Jasmine turned to him, a touch of uncertainty in her voice. “Why do you say that?”
“You’ll be mine then. Totally.”
“I’m not property.”
“Don’t act like it’s a sinister thing. A wife is the property of her husband. It’s the man’s job to honour and protect what is his. That’s what God expects. That’s what your father expects. You’ll be very well cared for. The expectation in return is miniscule.”
“And that is?”
“Complete submission,” he answered simply. “I’ll own you. As my wife, my partner and my lover. As I said, you’ll be mine.”
“I don’t understand. Who else’s would I be?”
“I know you’ve been cutting yourself. And I know you still think about that lesbian.”
“What?”
“You can’t cover up those scars completely. They’ll never heal. And you say her name in your sleep. Your parents know too. That’s why this engagement was such a blessing to them.”
“You said we don’t deserve to go to hell?”
“We?” he muttered.
Jasmine checked herself. “I meant they.”
He nodded slowly. “I hope so. I meant what I said about them not going to hell, but it’s still wrong. When it comes to my wife, I’m the only one you’ll be spreading your legs for. I’m not like others who get off on two women together. To even think about another person isn’t something I’m prepared to tolerate. You’ve done so well to push that mindset away. I won’t let you fall back into the same trap.
Marry me and you never have to fear your parents hating you ever again. You never have to worry about financial hardship. Your parents love, my family’s money. What more could you want? I only ask one thing. Your body. Who besides me wouldn’t have you committed for scarring your body like that? What would your parents say?
No one else loves you like I do. No one else would’ve taken you in after discovering what you told me. No one else would go so long without sex. You wanted me to ask your permission. OK, here goes. Marry me, and let me save you once and for all. It’s what your family wants, and it’s what you need.”
He pressed himself into her, this time face to face, and attacked her mouth with his own. She didn’t know what to do. She didn’t know what to think. His hands again found her arse, slipping up under her panties. She gasped once more as a chopping board fell from the counter when he pushed her against it. With one hand, he lifted her leg and held it against his hip.
“You’re damaged, Jasmine. You know it. You may even be unclean in some eyes,” he whispered, biting the nape of her neck, “filthy for all the things you’ve done. But the fact you still have something to give me...” he said, sliding his hand up and down the front of her groin, “means on our wedding night I can finally take you. Break you. And then mould you. You’ll be saved. Just say yes.”
Her father called out to her from the living room, asking where she was. She tried to answer, but the tears that leaked out of her eyes stopped her.God, is he right?Why did this feel so wrong, what he was doing to her, even though she could feel her soaked underwear.What is wrong with me?Letting him continue meant she wasn’t damaged, didn’t it? That she was trying to be a good person, right? In the end, she yelled the only thing that formed in her brain calling out an answer to her father. “I’m coming.”
“Come on! Let’s pick it up! Move it!” Chris yelled from the passenger side of the car. Ava raced along the footpath on the left side of the road, feet pounding the concrete again and again. Her job was to keep up with the car. Anytime they stopped, she could rest. That was it.
“Long stretch of road coming up. Home stretch. No traffic. I wanna see you sprint. We’re nearly done. Let’s go!”
The car turned into a deserted side street and suddenly accelerated. She gritted her teeth and put her screaming thighs out of her mind. Her feet pelted along the ground as her fists opened into straight hands, running so fast it was like she used them to sweep her way even faster along. She hadn’t gained on the car, but as it finally slowed and parked, Ava was at least matching it and keeping the distance between them steady.
She made it to the side of the car and bent over, holding her knees and coughing so hard her back was curving and uncurving. The car doors opened and closed, and before long both boys were by her side with a bottle of water and a towel. Despite calls for her to sip, she chugged the cool salvation as fast as she could.
“Are you going to tell me... where we are?” Ava asked.
“We are at your reward,” Chris answered.
“What reward? This is supposed to my recovery day. You know, the day after a fight.”
“It is,” Ruben replied. “Most important.”
“So then what gives? I’ve been running after the car for like an hour.” Ava paused then as she realised they had parked outside a day spa.
Both boys looked at her with cheesy grins.
“Here?” she asked.