13. Rebecca
Chapter thirteen
Rebecca
HEARTBEAT
P ain shoots through my skull like a barrage of bullets, jolting me awake. As I struggle to sit up, I realize there are arms wrapped tightly around me. Disoriented and hungover, I groan and try to push the stranger away.
But then it hits me - this isn't a stranger. It's Danny. And we're in bed together.
Memories from last night start to flood back, but they're hazy and fragmented. I remember having a great time with Liz, but then somehow ending up at some shady underground concert with some strange man.
I can remember trying to find my way out of that musty, broken-down building and finding my car, but then… My mind is foggy.
I can't seem to shake off the feeling of dread in my stomach. Suddenly, I rush to the bathroom and vomit violently into the toilet.
Danny walks in casually, as if he's done this plenty of times before. "You good?" he asks with a smirk.
I glare at him, still trying to make sense of everything. "Get the fuck out," I manage to choke out.
His smirk widens. "You didn't say that last night."
I grab whatever I can reach and hurl it at him. "Get away from me!"
He finally takes the hint and leaves, but I can feel his presence lingering in the air like a toxic cloud. My stomach continues to churn as I empty its contents into the toilet, wishing for this nightmare to end.
Dragging my exhausted body to the bathroom, I turn the knobs on the shower until a torrent of icy water sprays out.
The frigid liquid shocks me awake as it seeps into my pores and numbs my senses. I stand there, shivering and fighting against the urge to scream, until I can't take it anymore. Finally, I shut off the water and step out.
I quickly dry off and get dressed, trying to make as little noise as possible as I descend the creaky stairs.
My heart races with anxiety as I hope that everyone is still asleep. But as I round the corner into the kitchen, Danny's mom is already there, her eyes meeting mine with a knowing look.
The smell of freshly brewed coffee fills the air, mingling with the faint scent of bacon sizzling on the stove.
“Hey,” she says, her voice full of concern. “Are you okay?”
I give a weak nod, trying to hide the fact that I feel like death. “Just a rough night. Think I might be getting sick.”
She chuckles, seeming unperturbed by my state. “Well, lucky for you, there's a cure for hangovers.”
I feel embarrassed and ashamed. “I... uh.”
But she doesn't judge me; instead, she takes my hand in hers and reassures me.
“It’s okay. Drink some orange juice and take that pill. Bacon will be ready soon and the cinnamon rolls just came out of the oven. Now sit down.”
I reluctantly take a seat on the stool, feeling guilty for causing her extra work in the morning.
That's when Danny walks in and scowls at me before turning around and storming back out of the room.
My stomach twists with guilt and regret as I realize the impact of my actions on those around me.
Louise looks up from the sizzling pan with a deep frown etched on her face. "Was that Danny?" she asks, her voice laced with concern.
I hesitate before nodding, not wanting to give him anymore thought than I already have.
She lets out a heavy sigh as she carefully transfers the crispy bacon onto a plate. "He just hasn't been the same since Daisy died."
My heart clenches at the mention of his late sister. "I can imagine it must be hard for him."
She shakes her head, her eyes filled with sadness. "He feels responsible for what happened. We've tried to tell him it wasn't his fault, but sometimes it's hard to get through to Danny."
I try to think of something comforting to say, but my mind draws a blank. "Some of us just aren't good at dealing with emotions," I offer weakly.
A faint smile tugs at the corner of her lips. "You don't say." We both let out a soft laugh, momentarily breaking the somber mood. "Speaking of emotions... Danny told us it was your eighteenth birthday last night."
The memories of the previous night flood back and I can feel my emotions bubbling up inside me. "Yes, but I don't really celebrate it."
"Because of your mother?" she asks gently.
I nod, my throat tightening at the mention of the devil they call my mother.
Louise offers a small smile of understanding. "That's okay. How about we just have a small cake here? Nothing too big or flashy."
I bite my lip, unsure if I want any sort of celebration. "I don't know..."
"It will be small, I promise. What flavor do you like?"
Her kind gesture warms my heart and I can't help but feel grateful for being included in their family moment.
"I don't really know. Chocolate?"
She laughs, the sound tinkling like bells in the air.
"How about I surprise you?"
"That sounds good." I reply, curious to see what she has in store for me.
Louise turns and walks over to me, her steps light and graceful. She takes my hands into hers, the warmth of her touch instantly comforting. "I'm sorry, Becca," she breathes, her gaze holding mine. "I'm sorry for what that woman did to you. She never deserved a daughter like you. I promise to show you what an actual mother looks like for however long you stay with us."
A small, sad smile tugs at my lips as I squeeze her hands gently. "It's okay," I tell her, my voice soft but sincere. "I learned to block her out. Thank you for breakfast, but I should go finish up some homework."
As I walk upstairs to my room, I can feel Louise’s kind words echoing in my mind, warming my heart in a way that I haven't felt before.
But once I'm alone in my room, my thoughts drift back to Katya and all the memories we shared together. Pulling out the old letters and photos from under my pillow, I slowly sort through them and allow myself to get lost in the bittersweet nostalgia.
A knock on my door interrupts my reverie, and I look up to see Louise standing there with a gentle smile on her face. "Hey," she says softly. "Dad and I are going out for a bit. Do you want to come?"
I smile gratefully at her genuine attempt to include me in their family outing. "I have a huge test coming up, otherwise I would," I reply apologetically. "But thank you for asking."
As she closes the door, I wait until I hear their car leave before taking a deep breath and letting myself succumb to the exhaustion that has been building up. Tears prick at my eyes as I think of Katya and all the things we used to do together.
But I quickly push those thoughts away, knowing they will only make me feel worse. Yawning, I decide it's time for a much-needed nap. Curling up on my bed with a book in hand, I slowly drift off into a peaceful slumber, dreaming of happier times spent with my best friend.
I wake from my nap, disoriented and confused by the strange banging noise reverberating through the house. It pulses through the walls, shaking me awake as I try to decipher where it's coming from.
Feeling a sense of unease, I slowly make my way downstairs, the sound growing louder with each step. It's melodic now, like music playing on a constant loop. As I reach the basement stairs, the noise is nearly deafening.
Curiosity propels me forward and I cautiously open the door, descending into the dimly lit space. The noise swells around me, filling every inch of the room and leaving no escape. And then I see him.
Danny.
His shirtless body glistens with sweat as he moves to the beat of an invisible rhythm. His muscles ripple and flex with each punch he delivers to the punching bag hanging in front of him.
But what catches my attention are the tears streaming down his face, contradicting the physical strength he exudes.
A mix of emotions swirls within me as I watch him. Desire courses through my veins at the sight of his toned physique, but I've never seen Danny like this before - so vulnerable and raw.
I can't bring myself to look away as I continue to watch him, transfixed by the intensity emanating from him.
Danny's icy stare pierces through me as our eyes meet. He wipes away the tears streaming down his face before turning to me with a menacing grin.
I try to escape, scrambling up the steps, but Danny catches my arm in a vice-like grip and yanks me back down. My back slams against the wall as his fingers wrap around my throat, cutting off my breath.
Fear should be consuming me, but I find myself strangely turned on by his dominance.
"Why the hell are you down here?" Danny sneers, his voice dripping with malice.
"I heard a noise," I gasp out.
"Well, congratulations. You found the noise," he taunts.
I nod nervously, unable to look away from his intense gaze.
"Why didn't you just walk away?" he demands.
"I... uh..." My words are cut off by Danny's hand gripping onto my ponytail and pulling my head back to face him.
He leans in close, nipping at my neck with sharp teeth as a sinister smile spreads across his face.
Danny growls into my ear, his hot breath sending shivers down my spine. “Tell me why, Rebecca .”
I snap back at him, my voice laced with venom. “I don't fucking know!”
He releases me and takes a step back, his eyes burning with anger. “Get on your knees.”
My heart races as I stare up at him in shock. “What?”
He looms over me, his towering figure making me feel small and powerless. “I said get on your goddamn knees.”
Without hesitation, I sink down to the ground until I am on my hands and knees.
Why am I feeling so turned on right now? It's sick and twisted.
Danny stares down at me hungrily, his hand pulling down his shorts to reveal his throbbing cock. My mouth waters at the sight of it.
“ Suck my cock, Becs ,” he commands in a low voice that sends a wave of desire through my body.
I wet my lips with my tongue before taking his cock into my mouth. My hands move up, one firmly gripping him while the other steadies me on his thigh.
Danny's fingers tangle in my ponytail, gently guiding my head back and forth as he groans in pleasure.
"That feels so fucking good. Don't stop," he urges me.
His tip hits the back of my throat, tears springing to the corners of my eyes, but I refuse to stop. This twisted, depraved form of emotion with Danny is something I can't make sense of, but my body craves it.
The taste of salt and musk fills my senses as I continue to pleasure him, lost in the raw intensity of our connection. Every thrust and moan only drives me further into this dark and thrilling desire that consumes us both.
I feel Danny's muscles tense as his grip on my hair tightens. His breathing becomes ragged and I know he's close.
With a guttural groan, he pulls out of my mouth and strokes himself to completion, hot spurts landing on my chest.
I stand up and gently wipe my lips with the back of my hand.
Danny's face is twisted in anger and lust, his eyes blazing as he stares down at me. "Don't you ever fucking come down here again," he growls, his voice low and menacing.
I nod silently, unable to meet his gaze.
But that's not enough for him. He grabs my chin roughly, forcing me to look up at him. "Use your words," he demands, his grip tightening.
Anger flares inside me at his patronizing tone. I push him away and spit out venomous words. "Yes, sir ," I sneer sarcastically, my defiance fueling the fire burning inside me.
Danny's eyes widen in surprise, mirroring my own shock at my boldness.
Before I can process what's happening, he slams his lips against mine in a hot, heavy kiss. My body responds immediately, heat pooling between my legs as our tongues tangle together.
He pulls away momentarily, his dark eyes locked on mine as he speaks in a low voice. "Get up against that rope pulling machine," he commands, pointing behind me.
Without hesitation, I back until my shoulders press against the hard metal bars of the machine.
Danny steps close and spins me around so my back is facing him. "Put your hands up here," he orders, indicating the metal handles above my head.
I raise my arms obediently as Danny takes a length of rope and expertly ties my wrists together. I am now hanging from the machine, my feet barely touching the ground as I wait for whatever comes.
Despite the fear that should be coursing through my veins, I find myself staying put as Danny binds me with ropes.
It's a strange sensation to willingly submit to someone else, but the anticipation of what Danny will do next brings a twisted excitement to my core.
The pain he inflicts upon me is both agonizing and exhilarating, leaving me torn between wanting to escape and wanting more.
How can something so painful also bring such pleasure?
Danny's voice drops to a sultry whisper, husky and dripping with desire. "Don't you dare move," he growls. "I've been dying to taste you, Becs."