I had an hour to get ready for a lingerie shoot I had to do for some new designer. The after-effects of getting a dose of Daniel's temper the night before included some bruising on my arms when his fingers had dug in painfully. There had been a few moments where I had believed Daniel was about to strike me but he had kept enough control not to.

I blamed Connor. He had tipped Daniel over the edge and I had been the one to bear the consequences of it.

The tenderness between my legs reminded me of how determined Daniel had been to prove his possession of me. Sex wasn't something I enjoyed, it was something I endured. Some girls had told me how amazing their partners were in bed but I had never experienced that. Maybe there was something wrong with me.

When Daniel had woken up this morning, his relaxed smile as he pressed a feathered kiss to my mouth reassured me that everything was back to normal despite his fury the previous night. After he had a quick shower, he had left for some engagements. I probably wouldn't see him until Sunday afternoon. He had his own apartment but he slept over occasionally.

The nervousness and fear I had held on to had eased. I hadn't been able to sleep much but I could manage. After I was done with my job today, I could rest.

Everything is fine, I assured myself with the same determination that had helped me survive up to this point.

I had convinced Daniel that he was the only man in my life and he had nothing to be jealous of. There was a flutter in my stomach at the memory of Connor but I shut it down.

It was difficult to explain what Daniel meant to me. I didn't love him. No, it wasn't that. The last person I had loved had betrayed me in the worst possible way. It had left me with an inability to allow people to get close.

Daniel made me feel safe in a world I still feared. Being alone, going from one foster home to another, I had spent most of my time afraid of my future and unable to think about my past. He paid for my apartment and with his presence in my life I felt some sort of validation to wear the expensive clothes and jewelry. He made me belong in a world I had no place in otherwise. He was very successful and had a lot of influence. While I kept him happy, the influence would flourish my career. If I didn't...I didn't want to think what that would mean.

Before I met him, people I met at events hosted by the agency who had signed me had treated me like an outsider. But that changed when I met Daniel.

He had made a beeline for me at a cocktail party and that had been the start.

Growing up, money had been scarce. It was one thing I had wanted more than anything. Money gave a person freedom and power—and Daniel had an abundance of it.

I feared that if I didn't have him in my life, I would lose what I had gained: a place in society and the freedom to be able to sleep without worrying. Well, except for when Daniel got angry. But I could deal with that.

My plan was to make as much money as I could so I could give myself my own freedom. But until then I had Daniel and I couldn't lose him before I had achieved my goal. This meant keeping him happy despite his jealousy.

Memories of a time when I hadn't had anywhere to go and I had been forced to sleep on the streets came flooding back, but I refused to think about that time in my life. I would make sure I was never in that position again.

Anything from my past that went beyond when I started modeling wasn't worth remembering. The worst had been the day I had been taken into foster care. Even so many years later I couldn't think about it without feeling all the emotions attached to it. I fought the fear of the little five-year-old girl who had felt scared and alone.

I had spent years going from one foster home to another, craving love and a sense of belonging. My biological parents hadn't cared about me. The betrayal of the older brother, Slater, whom I had worshipped until the day he had revealed the truth of our abusive home life to his teacher at school, was still difficult to think about.

I hardened my heart to the memory of Slater crying out my name as the social workers split us up. It was his fault. If he had just kept quiet, we would have still had each other. I had been taken away from him and was left to fend for myself in families where I had struggled to accept or trust.

There was nothing in my past that was worth remembering. It brought back memories of pain and heartbreak. They were emotions I could do without.

I took a deep refreshing breath. Like I was going to look at the world with new eyes and not as one who had so much disappointment. This was my chance to carve out the life I wanted. I was determined to succeed at any cost. I experienced a moment of fear but I braced against it. I had the future I wanted and I wouldn't throw it away. I wasn't weak like my brother, I was strong enough to endure whatever was necessary to keep what I had.

I didn't want to think about that now. Finally I had someone who looked after me. Daniel didn't love me and that was fine with me. I didn't believe in romantic thoughts. For the moment it was mutually beneficial for both of us to be together. He paid for the apartment I lived in. He bought me expensive jewelry and took me out to nice places. And I in turn played the part of his beautiful partner whenever he needed.

A flashback from the night before, of Daniel pulling my hair back in a tight fist before he slammed his mouth against mine in a brutal and punishing kiss, assaulted my senses. The memory made me sweep my tongue across my bottom lip where it still felt tender.

My throat burned but I refused to give in to the wounded tears. He'd been rough but he hadn't meant to hurt me. I let out a shaky breath.

I was in control and I wasn't going to allow Connor to mess with my world. I would call him later and make it clear that I had no plans to work for him. He would get the message. Even if he continued to pursue me about the past I didn't want any part in, he had no way of proving anything.

I would just deny it all. If he didn't get the message I would be forced to look into getting a restraining order. But that was a last resort.

With a plan of action for every scenario, I raised my chin, feeling more confident that I could keep my life running smoothly.

I went to the bathroom and checked my face. I swallowed as I studied my reflection in the mirror. There was a faint bruise on one side of my chin where Daniel had held me while he studied my features, looking for any weakness when he had confronted me about Connor.

The bruise on my arm was more prominent but I could explain that away. I could sweep the night before under the rug and carry on like it hadn't happened. This wasn't the first time Daniel's punishment had left marks for me to explain but this was the worst it had ever been.

Daniel had left an hour ago with a soft kiss and an adoring look before telling me that he would call me later. It was difficult to reconcile the Daniel from this morning with the forceful Daniel I had been faced with last night.

My determination wavered for a split second when I felt the renewed ache between my legs. He had been rough with me but I understood he was possessive over me, and seeing Connor around me had set him off.

He had never lifted a hand to me but there had been more than a few moments last night when I had been convinced he was going take his punishment even further.

He was feeling jealous, I told myself. And I repeated the words I had spoken aloud to Daniel when the rage had taken over: I'm yours. I belong only to you.

I didn't want Connor. And I squashed the flutter of my pulse when an image of him materialized in my mind, shaking the truth behind my words. I gripped the basin in front of me so tightly my knuckles turned white.

Don't mess this up. Daniel is the one you want. He takes care of you and if you make him angry he has the power to destroy you.