Page 29 of You Belong With Me

My eyelids flutter closes as the blade continues to bite into me. He shifts off me partially, and I can hear him fumble with his belt. I suck in a breath and force my body to relax as he removes the knife away from my throat so he can shove my skirt up, and pull my panties aside.

The knife is lying next to us on the bed, and he leans down to kiss me. I jerk my head to the side—I’m capable of that much movement, at least—and that infuriates him.

Pulling back a little, he uses one hand to grab my jaw, yanking my head back, so I’m looking at him. Then he slaps mehard across the face. White-hot pain blooms across my cheek,making my eyes water. Andthatwakes my body up. My fight or flight instinct comes roaring back, and I scream—likereallyscream—the high-pitched tone piercing even my own ears, blending with the music that’s vibrating through the walls.

With a curse, he claps his hand over my mouth, muting the sound. Then he leans in, and says, “You’ve always been such acunt,” he hisses. “But you’remycunt, and I think it’s time you’re reminded of that.”

He uses his free hand to adjust himself, so he’s situated between my thighs. While he’s distracted, Islowlyreach for the knife. It’s dark enough, I pray he doesn’t see my hand move, but there’s always a chance he will. And if he does, I’m royally fucked. But I have to take the chance, because the truth is, I’m fucked either way. And if he chokes me out again, I may not wake up the next time.

As he pushes the crotch of my panties aside again, I suck in a breath and search for the handle of the knife. My fingers bump up against the cold handle just as he’s guiding the tip of his cock to my entrance.

Just as my hand closes around the handle, someone pounds on the bedroom door. It causes Gabriel to pause, but only for a second. A deep baritone calls out from the other side of the door, but over the distant sound of music and the deafening thump of my own heart, I can’t tell who it is.

Please let it be Lucas.

Gabriel is just about to get up when the door is kicked open violently. The solid wood door flies inward, bouncing off the wall, pulling Gabriel’s focus off me—thank God. I use the distraction to scramble out from under him, moving across the mattress, to the other side of the bed. As I get to my feet, I glance at the menacing figure in the doorway.

It’s Lucas.

His jaw is set, his head tilted downward, his focus drilled in on Gabriel, like a fighter assessing his opponent. He looks absolutely deadly.

His gaze shifts to me, only briefly, before moving back to his cousin. “Whatthe fuckdo you think you’re doing?” he yells, taking a menacing step into the room.

Gabriel shoves his dick back into his pants, but he doesn’t bother zipping back up before lifting his hands in mock surrender. He laughs. “Yo, Cuz. A bit much, don’t you think?” He glances over at me. “We were just getting reacquainted. Didn’t think you’d mind us using your room.”

Gone is the murderous cocksucker that was choking me out three seconds ago. Now Gabriel is all good-natured charm. Wow. Watching him flip that switch so easily sends a cold shiver down my spine.

With tears still streaming down my face, I cross the room to the open bedroom door. As I pass Lucas, he reaches out to grab my arm, stopping me. His eyes rove over my face, then drop to my neck. There’s a mark there, I’m sure. Not only did the tip of the knife break the skin, but when he choked me, the pressure was insane. There’s no way his hand didn’t leave a bruise.

When Lucas sees the damage Gabriel did to me, his jaw tightens, and his gaze slides back to his cousin. “Did you fucking touch her?”

“Dude, come on. Chill,” Gabriel laughs, and pushes a hand through his hair, like this is all just a misunderstanding. “You know how fuckin’ spirited Wyn can be, man. We were just having a little fun.”

Tension crackles in the air, and it’s so thick I can almost taste it. Lucas is the first to move, launching forward, his long legs crossing the room in three steps. He throws a punch, his fist connecting with Gabriel’s jaw.

Gabriel’s head whips to the side, a sickening crack echoing through the room. Gabriel straightens, a smirk on his face. Lucas comes at him again, this time with a more calculated swing. It connects again.

I gasp, my fingers digging into my palms. Gabriel stumbles back, wiping the blood from his split lip with the back of his hand. He looks at the blood, then at Lucas, and something dangerous flickers in his eyes. Without warning, he lunges, his movements swift and brutal. He drives his fist into Lucas’ stomach, and Lucas doubles over with a grunt.

I want to yell "Stop,” but the word dies on my tongue. My voice feels too small, too powerless to stop this. Lucas grabs Gabriel by the shirt, slamming him into the wall behind them, pinning him there with his forearm pressed against his throat.

"Touch her again, cousin, and I swear to God, this time, you’ll stay dead," Lucas growls.

Gabriel spits, blood staining his teeth. He glances at me, then back at Lucas. "You want her, you can fucking have her,” he snarls. “She’s a whore anyway.”

Lucas steps back, releasing Gabriel. Gabriel wipes his mouth again, and with one last look at me, he shakes his head and then leaves the room. As soon as he’s gone, Lucas shuts and locks the door, head down, hand pressed against the wood.

He stays like that for a long time, his shoulders rising and falling, and I wonder what’s going through his head. I can’t hardly believe what I just witnessed. I never thought I’d see Lucas attack Gabriel like that. Lucas can be brutal, but I’ve never seen it directed at his cousin.

Finally, Lucas turns, switches on the overhead light, and walks over to me. His face is hard and unreadable, so when he reaches out to touch my face, I flinch.

He takes my chin between his thumb and the crook of his forefinger, forcing me to look at him. “What happened?”

I shake my head, and fresh tears start falling down my face. I don’t want to tell him because I might start blubbering, so instead of answering, I press my lips together and avert my gaze.

He doesn’t push me, thankfully. Releasing my chin, he walks into the bathroom, and rustles around for a minute, reemerging with a first aid kit.

“Sit down,” he says, flicking his chin toward the bed.

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