Page 295 of Bad for Me

It was him. It was my professor. He’d come for me.

I pounded on the door. “Professor Murphy, I’m here,” I cried. Sinking down, I collapsed on the cold floor. “I’m here.”

“Nat.” His voice came from the other side of the door. “Find a fucking key,” he yelled at someone.

“Please,” I pleaded.

“It’s okay, I’m here pet.”

“I’m sorry I left. I’m so sorry.” The tears started flowing again. I just needed to be in his arms again. Nothing else mattered.

“It’s okay. Everything is going to be okay.” His voice soothed me. I believed him that it was all going to be okay. “It’s a metal fucking door,” he yelled.

Grinding came from the other side, and I saw sparks under the door.

“Move away from the door, Nat. Be a good girl for me, okay?”

I did as I was told and moved back to the bed. It at least gave some protection from the concrete floor.

Covering my ears, I curled up into a ball, praying they’d hurry. I didn’t like enclosed spaces to begin with and the room just got smaller and smaller as it went.

A loud crack and thud came, then light showed through the door. He walked over to me and went to pick me up but stopped. I whimpered when he pulled his hands back and slid out of his jacket.

“You’re freezing.” He wrapped it around my shoulders, and I pulled it tighter, trying to drown out the stench of the room with his soothing sandalwood and spice scent.

He picked me up and kissed the top of my head. I rested my head on his shoulder and slid my arms around his neck.

“I can take you back to your dorm.”

I shook my head as he walked up the stairs. “Can we go back to your place?”

He smiled. “Anything for you, pet.”

He said something to the security guard that helped me the other day before he slid me into the back seat of his car. I grabbed his hand and as much as I tried not to, I cried.

Professor Murphy squatted, so he was eye to eye with me. “I was going to get in on the other side, but if you slide over. Steve is going to drive us home.”

He held my hand as I slid over, and he climbed in. When he shut the door, I snuggled into his side, but he quickly pulled me into his lap. He cupped my cheeks and the pain in his eyes was evident. He’d been worried about me. Sliding my arms around his neck, I lay my head on his shoulder and wept.

He rubbed my back and shushed me. “I've got you and I'm never going to let you go, kitten.”

He held me the whole trip and didn't let go of my hand when he slid out of the car and pulled me to him. Everything was so bright, my eyes hurt. He picked me up, and I hid against the light but noticed all the cars around. When we entered his house, I heard voices, but he didn't stop until he gently set me down on the couch and knelt in front of me.

“The doctor needs to check you out and the chief of police wants your statement.”

I shook my head, wanting everyone to disappear. Why couldn’t it just be the two of us?

He rested his hands on my shoulders. “The Chief of Police is one of us. You're safe here and I will be by your side the whole time. Coach Wolfe isn't going to get away with hurting you.”

21

OLIVER

Every timethe doctor touched her, I had to remind myself he was only doing his job. The problem was because I'd had sex with her recently and hadn’t been gentle. He couldn't tell if they had violated her or not. She was covered in bruises, but I was probably the one who put them on her. As angry as I was, she kept me grounded, refusing to let go of my hand.

The doctor took pictures and samples, not that it would do any good.

Once everything was done, I couldn’t get everyone out of my house fast enough. When they were gone, I picked her up and walked back to my room. Yesterday was the first time since I bought the brownstone that I had a woman here. Now there wasn't anyone other than Natalie that I wanted here. Now or ever. When I reached the bathroom, I flipped on the shower and turned my attention to her.

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