“No!" Her hand shot out and gripped my wrist. Danielle's green eyes wavered as she looked at me. "Don't leave me alone. Not for a minute.

Please..."

“Okay. I'm right here. I'm not going anywhere.”

While I could keep myself in her presence and keep myself from leaving,

I couldn't quite bring myself to physically undress her. So Danielle took care of that by herself, stripping all the way down until she was naked again, bruises and all.

I sat next to her on the bed as she pulled her knees up to her chest, wrapping her arms around them. I was hesitant for a moment, but then I wrapped my own arms around her while she leaned into my embrace.

“You don't know what this means to me, David."

“What ?"

“Having you hold me like this." She sighed with obvious relief, and then she shuddered against me.

Her voice started cracking again.

“My worst nightmare came true. A man lost control when he saw me naked. It's just like Uncle Verne warned.”

She trembled and then fresh tears started rolling down her cheeks. "At first he was overpowering, but methodical. He covered my mouth. He efficiently pulled me off the streets. He pushed me through some bushes to a pre-determined spot in the trees where no one would see us."

“But once he ripped my dress off?" Danielle sniffled and shivered. "He just went manic. I wasn't even trying to fight him off that hard. But he started punching me, slapping me, thrusting in me, just totally out of control."

Danielle closed her eyes and began sobbing again. All I could do was keep stroking her and holding her.

“I'm here now," I told her firmly.

“I'm not Leaving you."

Her back was remarkably clear. No bruising or other abrasions marred the creamy softness around her spine and shoulder blades. Evidently, all of his punches and attacks went to Danielle's torso. Her legs, also, were relatively unmarked. I guess that was all he could reach with his dick inside her.

For a moment, I was seized with that impotent rage again, desperate to find the bastard and strangle him to death. But just when my Limbs began to tighten around Danielle in my fury, Amber knocked and re-entered the room.

Without a second glance at the intimate position I was holding Danielle in, she said softly, “The bath is ready."

Amber had brought a towel and Danielle stood to take it from her gratefully, wrapping it around her body. Then my sister used one hand to clutch the ends together over her chest and reached for me with her other hand. Together, we went to the bathroom.

I pulled the curtain all the way to the edge and out of the way. Then I supported Danielle in my arms as she stepped into the tub, never letting go even when she sat down and settled in. The warm water was perfectly clear, letting me see her entire body stretched out before me.

I got down and sat on the floor just outside the tub, my arm on the Lip so that Danielle didn't have to let go of me. I sighed and settled in for the long-haul as Danielle sagged down and lay back against a towel that Amber had thoughtfully folded into a headrest.

I knew I wouldn't be leaving Danielle's side for some time.

For the rest of the day, Danielle just cuddled herself to me without speaking. I didn't know how to talk about the situation so I just soothed her and reminded her how much I loved her. There was no discussion of what had happened to her and no further blame from her at me.

As a result, I was left with only my own conscience and no other outlet to vent my rage and frustration. I didn't realize that Amber knew me