6

             ASHLEY

The microwave beeped, signaling that the pizza I was heating up was ready. I jumped down from the kitchen counter, humming as I typed away on my phone, taking a sip from my glass of red wine. I was starving. I turned it off and brought out the container, wincing at how hot it was.

"Ouch!" I cried, dropping it on the counter with a thud. I opened the tap and rinsed the affected finger, sucking it off a little. I downed the remaining wine at a go, setting the cup on the counter. I opened the container and took a large bite from the pizza, moaning in satisfaction.

"Babe!" Adam called out to me.

"In the kitchen, honey!" I said through a mouthful of pizza. His footsteps drew nearer and he stepped into the kitchen, pushing his hoodie off his head, revealing his red-rimmed eyes. I furrowed my brows at him and dropped my pizza, walking over to meet him.

"Is everything okay?" I asked quietly and he nodded with a smile. He opened his mouth to speak, the pungent smell of alcohol was all over his breath, leaving me infuriated.

"Adam," I whispered. He pulled me close by the waist, nuzzling his head into the hollow of my neck. I tried to pry my way out of his grip but he was stronger than me.

"You are drunk," I stated matter-of-factly.

"I had a few drinks with my friends." He hiccuped, kissing my neck. He detached his lips from my neck and his eyes dropped to my exposed cleavage, roving my body with a hungry gaze.

"You look hot," He mumbled, referring to the pink cotton two-piece I was clad in. A spaghetti top and a pair of shorts. It was late already. I was going to go to bed after eating.

"Adam, you promised me you weren't going to drink again." I frowned, toying with the ropes of his hoodie.

He ignored me and dipped his head lower, caressing my neck with kisses. His hands that rested on the small of my back pulled me impossibly closer to himself, squeezing my waist roughly. I sighed, tilting my head to the side to grant him more access to my neck.

He crashed his lips on mine, kissing me hungrily. I opened up to him, reciprocating his action and trying to keep up with his unusually fast pace. He hoisted me up and my legs instinctively wrapped around his waist.

I didn't know how we got to the room, but the next thing I felt was my back hitting the pillow.

"Adam," I called, panting softly.

He shrugged his hoodie off his body and kept me from talking further by placing his lips on mine. My palm massaged the back of his head, working its way through his scalp, eliciting a guttural groan from him.

"Adam," I called again, squirming a little. 

He pulled my top off, causing my boobs to bounce softly. His brown orbs darkened with lust at the sight of my perky breasts. He palmed one of the duo, kneading them softly. I shuddered in his arms, goosebumps pricking my skin as he twirled a sensitive bud between his fingers.

I whimpered.

"Fuck, you are so beautiful," He kissed me again and this time, it was so rough. I tried to keep up with his pace but I was failing, miserably.

"Adam," I called, breathing heavily.

"Hm?" He answered gruffly, toying with the waistband of my shorts.

"I'm on my period," I whispered, shutting my eyes because I knew what was coming. His hands stilled on the waistband of my shorts, an irritated sigh escaping his lips. He got off the bed and went straight into the bathroom, slamming the door shut with a bang.

I flinched.

I ran my fingers through my messy hair, sighing softly. I clutched the covers tightly to my body, my eyes darting to the door that led to the bathroom, with each passing second as I waited for him to come out.

The coldness that radiated off him as he stepped out and the tension that had settled in the room had me swallowing the spit that was starting to build up in my mouth. He paid no attention to me and headed straight for his working desk. He sat down and opened his laptop, placing his glasses on his face, and then he started typing.

He ignored the fuck out of me.

I wore my top quickly and got off the bed, fiddling with my fingers. I stopped once I was behind him and took a long, deep breath to steady my shaky hands. I dropped my palms on his unclad shoulders, massaging them softly.

"Babe, I'm sorry…" I trailed off, gulping.

"For?" He asked, sarcasm dripping off his tone.

"I didn't mean to leave you hanging. I tried to tell you that I was on my period but you weren't listening. Look__" He butted in.

"Oh, I'm sorry. What was I supposed to do when you were hanging around the kitchen, looking like a fucking seductress!" He bellowed harshly.

"I'm sorry," I mumbled.

"Are you fucking someone else?" His hands paused on the keypads of his laptop and he turned around in his seat, to face me. His words had my breath knocked out of me, making me veer backwards in shock, without being shoved by anything.

I was rendered speechless and immobilized.

I just stood there and watched him horrifically.

"What?" I whispered.

"You heard me, Ashley. Do not make me repeat myself. Are you sleeping with someone?" He queried, arching one his brows at me, his voice dangerously calm.

"Who the fuck is he?!" He was seething with anger, fury flashing in his eyes and dimming the brightness his brown eyes had always possessed. He got up from his seat, taking long strides toward me.

I took cautious steps backwards, which caused me to drop on the bed with a thud. I squeezed my eyes shut, my heart pummeled against my chest, thumping and thrashing wildly, wanting to burst out of my chest.

My eyes watered, leaving me paralyzed with fear that wanted to consume me.

His cold eyes bore into mine, through his glasses.

“Answer me! You bitch!" He growled and my palms came over my lips, clamping down on them in shock as I shook my head sideways, vigorously in response.

"Use your fucking words!" He snarled.

"I'm not sleeping with anyone! I have never slept with anyone, Adam and you know it!" I didn't know where I got the audaciousness from, but I was yelling back at him.

"DO NOT RAISE YOUR VOICE AT ME!" His loud voice resonated through the entire room, a chilling cold settling into the room. I couldn't find my voice, no matter how hard I tried to talk back at him.

"What did I say about raising your voice at me, Ashley?" He questioned, his voice drawn into a menacing tone. He prowled forward, tilting my head to meet his eyes with his index finger.

Every ounce of warmth and softness had completely drained out of it, leaving only a shell of coldness and something that was much darker, an emotion I couldn't decipher.

"You do not like it," I muttered, answering without hesitation and looking down at my hands. A growl left his lips and he turned to his working desk, kicking the table off with his foot. 

"Look at me, whenever I'm speaking to you!"  He ordered and I snapped my head up to meet his gaze with tears streaming down my face uncontrollably. 

"You do not want to be with me, are you? You think I'm so controlling and abusive, don't you? Or do you think I'm not man enough to take you if I knock you up? Is that it?" He asked, cocking his brow at me. A sardonic laughter left his mouth.

"No, no," I countered, stood up, and walked over to meet him, grabbing his hands gently. I cupped his face passionately, peering at home through my wet lashes.

"That's it, isn't it?" He pressed on further and I shook my head, choking on my sob.

"That's not true, Adam. I love you. I love you so much and I really want to be with you. All I'm asking is that you give me more time. That's all. I just… I just…" I stuttered, struggling to keep my tears at bay.

"Liar!" He spat and his palm met with my cheek, which sent me flying backwards. My legs gave me away and I dropped to the floor, hot tears spilling from my eyes.

"You twat," 

"I have been with you, through thick and thin. I have been there for you. I have been a good boyfriend to you for as long as I can remember. I have been the only one who stuck around, the only constant thing in your pathetic life!" He scoffed, taking slow steps towards me.

I let out a strangled sob, writhing in pain on the floor where I was.

"And then, this one thing that I ask from you, you won't allow me to have it!" He bellowed. He picked me up like a rag doll, fisting a handful of my hair in his hands. I let out an agonizing scream as he tugged at it painfully.

 

He chuckled, kissing my neck.

My breathing had reduced to a scorched mess. My vision had turned so blurry, I could barely make out a thing any longer.

"Please," I croaked.

He hit me on my face, again and I screamed.

"Adam, please," I cried.

"I own you, Ashley and I'll do whatever it is that I want with you and your body. You belong to me. No one else!" He growled at me, grabbing my jaws roughly.

I watched in sheer horror, unable to recognize the man before me.

He threw me to the floor and walked away from me. I took that as my cue and gathered all my strength, getting off the floor. I dashed out of the room.

"Ashley, Get back here!" 

I ran. I ran as fast as I could, bolting out of the house, into the night.