Blackmailed For Love

I sat down on the sofa and opened the first box of the two in the soft overhead light coming from above the tv console.

I peeled the soft tissue that glimmered in the dim light and looked at the dark purple silk nestled in there.

With hesitant fingers I picked up the silken fabric, it unfurled in my hands as I let it drop down in front of me.

It was a sleeveless and a backless dress with a slit up to just below the waistline.

I would be half naked in this dress but still the thought of wearing it lit up a spark of anticipation deep inside my lower belly.

The other box had the same colored heels with red bottoms.

It took me twenty minutes to get ready as I didn't do much except to put Band-Aids on my nipples as the dress won't allow me to wear a bra and my nîpples poked through the fabric as if begging for attention and applied a natural shade of pink lip gloss.

I looked like a virgin trying to be a seductress.

I shook my head at my own thoughts as I stepped out of the bathroom, 1 faltered when my eyes met dark greys.

My daughter was sitting up in the bed and she was looking at me with wide eyes and a curious tilt of her head.

"Anna…"

"Mama, you look beautiful."

My heart squeezed with love at her words.

I walked to her, concentrating on not falling face first because of the heels I was wearing, it was safe to say I wasn't used to such type of footwear.

"What are you doing waking up? I thought you were asleep."

I said as I sat down on the bed beside her.

"I was."

She said with a silent Duh at the end.

I bit down on my bottom lip as my lips twitched, but she slipped closer to me and said, "I had a bad dream."

I cupped her cheek and pulled her on my lap, uncaring of the expensive silk.

Cradling her against my chest, I smoothed her dark hair back and asked, "Talk to me.

What did you dream about?"

"Someone was taking me away from you."

She replied, her voice small and a slight shaking entered in her voice.

My arms tightened around her.

And I said, "No one is going to take me away from you."

2 "Promise?"

I pressed a kiss on her head.

"Promise, my little angel."

She looked up at me and asked, "Where are you going?"

I didn't know the answer to that myself, but I replied, "Dinner."

Her brows lowered and her grey eyes turned inquisitive.

"But we had pizza."

I tapped her nose.

"Yes.

But I am meeting someone."

"A boy or a girl?"

For some reason I didn't lie to my daughter.

"A boy."

She made a thoughtful face and asked, "Is he your boyfriend?"

I shook my head.

angel, he

you want

nodded, "I would prefer it if he

leapt off the bed and pulled the basket from under the bed which was filled with the few toys she had

in it for a bit and then held out a thick black

was in

"Wear this.

lucky charm,

said, her grey eyes

and closed her fingers back around the black stone that had half

"It's yours.

should keep it

picked up my hand then slammed the shining black rock in my palm

gave it to me and I'm loaning

give it back

losing battle when I

nodded and

you to go back to

on the bed but didn't lie down, instead she bit down on her bottom lip and regarded me with

a freaking smartarse? The thought had crossed my mind too, instead of putting it on I'd

in a silent demand as she

rock in her palm and she swiped my hair aside, then her small fingers got busy

as the thread wasn't too long and the broken rock came to settle

to everyone who would just look

bigger part was left behind in the cottage on the Aaron estate when I accidentally dropped it while trying to pack all the things I could get my hands on which didn't matter later when I had to run

this makes you

announced as she

in a tight hug, just then I heard my phone pinging with an

focused on my daughter as I

cheeks between her palms and brought

as she said,

always be

away and said, "So are

and in return she kissed the corner

"I love you."

love you

back and ruffled her

a face and I said,

down and I tugged the blanket over

I

"Good night, baby"

"When will

"Soon."

replied "Good

the bedside drawer and made my way toward the bedroom door when her soft voice stopped me,

"Yes, baby?"

boy be my

I swallowed the knot in my throat

will be

and her grey eyes closed as she turned away and pulled the blanket up to her shoulders, Closing the door, I let out

I had to ignore her questions or make up a lie that I didn't

vaguely but always painting her father in the light that would leave room for

thought that I was purposely keeping her away from her father which was in

knew that he had

I was pregnant when he threatened

now that

tell him the truth and if I had gotten

what ifs weren't going to help me, now I didn't even know how he would react when the wounds inflicted by me had

I knew it even before I

I wasn't prepared for his demanding

in the next

Don't wear any panties."

me feel half naked so

way toward my mother's bedroom to check up on her

I decided to wait for him downstairs

I

much as I could, until I understand what kind of man this Kristian was, would he intentionally force a daughter from her mother in the name of his revenge? I locked the door behind me

was no one out in the corridor but it wasn't the case as I stepped out

started to take notice of me when