chapter 13
760 Words
đź“– Forbidden Fling: Chapter 13
Aurora lay awake in Marcus’s bed, the early dawn light painting soft stripes across the sheets tangled around her legs. Marcus’s arm was draped across her waist, heavy, warm, possessive even in sleep.
She stared at the ceiling, her chest tight, her mind racing.
She had tried calling Ben after Marcus fell asleep, but he hadn’t answered. She had left him a message, her voice trembling, asking him to please call her back.
He hadn’t.
Because you broke him. Because you broke yourself.
She carefully slid out from under Marcus’s arm, her breath catching as he stirred, but his breathing evened again, deep and steady.
She pulled on a T-shirt and quietly stepped out onto the balcony, the cold morning air biting at her skin as she wrapped her arms around herself.
---
She needed to leave.
She needed to get her life back.
She pulled out her phone, scrolling to Ben’s number, hesitating before pressing call.
It rang once.
Twice.
Three times.
Voicemail.
“Hey, it’s Ben. Leave a message.”
“Ben,” she whispered, her voice breaking, “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I never meant to hurt you. I don’t know who I am anymore, but I miss you. I—”
The door behind her slid open.
She turned, startled, seeing Marcus standing there, shirtless, his hair messy, his eyes dark, unreadable.
“Aurora,” he said, his voice calm, too calm. “Who are you calling?”
She swallowed, slipping the phone into her pocket. “No one.”
His eyes narrowed, stepping closer, the air between them tightening. “Don’t lie to me.”
She lifted her chin, forcing herself to meet his gaze. “You can’t keep me here forever.”
He reached out, brushing a strand of hair from her face, tucking it behind her ear, his touch gentle, at odds with the darkness in his eyes. “I can keep you safe.”
“Safe isn’t living,” she snapped, stepping back.
His jaw tightened, his hand dropping. “You think he can protect you?”
“This isn’t about Ben,” she lied, her voice shaking. “This is about me.”
---
He stepped forward, crowding her against the balcony railing, his hands on either side of her, trapping her.
“You’re mine,” he growled, his eyes burning into hers.
She pressed her hands against his chest, pushing, but he didn’t move. “I can’t do this anymore.”
“You don’t get to decide,” he snapped, his control slipping for just a moment, his hands gripping the railing so hard she heard the metal groan.
Tears filled her eyes, but she blinked them back. “I do.”
---
His eyes searched hers, something flickering there, something that almost looked like fear.
“Aurora—”
“I’m leaving,” she said softly, pushing past him, stepping back into the bedroom.
He followed her, grabbing her wrist, spinning her around to face him. “You’re not going anywhere.”
She yanked her hand free, her eyes blazing. “Watch me.”
---
She packed quickly, stuffing clothes into a bag, her hands trembling as Marcus stood in the doorway, watching her, his face blank, cold.
“You’re making a mistake,” he said quietly.
She zipped the bag, slinging it over her shoulder. “No. I already made it.”
She brushed past him, heading for the door, but his hand shot out, grabbing her arm, spinning her back to face him.
His mouth crashed onto hers, hard, bruising, desperate, and for a moment, she kissed him back, her body remembering him, wanting him.
But then she pulled away, breathing hard, tears spilling down her cheeks.
“Goodbye, Marcus,” she whispered.
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She stepped into the hallway, pulling the door shut behind her, leaning against it as she tried to steady her breathing.
She was free.
But as she walked down the hallway, the weight of what she was leaving behind pressed down on her.
The safety.
The desire.
The man who had saved her.
The man who wouldn’t let her go.
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Outside, the city was waking up, but for Aurora, it felt like the world was ending.
She didn’t see the figure leaning against the alley wall across the street, a cigarette glowing in the shadows.
Watching her.
Waiting.
“Miss me, baby?”
Liam’s voice was a whisper on the wind as Aurora walked away, unaware that her past was about to catch up with her.
- Writer
