Read Screaming in the Silence for Free Online Page B

some plan to keep me scared and submissive. On the rare occasions when we did speak to one another, his questions and statements tended to be little more than one or two word phrases such as 'hungry?' or 'nice day.' It wasn't much, but at least it was human interaction.
    Suddenly, the light in the room became brighter and I looked toward the stairs, knowing the door had been opened. Kaden's now familiar red Pumas came into sight as he staggered down the stairs. Was he drunk? His steps were usually so confident. As he came closer, I saw that I had been correct; he had a beer in one hand and was struggling to hold onto the railing with the other. His green eyes, normally bright and knowing, were glazed over and his lids were heavy.
    He came to a stop on the bottom stair and just looked at me, blinking slowly and swaying on his feet.
    "Do you know what you've done to me?" He wasn't opening his lips very wide and it was hard for me to determine what he was saying.
    No,
I signed, hoping he would do the same.
    "You've taken over my life. You're all I think about and I can't get you out of my fucking head!"
    I didn't respond.
    "You should be gone by now. I should have let Ray kill you but I was stupid and selfish, thinking I could …"
    He took a step toward me but tripped down the last stair, landing on his knees and breaking the bottle of beer in his hand. He didn't attempt to stand up, but crawled over to my bed. I backed to the far side of the mattress, ready to jump up and run if necessary.
    Kaden laughed. "Don't bother trying to escape. The guys upstairs won't be any help."
    I glared at him and he smiled.
    "Do you still hate me after all this time? I wish I could hate you, Raleigh, but I can't." He pulled himself onto the mattress and stretched his legs so he was lying on his side facing me.
    "I try to hate you because, really, all you are is just some stuck up bitch with too much of Daddy's money. You wouldn't even give a guy like me a passing glance if we met on the street."
    That much was probably true. But I couldn't think about what would have happened if Kaden and I met under different circumstances. That didn't help me in my present situation.
    Kaden moved closer to me and reached for my arm. I jerked away. But he was too quick and had me by the wrist, pulling me back to the mattress before I could stand up. His strong arms hauled me under him as he rolled on top of me, pinning me to the sheets, his hands at my shoulders and his knees on the outside of my thighs.
    I remained absolutely frozen. His eyes danced over my face, the muscles in his arms flexing as he gripped my shoulders tightly.
    "So, maybe," he continued. "Maybe all I have to do is have you once and I'll be able to forget you."
    His face started to come down toward mine and he kept staring into my eyes, waiting to see if I would protest.
    "I can't promise you're going to like it, but I'll try not to hurt you."
    Then, before I could turn my face to avoid his mouth, he kissed me. His full lips molded around mine and forced them apart. I could taste the beer on his breath, but his tongue was sweet as it gently entered my mouth. Kaden's fingers softly touched my cheek and neck, running down my arms and across my sides. I waited for his hands to roam but they stayed fixed, one gripping the fabric of my t-shirt, and the other gently touching my face.
    This kiss hadn't been what I expected. I closed my eyes and realized how easy it was to imagine it all happening under different circumstances. Kaden kissed me again and again, each time as gentle and eager as the time before. He would tenderly bite my lower lip, tease my tongue with his, and then close his lips only to start again.
    The realization that I was kissing him back hit us both simultaneously. My eyes flew open and he pulled away quickly, leaving me feeling naked without his warm body. Sitting above my knees, he stared at me, his eyes no longer glossy, and his lustful expression mixed with confusion. I