F*ck me

Dallan chuckled. "You are such a baby," he said.

"At least, just finish the story. We will talk about who the baby is after that."

"Okay. So he came into my room and sat on the side of the bed. At this point, I was so scared that I backed into the headboard. When I looked up, I saw hurt in his eyes. He asked me if I thought he was going to hit me. I nodded. He looked really sad. I didn't understand it at that time, but now I do. My father never molested us, not once. We got disciplined when necessary, and it was always with love. He was hurt that I feared he would be ruthless even to his family."

By now, Hazel had gone silent, closely monitoring Dallan's eyes as they flickered with emotions. "He didn't want his family seeing him as the monster others saw him as," she supplied.

Desmond nodded. "I didn't understand it then. That night, he hugged me, kissed my cheek, and said the three words I had never heard from him."

"I love you?" Hazel asked quietly.

Desmond nodded again. "Yes, h