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song?"
    "Piano Concerto One."
    I nodded. Uncomfortable silence trailed his words.
    "Do you miss your family?" he quietly asked.
    I shrugged. "I guess. Me and my dad don't get along too well. He always told me I was gifted with intelligence but lacking common sense. In a way he's like your father. He was disappointed when I didn't go to college. He said I was wasting my intellectual talents ."
    "What about your mother?"
    "She died when I was fifteen."
    "Oh. I'm sorry, Mia."
    "Yeah. Thanks." I hesitated. "Dad left us for his girlfriend. Not long after that, Mom started her car in the garage and didn't bother to actually leave the garage." 
    "Oh god. Carbon monoxide?" he asked.
    "Yes. She killed herself."
    "Christ, Mia."
    "Yeah." I shoved those memories aside.
    "Sounds like you've had a shitty life."
    "Maybe, but after that I told myself I'd never let a guy drive me to suicide. I learned from her mistake." I avoided his gaze—because if I met his eyes, I'd feel like I was talking to him as his girlfriend and not as a captive. Brandon was getting too familiar.
    The last thing I needed was to develop a love for this man.
    Too damn easy to bond with his good side as if he had two personalities. I discovered his second personality was surprisingly likable. Even wonderful.
    "What doesn't kill us makes us stronger," he muttered.
    "Right. It's so true."
    "What happened? Did you go live with your father?"
    "Yes." I shifted, tucked my leg beneath the other. "I don't want to talk about it anymore."
    "That's alright." The mattress squeaked as he scooted back.
    "Thanks for the water, Brandon."
    "No problem. Are you hungry yet?"
    "No."
    "It's crazy," he said. "I'm getting to know you so well. You're like a girlfriend to me."
    My eyes widened. "Uh yeah. I know."
    "You know?" He shifted again, sliding closer. I sensed his body heat. "Do you want me to be your lover? I definitely wouldn't say no."
    "Can we talk about something else?"
    "Sure." His palm rubbed the small of my back. Immediately my spine and shoulders tensed and my lungs burned as I forgot how to breathe.
    All because of his touch.
    My fear of him waltzed with tentative love for him. Brandon, you're the only one who can make or break me. I don't know whether to be afraid of you, or just love you and let you love me. But I know I need to obey you. My survival depends on it.
    A piece of humanity lies somewhere inside your heart. I know this and it brings me comfort. 
    Shakily I sighed. He touched my cheek, gently turned my face so there was no other choice but to peer into his eyes.
    Those jade eyes entranced me immediately.
    His lips found mine in a soft kiss.
    Under ordinary circumstances I would've melted from his tender kiss. It did speed up my heart beat. His tongue traced his upper lip and then he kissed me harder, demanding as his tongue coaxed my lips apart.
    Brandon's tongue teased the tip of mine. He leaned on me and I fell flush with the comforter, his waist nestled amid my thighs. I squeezed, clawed his shoulders and stroked the ridges of his bare stomach between his shirt and waistband. Before long his erection probed.
    Deathly silent except for our heavy breathing, smacking lips and straining bed frame.
    Excitement fired through me with each leisurely intimate caress. Chopin's Nocturne #2 played in my head and its haunting melody drowned my paranoia.
    His hand traveled along my outer thigh and nudged my shirt higher, higher.
    He paused—our gazes locked.
    "I love you, Mia." His lips crushed mine. "I love you. I love you," he groaned amidst searing kisses. "Oh, I love you so much."
    I love you. I love you.
    ??? Huh?
    Visions of his earlier brutality flashed like snapshots. Memories of his threats mingled paradoxically with loving kisses.
    I broke free of his spell and shoved him off. I dashed to the corner where I hugged myself, legs quaking.
    He straightened. "Look at you. I've made you afraid of me."
    I vigorously shook my head.
    "Yes I have. You're scared shitless,