Now, everything was different.
Gentleness was the last thing I wanted from him.
Julie sensed something was wrong. "Steven, what's the matter?"
Steven's breathing grew ragged, his gaze turning feral as he looked down at me.
I pushed harder, leaving him no chance to reply to Julie—he almost gave in.
Steven hurled the phone aside and shoved me against the wall.
The back of my head, still bruised from earlier, throbbed with agony. Tears welled in my eyes, but that only seemed to excite him more.
He took pleasure in my pain, quickly finishing.
Coughing and gasping, I didn't bother cleaning up, silently muting his phone instead.
Julie's calls went unanswered as Steven and I tangled again, but I felt no guilt.
Julie could have him for life. I just needed a few nights to save Hailey.
Sa
