Page 48 of His White Moonlight
I bit my lip, unsure how to take back what I said without making things worse.Then I decided honesty was the only thing that might save me.
“Where to go.What to wear.Who I can talk to.I’ve never had any freedom, Bennett.I know Mom and Dad love me, but it’s…”
Bennett grabbed my shoulders and spun me around.His pupils had devoured his dark irises, and his jaw was tense as he stared at me.
“It’s what?”he demanded, his voice rough.
“It’s not living, Bennett.It’s a suffocating cage, and I want out.”
He closed his eyes.
Desperate for him to understand, to win him over to my side, I cupped his jaw, gently smoothing my fingers over the muscles that were twitching.
“Please help me convince them that they should let me go to school this fall.Please.I just want what everyone else my age has, what you had.A little bit of freedom to decide my own life.”
He hit the door so hard that the metal groaned.I jumped at the sound, and my forehead hit his jaw.It hurt enough that I automatically rubbed the spot.
Bennett’s arms wrapped around me.
“I’m sorry.Forgive me.”
“I’m fine, Bennett,” I said, feeling the panic start and pushing him.“You’re holding me too tight.”
He immediately loosened his hold and pulled back enough to look at me.His gaze searched mine, then lifted to my forehead.
“Are you okay, Miss?”a man asked, drawing my attention away from Bennett.
He caught my chin to stop me from looking at whoever was there.
“She’s fine.”
“I’m not asking you,” the man said.
The way Bennett slowly turned his head to look at the guy rang all the warning bells.I reached up and covered Bennett’s eyes.
“I’m fine,” I said.
“The bruise on your cheek and the way he just hit the car say you might not be.I can call the police.”
Bennett’s growl was soft enough that only I heard it.At least, I hoped that was the case.I removed my hand from his eyes and grabbed his chin so he faced me, and I gave him a warning look.
“I appreciate you cared enough to stop and ask,” I said to the man as I held Bennett’s gaze.“And so will the next girl, who might be in trouble.I’m not.At least, not from this guy.He’s overbearing all of the time, but he’s not a bully, just protective.”
Bennett winced and closed his eyes.
“Sometimes, that’s how it starts,” the man said.“Don’t justify bad behavior.If someone really cares about you, they’ll find every way to lift you up, not break you down.”
“Thanks,” I said, finally glancing at the middle-aged man.He nodded at me and walked away.
I waited until he was gone to nudge Bennett away from me.
“If you’re done acting like an insane person, can we please leave?”
He opened his eyes and shot me an annoyed stare.
“I’ll drive home.”
He walked me around to the passenger side of the car.Once I was seated, he leaned into the car suddenly, invading my space, with his face once again inches from mine.
