20. Daniel
Chapter twenty
Daniel
Power Over Me
I jolt awake, my head throbbing and my stomach twisted in knots. As I struggle to sit up, my surroundings slowly come into focus: I'm at Kaiden's house.
But wait... wasn't I at Ryan's place last night? Memories rush back to me in a nauseating wave, and before I can even comprehend what's happening, I'm throwing up everything I drank the night before. My heart feels like it's been ripped out of my chest and shattered into a million pieces.
A shuffling noise interrupts my misery, and I look up to see Kaiden standing at the door. "Done yet?" he asks with a hint of annoyance.
I groan as I lean against the toilet bowl. "Just fuck off, man."
Ignoring my request, Kaiden walks into the bathroom and perches himself on the counter. "Listen, dude," he starts, eyeing me sympathetically. "I know you're hurting. But you can't keep doing this to yourself."
I glare up at him through teary eyes. "You don't understand, Kaiden. I lost a baby. A baby I never thought I wanted until it was gone. And now it's too late." My voice cracks as I collapse onto the floor, sobbing uncontrollably. "It's not fair. My sister, the baby, Becca... everyone I care about is just gone."
Kaiden sits down next to me, his arm draped over my shoulder in a rare display of comfort. "It's going to be okay," he assures me in a gentle tone. "We're here for you."
"But Becca..." I hiccup, struggling to catch my breath between sobs. "I love her, Kaiden. I really do. But she wants nothing to do with me."
He nods knowingly. "Because of how you treated her," he says. "I get it, man. I did the same thing to Cat. But you know what?"
Sniffling, I look up at him with watery eyes. "What...?"
"You can win her back," Kaiden declares confidently. "And that's exactly what we're going to do."
"How?" I choke out, feeling utterly lost and broken. "How do I come back from something like this? Becca doesn't let anyone in. I had a tiny piece of her heart and I threw it away."
Kaiden grins mischievously. "Just keep showing her you care. Force her to see your feelings. But you have to open up to her too."
I let out a heavy sigh, my mind racing with doubts and fears. "I don't know if I can do that," I admit, feeling overwhelmed by the weight of my own darkness. "I... I can be rough with her sometimes."
"But she likes it?" Kaiden asks knowingly.
I nod sheepishly, my cheeks flushing with embarrassment.
"Then don't worry about it," he reassures me with a shrug. "Just focus on winning her back, man." He claps me on the back before adding, "Now take a fucking shower, you reek."
As we both stand up, I pull him into a tight hug. "Thanks, man," I whisper gratefully.
"Always got your back," Kaiden replies with a small smile, his loyalty never wavering even in the darkest of times.
I turn the shower on and step into the small, tiled cubicle, shivering as the icy water pours over me and washes away any lingering traces of sleep. Despite the frigid temperature, I stand under the stream for a few moments, letting it jolt my senses awake. Once I'm fully alert, I quickly lather up with soap and shampoo, relishing in the warmth that seeps into my skin.
After toweling off and throwing on my sweats that Kaiden had left in his bathroom for me, I make my way down the stairs to his kitchen. The smell of freshly brewed coffee fills the air and Cat lounges on the counter next to Kaiden, her smile bright and loving. Both of them greet me with bright smiles as I enter.
Saying goodbye to both of them, I head out to my car and drive back home, feeling refreshed and grateful for the brief escape from the reality that Kaiden's company provided.
Home.
Trembling hands grip the steering wheel as I pull into my childhood driveway. My heart races, knowing that Becca won't be there, and it feels strange to say. But despite the pain and confusion swirling inside me, I know I need to go. I need to see my parents, my sister - my family more than ever right now.
As I enter the familiar living room, my eyes fall on my parents and Delilah seated on the couch. My dad looks up at me with concern etched on his face. "Everything okay?"
I take a deep breath, ready to finally open up and share everything I've been holding back for so long. "No, dad. It's not. I haven't been okay for a while now. Daisy's death has been really fucking hard."
My mom's eyes glisten with tears as she nods in understanding. "I know, sweetie."
"But it's more than that. In my own messed up way... I love Becca," I choke out, feeling my throat tighten with emotion. "And I messed up. I was wicked nasty to her. An asshole. Everything you would hate your son to be..." A lump forms in my throat as I continue speaking, memories of hurtful words and actions flooding my mind. "And all this time, deep down, I wanted that baby. But I was so fucking mean, telling her it wasn't mine..."
Overcome with emotion, tears spill from my eyes as my mom stands and pulls me into her comforting arms. "Oh shhh, it's okay," she whispers soothingly as I let out a sob.
My head pounds as I scream, unable to contain the pent-up grief and anger any longer. "No! No, it's not okay!" My voice breaks as tears blur my vision. "Everyone around me dies... everyone I love." The weight of their loss crushes me, suffocating me.
My parents rush to me, wrapping their arms around me in a desperate attempt to comfort me. But their embrace only tightens the crushing grip on my heart. "I can't do this anymore," I choke out between sobs. "I don't want to live in this world where everyone I love is taken away from me."
Del appears at my side, her eyes filled with worry and sorrow. "Hey, hey, it's alright," she whispers, trying to calm me down. But her words fall on deaf ears.
"It's not enough," I cry out, my voice hoarse and broken. "Nothing can fix this pain, Del. I want to end it all." The thought of death offers a twisted sense of relief, a way to escape the constant agony of loss.
Del's face contorts in horror as she realizes what I'm saying. She kneels in front of me, gripping my hands. "No, no, you can't give up like that," she pleads, with desperation in her voice. "We won't let you go. We'll be here for you every step of the way."
But even as Del and my parents hold on to me tightly, I can feel myself slipping further into the darkness. "Please don't leave me alone tonight," I beg, my voice barely above a whisper. For just one night, I need them by my side to keep the darkness at bay.
D ay after day has passed and with each one, I feel myself getting stronger. My parents, with their unwavering support, helped me check into an inpatient facility where I finally received the long-awaited help for my mental health struggles. It's a relief to be on medication that eases my crippling anxiety, and I've learned valuable tools to slowly unravel my tangled emotions. With a renewed sense of hope and determination, I'm ready to face life head-on.
But above all else, my heart is set on one thing: winning back Becca. She means everything to me and I plan to show her just how much through every action and word. This time, I won't let her slip away without fighting for our love until the very end.
As soon as I set foot in the hallway, a challenge presents itself.
Becca is leaning coolly against her locker, her infectious laughter mingled with that of another classmate. My blood boils as I see him lean in closer to her, towering over her like a predatory bird ready to swoop in and snatch its prey.
No one messes with what's mine.
I storm towards them, my fists clenched at my sides, and the other guy quickly backs off, knowing better than to mess with me. It's moments like this that solidify our position as the elite five at Edgewood Prep - the ruling group on campus. We have power and influence, and everyone knows not to cross us. And if anyone does, they'll face the consequences of all of us.
Becca's eyes shoot daggers at me as I grab her arm and drag her into an empty classroom, the door shutting behind us with a resounding click. She struggles against my grip, her anger palpable.
"Get your hands off of me, Danny," she seethes.
Ignoring her protests, I spin her around to face me. "Why were you talking to him, Becca? Why did his hands even have the chance to touch you?" The jealousy and possessiveness in my voice are hard to hide.
She rolls her eyes and huffs. "Why do you care? I thought I made it abundantly clear when I said don't ever talk to me again."
But before she can say another word, I crush my lips onto hers in a desperate, angry kiss. Becca tries to push me away, but I hold on to her tightly. Pressing her back against a nearby desk, I lift her up to sit on its edge.
"Danny!" she gasps in protest.
"You want this, Becca," I growl against her lips. "I know you do." My desire for her is overwhelming and all-consuming.
With a heated passion, I push her skirt up as my lips trail down her neck, leaving a trail of fire in their wake. Her body shivers underneath my touch, and she lets out a soft moan, giving me all the encouragement I need to continue. "I know how much you love being mine ," I whisper, my voice dripping with possessiveness and dominance. Becca's breath hitches as she mewls in response. "My dirty little slut," I add, knowing it will only drive her wild with desire.
She nods eagerly, unable to form words as pleasure consumes her. "Exactly what I fucking thought," I growl, the primal part of me taking over.
With a swift movement, I cover her mouth with my hand. At this moment, she is mine completely.
My fingers glide over the fabric of her panties, feeling the dampness that confirms her desire for me.
“ Danny… ” Her breathy voice only adds fuel to the fire burning inside me. Without hesitation, I slip my fingers beneath the fabric and into her warm, tight core.
Her moans grow louder as I explore every inch of her, purposefully hitting all of her sensitive spots.
“That’s it, baby,” I whisper, my own pleasure building with each of her movements. “Let yourself go and let me feel you come all over my fingers.” The intoxicating scent of arousal fills the air as she reaches her climax, and I savor the taste of her skin on my fingertips.
With a fierce determination, I yank my pants down to my knees and spread Becca's legs wide. Without hesitation, I thrust my throbbing cock into her, feeling her walls clench around me as I sink my teeth into her shoulder with a primal growl. " Fuck , I’ve missed you," I gasp out between frenzied thrusts.
Becca's hands claw at my back as I drive into her relentlessly. The desk creaks beneath us with each powerful thrust. I know I should slow down, be gentler, but I can't control myself. Pent-up longing and desire are pouring out of me.
"Danny," Becca moans, her voice a mix of pleasure and uncertainty. "We shouldn't be doing this."
I silence her with another bruising kiss. "Don't fight it, baby," I growl against her lips. "This is where you belong. With me."
As our bodies move together in a frantic rhythm, a small part of my mind registers the wrongness of what we're doing. This isn't how I'd planned to win Becca back. But the primal need coursing through me drowns out all rational thought.
Becca moans. “Danny… I…”
“That’s it. Come for me, baby.” I slam my lips onto hers. “You are mine, Becs. All fucking mine .”
With a final, powerful thrust, I explode inside her, groaning her name as waves of pleasure wash over me. For a moment, we stay frozen, panting heavily, our bodies still joined.
I gently withdraw from her, planting a soft kiss on her full, rosy lips. “I intend to show you, every day, just how much you mean to me, Becca.”
Her breath catches in her throat and she stammers out my name.
“Danny….”
I grin, watching as she smooths out her skirt and I hastily pull up my pants. “You’re mine, and I plan to never let you forget that.”