Maddie's POV

"SHIT, DAMN IT!" Billy stood up. He ran toward me and dragged me along with him, intent on taking me outside the house.

Billy walked with determined steps, not looking back, wrapping his arm around my waist to pull me along the hallway leading to the porch. Meanwhile, I kicked and cursed as I walked backward, watching Steve, Sandra, and Max trying to calm Neil down to stop him from coming after me. As always, my mother stood frozen.

"Let me go, Billy! Let me go, or I'll kill him!" I struggled when we were outside, trying to break free and head back inside to confront that damned son of a bitch.

"Don't you see he's the one who could kill you, you idiot?" Billy retorted, gripping me even tighter to stop me from escaping.

"The hell he will! LET ME GO!" I kept kicking and struggling.

"I don't want him to lay a finger on you, Madeleine!" He let go of my waist and gripped my shoulders tightly, standing directly in front of me.

"What part of 'that man is a fucking psychopath who doesn't care about smashing your face in' don't you understand?! CALM DOWN, DAMN IT!" he stared at me, his face slightly distorted with anger.

"The hell I will calm down!" I shot back, defiant. "I'm so fed up with how he talks about you! I'm sick and tired of him hitting you! I'm not putting up with it for one more second!" I frowned, trying to hold back the tears threatening to escape. I wasn't the kind of person who cried, and I wasn't about to start now because of that bastard Neil.

"Do you think I liked everything he said about you?" he growled, his hands tightening on my arms.

"You don't care. You hate me. What I said is true—you're nothing like your father. But that doesn't change the fact that you couldn't care less about me because you hate me," I huffed, refusing to look away from him.

"So what? You hate me too, but you still just risked your neck for me," he said, his muscles relaxing slightly as his hands moved to cradle my face. "If he had dared to cross the line with you, I would've smashed his head in right there. Even if you hate me and I hate you," he continued, his voice unsteady and his eyes glassy, as though he were on the verge of tears.

"Billy..." I murmured, his words tugging painfully at something inside me. I hesitated before placing my hands over his, which were still holding my face. "Maybe I do hate you. But... maybe, just maybe, I've started to hate you a little less."

Had I really just said that? Was it the alcohol? The weed?

"What?" he asked, blinking at me in confusion as he leaned closer. "What did you just say, Madeleine?"

"I'm not saying it again, Billy," I replied calmly, my fingers gently brushing against his hands. I noticed his breathing turn uneven as he moved even closer, his body pressing lightly against mine. "Billy, this doesn't change anything."

"What do you mean, this doesn't change..."

"YOU! YOU INSOLENT, UNGRATEFUL BRAT!" Neil's piercing shout startled us both.

"Get behind me and don't say a word," Billy ordered, his voice firm despite the fear and uncertainty in his eyes. He stepped in front of me, placing himself between Neil and me.

But it was no use. Neil struck Billy across the face and shoved him aside, sending him sprawling backward onto the ground. Behind Neil, I could see Steve, my mother, and Max, all frozen with panic. Sandra rushed over to help Billy get up.

"Say it again if you've got the guts!" Neil roared as he closed the distance between us. His massive hand wrapped around my neck, lifting me a few inches off the ground.

"Let me go, you bastard!" I screamed, clawing at his wrist with both hands, desperate to loosen his grip and get my feet back on the floor.

I knew the others were screaming around me, but I could barely hear them. All my senses were focused on trying to get air into my lungs.

"What did you say? Are you sure you want to go down this road?" Neil snarled, tightening his grip on my neck.

"You..." Tears spilled from my eyes as I gasped, barely able to breathe. "Let... me... go," I managed to exhale weakly. My legs kicked uselessly in the air as my throat and eyes burned with pain.

"I'LL LET YOU GO WHEN YOU START ACTING LIKE THE LADY YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE!" he roared, his bloodshot eyes wild. "TAKE IT BACK RIGHT NOW!"

"N... No..." It was the last thing I could force out before my eyes fluttered shut.

My legs stopped kicking. My arms went limp, falling to my sides. Blackness. Pain. Burning in my throat and lungs. Everything around me darkened.

I heard more shouts in the distance, and then... silence.

The air stopped reaching my lungs, and I lost consciousness.

*************

I didn't know how much time had passed—seconds, minutes, maybe hours. I felt something cold against my neck and someone either squeezing my hand or gently stroking it; I couldn't quite tell. Slowly, I became aware that I was lying on something soft. It could have been a sofa, or perhaps a bed.

Suddenly, like flashes, images of what had happened began racing through my mind. My eyes flew open, filled with panic and helplessness. I saw Billy, Steve, and Sandra surrounding me.

I tried to sit up abruptly, but Billy's hand on my chest stopped me.

"Take it easy, redhead," he murmured, sitting beside me on the edge of what seemed to be an enormous bed.

"We don't want you passing out again." I glanced away for a moment and spotted Steve standing near the bed as well.

"What...?" I croaked. My voice was hoarse, and I couldn't manage more than that. My neck ached horribly.

"Get up slowly," Sandra said gently as she approached and removed a compress wrapped around my neck. "I'll bring this back soaked in warm water—it'll help with the redness."

"Th-Thank you," I whispered. She nodded with a kind smile before disappearing from view.

"Try not to talk, Maddie," Steve added, leaning down to plant a warm kiss on my forehead. "I'll make you some hot tea to soothe the pain in your throat." I nodded weakly, watching as he, too, left the room.

Billy and I were left alone. My head was still spinning, but I knew I needed to pull myself together. Slowly, I began sitting up. Billy gave me some space and extended his hand to help me.

I sat on the edge of the bed beside my stepbrother, both of us in silence. Closing my eyes, I inhaled deeply. Almost instinctively, my hand moved to my neck as I winced and shut my eyes tightly. The pain was unbearable. That bastard Neil...

"Don't touch it, idiot. You'll just make it worse," Billy's voice snapped me out of it. I sighed in frustration and pulled my hand away from my throat.

"Does it hurt a lot?" he asked.

"A little. More on the outside than the inside," I replied, clenching my fists in anger, trying to seem strong as always. I turned slightly to look at him. "What happened?"

"As soon as you passed out, I lunged at my father to make him let you go," Billy said, his jaw muscles visibly tightening. "I would've killed him right then and there. I swear. I didn't care about anything else. That bastard crossed the line this time..." His fists clenched, and he looked away, his body tense with suppressed rage.

"Billy..." I reached out and grabbed one of his hands, coaxing him to relax his fists. "Billy, look at me," I pleaded softly. He turned his gaze to meet mine. "Please, tell me you didn't do anything reckless. He's not worth ruining your life over. Tell me you didn't do anything," I said, my voice still hoarse and trembling.

"No. I didn't do anything." He sighed deeply, his hand loosening in mine. "Your boyfriend pulled me away from him while Sandra was helping you. He had the same reasoning—it wasn't worth it." Billy took another sharp breath. "Your mom and Max dragged Neil back inside the house. I put you in my car and followed Steve and Sandra here, to Harrington's place. We waited until you woke up. And thank God you did—because if you hadn't, I swear Harrington wouldn't have been able to keep me from tearing my father apart."

"I... Thank you, Billy," I managed to say, my voice barely above a whisper. I was still trying to process everything that had happened—and everything he had just told me.

"Don't you ever do something like that again, do you hear me?" Billy's voice was stern, but the way he tucked a strand of hair behind my ear revealed a genuine concern. He placed his hand gently on my cheek. "I told you to shut the hell up. Listen to me next time."

"I'm sorry," I said quietly. "I think the alcohol and the weed made me react badly. Though I won't lie... I've wanted to say a few things to your idiot father for a long time. It's not right that he gets away with everything he does and says." I frowned, still frustrated.

"I don't like it either, Madeleine. But all I'm asking is for you to stay quiet and hang in there for a few more months. After that, we'll leave. We'll get out of that house, no matter what."

"Okay..." I nodded, still feeling the weight of everything.

"I'm serious, redhead. Don't do it again," Billy said, cupping my face in his hands. His eyes looked sad. "You stopped breathing for a moment because of him, and I thought..."

I smiled faintly, trying to reassure him. "Billy, I'm fine. Don't worry," I said, placing my hand over his. Our gazes locked, and we stayed like that for a moment.

"You better be," he muttered, swallowing nervously. He seemed to brace himself for what he was about to say. "For a moment, I thought I..."

"Billy, you need to let your sister rest," Sandra intervened, gently pulling Billy away from me and making him stand up. Though her voice was still as kind as always, I swore I saw a hint of confusion and concern in her eyes. "Here, this will help," she said, handing me the compress soaked in warm water.

"Thanks," I whispered, wrapping it around my neck.

"And here," Steve added, returning with a cup. "I added some honey to the hot tea. It'll help soothe the irritation in your throat." He handed it to me, and I took it gratefully.

"Thanks," I smiled at them, although I couldn't help but feel a bit strange. No one had ever cared so much for me before—maybe only my mom, occasionally, and Max.

"Are we going to talk about what happened?" Steve asked seriously while I took a small sip of my drink.

"It's none of your business, Harrington."

"I think it is, Billy." Sandra interrupted, her tone firm. "You're my boyfriend, and Steve's Maddie's boyfriend. Do you really think it's not our business?"

"Steve doesn't..."

"As much as she's his girlfriend and you're mine," Billy interrupted me, "you have no idea about any of this. So no, it's none of your business." He pulled a cigarette from his back pocket and tucked it behind his ear, clearly irritated.

What surprised me the most was how calmly he said "Steve's my boyfriend." It felt... odd.

"Look, man, I don't like you, and you don't like me," Steve said, arms crossed. "But what happened today goes beyond any bad blood between us. Sandra's right—after what we've seen, you can't expect us to act like nothing happened just because we're your partners."

"I warned you, Harrington," Billy said, stepping toward him, his face darkening. "If I find out you say or do anything, you're a dead man."

"We'll see about that," Steve shot back, standing his ground.

"Enough!" I stood up, wincing slightly as my throat ached from speaking. "This has been a shitty night. Way too long, and honestly, a mess. So the last thing I need right now is to argue about this. Especially when it's all still so fresh. None of us need this right now." I downed the tea in one gulp and placed the cup on a nightstand beside the bed.

"She's right," Sandra agreed, supporting me. "Arguing when we're all still heated isn't going to get us anywhere. It's better if we all get some rest and talk about it later, when we're calmer."

"Fine," Steve muttered, rolling his eyes.

"Then let's go home. I need to sleep," I said, looking at Billy, but he looked away and placed the cigarette he'd taken out between his lips.

"You're not going to your house, Madeleine. At least not today," Sandra said, gently brushing my arm and giving me a kinder look.

"My parents aren't home. You'll be safer staying here," Steve added. I looked at Billy again. He didn't say anything. Not a word. Not a single complaint. Not a grunt.

"Wait, does this seem okay to you?" I asked, completely surprised, raising an eyebrow.

"Tss," Billy clicked his tongue. "As if you've ever cared about my opinion or listened to me in your life." He rolled his eyes and lit another cigarette. "I don't know why you're asking me this now."

"Asshole," I muttered.

"Idiot," he shot back.

"Okay, enough. I don't think now's the time to argue," Sandra interrupted, wrapping her arm around Billy's. She stood on tiptoe to kiss him on the lips.

He kissed her back, obviously. They might be serious, so I decided not to comment on it.

"Now rest and take care of your neck. Goodnight, guys," she said as she pulled away.

"Goodnight," Steve replied.

I didn't say a word. I just nodded and tried to force a smile. Billy didn't speak either; he just gave me one last enigmatic look before leaving the house, holding Sandra in his arms.

"Here, put something more comfortable on," Steve said, and I was so stunned watching the couple leave that I hadn't even realized he had found a tracksuit for me. "Make yourself at home. I'm going to take a shower and I'll be back." He smiled.

"Thank you," I smiled, holding the tracksuit he'd given me in my hands. "Really, Steve. Thank you so much. And I'm sorry you had to go through that..." I sighed.

"Forget it," he said as he walked closer, gently brushing my cheek. "Just rest and take care of that," he added, planting a long, tender kiss on my forehead. I smiled foolishly. "Tomorrow will be another day," he said, smiling before leaving the room.

Once he was gone, I carefully changed into the tracksuit, being mindful not to hurt my neck. Honestly, the hot compress and tea had relieved the pain quite a bit. Once I was comfortable, I climbed into bed.

I wanted to rest, but my mind wouldn't stop spinning. I tried to suppress the dark thoughts about the many ways I could kill Neil. But when those thoughts faded, new ones emerged. Ones I wasn't used to dealing with.

I won't deny that I felt a bit strange. I was jealous of Sandra, even though she was a good girl. I felt jealous when she kissed, caressed, and touched Billy. But on the other hand, I knew it was for the best—Sandra would keep Billy distracted and away from me. That would help ensure nothing happened between us again, and everything would just become a bad memory. Not to mention, I needed to forget what I felt for him.

It was definitely for the best.

And then there was Steve. The more I thought about it, the clearer it became that this guy was a sweetheart, and he didn't deserve someone like me. Even though I couldn't stop letting him take care of me. I had never let any guy do that before, but it felt so good... I think I would let him take care of me whenever he wanted. Which scared me, because it only meant I felt things for him that I shouldn't feel.

Could a person feel this way about two completely different guys? But the worst part—when had I become so soft that these feelings had grown so strong I couldn't control them? I needed to move on. From both of them. But... how?

"Can I lie down with you for a while?" I looked up and saw Steve in the doorway.

"Yeah. I think some company will do us both good to calm things down," I smiled.

"Probably," he chuckled, beginning to walk over.

The bed was large enough for both of us. I pulled the covers back so he could lie down beside me, and once he did, we both covered ourselves up.

We lay side by side, facing each other. In silence. But it wasn't an awkward silence. It was one of those silences where nothing needed to be said. A silence where just being with him, without speaking, was all I needed.

"What's wrong? What's happening?" I asked as soon as I saw his lips curve into a small smile.

"Nothing. I just really like your eyes," he said, brushing a strand of hair away from my forehead. "And seeing them closed like that because of that bastard of your stepfather..." He inhaled deeply, trying to hold himself together. "It's a memory that's hard to erase."

"Steve, not now, please..." I frowned.

"I'm sorry. It's just hard to process everything I've seen," he exhaled, frustrated.

"Just hug me. It's all I need right now," I looked at him pleadingly. He relaxed and nodded.

Seriously? You, Madeleine Mayfield, are begging a guy for a hug? You've definitely lost all sense of direction in your life.

Steve pressed his body against mine, wrapping his arms around me. I wrapped my arms around his waist and buried my face in his chest. I was still angry about everything that had happened, but hearing the steady beat of his heart in my ear gradually calmed me down.

I closed my eyes, focusing on how Steve gently stroked my back. His slow, soothing touch helped stabilize my breathing, and my muscles relaxed completely. Finally, I felt my body unwind and I was able to calm myself.

After a few minutes, Steve's hands moved up to softly tangle in my hair, trailing down each wave until they reached my forehead. There, his lips pressed gently, leaving a sweet trail of kisses.

I sighed, while I raised my head a little to look at him fleetingly before closing my eyes again. He seized the moment to lower his lips and kiss my eyelids, which reflected the sadness and uncertainty in my eyes.

He gently stroked my cheek, until he put his fingers on my lips. My mouth, instinctively, parted slightly, silently conveying my desire for my lips to touch his. He took his fingers away from my mouth to run all the way around my lips with his warm kisses. I let myself go and, without thinking, I kissed him back with the same warmth.

He trailed down, pressing soft, careful kisses along my chin and neck, mindful not to cause me any discomfort. He returned to my lips, and I tangled my fingers in his thick, lush hair, pulling him closer to me as I hungrily indulged in the warmth of his full, tender lips.

One of his hands slipped beneath my sweatshirt, sending a shiver through me as his fingers brushed against my bare skin, causing a faint gasp to come out of my mouth and get lost in his.

He continued upward, and I shivered again as his hand grazed my chest, his fingers briefly brushing over my pink, already hardened nipple. Another sigh escaped me, my excitement steadily rising. Perhaps I would regret it later, but in this moment, I didn't want to stop. This time, I wanted to know what it felt like to truly share intimacy. I needed to feel loved, cherished, and wanted. We parted our lips briefly to remove our shirts, leaving us half-naked, with my bare breasts exposed. His eyes met mine, his pupils slightly dilating, before he kissed me again with intensity and desperation. We parted our lips, allowing our tongues to intertwine in a wet, sensual dance.

He continued his descent, his touch gliding over every pore of my skin. His hand lingered briefly, tracing the curve of my navel before drifting slowly lower along my abdomen. My breath hitched as I felt the damp fabric of my intimate garment against my skin. Noticing my state, a low growl of excitement rumbled in his throat, raw and undeniable.

His fingers gently moved aside the delicate fabric of my lingerie, exploring the softness of my pubis and caressing my Venus mound. He kissed, licked, and nibbled at my lips as his fingers ventured deeper, parting the way to my intimacy and reaching my damp core.

A louder, more audible sigh escaped my lips as his fingers began tracing slow circles over my clitoris. I could feel the amused smile forming on his lips as he continued to kiss me.

He teased a little longer before sliding one of his fingers inside me. He moved it with intent, filling me with waves of pleasure, his movements intensifying along with my arousal, causing my back to arch in response.

His rhythm kept increasing, just like my moans, as a cascade of sensations began to build deep in my lower belly, signaling an inevitable climax.

"Do you want me to stop?" Steve asked, his voice unsteady as he pulled away from my lips for a moment. "I'll only do what you want."

"I want all of you, Steve," I murmured without thinking, pressing a kiss to his lips. "I want to go all the way."

As if we had been waiting for this moment our entire lives, we hurriedly finished undressing. Steve stood up briefly to grab one of the condoms stored in the nightstand, carefully putting it on before returning to me.

He looked at me tenderly as he positioned himself above me. Our lips met again, and with gentle care, he entered me. We both arched our backs, a soft gasp escaping us in unison. Without breaking our kiss, he began to move his hips slowly, allowing my body to adjust to his.

I traced his muscular arms and sturdy back, savoring every inch of his anatomy as, little by little, I became completely his. But not in the way I was used to. He was claiming me with care and tenderness, ensuring that both he and I were truly enjoying the moment.

I could feel his burning skin brushing against mine, our kisses growing wetter and more careless, drowning in more and more moans. The sweat from his chest mingled with mine, and his sweet citrus scent overwhelmed all my senses.

Without breaking the connection of our lips, I carefully shifted, guiding him out of me and positioning him beneath me. I settled myself atop him, straddling him. Our bodies melded together once more as I began to sway slowly, letting another moan escape my lips.

As I moved, he brought his hands up to grasp my breasts, his fingers pinching one of my nipples, making me tilt my head back and bite my lower lip to stifle a moan. I was so consumed with desire for him that the rocking of my hips grew more intense and powerful, his hands gripping my hips firmly to amplify the pleasure. The room was filled with our relentless sighs and intense moans, our minds completely clouded, unable to stop indulging in each other's pleasure. In one final, frantic movement, I felt all of Steve's muscles tense. He pressed his fingers firmly into my back, and I felt him reach his climax deep within me, releasing a final, deep groan of pleasure.

Almost instantly, a tingling sensation spread through my abdomen, and my legs began to tremble.
I was completely intoxicated with pleasure and on the verge of climaxing. And then it happened—I surrendered to a powerful orgasm, letting out a loud moan accompanied by his name.

We stayed silent for a few moments, leaning in until our foreheads touched, catching our breath. Carefully, I moved off him to avoid hurting him and began dressing again, while he got up to dispose of the condom and put his clothes back on as well.

Once dressed, we both lay back down on the bed. Steve wrapped his arms around me, pulling me into an embrace, and I rested my head against his neck and collarbone as we finished steadying our breathing.

Our lips met again in a brief, tender kiss before we settled back into an embrace, just like before, when he was a good friend who simply wanted to take care of me. I smiled, a mix of happiness and disbelief flooding through me. But that smile quickly faded as the weight of what I had just done sank in.

You've really screwed up, Madeleine. Big time.