One Wrong Turn

Chapter Ten—Pan

I tell myself not to look at Trunks while I'm making my announcement because he'll distract me and I can't afford to loose my nerve right now. I spit the words out, all at once, one on top of the next. I'm afraid that if I take time to breathe, and think about what I'm saying I won't be able to finish.

"It was just a one time thing and Trunks is the father of my baby and I'm going to be moving in with him just as soon as we can take care of my contract."

I am mildly aware of the outraged exclamations of friends and family, the slack-jawed awe present on their faces, but I'm most aware of Trunks. He seems truly horrified as he questions the intent of my heart.

It's true, I should be saying yes to marrying him. I'm a fool not to, but I'm not ready to yet. He's not ready yet.

And our families are talking over each other vying for my attention, for his. "Why won't you marry him? What possessed you to get together with her? How long have you been together? Are you together?"

Trunks and I lock eyes across the circle. He is silent, his eyes burning into me angrily. I can tell he doesn't want to deal with this any more than I do.

He moves deftly through our family, negotiating the shield-like defense my mother and father have created with ease. He grabs my wrist, wrapping his fingers around to form a tight cage. It's almost painful, and before I can understand his intent I'm crying out in pain as he lifts off, dragging me behind him as dead weight untilI use my own power to keep up with him.

"Trunks let go!" I am hollering above the sound of air rushing past, but he isn't listening. I stop thrusting forwards. Pain as he tightens the grip on my wrist, but at this speed I'm falling fast enough that I snap free of his grip albeit with great pain.

Once free I push forwards, returning my body to a stable momentum. He turns to face me, hovering in the air, angelic.

"How dare you!"

"How dare I what?"

"How dare you make it seem like I don't care! What could possibly possess you to make it look like I'm some cad who just takes advantage and then walks away until you force me back. How dare you act like I don't love you!" He's screaming at me, his words echoing with rage and a the static crackle of power flaring as he bursts into radiant waves of golden light into his super-saija-jin form.

I stumble helplessly for the words that have escaped me as he advances. He grabs me by the waist, clutching me to his chest like a toy. The heat of his power is searing against my skin until he's gathered enough speed for the cold air to counteract it. I don't dare to try to talk to him like this.

We arrive at his condo, he lands on the balcony with the agility of a dancer. His feet touch the solid ground and he sets me on my feet turning my face to his. He isn't looking me in the eye, it's like he's looking through me.

"How can you not understand?" He whispers, his voice low and deadly as he allows his power to dissipate. He opens the door behind me with a flick of his wrist. "How can you not see what you are to me?"

He crushes me to him, claiming my mouth with his and drives me through the door. He kicks it shut behind him, never releasing his hold on me. I try to pull away, desperate for air and sanity, but he won't let me free. He pins me to the wall with the weight of his body and I'm not sure when we crossed the room.

One hand holds my wrists pinned above me and the other trails down the front of my shirt blazing a trail of fire as he rips the fabric to reveal my flesh.

"You drive me wild." He confesses, kissing the hollow of my throat. "I can't get you out of my head. I tried, for weeks to focus, but you haunt me." He's kissing his way down to my breasts. I can feel the hitch in my breath as he teeth graze over my nipple through the thin fabric of my bra.

"Trunks—"

"No. You don't talk. It's time for you to listen."

He releases my wrist to undo the zipper on my skirt and with one tug I am aware of my underwear and skirt sliding down my legs to the floor. He lifts me out of the pooled fabric as though it is contaminated. I wrap my arms around his neck, clinging to him as he resumes his trail of kisses while moving us towards the bed. I allow myself to just enjoy this, what use is fighting my desire.

Standing at the edge of his bed I watch while he pulls off his own shirt and pants.

He kisses me deeply, and I am aware of the naked thickness of his penis pressing against me. I can't fathom how this is going to work, with the roundness of my belly between us. Apparently he was already ahead of me as he removes his mouth from mine, spinning me around so my back is next to him. He tips me forward at the waist over the ends of his bed and with his hands gripped firmly about my hips he thrusts into me. I cry out, but I can't be sure if it's from surprise, pain, or pleasure.

I wish I could pretend there's something romantic about this, but there isn't. He's lost in some animalistic haze, claiming my body angrily with his. As though through force he can somehow place a marker on me that says I am his. In the end, he pulls me against him, panting and drops us both onto his bed.

"Trunks…" my voice is broken. "Trunks, what is going on?"

"You can't see it? You don't see the way you complete me, the way you make me whole? You don't understand that I love you?"

I am half tempted to tell him you don't treat people you love the way he just treated me, but I'm afraid of raising his anger again.

"What is it going to take for me to get through to you, Pan.?" He runs his hand across the swell of my stomach, fingers dancing across the skin in a light caress. "I need you in my life. I want to be the man who comes home to you every day. I want to wake up beside you every morning and got to sleep beside you every night. I want to be the father who teaches our son to fight, and what it means to be a man."

"Daughter." I laugh. "We're having a girl."

He props himself up on his elbow to look me in the eyes.

"A daughter, really? You didn't tell me. Then I'll threaten her boyfriends and teach her how to keep them in place. Pan, I don't have a ring to offer you right now. I have more temper than any man but my father has a right to. I'm far from perfect, but I'm yours. Don't make me beg, don't misunderstand the love I have for you. It isn't logical, but it's yours. Marry me, today, tomorrow a hundred years from now—I don't care, just say you'll be mine"

"You really want me, just as I am and nobody else? Are you saying you're in love with me, Trunks. Seriously?"

He kisses me on the lips lightly. "Sweetheart, I haven't thought about anyone else since you."

"But do you love me?" I have to have a clear answer to this. I can't bind myself to him forever without being certain that he's not going to turn around and leave me once I'm committed.

"How many ways can I say it before you'll understand Pan." He's kissing me again. "Yes, Pan. I love you. I don't know when or how it happened, but I love you."

I smile, a calm settling inside myself. He's right,his recent anger excepted that he's been nothing but tender with me. He's catered to my whims, accepted my crazy and never spoken against me. He all but stole me from the presence of our outraged families. How much more can I ask of one man, even a super-human one.

"I'll marry you, but I have one condition."

"Anything."

"You have to explain it to my father."