Sitting across from Amani, I cross my left leg over my right and I lean back into the sofa giving him my undivided attention. I wasn't there for him two years ago when he needed my shoulder to lean on. But, I'm here for him now, I may be tired, sore, and worried about Dmitri... But those feelings are going to have to take a backseat ride until Amani is content with what he's shared with me. He leans forward in his seat, spreads his legs wide open, dipping his head, he watches the bottle of whiskey in his grasp, swinging back and forth. Silence lingers between us. Heightened emotions are soaring high, and the beating of our hearts hammers against our ribcages. "It is such a taboo topic for a male to speak about being raped." He speaks with venom lacing his words as he starts to open up. "Whether it be by a male or a female. But it is so much worse; degrading when you try to tell the authorities that you were sexually violated by a female half your size. The men all but laugh in
I jolted awake with a whimper that was stifled by the sweaty palm pressed against my mouth.The heavyweight was cutting off my air supply as another hand glided up my nightgown, it was rough, kneading and bruising. Fear, surprise, and alarm gripped me. I thrashed against the bed, kicking my legs frantically."No... Please, stop... What are you doing... you are hurting me..."Panting erratically, my legs were suddenly yanked apart. The hard thing between his legs rashly poked... stabbed my inner thigh.My lungs feel like they are on fire, he's strong, and no matter how hard I try to push him off me, he's just too heavy. I'm a prisoner in my own bed."Stop... Get off me... Please! No.. don't touch me there, not there... it hurts... Why are you hurting me?"Mummy!!!The man's hand pressed down on the side of my face, forcing my head into the pillow. The more I struggled, putting up a fight, the more excited he became.Panting horrible, vile words against the hard shell of my ear, he fo
"Tesoro [Treasure], Listen to the words that are coming out of my mouth very carefully," He says fiercely, taking no prisoners. "No one is going to touch you, no one can get to you ever again, they would have to get through me first."My fingers bite into his skin as they tighten around his comforting words."And that will never happen." He says with conviction.I speak through the ache in my throat, "He's dead," my voice shudders, "My mother had come in to check on me, with Uncle Viktor by her side like she usually did. But this time, something had compelled her to come to check on me earlier and she told Uncle Viktor to bring her gun with him. Just as my attacker was..." I sniffle, shaking my head as I release a shuddering breath, "... just as he was entering me, stretching my insides... the light came on, and my mother yelled something out in Russian. She took the gun Uncle Viktor had passed her and ... She shot him." I whimper, letting the torrent of tears free; releasing the press
I exit the ensuite wrapping my towel around my body a little tighter than I usually would. For some odd reason, I feel dirty, my body tingles with a forbidden sensation that has me questioning my sanity. How could I want to be touched, sexually after my night's terror and by Amani, whom I'm not in a relationship with? Does masturbating in the shower thinking of an ex make me a cheater? Is there something mentally wrong with me? Shouldn't I be feeling sorry for myself and sick to my stomach? There are so many emotions bomb barding my mind and I don't know what to make of it. As I peer up, I see Amani sitting on the foot of the bed with his head dipped, and wearing just a pair of sweats. I falter in my strides and gasp with surprise as my heart momentarily ceases, and my breath hitches. He looks up through narrowed eyes, they slowly glide up my body, drinking in each inch of my exposed flesh and I gnaw on my inner cheek suppressing a soft moan. As his gaze trails up my body,
I step out of the uber out front of the airport and I slam the door behind me. The icy cold feeling of bitter annoyance at myself invades my mind like a plague. I still can not believe I pulled a fucking gun on Amani. He didn't deserve it but in the heat of the moment, I didn't know what else to do. If I had told him to stay, he would have fought me at every corner until I gave up. I walk through the airport cautiously looking over my shoulder, scrutinizing everyone near and far from my proximity. I'm so out of my element, if someone was to rush up behind me, place a pillowcase over my head and shove me into the back of a white van with blacked-out windows, I'd still be trying to find my voice to scream for help. "Hello, my name is Alicia, thank you for flying with us, how may I help you?" A petite female with exotic taupe colour eyes addresses me with her focus on the computer in front of her, and her fingertips effortlessly glide across the keyboard. I pull out one of my alias
I leap from my seat and gaze menacingly at the sassy cow, imagining myself lunging at her, tackling her to the ground as I begin to pull her hair, and slamming her skull against the bottom of the trolley cart.I can smell the sweet scent of copper and molasses assaulting my senses, and I lick my lips as my toes curl in my shoes, keeping myself rooted on the spot."What the hell are you doing here? You do know that it is a crime to stalk people right?" I hiss as I suck on my upper teeth. "Ha ha!" She chuckles in a menacing tone, "Don't flatter yourself, Caterina Kozlov." She cocks her hip against the trolley cart as her eyes slowly roam up my body, gorging my appearance like she is trying to piece back a puzzle that has mysteriously landed in front of her. "Take a picture, it will last longer." I internally cringe with my outdated comeback."No need, by the time the owner of the jet arrives, I'm sure he will realise his mistake and kick you off. Besides, how old are you? 17...""Not
I gaze out the window as the jet glides through the sky as if it were on sleek and perfect tracks.The scenery is breathtaking, like a paradise that you could only reach through the clouds; just out of your grasp.Every single nerve in my body is vibrating, and every single pore on my skin is throbbing and prickling with the soft hum of the engines.It's so much different flying by jet than by plane. The silence between Amani and me is perfect. I hate looking in his eyes, being reminded of the passionate moments we innocently shared. Being in his presence is stirring old feelings.Feelings that should be dormant and have no right to confuse me. "So... what's the plan?" He asks, potentially derailing us from one heated conversation into another.I tuck my hair behind my ear as I frown looking at the table that separates us, in silence."Christ, Zeynep!" He growls, "You don't have one do you?" "I'm going to Diamond Ridge Construction," I state bluntly."And?""And... I'm going to d
As the car comes to standstill in front of the Diamond Ridge Construction building, I glance over my shoulder at Amani. He nods his head, I sigh and wait for our driver to open my door. I step out of the car, look up and admire the enormous structure which my family owns. I tip my head upwards and follow the building's line all the way to the sky's gloomy ocean. Rain is coming. The kind of rain that makes your bones ache. The dark grey sky is streaked with dry lightening that splinters the crack of pain even deeper. There's only so much a woman can take. Only so far she can be pushed to the brink and still somehow want to survive. I focus my attention back on the building.The Diamond Ridge structure is truly magnificent, the skyscraper pierces the marshmallow clouds and it's a structured design I have never seen before. It's completely different to the building back home.I turn around, my eyes scan the street and I quickly notice the fleet of black SUVs stationed across the road.