Chapter Eleven

Hand in hand, Bradin walked Marie home. The moon was high overhead, casting pale, bluish-white light over the sand and ocean. Marie still wore the dress that Susannah and Ava had dressed her in, but her feet were now devoid of the sandals, which she carried in her right hand along with her now dry clothing from that afternoon. She had let her hair down, and now it hung freely about her shoulders, lifted every so often by a fresh ocean breeze.

As they drew closer and closer to her home, fear filled Marie's body, making her steps slower and slower. She didn't want to go back there. She wanted to stay with Bradin, she wanted more nights like that night. Nights where she laughed and talked and didn't worry about saying or doing the wrong thing. Nights where she could be herself. But she had lived this way for so long that Marie was uncertain of who she really was.

They stopped two houses away from hers, neither moving, neither saying a word. They simply stood there, staring at the lights that flooded out from the downstairs windows. Marie bit her lip, trying to find the strength to pull her hand from Bradin's warm and comforting grip, and return to the fear and misery in which she lived.

"You don't have to go." Bradin's voice was soft, "I'm sure Nikki wouldn't mind letting you stay in her room tonight."

Marie smiled slightly as she looked into Bradin's eyes. She could sense how badly he wanted her with him, how much he wanted her to simply walk away from that house and all its pain. But things weren't simple. They never had been to start with.

"I can't." She said, her own voice barely above a whisper, "I can't let you keep protecting me Bradin, because one of these days, you won't be there and I'll have to protect myself on my own."

Bradin pulled her against him tightly and held her there. She wrapped her arms around his neck and memorized the way he felt, the way he smelled, and the way he made her feel safe.

"You never have to worry about me not being there." he whispered in her ear, his words tickling her ear. Marie pulled away reluctantly and looked up at him, committing to memory the way he looked right then, with the wind tousling his hair and the moonlight on his face, making his eyes dance and sparkle.

"That's easy to say Bradin, but what's going to happen when you meet a girl who's not as messed up as I am, who doesn't make you go through the same crap that I'm putting you through? What then?" Tears stung her eyes, but Marie would not cry. Not now, not when she needed to seem strong.

He gripped her shoulders, and looked her straight in the eye.

"That will never happen." He said, his gaze searching hers, trying to get her to understand what it was he was trying to say. "I care about you Marie, more than you know. And I will never leave you for some other girl, because no other girl has ever made me feel the way that I feel about you."

Marie smiled weakly and closed her eyes, willing the tears to go away.

"Still," she said, opening her eyes and meeting his gaze head-on, "I can't keep running to you with my problems. There are some things that I need to handle on my own."

Unwillingly, she pulled her hand out of his and took a few steps back, putting distance between them.

"Tell Susannah thank you for letting me borrow her shoes," she said, putting the sandals into Bradin's empty hand, "and tell your aunt thanks for letting me keep the dress."

"I will." Bradin nodded his head slightly. Marie leaned forward and kissed his cheek lightly, afraid that if she gave him a real kiss that she wouldn't be able to pull away from him again.

"Good-night Bradin." she said.

"Night."

Marie ducked her head and turned towards her house. She took in a deep breath and willed her feet to move. Slowly, painfully, inch by inch she drew nearer to the house. Glancing over her shoulder, Marie saw Bradin standing there, Susannah's shoes in his hand and his eyes watching her intently. She waved to him, and climbed the steps onto the beach house's back porch. There was no way she was going to risk going in through the door, so, instead, Marie made a beeline for the trellis and climbed, as swiftly as she could in a dress, up and made her way across the flat roof to her window.

Bending down, she pulled at the window. It opened with a squeal of protest. Marie held her breath, waiting for her stepfather to dash up the stairs and into the room, looking for the cause of the sound. But when he didn't show, Marie opened the window the rest of the way. This time, she sat on the roof and slid through the window, making sure her feet touched the floor before she pulled herself all the way through. Cloaked in darkness, for fear of turning on the light and having her stepfather see it, Marie gently eased out of the dress and slipped into her pajamas. She nestled under the covers of her bed, drawing the sheets tight around her body like a cocoon, and fell asleep, dreaming of Bradin and their day together.


Marie crept stealthily towards her mother's bedroom, careful not to hit the few floorboards that squeaked. She opened the door to the dark room and slipped inside. Her mother lay asleep on the bed, her limp hair sprawled out across the dingy pillow. The room was beginning to smell of unwashed bodies and fouled sheets. Marie cringed as the putrid smell wafted up into her nose. She would wash the sheets once she was done giving her mother a bath.

She slunk out of the bedroom and into the bathroom where she filled the plastic bucket, which she kept in there for when it was time for her mother to be bathed, with water and grabbed a sponge and some soap before going back into the bedroom.

Carefully, she peeled the soiled nightgown off her mother's stick thin form. She dipped the sponge in the warm water and slowly, softly, began to wash her mother's pallid skin.

"I met a guy, mom." Marie whispered as she ran the sponge over the older woman's arm. "You'd really like him, he's a lot like dad used to be. I smile a lot when he's around and sometimes he actually makes me laugh. I haven't laughed in so long that sometimes I think I've forgotten how to."

Her mother groaned, and her eyes opened ever so slightly. Marie smiled warmly at her mother. It was no big thing for her mom to open her eyes and make unintelligible noises, so there was no big reason for Marie to get her hopes up that maybe, this time, her mother would actually speak.

"His name's Bradin," she continued, moving the sponge over her mother's stomach. She could feel the woman's ribs beneath the sponge. "He's a surfer and he has blonde hair and really beautiful blue eyes. Just looking into his eyes makes me forget everything that's happened to us."

Marie placed the sponge back into the bucket, which she placed off to the side. She dug through the dresser that sat against the wall, and pulled out a fresh nightgown that she dressed her mother in. Picking up her mom, Marie carried her to the chair that sat beside the window in the corner of the room before stripping the bed of its sheets and placing new ones on in their place. Lastly she balled up all the dirty sheets and the nightgown and placed them in a pile by the door before putting her mother back in the bed and tucking her in. Marie climbed on top of the comforter and sat beside her mom, gently combing her fingers through the older woman's greasy hair.

"He scares me sometimes though," she said, her eyes starring straight ahead. "The way he looks at me and touches me, and the way that I feel when he does all that, it scares the hell out of me. I care about him so much, but I know that no man, no matter how much he may like me, is going to want a battered and used girl. I'm scared that he's going to see just how vile I really am and that he's going to leave me. And I don't know if I can handle that." Tears fell slowly down Marie's cheeks and she wiped them away quickly.

So caught up in her own sorrow and misery, Marie didn't even notice the tears that dampened her mother's own face.


Spanish Cove lay deserted when Bradin got there that afternoon. Plastic wrappers littered the sand, leaving no question as to what the people that had occupied the Cove the night before had been doing, and the remnants of a fire were still smoldering slightly.

The waves were just right that day, high and furious against the rocks. But Bradin didn't feel like surfing. He had his board with him, but the urge to hit the waves was dimmed slightly. His thoughts were too occupied by Marie and what she had said to him when he walked her home.

What's going to happen when you meet a girl who's not as messed up as I am? Bradin shook his head. He knew that he would never meet a girl who was as special to him as Marie clearly was. She didn't have to worry about that, but that fact that she was worried, troubled Bradin.

He stood staring out at the waves and leaning against his surfboard. The salt spray felt good on his face and helped to relieve some of the heat of the summer afternoon.

A pair of slim hands covered his eyes.

"Guess who?" the familiar voice made him smile. He turned quickly and caught Marie in a tight hug. She giggled like a school girl as he held her to him and kissed her passionately, lovingly.

"You didn't guess." She pouted once they had broken apart. Bradin chuckled and dipped his head down so that his lips caught hers once more.

"Come on," he said, grabbing her hand in his and leading her out into the surf.

"What are you going to do to me?" she asked suspiciously. The warm water hit against their legs.

"We're going surfing." He replied with an impish grin.

"Um…incase you haven't noticed, I don't have a board and I'm not exactly dressed for the occasion."

"Oh, right." He paused and bit his lip, thinking. "Alright, follow me."


"Are you sure your aunt won't mind if I borrow her stuff?" Marie called through the closed door of Bradin's bedroom as she changed into the bathing suit and wet suit that Bradin had handed to her.

"I'm positive." he called back. Marie glanced at herself in the mirror and paused. Yellowish-purple bruises covered her stomach, in the first stages of fading away. She ran a shaking hand over the bruises, her eyes unable to look away from their hideousness. Her fingers traced the outlines of the numerous marks, and she winced slightly whenever she touched a sensitive spot.

"Hey are y…" Bradin opened the door, causing Marie to jump. She turned her back to him, afraid to let him see the bruises that marred her skin. But she forgot about the bruises that covered her back.

"My god." He breathed, gently running a hand over her bare back, his fingers gently running over the area that lay uncovered by the top of the bikini Marie wore.

"He did this to you, didn't he?" Marie turned back around slowly, her head bent, and nodded, unable to meet his eyes. His fingers moved over her sides and across her stomach, his eyes riveted to the spots his fingers touched.

The intimate contact of his fingers gently brushing over her stomach caused shivers to run through Marie's body. His hand moved slowly up her stomach, between her breasts, and over her throat until he gently held the side of her neck. She looked up at him then, her eyes bright with tears as they connected with his. He looked so pitiful, his eyes filled with worry, anger, hurt, sadness, care, guilt, and, dare she think it…love?

"How can you let him do this to you?" He asked, his eyes searching hers. Marie closed her eyes, afraid to let Bradin see the fear and pain that resided in her.

"If I let him, then he won't hurt my mom." she whispered, a tear falling out from behind her closed eyes. Bradin ran a gentle finger over her cheek, wiping the tear away with the pad of his thumb.

"Marie," he sighed, before catching her lips with his in a soft and tender kiss. Marie moaned as his mouth moved against hers. Why was it that his touch always seemed to make her feel so wonderful? It was as if his kisses could erase her past and all the hurt that resided there.

She could taste her own tears on his lips, salty and wet, which caused even more tears to fall from her eyes. His hands moved over her skin, making her feel as if she were on fire. Her own hands were wrapped tightly around Bradin's neck, tangled within his golden hair. His fingers caressed her back, running seductively over her shoulder blades and playing with the tie that kept the bikini top covering her. His tongue snaked across her lips, and he tilted her head back, deepening the kiss.

Marie's entire body was on fire and she felt a desire growing within her that she'd never felt before. Her knees shook with each caress of Bradin's tongue against her own, and her stomach knotted as his hands moved gently and deliberately over her breasts. She moaned in pleasure as their hips ground together.

The backs of her knees hit against the edge of Bradin's bed. Marie hadn't even realized that they had moved the few steps towards his bed. They fell onto the bed, Bradin bracing himself on one hand so as not to put all his weight on Marie.

Eyes screwed tightly shut, Marie tried to ignore the voices in her head, the memories that plagued her, reminding her of all the pain she'd suffered from being in a similar position to the one she was now in. But Bradin's hands felt so good running over her body, touching her skin and igniting a fiery passion that Marie had never known she possessed. She felt Bradin tugging at the bikini tie at the back of her neck. It came loose and his hand was at her breast, touching her as if she were a delicate doll that he was afraid to break. His lips left hers, and his kisses moved over her neck towards her bare breast. He kissed her right breast softly, making Marie feel as if a feather brushed against her. She gasped at the touch, and arched her back instinctively. Never before had it felt this good. The touches of other men had been rough, hasty. They didn't want the foreplay, only the sex. But not Bradin. He was gentle and took his time, savoring the feel and taste of Marie's skin. This was his first time, Marie was certain of it. She could feel it in the hesitant touch of his hands, the way that he looked at her, devouring her body with a single gaze.

His kisses moved down her body, over her stomach and all the marks that covered it. He kissed each bruise, as if the touch of his lips could heal them, make them disappear. He gently pulled the wet suit off her hips and down her legs, leaving Marie clad in only the pale yellow bikini bottom. Her body trembled as she looked at him, his eyes moving over her body.

"You're so beautiful." he whispered, leaning down to catch her mouth in a heartfelt and passionate kiss.


Bradin wasn't lying when he spoke. Marie was beautiful, the most beautiful girl…woman that he had ever laid eyes on. Even with all the bruises that marred her pale skin she was still stunning. A blush crept up her cheeks at his words and Bradin smiled down at her. She lay under him, the top of her bikini untied and pulled below her breasts, and only the bottom of the bikini kept her from being completely nude. He could feel his pulse race as he looked at her, his arousal growing.

He sat up, and unzipped his own wetsuit, pulling it down to his waist before kissing Marie's swollen lips once more. Her hands moved over his chest, causing the muscles to ripple beneath her fingertips. Bradin groaned as Marie kissed his neck, sucking gently on his skin.

Never in his life had Bradin experienced emotions that he was feeling right then. His mind was running in a thousand different directions. What it would be like to be with Marie in that way, to feel her around him, have her in a way that was so incredibly special. But then he remembered, she'd been with men before, she had experienced sex with men more experienced than he. They had forced Marie, however, forced her to sleep with them when she didn't want to. Did she feel forced now? Did she think that if she didn't make love to Bradin right then that he would leave her, never want to see her again?

He pulled away and looked at Marie. Her lips were parted, her breasts rising and falling with each heavy breath, and her eyes full of desire and want.

"Do you really want to do this?" He asked, his own breathing coming in short, quick gasps as he tried to control his warring emotions. Marie closed her eyes, and, when she opened them again, they were full of unshed tears.

"No." she whispered. She closed her eyes again and sobbed. Bradin pulled her into his arms and kissed her forehead.

"I'm sorry Bradin," she sobbed, pulling away from him and meeting his gaze head on, "I'm sorry I can't do this. But it's hard. You know what my stepfather has done to me, you know that sex is twisted and evil in my mind." She placed a trembling hand against his cheek. "I care about you so much, but I have nothing special to give you. My virginity was something that I always thought I would save to give to the man that I love, but it was taken from me. My body has been used so many times, it's not special anymore."

"Don't even think that." Bradin said, his heart breaking as he looked into her tortured eyes. He pulled her close, holding her tightly. "You are more special than you know, Marie." His voice was choked as he tried to hold back his own tears. "You're more special than you know."


Oh, that was such a sweet chapter. You guys didn't really think that they were going to go through with it, did you? No, of course not. You couldn't have, not with all that Marie has suffered. I think it only wise to tell you all now that I do not approve of pre-marital sex. I am a staunch supporter of abstinence and am even a proud member of the "True Love Waits" movement. But I know that I cannot impose my beliefs on the characters in my stories. They have to have their own lives and their own opinions. With that said, I will now let you all get to that pretty little purple button that I know you all are dying to press.

mixie21: I am always open to ideas if you have some.

Charliechaz, Summerland Chick, Shelby, Dramagrl, OneOfHeavensAngelz, and darkdestiney2000: Thank you al so much for reading and reviewing this story.