llen asleep

e hurt, like your body no longer trusted the clock. When I opened my eyes, the

y pulse. I pulled myself up with shaky arms, crawled to the b

idn'

n't in

skin. I dabbed antiseptic over them with what little was left in the cabinet a

ing the cloth whe

was lighte

nst hardwood, the familiar sound of keys tossed on the table,

as ca

was

the other pressing the cloth to my ribs. The mirror caught my reflection, smeared mascara,

eps stopped

't turn

cus said softly. Not apologeticall

wai

ame c

His voice was smooth now, almost gentle

dded

ed. But because I w

at first, then firmer. My body flinched under his touch, b

ured, his mouth near my ear

d the lump

ired,"

d, his hands sliding under the hem

move. Didn

ting never ma

silence w

ack as my ribs protested. His fingers found the edge of t

this?" he asked

as hel

e spot, softly, like that made it be

t kiss h

t meet h

ed to him. Something he'd paid for and now expected to use. His lips trailed

it down on my lip to keep from crying out. My sid

a hunger I didn't share. I closed my eyes and went somewhere else,

e said at one po

d

ier than what would

ists trembled where he pinned them above my head. And still, I s

he kissed my cheek

it was

blood that smeare

t ask if

other drink, and wandere

t day soon came and Marcus was out wit

ore

hts would cling too much to the cuts on my thighs. My blouse was

I lifted my arms, and the bruises along my hips screamed with ever

the trick,

nough and it al

need to. I could feel the way my body ached. I could still feel his

ere unfamiliar, like I didn't walk this same path every weekday morning. People m

vied

nto the building,

ors gleamed, the glass elevators hummed quietly, and the

dded

ride was sho

Shoulders squared. Eyes forward. Hands tucked into the sleeves of my blouse so no

n's door

his pocket, the other holding a folder. He didn't lo

t, sharp, dangerous when they linge

e said without tu

plied smoothly,

the edge of his desk, the

swept ov

way my body leaned too heavily on one leg. I didn't flinch when

look

n't sle

neve

on curled in the space be

es flicked t

tayed

ouse?" h

buried in the ba

choice f

ft smile. "It'

ian did

n't

y thread. I shifted slightly, turning toward my desk, hopi

Is

sto

asn't even cold. But it cut

enough to look

Ye

ment. Then, without warning,

omach

out

u look like you've been

ked onc

'm

ned. "You're a

dn't

e he wa

rowing the space. His eyes flicked to my hands again

like this yest

ired yest

His voice dropped sligh

sity, yes, but more than that. Restraint. Controlled conc

use I

se I h

softly, the words

n't believe me

e didn

, and handed it to me. Our fingers brushed, brief, but eno

e said, voice neutral again. "Then sched

ng the folder like

left hi

apart under that gaze. Not here. No

es were still fresh

l remembered everythin