The Girl He Chose : Driven by Love

a's

l beating cam

ic way. The silver had to be polished until it reflected my face without a single streak. The tea had to be poured at exactly the right temperature or it was considered an insu

slipped from my fingers as I reached for a plate. The sound of it shattering a

e went compl

ce was quiet. That was somehow

t slammed against my ribs so hard I felt sick. I knew what wa

black leather belt. The kind that looked like it belonged on an expensive pair of

," she

f a second. That wa

across my back. I bit down hard on a cry. The second strike came harder, lower across my shoulder blades. The third. By

oorway, soft and amused. "She's l

niform. Each strike stole a little more air from my lungs. I counted them without meaning to-seven, eight, ni

d the belt beside my head with a sof

s only slightly elevated. "And yourself. If I se

y back and shoulders. Sienna walked past me on her way out of the room, her expensive heels

the family,

ssible. Every breath hurt. Every small shift of my body reminded me exactly where the belt had lan

knocking. She was wild-eyed even at that hour, her dark hair a messy clo

dropping onto the floor beside the bed with a graceless thump. "Most

it would crack something open inside

things on purpose sometimes. Keeps me from going completely crazy in this place. You should try

hispered. The words sc

o her feet. "We all need something. Doesn't

pplied the cool cream with trembling fingers, hissing through my teeth when it touched the rawest places. Then I stared at

t peacefully in silk sheets, her life saved by the

r a little

deep and stupid, that someone might eventually n