from Pain to Pleasure (Gainesville Book 1) by Bella Jeanisse Page A

“He makes me do things.”
    Alex rubbed her back, dying for her to explain. “What does he make you do? It’s just you and me. No one else can hear us.”
    “He makes me dress slutty, and then lets them all touch me.” She gripped his shirt and bawled into it for a while. When she could talk again, she said, “Then he punishes me for it.” She wished she could take the words back, but she was compelled to tell him.
    He breathed deeply and kept his cool. He started to understand just a bit. Brian was some kind of psychopath. It was why she feared him. Reality meant nothing to Brian. Only his deranged perceptions mattered. It was much worse than Alex had thought.
    “How does he punish you?” He didn’t expect an answer, but he wanted to know.
    Her body shivered as an image of her punishment that night came to her. He had stripped her naked. Then she had screamed as he fucked her on the couch in front of all his friends.
    “Sex hurts so much. Why do people bother?” That never made sense to her. She knew even Brian was in pain sometimes afterward. Anyone else Brian let have her was rough as well.
    Alex froze. What does that bastard do to her? He needed to reassure her. He thought quickly, wanting to say just the right thing. However, he wasn’t sure what the situation really was.
    “Was Brian your first?” he softly asked.
    She nodded and clung to him. Her trust in Alex overrode her fear.
    OK, that makes sense. She doesn’t know any better . He had to show her Brian’s way was wrong. “Sex is not supposed to hurt, Danielle.” He frowned. “Well, it might for girls, the first time. But after that, it’s supposed to feel good.”
    With a shocked look, she glanced up. “It’s not? I thought it had to hurt for a guy to—to cum.” She tried to think of one time sex with Brian didn’t end in pain. None came to mind. It always did.
    “It doesn’t. I’ve never hurt a girl during sex.” Then he remembered the one virgin he had deflowered. Not on purpose, at least.
    He looked into her eyes. How can I convince her to let me show her what sex is supposed to be like? Maybe I should kiss her and see if she let it get that far? He was scared he would push her away, so he nixed the idea. Unlike with most women he was attracted to, he would wait for her. She was something special to him.
    Danielle was confused. Why does Brian get off on my pain? Then Brian’s abuse came to mind. He learned from an early age that other’s pain brought pleasure. His dad always enjoyed their nightly sessions, although Brian did not. Is he so twisted that he inflicts his abuse on me and calls it love?
    Alex hugged her tightly. “You’re shaking. It’s OK.” He kissed her hair, worried he made it all worse. “I’m sorry if I upset you.”
    She wanted to tell him that it wasn’t his fault. If it weren’t for him, she would still think sex was awful. How can I make Brian see he’s wrong without him knowing I discussed our sex life with Alex? If he knew how much more she wanted to tell Alex, how much she would rather be with a man like Alex, Brian would… She couldn’t even imagine the punishment.
    When other students came up the steps, Danielle wiped her tears and sniffled. “I’m sorry.” It was a soft, meek apology.
    “Hey.” Alex caressed her cheek. “You have nothing to be sorry for. You didn’t do anything wrong. He did.”
    Alex tried to kill the thought of beating Brian until he screamed, but it was no use. Even that much pain wouldn’t be punishment enough for all Brian had put Danielle through over the years. Alex could see in her eyes that it was even worse than he could imagine. He hoped she would confide in him again. She really needed to get it all out.
    “Let’s go inside,” he urged her and took her hand. “I’ll stay close.”
    The party was loud, with good music. There was a lot of drinking, as at most parties, but Danielle was naive. Brian didn’t drink because of his father’s alcoholism. Alex