Page 8 of Sinful Desires

“It’s my stepfather.He has ...unrealistic expectations.He won’t let me be anything but perfect.Perfect body, face, hair, and manners.Anything less is unspeakable.”God, if they only knew the half of it, she thought.

“Jesus,” Malik said.“Is your mom still alive?”

“Yes.”

“What does she think about this?”

She tried to laugh.“He’s the same way with her.”

Malik scowled.“And she puts up with it and allows it to happen to you?”

“Let’s just say my mother isn’t a strong person.”

Aiden hugged her against his chest and kissed her forehead.

“You don’t have to worry anymore.We’ll take care of you.”

She stared up at him.God, she hoped he was right, but she had a feeling they wouldn’t be able to keep her when Edward showed up.He was much too powerful.

“Do you think you could eat more, honey?”Malik asked.

She shook her head.She wasn’t hungry since they gave her more to eat in that one bowl than she was allowed for a day, but the thought of a slice of bread was more than she could take.“Maybe a slice of bread.”

Malik grinned.“You’ll love it.It’s about done, so you’ll get it hot and fresh with sweet butter.”

She almost groaned.Butter, God, she hadn’t had that in longer than she could remember.

“I’d like to try a small slice.”

“You got it,” Malik said and set her legs back on the sofa.“I’ll be right back.”He looked at Aiden and snorted.“I’m not going even to ask you because I already know the answer.”

She and Aiden watched him walk away before he looked down at her.

“He knows I could eat a whole loaf if he let me.”

She laughed.“Really?A whole one?Have you ever done it?”

“Oh, yeah,” he said and grinned.“But it was his own fault for leaving me with it while he went into town.”

Malik came back with three plates and handed one to each person before he sat down with his own.“I was only gone an hour for God's sake,” Malik griped.“You’d think I left him for days.”

She giggled so hard she almost dropped her plate.

Malik grabbed it with a smile while Aiden sat her up with her back against the cushion between them.Malik handed back her plate and dug into his slice of bread.

Malik had slathered on the butter, and it melted over the freshly baked bread.She took her first bite, and her eyes rolled.“Mmm.”She chewed and swallowed.“Oh, my God.That is the best bread I’ve ever eaten.”

“Thanks.”

They were all quiet as they finished their food.

Malik took her plate and set it on the table beside the sofa.

She rested back, placed her hands over her stomach, and groaned.“I’ve never felt this full before in my life.”

She couldn’t remember the last time her stomach was satisfied.The hunger she always felt became a part of her life, so she just dealt with it.

Her daydreams were what got her through the years.She would stare out a window and dream of having a family of her own.Her children would be out in the backyard playing with her husband, and she would come out with chocolate chip cookies and lemonade.After their snack, the family would play together until they were all exhausted, dirty, and a bit sunburned—everything she wasn’t allowed in her real life.