Bound to Him by Michelle F. Adams

Author:Michelle F. Adams [Adams, Michelle F.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Beachwalk Press, Inc.
Published: 2019-03-21T18:30:00+00:00

Chapter 8

Clarissa

“Clarissa!” James calls as he comes home from the office.

I know I only have a few minutes to compose myself before he comes looking for me, like he always does, so I sit on the edge of the bed as I hear his footsteps pounding on the stairwell. He appears in the doorway of our bedroom a moment later, his broad shoulders filling up the space. His eyes light up when he sees me, and he starts to come forward, but I put a hand up and it stops him in his tracks.

“What’s wrong?” he asks, his brows knitting together in an expression of worry and concern.

“I got a call from Moonlight Publishing today.” I get straight to the point, my voice barely above a whisper as I try to speak around the ball of emotions clogging my throat.

“Clarissa,” he starts to say as he takes a step forward, but I wrap my arms around my waist as if they can shield me from the pain and continue speaking.

“They told me they liked my manuscript and would like to discuss the details of publishing it.” I raise my head and look up at him standing there in the middle of the bedroom, his hands fisted at his sides. “A manuscript I didn’t submit to them.”

“Baby.” James’s voice is soft, but it grates at my senses. “You have so much talent, and you have to show it to the world, not keep it hidden inside. I forwarded the manuscript for approval because I knew how much you wanted to do it, but you were scared of taking that first step.”

“It was my decision,” I say, looking past him to the empty hallway behind. “And you took it from me. Because you didn’t think I was capable of doing it on my own.”

“No!” James’s vehement denial cuts through the tense air surrounding us. “I want you to have what you want, Clarissa. And I want to give it to you when you’re afraid of taking it on your own.”

“You did this because you think I’m not enough,” I hurl at him, not able to look into his eyes as the years of hurt and anger and betrayal come bubbling up to the surface. The pressure behind my eyes is unbearable and they well up as I stand from the bed and hug myself tighter. “You want me to be successful so I become worthy of someone like you!”

James is there before the first tear falls, pulling my stiff body closer and wrapping me in his heated embrace. But I don’t want his comfort and his warmth right now. I want an outlet for all the chaos inside me, the demons that haunt me and leave darkness and misery in their wake. So I struggle against him, unfolding my arms and pushing at his solid chest.

“No! Get away from me!” I yell, twisting my upper body to create some distance between us, and not just physically.

“I am not your father,” he whispers in a strained voice, and I hear the pain and the suppressed rage that he tries to hide.

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