The wedding was perfect in every sense. Tears of joy streamed down my cheeks when Enrique kissed Chiara. The setting sun cast a golden shadow on the couple, and the photographers utilized the moment to capture the moments that would be remembered forever.
Warm lips graced my bare shoulder, and I turned to meet Orlando’s stormy gaze. We moved aside, and I stayed by his side as he greeted the guests, introducing me to them.
The function was a blur, and my cheeks ached with all the smiling I’d been doing that evening. We shared our first dance together, and I couldn’t help but admire how delectable he looked in his white suit.
“That was such a wonderful moment.” Mike’s mom burst into tears.
“It was.” Orlando smiled down at his aunt.
“I’m so happy for you both.” She hugged me. “Ari and Rosa are my darlings. Take good care of her, Orlando. I don’t want to see any more tears in her eyes.”
Orlando’s face tightened. Mr. Frisby was right on time for the rescue. He pulled his wife away with a wink in our direction, and I felt Orlando’s posture relaxing beside me.
“Sorry about that.”
“It’s okay.”
When it was time for the dance, he led me to the dance floor. Our feet moved in rhythm, our bodies gently swaying. My skin tingled where he touched it. The memory of our previous dance surfaced, filling me with anticipation.
“Lavender suits you better,” he murmured while his hand moved to rest above the curve of my ass.
“Mhmm. The other day, you said purple looked good on me.”
“Do you want me to tell you the truth?”
“Yes.”
“I think none of the colors do you justice,” he claimed, making my head spin. Excitement bubbled in me. “You looked much better without any colors on you.” His voice lowered, whispering the last part.
My body was instantly on fire, and my cheeks heated up. “You shouldn’t talk like that.”
“You wanted the truth, and I’m being honest.”
When he twirled me, I took a much-needed breath before being pressed to his side again. “Your honesty should wait until we get somewhere private.”
Orlando chuckled, and his lips brushed my forehead. “I’ll be right back.”
My gaze followed him, and I nodded when I saw Dean McAllister waving at him. I looked around and found my friends on the dance floor. Rosie waved at me, beckoning me over.
“You’re glowing tonight, Rosie.”
“No. Chiara is the star tonight.”
“Can’t disagree, but you look really great tonight,” Jeff piped in.
I winked at Rosie, who laughed. “So, did you guys set a date?”
“No. I’m heading with Jeff to meet his parents.”
“That’s great.”
“Hey, Ari, how about a dance?” Mike twirled me around, making me giggle.
“Sure.”
It was once again like the old days. My evening was filled with laughter and fun. Weddings united families. Chiara’s family members took their turns dancing with the bride and groom. Uncle Rick stepped out of his comfort zone and was dancing with Chiara’s aunt while Grandpapa Cortez chatted with Chiara’s grandma. Mike’s parents waved at me and continued with their dance. They were always so much in love with each other.
When it was time to call it a night, I found myself alone in the room. Enrique had carried Chiara to their honeymoon suite in bridal style while the others whisked away their own partners. I didn’t see Orlando for the rest of the night, and it shouldn’t bother me. But I found myself mulling over it and couldn’t help but think that he ditched me. No. He wouldn’t do that.
With nothing to do and my brain wide awake, I tried to busy myself with removing my makeup and taking my time. When it didn’t keep me occupied, I stepped into the shower stall and yanked the faucet. The hot water soothed my muscles, but there was no controlling my raging nerves. I didn’t want to be alone tonight.
By the time my feet hit the soft carpeted floor of my room, my mind was made up. I’m finding him. Pulling on a short dress that flared at the hip, I dabbed on some cologne before locking the door to my room. I’m a woman on a mission.
Bare feet made no noise as I approached his room. My heart suddenly lurched, hand pausing in mid-air. What if he had company? I was quick to curb that thought. Relax. The knock was hesitant, and I almost turned, aborting the mission.
The door swung open, and he stood there, still wet from the shower. The towel hung dangerously low on his hips. Crap. Desire pooled in my belly and traveled south. Laughter wanted to bubble out. He wasn’t expecting me. Did he really think he could ditch me like that?
“Hey, can’t sleep?”
“I want you tonight, Orlando.” I paused, allowing him to register my words, and stopped him before he objected or said anything to change my mind. “I expect nothing from this. I just want to forget. Everyone has company tonight, and I feel alone. I don’t want to feel alone. Please, I want to know how it would feel to be wanted. I want to know…Orlando. Show me how it would feel to be loved by a man.”
“Ari—”
I kissed him, pushing him away from the door, and kicked it closed. He staggered, taking me with him, when his back hit the mattress. Lust and desire were my driving force. I felt him open up to my seeking tongue, his hands running along my back.
A throaty moan left his lips when my hips ground against him. His cock was hard and pressed against my thigh. My hand slid between our bodies, stroking him, and he shuddered. I continued to kiss his neck, nipping his skin as his member twitched in my hand.
When he switched positions, I was caged between his broad frame and the mattress. His weight pressed down, allowing me to feel all the solid, muscular lines of his body. Our chests heaved, and our breathing grew heavy as his hands worked on removing my dress.
I wore no bra. When his eyes zeroed in on my hardened peaks, they were tingling with anticipation. And he didn’t make me wait for long. His head dipped, taking one aching nipple in his mouth while his thumb and forefinger rolled the other. My back arched when his tongue rolled around my areola, sucking the tip.
Jolts of pleasure shot through me, igniting my primal need. I dug my fingers into his shoulder as my toes curled. My loud moan drifted around us. My eyes rolled to the back of my head as his attention turned to the other breast. Strong fingers slid beneath my underwear, exploring my womanhood. By the time his lips traveled past my navel, I was writhing with pleasure and anticipation.
“Orlando…”
His eyes locked with mine briefly, and the corners of his lips lifted. His strong hands tugged at my panties, removing them. Long, tan fingers traced my skin from hip to ankles. I was bare in front of him. It should’ve made me feel vulnerable, but it didn’t. My heart raced, and my belly clenched.
Orlando’s eyes darkened with lust as he licked his lips. A shudder ran through my body as his intention became clear. His fingers parted my folds, revealing more to his eyes. “You’re so beautiful and wet.” His voice was hoarse with need. One finger pressed on my clit, making my whole body jerk. My head tipped back against the mattress, and my teeth involuntarily bit my lower lip to control the moan.
One hand reached out, releasing my lip from my teeth. “I want to hear it.” He pushed my legs apart with his broad shoulders and used them to keep my thighs open while his eyes drank in my sex. Then, without warning, he buried his face in my apex.
My hips jerked at the first brush of his tongue. The next few minutes had me writhing under his ruthless mouth, begging for mercy, and when he relented, a scream tore past my lips. The pleasure rendered me speechless, and I was panting hard when he climbed between my legs. A distant sound of something being torn reached my ears.
Body and mind, giddy with pleasure, I peered at him through half-hooded eyes when his erection pressed against my entrance. Then he sank deep, stretching my sex. I could feel every inch of him filling me as I gasped for breath. It felt so good. When he began to move, I was lost. My legs wrapped around his waist, holding him closer as his hands locked mine over my head. His lips claimed mine again, swallowing my moans.
Suddenly, Orlando pulled out of me and dashed into the bathroom, leaving my emotions in disarray. I blinked in confusion, wondering if I’d done something wrong. It didn’t last long, maybe less than a minute, but I could tell he came too soon and was upset. Maybe he just went to discard the condom?
Disappointment washed over me. Why was I upset? This was just sex, wasn’t it? I sat straight, trying to collect my jumbled thoughts. My body still pulsed with need. The remnants of pleasure still clung to my soft spot and made the skin tingle when I moved. Should I go in there? Why did he run away like that? Did I do something I wasn’t supposed to do?
When he didn’t come out, I decided to check on him. I shrugged on his shirt before going in. I could see him through the crack of the door. Orlando stood clutching the bathroom counter, his knuckles white with the pressure. The expression on his face was something I wasn’t expecting. Pure disgust and anger coated his features, and it made me wonder if I was the reason for his disgust.
I watched him grab a bottle of pills from one of the cabinets. What was that for? Before I had time to comprehend, he opened the cap in a swift move, popping a pill into his hand.
“What are you doing?”
Orlando whirled around as shock replaced his anger. “Why are you here?” His voice rang with a tinge of anger, and I let it slide.
“What are those tablets for?”
“That’s none of your business,” he spat.
The fury in his voice caught me off guard. While I wanted to recoil and run away, I saw something else flash in his eyes. Hurt. I had to remind myself that he was like a wounded animal. Sometimes, you just had to risk a bite to tend to their injuries.
“It is in every sense my business since you left me hanging.” I saw him flinch at the mention of his abrupt departure, and I grabbed the bottle, reading the prescription before he could stop me.
“Give it to me!” He snatched the bottle. “Get out.”
I stood unmoving; the information I just read kept swirling in my mind as I locked my gaze on his. Sex stamina pills? Someone hurt his male ego, he told me. Did that have something to do with this? Did he believe he wasn’t good enough?
“You don’t need this pill.”
“Don’t test my patience, Arianna. Did you think you can ask me questions just because we’re fooling around and fucked once?”
It stung. But the hurt in his eyes overrode the anger on his face. “No,” I whispered. “But it matters when you resort to this pill to fuck me.”
Orlando looked taken aback, but he was still brooding. It was as if he was expecting me to say something worse. “Leave, Arianna.” His voice softened with hurt and defeat; his back turned to me.
“I won’t.”
“I’ll leave, then.”
I caught him before he could leave. “It doesn’t matter how long you can fuck me. What matters is how you make me feel during and after.”
His posture stiffened, but he didn’t turn. It felt as if I understood the reason behind his hurt.
“You made me feel special and wanted,” I continued. “It felt good to be wanted for once. Trust me, you don’t need that.” Tears blurred my vision.
“Arianna…”
“I’m not her, Orlando.” My tears broke free, trickling down my chin. “I’m not her.”
His demeanor changed, and he scooped me in his arms, his lips covering mine. My lungs expanded, breathing him in. I tasted his tears on his lips, and at that moment, something shifted within me.
What I felt for him wasn’t just a leftover teenage crush. No, this was intense. More intense than the feelings I had for Brian. Thinking his name had no effect on me at that moment, which clarified everything.
My eyes rolled into my skull when Orlando plunged in without warning, claiming my body, this time without a barrier. He hoisted me onto the counter. With each thrust, his kiss deepened, consuming not just my body but my soul. I knew I had fallen for this man more deeply than I ever had for Brian.
I took what he offered and gave him everything I had. There wasn’t a loser in this game. Orlando grunted, his hand going between us to my center of need. I threw my head back as his lips trailed down to my neck, my ass perched on the bathroom counter. He lowered his head, catching one of my nipples in his mouth, and every logical thought left my mind.
When I woke up the next morning, Orlando wasn’t in the bed. The clock showed 10:15 a.m. The delicious aroma of crispy bacon, toast, and scrambled eggs wafted to my nostrils. I turned to look at the hearty meal as a smile graced my lips.An orchid with a note rested on top of a glass of water.Arianna,I’m leaving early for work. I’ll call once I’m done here.Orlando.The note was simple. I appreciated his responsibility as warmth coated my insides. After the heart-warming breakfast and a quick shower, I was just pulling on my dress when it came to my mind that we had to leave today. Crap. I didn’t want to leave yet.Remembering I left my slippers in my room last night, I hurried to pack.“I won!”I was greeted by Rosie’s squeal when I opened the door. The entire girls’ group was here, including Chiara. The girls chuckled under their breath as I made my way toward them. They were packing my clothes.“What are you doing here?” I asked Chiara. “I thought you wouldn’t surface for another
“Arianna, wait!”What did he want now? No matter how much I avoided him, he was determined to get me alone. Last night, he knocked at my door until I threatened to scream and wake everyone in the house. My heart used to ache for him. Now, the only emotion I felt for him was disgust.“What the fuck do you want?”His handsome features cringed. “Please…I want to talk.”“I told you there is nothing left to say.”“There is…please, let me explain.” His expression was pained. Though it shouldn’t bother me, it tugged at my heartstrings. “All I’m asking for is a chance to talk. Please…”My fingers reached to massage my temples as I considered his plea. “Okay, and after that, you should stop bugging me.”“I promise.”“We’ll talk tonight.”“The same spot.”“Fine.” I didn’t wait to see the relief flooding his face. My thoughts were on Orlando. His cell phone had been switched off for the past three days, and it had been driving me crazy. I was restless and restrained myself from calling Enrique.
A deep sigh escaped the confines of my lungs when Orlando allowed me to get up, and both of us adjusted our clothes. “Stay with me tonight,” he murmured as he looked at me intently. “Or I can stay with you.”“Why?”“Is that question necessary?” His brows rose. “I’m not done with you yet.”A smile crept on my lips as I watched him climb into the driver’s seat. I was giddy with excitement as I slipped between the front seats to sit in the passenger seat. “Your apartment is an hour away. I prefer you in my room tonight.”“Impatient, I see.”“Can you blame me?”Orlando’s free hand held mine as we drove back to my parents’ home.“How did you find me here?”“I was coming to see you. When I saw you crossing the road, I followed.”“You saw.”A slight pause before he responded. “I did.”“He’d been pressuring me to meet and said he wanted to talk. He said it was urgent.”Orlando raised my hand to his lips, pressing them on my wrist. “You don’t have to explain anything, Arianna. I followed you a
Sunlight streamed through the maple-colored curtains. I stretched under the sheets, relishing the soft texture caressing my bare skin. Orlando was missing from the bed. He was an early riser, unlike me. A tray of food and flowers greeted me. How can I not fall in love with this man? My body ached deliciously when I hopped out of bed and walked to the bathroom. I smiled to myself at the memories of last night’s events. A deep chuckle had rumbled out of his chest when he flipped me on my stomach. His hand caressed my tattooed ass cheek, giving it a squeeze. His chuckle soon turned into full-blown laughter. Why wouldn’t he laugh? The tattoo consisted of a dark-colored dick with thick red letters reading “fuck me harder.” The reason I always covered my bottom with modest underwear. His hand had given a tap, making it bounce. “Those words are encouraging.” He’d caressed the flesh before slipping his hands inside my dripping folds. The slow, torturous caress had driven me crazy. Orlando
“Here comes the bride and groom to be!”The excited voice on the speaker and the cinematic music in the background didn’t evoke happiness in me. In fact, it added more fuel to my mental agony. My grip tightened around the glass of champagne, and I watched the bubbles settle down––tempting. When the waiter passed by, I swapped it for a glass of water. A deep breath expanded my lungs. Tonight, I had to be in control of my emotions.The engaged couple descended the decorated stairs, hand in hand and with face-splitting grins. She looked gorgeous in her custom-made gown. Midnight blue suited her well. He wore a matching suit, looking handsome as ever.I watched as his hand came around my sister’s waist. He laughed at something she said, his eyes crinkling with amusement. How could he smile with so much ease? Pain spread across my chest, and I blinked away my tears.What made it harder was watching her with him. Why couldn’t it be someone else? Watching her was like looking at myself in th
“Ouch!” I cried in shock and rubbed my ass as I blinked to clear my vision.“Move your sleepy ass before I dunk you in water.” Mike’s voice infiltrated my still sleepy brain.“I hate you!”“Hate me more when I drag you out in this outfit. You have five minutes to change.”“All right. All right.” I gave up. There was no point in taking out my fury on him. Knowing Mike, he wouldn’t hold back either.I rubbed my sore ass that still ached from the pinch as I hauled myself to the bathroom, only to pause, noticing everything that had been laid out on the vanity.“Four minutes.” My surprise was answered by another yell from my bedroom.“A girl needs her time.”“Yes, and we have only an hour left for the flight.”That was enough to rouse my brain. “We’re flying where?”“Three minutes. I don’t care if you’re naked. You know me.”Shit!Mike wasn’t someone I’d categorize into any stereotypical roles. He was brutally honest and didn’t give a damn how others felt about him. Brian once again made h
When we landed at the New Ikandas airport, there was a chopper ready to take us to the estate. I always loved the Cortez family helicopter. Its glass floor gave us the perfect eagle’s eye view of the city, an experience one should never miss. The Cortez family ranked on the list of the top ten billionaires for the past three decades. My dad always wanted to do business with them, but it wasn’t easy to get a deal with the Cortezes.Mike was the only son of Cortez Senior’s daughter. Only a few knew of his relationship with the famous family since he had a different surname. Mike, Rosie, and I went to the same school in Linnesse, and we’d been friends since kindergarten.If my dad knew, he’d have found a way to marry Alana to Mike. I shuddered at the mere thought.“Say cheese!”I was pulled out of my reverie by an excited Rosie, and I smiled in time for the selfie. “Are you posting that?”“Yeah!” Rosie chirped. “The twin pig is stalking me on Instagram. I’m gonna show her that you aren’
I sat facing Rosie as she worked on my hair.“You came prepared,” I said, noticing the different shades of hair color packages in her vanity case.“Yeah. I’ve been planning a visit ever since your breakup, and when Mike called, I grabbed everything that came to mind.” She inspected her bag, producing a catalog of six colors. “So, which one do you want?”Indecision clouded my mind. The dark shades were appealing. Would it look good? I’d always been a blonde. After contemplating for a moment, I gave up. “Anything that’s not her.”“Hmm…something dark, then,” she said to herself as she browsed through the packets. “Why don’t you close your eyes and relax while I work on you?” she suggested, and I nodded. A few hours later, I was stunned to see my transformation. My now dark brown hair complimented my honey-brown eyes, and it was now cut into layers. Though nothing would change much, it brought a sense of relief.The day had surprisingly been relaxing, and I felt a lot better after my mak
Sunlight streamed through the maple-colored curtains. I stretched under the sheets, relishing the soft texture caressing my bare skin. Orlando was missing from the bed. He was an early riser, unlike me. A tray of food and flowers greeted me. How can I not fall in love with this man? My body ached deliciously when I hopped out of bed and walked to the bathroom. I smiled to myself at the memories of last night’s events. A deep chuckle had rumbled out of his chest when he flipped me on my stomach. His hand caressed my tattooed ass cheek, giving it a squeeze. His chuckle soon turned into full-blown laughter. Why wouldn’t he laugh? The tattoo consisted of a dark-colored dick with thick red letters reading “fuck me harder.” The reason I always covered my bottom with modest underwear. His hand had given a tap, making it bounce. “Those words are encouraging.” He’d caressed the flesh before slipping his hands inside my dripping folds. The slow, torturous caress had driven me crazy. Orlando
A deep sigh escaped the confines of my lungs when Orlando allowed me to get up, and both of us adjusted our clothes. “Stay with me tonight,” he murmured as he looked at me intently. “Or I can stay with you.”“Why?”“Is that question necessary?” His brows rose. “I’m not done with you yet.”A smile crept on my lips as I watched him climb into the driver’s seat. I was giddy with excitement as I slipped between the front seats to sit in the passenger seat. “Your apartment is an hour away. I prefer you in my room tonight.”“Impatient, I see.”“Can you blame me?”Orlando’s free hand held mine as we drove back to my parents’ home.“How did you find me here?”“I was coming to see you. When I saw you crossing the road, I followed.”“You saw.”A slight pause before he responded. “I did.”“He’d been pressuring me to meet and said he wanted to talk. He said it was urgent.”Orlando raised my hand to his lips, pressing them on my wrist. “You don’t have to explain anything, Arianna. I followed you a
“Arianna, wait!”What did he want now? No matter how much I avoided him, he was determined to get me alone. Last night, he knocked at my door until I threatened to scream and wake everyone in the house. My heart used to ache for him. Now, the only emotion I felt for him was disgust.“What the fuck do you want?”His handsome features cringed. “Please…I want to talk.”“I told you there is nothing left to say.”“There is…please, let me explain.” His expression was pained. Though it shouldn’t bother me, it tugged at my heartstrings. “All I’m asking for is a chance to talk. Please…”My fingers reached to massage my temples as I considered his plea. “Okay, and after that, you should stop bugging me.”“I promise.”“We’ll talk tonight.”“The same spot.”“Fine.” I didn’t wait to see the relief flooding his face. My thoughts were on Orlando. His cell phone had been switched off for the past three days, and it had been driving me crazy. I was restless and restrained myself from calling Enrique.
When I woke up the next morning, Orlando wasn’t in the bed. The clock showed 10:15 a.m. The delicious aroma of crispy bacon, toast, and scrambled eggs wafted to my nostrils. I turned to look at the hearty meal as a smile graced my lips.An orchid with a note rested on top of a glass of water.Arianna,I’m leaving early for work. I’ll call once I’m done here.Orlando.The note was simple. I appreciated his responsibility as warmth coated my insides. After the heart-warming breakfast and a quick shower, I was just pulling on my dress when it came to my mind that we had to leave today. Crap. I didn’t want to leave yet.Remembering I left my slippers in my room last night, I hurried to pack.“I won!”I was greeted by Rosie’s squeal when I opened the door. The entire girls’ group was here, including Chiara. The girls chuckled under their breath as I made my way toward them. They were packing my clothes.“What are you doing here?” I asked Chiara. “I thought you wouldn’t surface for another
The wedding was perfect in every sense. Tears of joy streamed down my cheeks when Enrique kissed Chiara. The setting sun cast a golden shadow on the couple, and the photographers utilized the moment to capture the moments that would be remembered forever.Warm lips graced my bare shoulder, and I turned to meet Orlando’s stormy gaze. We moved aside, and I stayed by his side as he greeted the guests, introducing me to them.The function was a blur, and my cheeks ached with all the smiling I’d been doing that evening. We shared our first dance together, and I couldn’t help but admire how delectable he looked in his white suit.“That was such a wonderful moment.” Mike’s mom burst into tears.“It was.” Orlando smiled down at his aunt.“I’m so happy for you both.” She hugged me. “Ari and Rosa are my darlings. Take good care of her, Orlando. I don’t want to see any more tears in her eyes.”Orlando’s face tightened. Mr. Frisby was right on time for the rescue. He pulled his wife away with a w
The Cortez estate glowed like it was Christmas again. The exterior expanse of the mansion and garden was decorated with lights. Bouquets made of natural flowers decorated every corridor. Unlike the exterior, the decorations inside were minimal. However, the grand interior design compensated for the lack of other items, and the fragrance of the flowers made the environment pleasant.Boxer stayed by my side as I ambled my way through the staff, buzzing with activities. Orlando asked if I could dog-sit for a night, and I agreed. The men were at the guest house celebrating Enrique’s last night as a bachelor. They whisked Enrique away, claiming he shouldn’t see the bride until tomorrow.“Arianna, did you see my daughter?” Chiara’s mom inquired when we bumped into each other.“She’s with the girls.”“Oh, she’s not answering her phone. I’m heading out with her dad. His brother and family are arriving tonight. Please look after her for me, will you? She’s so nervous.” Her face was full of con
Brian Schultz“Brian…that’s too much carb. You have to be fit for our wedding.”My jaw clenched as I glared at Alana before pulling the bowl closer. “Stop telling me what to eat,” I hissed under my breath as she looked around the table, smiling sweetly.“Others are listening.”“Then you should just shut your mouth and concentrate on your food.” There was only so much a man could take. For the third time today, she made me question my decision to marry her. Maybe I should’ve waited. But it wasn’t like I had a choice.Alana turned her attention to her friends, chatting while I shoveled my favorite chicken casserole into my mouth. It had been a week since I’d had proper food. She tried to control every aspect of my life, which I didn’t appreciate.“Here is your dessert, sir.” The waiter placed the delicious chocolate mousse in front of me.“I think you brought the wrong order. We ordered fruit salad.”“That’s my order.” I cut her off.Her face changed, not that I gave a damn about it. I
I lay breathless, my eyes rolled back into my skull as his lips took possession of my mouth again. His fingers were still buried deep in me. Orlando’s thumb applied pressure on my bundle of nerves, making my body jerk. Climbing down from the high, every inch of my apex was still sensitive to his touch.When his lips finally released mine, I opened my eyes to peer into his lust-filled gray ones. That was my best and first orgasm at the hands of a man. A gasp left my mouth when he pulled his fingers out. I looked between us to see my virgin blood coating them, and I felt a blush creep onto my cheeks.“I’m sorry about that,” I muttered, mild embarrassment lacing my voice.Orlando’s smile was unfazed. “This isn’t something I’d be embarrassed about,” he whispered thickly. “This is an honor. Thanks for giving it to me, Arianna.”His words dumbfounded me, and I felt those weird feelings snaking into my heart, taking possession. What is he doing to me? “You’re welcome, I guess.”Orlando pecke
Nine days had passed, and three days since our conversation. A lot had happened, and I was happier than I’d been in a long time. I never knew just a few days was enough to take my mind off certain things. But in truth, I was never over the crush on Orlando. It felt right in every sense. Sometimes, I thanked my fate for bringing Brian into my life. If it wasn’t for the heartbreak, Orlando wouldn’t have felt the need to get closer.Isabel was removed from the property, and everyone was back to normal after that. The wedding date drew closer. While Brian poked his head in my mind once in a while, all I felt now was shame and anger at myself. I was furious for not seeing through his facade. Shameful for trusting him and for allowing him to jerk me around.I had no way of knowing. Even moving in again with my parents was temporary. I was going to move out as soon as I found a job, which I already had with Orlando’s recommendation.A smile broke past my lips at the thought. This morning, he