When Mistletoe Falls

"I need you Kate," His voice was soft, pleading. "I can't lose you again." The wind was cold and biting, and his voice had practically reached a melting point. My resolve wavered. I glanced at him, and my resolve was a brick wall once again. He didn't mean a word of it. My mind drifted to the man I now knew I really loved, Luke. I looked away again and my gaze fell on the beautiful diamond ring on my finger. My anger boiled.

"You already have." I whispered, twisting the ring off and dropping it into the snow at his feet. His face fell, then hardened like marble. "I won't take no for an answer, Katy." he said threatingly. I bristled at the use of my nickname. "I'm afraid you'll have to" I bit out. I turned toward the back door, only to be stopped by a vise-like grib on my arm. "I'm afraid I won't." he growls. He spins me back around and pulls me againts him. I cry out as his thick arm snakes around my waist and his hand clamps against my mouth. He turns around and we're moving, until I stop when he slams be up against the lone tree in the yard.

"You'll be mine, and you

won't take no for an answer." I open my mouth to scream but then he does something so dispicable and vile, I feel like hurling.

His mouth slams onto mine, hard and painful. I try to squirm away but he moves his hand to my neck, forcing me to keep my mouth where it is. I make the mistake of opening my mouth to scream, and he shoves his tounge down my throat, cutting off my oxygen. I struggle and try to run, but he kicks me, hard, and my knees buckle. And then he's gone.

I hear his yells as my rescuer yanks him off of me. Luke. I feel arms wrap around me and I recoil. But then I open my eyes and sigh in relief when I see it's Alice, Luke's sister. She mutters something under her breath and turns her big blue, worry-filled eyes on me.

"Oh my gosh, Katy, are you all right?!" she exclaims, pulling me into a hug. She strokes my hair and starts to lead me to the house. I come to a halt.

"What about Luke?" I say, and try to look back. But Alice keeps my gaze forward and tells me he'll be inside in a second. I nod and she leads me to the couch, where I lay down and try to sleep despite all the worried relatives hovering over me.

Eventually I fall asleep. I wake up hours later, everyone else asleep. Except Luke. I can make out the shape and outline of his body in the dim, fire-place light. For a minute I just study him, content in the knowledge that he's really here. My eyes trace the outline of his blonde hair, and I wish I could see his molten-silver eyes. And then I do. He turns around suddenly, is eyes aflame and I lay back in surprise. His gaze softens when he sees me, though. I hold out my arms, not caring if I'm being direct. His eyes glisten and he swoops me up, into his arms on the couch.

"Are you okay?" he finally whispers. I only nod and bury my head in his chest. He holds me tight, and I feel something wet on my head. I look up and gently wipe away his tears. And then I press my mouth to his, softly, like feather's touch. He returns the kiss, and I feel my own tears coming on. I lay back again and he just hugs me, not wanting to go further, to kiss me. But to simply hold me, and let me know it will be alright.

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Publication Date: 12-17-2012

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