chapter 4

There is hunger, devouring hunger.

"Would you mind repeating the last part of your sentence again?"

Screw you?

I blink rapidly, completely confused and unmistakably afraid and terrified. You can't blame me, he looks like he wants to murder me and my unborn children and after that devour our lifeless flesh.

"Say it again." He sneer into my ears, his body touching mine and I jolt from the shockwave my body receives from his.

I gasp at the reaction his body causes mine and I hiss, knowing he knows it as well because there is a look of satisfaction in his eyes.

"It." I answer, making his brow shoot up immediately.

He seems to be taken back a little, "What?" He asks.

I lift up my chin to properly have a good gaze at him, "You said say it, and I just did. Now let me go." I demand.

He doesn't let go and he instead he push me harder against the door frame. "That's not what you said Kar, and you know it." He murmur, still pinning me tight against the door.

Wait did just give me a pet name?

It sounded a little weird and really hot, his deep horse voice seems to make every word he says hotter than normal.

"Why would I have to say it again when I already said it once?" My own stubborn brow begin to rise.

"So I can spank you like the little bad girl you are becoming." He mumble into the crook of my neck causing shivers to run down my spine.

His breath is warm and domination and for a moment I forget we are actually fighting and I want to wrap my arms around his neck. I stop myself before I do such a crazy thing, but the moan escape my lips that moment before I can stop.

My legs grows weak nevertheless I force them up with my strength, I am not about to let him win this.

"I'm not a little bad girl William, and if I am then I'm certainly not yours." I bite out at him.

I see pain flash over his eyes as he lets me go and I unglue myself from the door.

He turn back and as he step away from me he begin to speak "What happened to honour your father, mother and elders?"

I cross my arms over my chest, I know where he's going with this, he's going to try make me feel guilty with the laws in the Bible and he might no longer call himself a Christian, but that doesn't stop his knowledge of the good book as he calls it.

"What happened to 'parent do not provoke your Children'?" I ask, contradicting his point.

He laugh quietly and says, "What I have been trying to do in the last half hour isn't what I'd call provoking," and before I know what's happening he pulls me to himself and takes my lips between his. His hands run over my clothed body down and grabs me by my butt and as I gasp, he takes the opportunity and slides his tongue into my mouth.

I try to fight it off at first, but his hand on my butt moves up my waist and before I know it, he unzip my dress and he runs his fingertips over my bare spine faintly and I shudder in response and kiss back, wrapping my arms around his neck for strength.

He immediately unhooks my bra and his palm claims my bare back and I tremble with need as he hauls me closer, even tighter to himself and I feel him, lying there, raging against my belly through his shorts and I jerk back, but his hand does not let go.

"William let me go." I say in panic and fear, I don't want to go beyond this level yet not now and not with him.

Arthur.

The single name causes guilt to spring up all over my body like a disease. I cheated on him when I kissed William back, I cheated on Arthur when I didn't fight against him?

"Let me go," I whimper, and push against him.

He pulls away and he's smirking widely at his accomplishment, "What I just did is what is called provoking."

I cover my mouth, "You did.. you did this on purpose, you made me cheat on Arthur."

"Who?" He asks, obviously confused.

"My boyfriend you-" I stop myself from completing the nasty word I am about to throw at him.

He seems to be expecting the word if not anticipating it and as my mouth shut the side of his mouth curves up in a teasing manner. "Good thing you stopped yourself, wouldn't want me doing something nasty to that pretty mouth of yours now would you?'' He taunt, ''And also I didn't make you cheat, you did that on your own when you kissed back." He goes to where the ball he dropped few minutes ago rolled to and pick it up. He turns back to me again, "You have from now till this time tomorrow to move and if you still choose to be stubborn, I won't be responsible for my action." He opens the door and walk out before slamming it shut.

I slide down to the floor and clench my dress tightly. I don't know feel weak, vulnerable every time I'm with him and I don't know why he always prey on it and most importantly, I don't want to continue this way. At first I thought I wouldn't be able to live alone, but after what just happened, I think I'm safe and better alone and on my own.

❇❇❇

William's POV

"You have from now till this time tomorrow to move and if you still choose to be stubborn, I won't be responsible for my action." I say before opening the door and walk out and closing it.

I hope to god this is signal enough for her to leave and not look back.

I walk out, towards Simon who is waiting for me beside my car. He opens the door for me and I get in dropping the ball in my hand on the seat and bringing my phone out of my pocket to to look through it. There are three missed calls and a message on the notification bar and I click on the missed call icon and it reveals Rory's contact and that was five minute ago.

I tap on the message icon and its from Rory sent two minutes ago.

Where are you bro? We can't play the game without the ball, call me back.

I sigh in anger and I dial Rory's number. After a brief ring he picks up.

"Hey bro what happened? I was thinking you died or something."

Rory, always the blunt one.

I roll my eyes, "No I didn't die, I had some minor family business to attend to, but thanks for your concern though."

"Never mind, just get your ass down here ASAP, Keenan is in the mood to whoop it."

"I'm coming, but tell Keenan I'll be doing the ass whooping as always."

I end the call and put my phone back into my pocket only for it to beep again and I bring it out to look at the caller.

It's not a call rather it's a reminder, today 10 years ago today, I made a promise to Samuel Butler to take care and protect his little girl on his dying bed that very day at St Roseline hospital and I still remember watching his smile as he takes his last breath, because he was sure I was going to keep my promise and keep her safe.

Flashback

"Can I go see papa now?" Karen asked me as she came to where I was, her big blue eyes wide and hopeful as they stared at me.

Samuel had asked me as his condition worsen not to let Karen see him for fear of how she'd react. He feared she might not take it well and didn't didn't want to see her sad because of him.

I bent down and took her soft and small hands into my hand, rubbing small circles on them, before shaking my head.

A tear slipped down my eyes as I stared at the little girl life has dealt so cruelly with, first with her mother and then with her father. She was still so young, so innocent and she shouldn't be facing such a tragedy in life. I had felt death before, but my advantage was age and maturity, but here she was still finding her foot in the world and they were being cut down.

"Where is papa." She asked, horror written in her face as she stared at my wounded own.

Samuel was like a father to me and I was grieved by his death more than anything, but I knew then I had to conceal it if I were ever going to console Karen who was now alone in this world.

"Something worrying you Sir?" I snap out of my thought to see Simon eyes on me for a brief moment before going back to the road.

"Not really, why do you ask?"

"Cassandra worries you might be having some trouble with the young Miss."

I sigh and rub my hand over my temple, "She's just so damn stubborn."

That seems to make Simon chuckle and my brow rises, "She's at that age, she takes after you sir."

I hiss in annoyances as I know he speaks the truth. "Still stubborn." I murmur under my breath.

"It's a good thing that she's just rebellious and not turning to drugs like most kids her age do."

My hand ball into a tight fist, "God forbid Karen be anything like that." I spit out, my anger showing in full force within seconds.

Simon who seem to have taken note of my outburst says nothing instead, "We are here." He announces as he drives into the parking lot and I get down with the ball and as I begin to head for the basketball court Simon calls to me.

I pause and turn to him, and as he begins to speak there is admiration in his voice, "You are an exceptional guardian to Karen, never doubt that."

I nod, "Thank you." And walk away.