Page 65 of Consume Me

But deep down, I knew it was going to take forever.

“It will, baby.And you’ll be a whole lot happier once you join the club in KC and get out amongst other kinky people.”

“How do you know there are clubs here?”I asked suspiciously.

“How do you think I learned about the lifestyle?”

“I see.Okay, then you’ll have to tell me which one to join when I’m ready.”

“I will when your heart heals.”

We said our goodbyes before I checked out my groceries and drove back home.

As I slid my key into the lock of my apartment door, I noticed it didn’t stick like usual.When I pushed the door open, an ominous chill slid up my spine.Reaching inside my purse, I fisted my can of Mace and thumbed the lock off as I set my groceries and purse on the welcome mat.

The interior was so dark, I couldn’t see anything past my feet.Why had I pulled the curtains shut?Because of your headache, dumbass.

Hoping more light would fill the room, I pushed the door open wide, but it didn’t reach the dark, murky corners.Peering into the still darkened room, the hairs on the back of my neck stood on end.

ChapterTen

With a tentative step forward, I breached the portal.The canister of Mace lay hidden in my fist.Even as I tried to convince myself the sinister, prickly feeling was from lack of sleep and my emotional state of mind, I knew something was wrong.

I’d only feared for my safety once, but never in my own home.

I’d been working in an old courthouse in a sketchy part of town.It was late at night.Had it not been for the squeaky wooden floors, I never would have been alerted to the drunk coming up behind me.He’d somehow wandered in off the street and decided he was going to have sex with me…in a misguided, alcohol-induced way.Forcing me to the floor by my hair, he reeked in a vile combination of booze, feces, and vomit.I knew he was going to try to rape me on the spot.I fought like hell, but not only did the vagrant outweigh me, he was strong as an ox, even for being toasted out of his gourd.My screams alerted the ancient night watchman, who came to my rescue and began beating the delusional drunk with his trusty flashlight.It was the encounter that convinced me to take up karate.

You know what to do.Focus and listen.

Every cell in my body was on high alert.Trusting my intuition—screaming at the top of its lungs—I knew someone was in my apartment.But it was too dark for me to tell where the burglar was hiding.

If the prick wanted to abscond with my jewelry box, he wasn’t going to make it past me.The only memento I had left of my mother was her wedding necklace.He’d have to kill me to steal it.

Behind me, a car horn honked.Without thinking, I glanced over my shoulder.Inwardly cursing myself for being distracted, I whipped my head around as a blurry figure rushed from the shadows.Strong hands gripped my arms and before I knew what was happening, my back was up against the closet door.

Swallowed into the dark abyss, I couldn’t see the face of my attacker.

Crying out in panic, I bent my wrist and aimed the Mace toward his face, then pressed the button.The robber began to scream before releasing my arms and covering his face.

As his feral curses morphed with cries of agony, I bolted away from the door as he bent over, still clutched his eyes.

“Get on the ground, motherfucker, or I’ll blow your balls off.”I prayed he was too incapacitated to realize I wasn’t holding a gun, but merely bluffing.“Do you hear me, asswipe?I said get your ass on—”

A second pair of beefy arms wrapped me from behind and squeezed tightly.I was pinned and helpless against a wide chest.Son of a bitch!They were working as a pair.It pissed me off.I didn’t hazard to think there might be two burglars.

“Stop!”the prick who had me immobilized growled on the back of my neck.

Thinking fast, I let my body grow lax in his arms—as I’d been trained.Waiting for him to loosen his hold, I prayed he’d think I was out of fight.When the dumb shit kept me locked to his chest, I clenched my teeth and sucked in a breath.

“Not today, fuck face,” I growled as I wrenched from his arms, then spun and clipped the side of his head with a roundhouse kick.

With a howling yell, he fell to the ground like a mighty oak.

Unwilling to stay and see if any more goons were waiting in the wings, I turned and raced toward the front door.

“Savannah!Wait!”roared the man still palming his burning eyes.

As my heart clutched, I froze mid-stride.

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