Family Drama 4 E-Book Bundle. Leah Fleming

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      Her white face staring at him wide-eyed with fear spurred him on. He raised a hand, slapping her across the mouth. ‘Shut up – bitch!’

      With another yank her knickers came apart, and as she cried out again he fumbled with his trousers. With a swift movement he thrust into her, grinning with delight at her yelp of pain.

      She writhed in protest beneath him, increasing his enjoyment until he lost control. He was in a world of his own now, pounding into her without mercy, but it was quick – too quick. Disgusted, he flopped on top of her for a moment before rolling onto his side.

      Pearl scrambled away, rising quickly to her feet, hands held over her mouth in horror as she stared at him. As he rose to his feet, she cried out in fear, ‘No … no, don’t come near me!’

      It was the terror in her voice that suddenly brought him to his senses. He wanted Pearl as his wife, a wife he could rule, but now he may have blown it. ‘Christ, I’m sorry. I don’t know what came over me.’

      ‘That … that was like rape.’

      Kevin wanted to laugh, but fought to keep his face straight. Little did she know that it had been tame compared to what he got up to in Soho.

      It was play-acting there, he knew that, but by paying for it he was able to resist his urges. Urges that made him want to rape women – to hurt them – to make them see that he was a man.

      At seventeen years old he’d done it, attacked a girl, but he’d nearly been caught. After that he’d been too scared to try it again, yet deep inside he knew that if he hadn’t discovered Soho, his needs would eventually have driven him to strike again.

      Kevin now took a deep breath, forcing himself to look sheepish as his eyes met Pearl’s. ‘I’m sorry,’ he said again.

      ‘Why did you hurt me like that?’ she sobbed, tears beginning to role down her cheeks.

      His mind raced, struggling to find words, finally able to find a lie. ‘I don’t know, but I think it was suppressed anger. Anger that I’m being forced into marriage.’

      Pearl’s face was red and blotched, her clothes dishevelled, and her voice quavering as she spoke. ‘But … but we talked about this, and I said I’m not forcing you.’

      ‘I know,’ Kevin said, shaking his head as though in a quandary, ‘and I don’t know what came over me. It’s just that we’re never alone, and it’s been driving me mad. If it ain’t Bessie, it’s my mother, and I’m sick of it.’ He moved towards her, but she cowered away, her hands frantic as she straightened her skirt.

      ‘Please,’ she begged, ‘don’t touch me, and … and I don’t think I want to marry you now.’

      He stepped forward again, feeling her flinch as he dragged her into his arms. ‘Don’t say that, Pearl.’

      Her body was rigid as he held her. ‘I … I was so frightened.’

      ‘I know you were, and I’m really sorry.’ Kevin hid a scowl. He hated this, hated having to grovel.

      ‘Please, let me go,’ she begged.

      Shit, he thought. Now what? Desperate times called for desperate measures and though loath to say the words, he forced them from his mouth. ‘Pearl, please, I love you and don’t want to lose you.’

      She drew back, her eyes wide. ‘You … you love me?’

      Unwilling to utter the words again, he just gave a slight nod, only saying, ‘I really didn’t mean to hurt you.’

      At last he felt her body relax. ‘Oh Kevin, I love you too, but you really frightened me. And … and you could have hurt the baby.’

      He blanched. Christ, hurting a woman was one thing, but a baby! He had hardly given the child she was carrying a thought but now, with sickening clarity, it hit him. The baby was his – his son or daughter. ‘Is it all right?’ he asked.

      ‘Yes, I think so.’

      He gently ushered her towards the sofa. ‘You’d better sit down. Are you in any pain?’

      ‘No, well, I feel a bit bruised.’

      ‘I hope I haven’t hurt it. Maybe I should run you to hospital?’

      ‘I … I don’t think there’s any need for that.’

      He paced the room, his hands raking through his hair, and moments later asked, ‘Any pain yet?’

      ‘No,’ she said, touching her tummy.

      He looked at the slight swell worriedly.’ Are you sure?’

      ‘Yes.’

      He stopped pacing to kneel at her side. ‘Thank God for that! We must have a tough little bugger in there.’

      For the first time a slight smile played across her lips and, seeing it, he enfolded her in his arms. ‘Pearl, I really am sorry. Say you’ll still marry me.’

      ‘I … I don’t know. You’re so changeable and it scares me.’

      ‘I know I can be a moody bugger, but I can change. It’s my mother, Pearl. You know what she’s like and she drives me mad. Once we’re in our own place, I’ll be fine.’

      ‘Do you really love me?’

      ‘Yes,’ he murmured, ‘and I’ll never do that again. I don’t want to risk hurting our baby.’

      She was quiet then and he held his breath, slumping with relief when she said, ‘All right, I’ll still marry you, but please, Kevin, find a job soon so we can move away from here.’

      ‘Don’t worry, I will.’

      He held her gently, but hearing a thump on the ceiling, they drew apart. ‘That’s Bessie,’ Pearl said. ‘I’ll have to see what she wants.’

      ‘Are you sure you’re up to it?’

      ‘Yes, I’m fine. I expect she wants her hot-water bottle filled again.’

      Kevin solicitously held her arm as she stood up, watching as she left the room. From now on he’d be gentle with Pearl, but to hold back the demons he’d somehow have to raise the money to go to Soho. Of course after the baby was born, it would be a different matter.

      Pearl was still in a daze as she walked upstairs, her mind distracted as she went into Bessie’s bedroom.

      ‘Something woke me,’ the old lady complained. ‘I thought I heard voices. Is someone down there?’

      ‘Yes, it’s Kevin.’

      ‘What’s that on your cheek? It looks like a hand mark. Have you been crying?’

      Pearl flushed, her hand rising to touch her face.

      ‘Did he hit you?’ Bessie demanded.

      ‘We СКАЧАТЬ