Page 93 of Contention

Oh, he still wants to play it cool, does he? “I’ll only say ‘yes’ if you pique my interest. So, tell me; what is it you’re thinking we do? I figured whatever it is you have planned, it’s better if you say it aloud, rather than in text. Considering...”

“Afraid I’m going to type out something…unnatural?” His voice dips low, coiling in Kara’s belly. “Last I checked, I’m not an imbecile.”

“Perhaps I want to hear you say it,” Kara quips, because she does want to hear that sex tingling rasp in his tone.

She can almost hear him smile, almost feel it against her skin. “I’m flattered,” he says, his voice not disappointing her libido, her skin prickling. “Midnight. In the park. There’s a few trails, some completely in the trees. Out of sight.”

Kara’s stomach flips in anticipation, wondering what deviousness he’s cooked up in his terrifying mind. “You want to take me on a picnic?Verycute, Nick.”

His laugh is low. “I was thinking you’d be the picnic, actually.” The words are ominous and Kara feels her breathing go shallow.

“And? What else? I’m not intrigued yet.” She asks breathlessly, because she sort of likes it when he tells her what he intends, even if he leaves details out. “Maybe I have other plans…”

Nick scoffs, a noise of derision, hinting that he’s not believing her in the slightest. “Take a walk, sweetpea. I want you to wear a dress or skirt, something easy access. I want it loose, because I want to pop your cute tits out of your neckline.”

Kara’s mouth grows dry, because,oh.

“You know where all the thickest trees are?” He’s still talking. “Hidden from the path? Pass it by. I’ll find you.”

A whisper of fear and adrenaline is like a ghost passing over Kara’s flesh. Remembering the moment of terror from the parking garage, truly having no idea. Will it feel different this time? Or will it make her feel sick and used inside when all is said and done? “What if it’s not you?”

“It will be.”

When he hangs up, she repeats his story to herself, already feeling heat coiling in her belly, thinking of what he intends to do to her.

It’s how she finds herself pacing her apartment restlessly for hours, watching the clock, waiting for time to pass until she can make her way over to the park to meet him. To walk the path and be taken by surprise in the dark.

Well, sort of by surprise.

Before she leaves her apartment, she takes a shot of vodka for courage, to nullify the voices in her head saying no.

Around the midnight hour the park area is mostly empty, save for a few people that slink on through. Usually drunks. Kara walks the path carefully, heading towards where she knows the foliage gets thick enough to hide a person from view. She doesn’t try to hide her nervousness; she’s afraid, slightly. It’s dark. She’s alone.

Bad things happen in the dark when you’re alone.

Remembering that she needs to act like she has no purpose for being out alone at night in her loose floral dress, she slows her pace, meandering even though her pulse is pounding. She feels excited, terrified, practically salivating with need, wondering how it’s going to happen.

She feels alive, better than she has in days, barely keeping it together.

She knows his eyes must be on her. He must be watching her from somewhere. A predator, eyeing his helpless, unaware prey.

He doesn’t disappoint, not as she drifts into the leaves, taking a quick glance around to make sure no random walkers are nearby to see her disappear from the path. As Kara walks into the covered darkness, someone grabs her from the left and propels her forward, pressing her front against a tree. It happens so fast that her shriek of surprise is lost in the wind. She loses one of her shoes in the process, the assault of her person so swift and precise.

Another instinctual scream nearly breaks loose from her throat, but a hand covers her lips quickly, a body warm against her back. Fear and knowledge are at war inside of Kara and she shivers in what could either be sick desire or an aftereffect of terror.

With a burst of adrenaline, she tries to yank herself sideways, then tries to throw herself rather physically back into him, but he only grunts when Kara manages to get him to take one step backward. Her momentum is simply not enough to shift his body off balance.

She flings her hands out, tries to claw at his hand on her mouth, kicking at his shins, but he slams her front against tree harder, restricting her movement with finality.

“Don’t make a noise,” he says, his familiar, dangerous rasp like a safety blanket on her sanity. “Not a single goddamn word. You going to behave, slut?”

She nods carefully, shakily. Giving an anxious, defeated noise into his palm that she knows he’s going to enjoy.

“Little ladies like yourself shouldn’t be out at night, all alone,” he whispers mockingly into her hair, inhaling her perfume. “Makes me wonder if you’re…looking for this.”

He spins her around so that she’s facing him now, her back against the bark. His hand is still pressed over her lips and Kara blinks up at him, her chest heaving enticingly. His eyes trace her indecently exposed cleavage, nearly uncovered from their struggle. Her nipples are practically popping over the top. His eyes are dark in the shadows, lips curled in a dangerous smirk.

He’s hungry for her and his cock is hard in his jeans.

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