I checked the trunk again to make sure I had all their stuff and the gifts from Santa that I had carefully hidden.
My grandparents lived over an hour away in a much nicer neighborhood than the one we lived in. We didn’t visit them much. My mom didn’t like for them to help us. I’d been bringing Tristan and Ivy to their house for Christmas since I could drive, and our mom always stayed behind. I knew Ivy still remembered previous Christmas’ we’d had with our mom, and it never ended well. Tristan was lucky enough to have never experienced it.
I pulled into the driveway of the nice two-story home. I wasn’t surprised when the door opened and my grandma appeared, her arms spread wide to welcome Tristan and Ivy into her embrace. I grabbed their suitcases, watching her chat happily with them as they beamed up at her.
I didn’t have a very good relationship with my grandparents. It was nothing like what I had with my mom, but I didn’t really know them. I’d never allowed myself to. My mom had made me wary of other people, and because of it I’d shut off my emotions. If you didn’t feel, the things people did to you could never hurt you.
As my mom got worse, I had reached out to my grandparents for Ivy and Tristan’s sake. I did enjoy being here though, it was peaceful, and I didn’t have to worry about my gross step-dad or my drunk mother.
I wheeled the suitcases up the pathway, the bag with the presents slung over my shoulder. Tristan and Ivy had gone inside, but my grandma waited, holding the door open for me.
“I’m sad you won’t be staying,” she smiled kindly, her eyes crinkling at the corners. “I was looking forward to spending time with all of you.”
“I’m sorry I can’t stay.” I placed the suitcases and bag by the steps, shoving my hands in the back pockets of my jeans. The house was clean, warm, and welcoming. The scent of cinnamon hung in the air. “Are you baking something?”
She nodded. “Cookies. Would you like some?”
I started to say no, but instead I found myself nodding.
“Come on then,” she closed the door and waved for me to follow her down the hallway to the kitchen.
I ran my finger along the marble countertops, smiling at the kids as they devoured the cookies.
Being in this house, and seeing how nice my grandparents were, made me question how my mom had become such a monster.
“Here,” she held out a baggy filled with snickerdoodle cookies. I gladly accepted them as she patted my cheek. “You’ve grown into such a beautiful young woman. I wish we saw you more often. All of you,” she smiled at Tristan and Ivy. “Please, don’t let your mom keep you away from us.”
I frowned. It wasn’t my mom that kept me away, it was my fear of abandonment. Keeping at a safe distance meant you couldn’t be disappointed by someone’s actions. I’d given Trenton a chance though, so why not them?
“We’ll try to visit more often,” I smiled. “I have to go,” I looked over at Ivy and Tristan. “Give me a hug.”
They dove at me, getting cookie crumbs all over my shirt and on the floor.
“I’m so sorry,” I lowered, stretching my arm out to pick up the crumbs.
“Don’t worry about it,” my grandma reached down, grabbing my arm and helping me up. Stray pieces of gray hair fell into her face. “Can I…can I hug you goodbye?”
“Yeah, of course,” I mumbled, as I hugged the woman. Was I such a horrible person that my grandma felt like she had to ask for my permission to hug me?
“I love you, Rowan,” she smiled as she led me back to the front door.
Love. There was that word again, the word that made me cringe and feel like my insides were curling in on themselves. Love was nothing but a lie in my mind.
“Mhmm,” I mumbled. Pointing at the bag I’d dropped on the floor earlier, I said, “Their presents are in there. Be sure to hide it.”
“I will,” she assured me, standing in the doorway as I headed to my car. “Have fun!”
I waved my hand and got in my car. I sat there for a moment, staring at the house and the happy picture it made. When had I gotten so messed up? When had my childhood innocence transitioned me into this hardened shell of a person? Would I ever be able to break free of myself?
Back home, I still had an hour before Trent was picking me up for our evening flight. I hadn’t packed yet. I had stared at my closet, willing the clothes to magically appear in the open suitcase, but so far that wasn’t working. Everything I owned didn’t seem like it was enough, but it would have to do. I didn’t have the money to go out and buy a whole new wardrobe.
I packed what I had that I felt would be acceptable for a city like Manhattan and zipped the luggage.
“Where are you going?”
I jumped at the sound of my step-dad’s voice. I hadn’t heard him come home. I guess since he’d been gone for a few days I expected him not to come back.
“I’m leaving for a week,” I answered.
“That’s not what I asked you,” he stepped further into my room and it felt like the aqua walls were closing in around me.
“I don’t see how where I’m going is any of your business,” I stood up straighter. I would not be intimidated and I would not act afraid. I was a strong woman and I wouldn’t let this insignificant piece of shit frighten me. Jim preyed on the weak, and I certainly wasn’t that.
He reached out, wrapping a strand of my hair around his finger and tugging—hard. My teeth ground together as I fought to control the wince that so desperately wanted to twist my face.
“Don’t. Touch. Me.”
The words were hissed between my teeth and they barely sounded human. I was sick of being afraid in my own house.
Jim clucked his tongue. “You can’t talk to me like that.”
He pushed me onto my bed, and all the air left my lungs as his body fell on mine, pining me to the mattress.
Panic shook my body. I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t move. I couldn’t think.
One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten.
The counting calmed me and helped to clear my head.
Jim pinned my wrists down and despite the fact that he was a scrawny man he was still strong.
One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten.
I counted again and then again.
His lips were sucking on my neck as he ground his hips into me. I knew screaming was futile. My mom was passed out drunk in bed, and the neighbors would never hear. I was on my own.
“Stop,” I tried to wriggle my arms free. “Stop it!”
“Shh, I know you want it,” he continued to suckle my neck. I was going to throw up.
“You asshole, last time I checked ‘stop’ didn’t translate to somebody wanting something!” I squirmed some more, but his hold didn’t lessen. “Let me go!”
I’d given him the perfect opportunity for this. Tristan and Ivy were gone, and he knew my mom would never wake up. If only I had already been gone.
A part of me had been anticipating something like this happening for a while. Disturbing, I know, but the guy was a creep.
My phone vibrated in my pocket and I prayed it was a text from Trent, saying he was here.
Counting on Trent to be outside waiting, I kneed Jim in gut. He grunted, releasing my wrists. His face was red with anger. He pulled his fist back to punch me, but I head-butted him in the face first. Blood spurted everywhere, and he fell to the ground, clutching his broken nose. “Bitch!” He spat.
My heart racing, I grabbed my suitcase and ran out of the house.
Trent wasn’t parked outside, like I had expected.
I felt myself beginning to panic. I turned around, looking behind me to see if Jim was coming after me. He wasn’t. I knew he wouldn’t, but I was still scared. I was out in the open, where any of the neighbors would see him attack me, and Jim wasn’t stupid.
My head throbbed painfully where I’d bashed my head against his nose, and I knew I’d end up with a killer headache. As I pressed my
hand against my head, I happened to look down and see blood—his blood—on my shirt.
My panic escalated, making my heart race painfully in my chest.
I needed it off.
One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten.
I dropped to my knees, my hands shaking as I wrenched off my shirt and tossed it somewhere in the snow covered yard. I didn’t care if one of the neighbors looked out and saw me in the yard in only my bra. I had to be rid of that shirt. I opened my suitcase and pulled out a sweatshirt, yanking it on.
I had just zipped my suitcase closed when I looked up to see Trent’s black car coming down the street. Thank God.
I wheeled my suitcase down to the end of the driveway. Trent was quick to hop out and take it from me, putting it in the trunk.
“Are you okay?” He asked, as he got in the car and looked over at me.
My knee was bouncing restlessly and I couldn’t stop my hands from wringing together. I knew I couldn’t play this off like it was nothing. This wasn’t my normal behavior and Trent wasn’t stupid.
“Just drive. I want to get away from here.”
“Row—”
“Please, Trenton,” I begged, my lower lip trembling with the threat of tears—tears I was determined to never let spill over.
He nodded and didn’t say anything as he put the car in drive.
I let out a sigh of relief, relaxing against the seat as we left my house and the horrendous people inhabiting it, behind.
A few minutes had passed before Trent spoke. “Now that we’re a safe distance from your house, can you tell me what happened?”
I scrubbed the palms of my hands on the fabric of my ripped jeans. I knew I had to tell him something, but I didn’t know what. If I opened up and told him what Jim had done, I knew Trent would turn around and go back to my house, most likely killing the man. Trent ending up in jail because of me, wasn’t something I was willing to let happen.
“It was nothing,” I waved my hand dismissively. “I got in a fight with my step-dad.”
He glanced at me out of the corner of his eye before turning onto the interstate. The muscle in his jaw ticked and I knew he was contemplating what to say next.
“Did he…hurt you?”
“It was nothing I can’t handle,” I mumbled, propping my head on my hand and looking out the window.
“Rowan,” his hands landed on my knee, “you can tell me.”
“It was nothing,” I repeated yet again. Maybe if I said the words enough I’d start to believe them.
He sighed, scratching his jaw. “I know you’re not telling me something. I’m not dumb, Row, but I’m not going to push you for information either. I want you to open up to me because you trust me, not because I’m pressing you.” He sighed, turning down the music in the car.
I closed my eyes, leaning my head against the cold glass.
I couldn’t love.
I couldn’t trust.
And without those two very important factors, how could I ever live?
“Rowan?”
I opened my eyes and lifted my head to look at him. “Yeah?”
“I want us to have fun on this trip, okay?” He waited for me to nod before continuing. “I understand that there’s things you don’t want to tell me, and I’ll respect that…for now,” he eyed me. “Whatever happened with your step-dad, let’s just put that behind us.”
I wanted to kiss him. That was how thankful I was to know he was dropping this. I knew Trent had to be itching to ask me more, but for the sake of not pushing me too far, he was going to let it go.
“Thank you,” I smiled at him gratefully, reaching for his hand.
His eyes flickered down to where I had entwined our fingers together. I knew he was a bit shocked by the gesture since I wasn’t the biggest fan of handholding.
He gave my hand a slight squeeze, his eyes watching the road ahead of us.
“Have you ever been on a plane before?” He asked.
I couldn’t contain my laughter at his very poor change of subject. “Never,” I answered, choosing not to call him out.
“So, I’m taking it you haven’t been into the city either?”
“No,” I shook my head, looking out the side window at the farmland rushing past us.
“This is going to be fun,” he laughed, sounding like an excited little boy.
“Something tells me I should be afraid of your excitement.” I couldn’t help but smile. Now that so many miles were between my home and us, I was feeling looser…more free. It helped that Trent wasn’t pressing me for information. I was happy that, for now at least, he was respecting my privacy.
“I promise you have nothing to be afraid of,” he winked.
“Mhmm,” I mumbled doubtfully.
“We’ll do some sightseeing, but in all honesty, I’m really not that interested in showing you the city,” he grinned.
“Oh, really…and what is it you’re so excited to show me, then?”
“The bed.”
“The bed?” I laughed.
He nodded excitedly. “It’s a big bed. With fluffy pillows.”
“And are we just going to lay on this bed?”
“Hmm,” he pretended to think, “I might kiss you…if you’re nice to me.”
“Is that it?” I smiled, liking this game.
“If you appreciate my kisses, and you’re really nice to me, I might take your clothes off.” He tapped his fingers on the steering wheel.
“What about your clothes?” I countered.
“Oh, they’ll come off in time, if you’re really, really nice to me. I have to make you work for it,” he chuckled. “This,” he took his free hand off the steering wheel for a moment to wave at his body, “is a work of art, and only special people are allowed to feast their eyes upon its magnificence.”
“So, what happens once we’re both naked?” I bit down on my lip to stifle my laughter.
He bit his lip. “I might touch you, but only if—”
“I’m really, really, really, nice?” I interrupted.
“You’re catching on,” he winked.
He released my hand, his skimming up my thigh and resting dangerously close to where I needed him most. “I’d really like to touch you here,” he whispered huskily, his fingers skimming over the seam of my jeans and making me squirm. My legs snapped together and he chuckled. “Open your legs.”
Slowly, I did as he asked.
His fingers brushed against there again and my eyes closed as my breath faltered. After another stroke, his fingers were gone. I opened my eyes and looked over at him. He wore a smug smile. “Don’t worry, there’s more where that came from, but you’re going to have to wait.”
The Wentworth’s had a private plane.
I mean, of course they had a private plane.
But I hadn’t been expecting it.
I had been nervous for the flight, having never been on a plane before. Trent was an excellent distraction though. Well, his lips were.
We departed the plane and a sleek black car was waiting for us. I felt like I had stepped into a dream or something. Surely this wasn’t real life.
One man placed our luggage in the trunk of the car, while the driver got out to open the door. Trent slid inside and I followed him.
I looked around the dark inside of the car like it was the coolest thing I had ever seen. Trent watched me, a smile playing on his lips that he tried to hide behind his hand.
“To the Penthouse Mr. Wentworth?” The driver asked, driving towards the exit.
“Yes,” Trent smiled at my wide-eyed expression.
Penthouse.
This was too much.
I didn’t belong in this kind of world—of fancy houses and cars. I was certainly wowed by the luxury surrounding me, but it also served as a reminder as to how different we were.
My mouth dropped open as we drove into the city.
The skyscrapers, the lights, the people…all o
f it didn’t seem real.
“Wow,” I gasped, turning in my seat to see better.
“Are you happy you came?” Trent asked, brushing my hair off my shoulder.
I nodded. “Thank you…this is amazing.”
“Don’t thank me yet,” he grinned, twisting the leather bracelet around on his wrist, “the fun hasn’t even started.”
The driver made a sharp turn and suddenly we were descending into darkness. I hadn’t even noticed the parking garage I’d been so absorbed by everything else.
The driver parked beside an elevator and hopped out to get the door for us. He offered me his hand and helped me out.
“I’ll have someone bring up your bags, Mr. Wentworth,” the man said, smoothing his fingers down his emerald green tie. He appeared to be in his fifties with graying hair and kind brown eyes.
“Thank you, John,” Trent said, shaking the man’s hand. I wasn’t sure, but I was positive I saw Trent slip some money into his hand. “Come on, Row,” his hand touched my waist, guiding me to the elevator. “Let’s get settled before I show you the city.”
He pushed the button for the elevator and I looked over my shoulder to see John pulling away.
The elevator doors opened and my jaw fell.
I never knew an elevator could be so fancy. The floors were covered in marble and the walls and ceiling were covered in a dark wood paneling.
“Based on how fancy this is,” I remarked, looking around the elevator in awe as we stepped inside, “I’m a bit scared to see what the penthouse looks like.”
Trent chuckled, inserting a key into a slot and turning it, then pushing a button.
The elevator began to ascend and with each floor we got higher, my heart raced faster.
It finally stopped on the very top floor and I held my breath as the doors opened.
I let out a gasp as Trent grabbed my hand, leading me inside.
The foyer area had marble floors, similar to what was in the elevator, and a round table sat in the middle with a large flower arrangement.
He pulled me through an archway and I gasped at the view. Windows spanned the whole back wall, and it felt like the skyscrapers were inside the room. “This is stunning.” I walked up to the windows, placing my palm against the glass. There was a small terrace with a fancy table and chairs set.
Tempting Rowan Page 17