Page 50 of Overcast

Even though he’s built like a brick wall and he has muscles that I never knew existed, he’s not made for me.

But you kept staring at his dick, didn’t you?

My nose wrinkles in pure repugnance of myself, causing Emric to tighten his hold. He may believe it’s because of him, but what does he expect? That this would create a lovely story to tell our kids?

Ah, yes, darling, your father kidnapped me and thrusted a blade into my leg all in one night. We fell in love not long after that.

“Did you come to a realization yet?”

Yes, I have. Your crazy is rubbing off on me.

“No,” I reply with zero confidence. “Nothing has changed.”

“Figured.” He releases me and finds my hips, dragging me along the couch to a sitting position. Gathering up my bad leg, he wraps it on the other side of his body so that he’s in between both.

I wince at the discomfort at my side, but don’t utter a groan or ounce of anything that would hint that I’m more uncomfortable now than I was before.

“I bet this sucks even more, huh?” He challenges me with a lift of his brow. “Wanna lie down now?” I give him a curt nod, and he backs away, letting me scoot myself to get on my back. “You don’t listen very well, do you, sweetheart?”

Why bother at this point? And why make it easy for him?

I’ve followed his every wish and command without question. I’m too startled and panicky when he speaks. The outcome of this situation, from where it stands, is going to end up with my death at his hands.

Over something I wasn’t even a part of. I don’t want my ending to be with me pleading. For once in my life, I need to be brave and utter obscenities instead of just thinking them.

The irony is that I wish I would’ve done this sooner, got into his truck, and took off into my new story that I crave so desperately.

Inhaling a deep breath to attempt to calm myself, Emric is back in his chair and reaching to dab a cloth at my forehead.

“What is that?”

“Poison.” He tries it again, but I move my head for the second time. “Stormi.”

My name is a warning. His next attempt, I let him tend to me like a child or someone he doesn’t want to die because he’s not finished with me yet.

“Ouch!” I slap his hand away at the stinging burn that seems to sink right into the pit of the gash.

Emric’s nostrils flare, and he stands from his chair that sits alongside the couch. His hazels glower at me as if he’s just ready to kill me and be done with it already.

But I’m a key that he needs.

One that unlocks nothing, but he doesn’t want to see that.

“Don’t touch me again,” he growls, clenching the cloth in his palm.

“Same goes for you. Keep your hands to yourself.”

His eyes turn into slits. “Excuse the fuck out of me?”

I bite the inside of my cheek. With him hovering over me, I’m waiting for him to hit me. For him to pull out a gun and put a bullet in my head.

His reflection is livid, and I’m the reason. This is hopeless, being brave is utterly pointless at this moment. I’m almost wishing that if my time was up, that I would’ve gone the easy way and died instantly in that car crash.

“Look who thought that she cheated death and gets to order people around.” He looms over my frame, then begins to hunch down, aligning his face with mine. I can smell the woodsy scent come off his body. “Guess what? You don’t, sweetheart.”

“You’re the reason...I almost died.”

“And I’m the reason you didn’t.” It must be in my eyes, confusion, because he continues with, “I like it on my time. Besides—” His eyes flick down to my lips. “—what’s the fun in it being quick?”

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