but he watched me from his car as I left the restaurant. I already made eye contact, so if I left now, he would be angry.
"What was that all about?" I asked, as I pulled the passenger side door closed after getting into the seat.
His lecherous grin made my gut churn. For a moment, I thought he would rip my pants off again and take me right there in his car, but he turned the key, the engine roaring to life.
"I can't get enough of you, Haleigh," he said.
His gaze lingered on another woman who passed us in the arms of who I assumed was her boyfriend. It wasn't me he couldn't get enough of, it was sex, and it was getting worse. Regardless of where we ate, we would end up having sex in the bathroom. He even told me he didn't want me wearing underwear anymore because it got in the way. He removed all the underwear from my drawers, leaving me no choice.
Then the visits increased. He met up with me between classes now too, and often he would pull me into a semi-secluded spot and have his way with me there. He bought me short skirts, saying it would be easier for our little trysts. All he needed to do was lift it for easy access. Soon, the only time I spent away from him was in my classes, and it was overwhelming. Not only that, but people noticed. I went from being the shy girl who hung out with Alexis, to being the "whore on campus". People I didn't know pointed at me and whispered to their friends when I passed. I hadn't been this humiliated since leaving Hawaii. Something had to change.
Chapter 7
I was glad when the weekend arrived. Kurt and I needed to discuss his recent behavior. So when I sat down at the table to eat my breakfast, I decided it was as good a time as any. I held his hand, hoping that would soften the blow.
"Kurt? You know I love spending time with you, but seeing you every moment of the day is getting to be too much. We need time apart as well. I'd like to see some of my other friends too. I'm feeling a little smothered, and I just need—" I squealed when he squeezed my hand so tight my knuckle cracked.
Throwing my hand to the side, he stood over me, scowling, and backhanded me so hard I fell out of the chair. The coppery taste of my blood filled my mouth.
Kurt bent over me, wrapping his fist in my hair. "You stupid fucking bitch. Do you think I don't know what's going on?" He shook my head and slapped me repeatedly as he spoke.
I shielded myself with my arm as I cried out. Why was he acting like this? "I don't know what you mean."
"You've been dating that bastard Dominic behind my back." He lifted me by my hair so I was now on my knees.
"No, it wasn't a date, and it was just the…"
Kurt punched my gut. "I know you've got the hots for him. I saw how you looked at him at the play party."
He dragged me across the floor. I tried to free myself from his grip, but he pulled my head back and slapped me again. We stopped in front of a door he had always kept locked. I assumed it was storage space, but when he opened it, stairs lead down into a basement. He flicked the switch on the wall, but he didn't give me a chance to get my feet under me before he dragged me, thumping from step to step. When we reached the bottom he tossed me onto the cold, hard cement floor.
"Please, Kurt. I swear I never did anything with him. It was one lunch."
He kicked me in the stomach, and I curled into a ball, suddenly terrified. Did he plan to kill me?
"Did I tell you to speak?"
"No," I said, my voice quavering.
"Then shut your mouth."
I sobbed and hoped he would stop hurting me if I appeased him.
"Sit up," he ordered.
I struggled into an upright position. As I did, I took a quick glance around the room and gasped. In one corner was one of those wooden x-shaped things I'd seen at the play party. In fact, it reminded me a lot of Brant's basement, except that this one wasn't finished. The floor was stained, unpainted cement, and the walls were white-washed cement blocks. It reminded me more of what I'd picture a
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