moment, a casual smile still on his face. His lips returned to my skin. He kissed down my stomach and paused before reaching up and slipping a finger under the elastic band of my panties. Defensively, I crossed my legs and sat up, moving my hips away from his face. His head swung in defeat just above my knees before he sat up and reached for his shirt.
    I watched for only a second as he pulled the fabric over his head and covered the muscles of his shoulders and stomach. I quickly followed suit, reaching for my clothes and pulling them on. Kaden wasted no time lifting the blanket off the dock before throwing it over his shoulder and walking back toward the trees. I wasn't eager to leave the serenity of the lake, but I wasn't in a position to demand or ask for anything. Kaden stopped at the beginning of the path and turned to face me.
    "Hold my hand," he