Page 100 of Knot Happening

Tatum

Holy headache fromhell.

I blink, then blink again. It’s still dark, but I shouldn’t be this…foggy. This disoriented. What happened? Where am I?

That scent.

I reach for the light on my bedside table, but my arm flops oddly. I try to sit up, but can’t get my body to move the way I want it to. These aren’t my sheets. These feel too scratchy.

“W-wahhh…” My tongue doesn’t work.

Where am I?The thought hits me more urgently now.

A door clicks. Light floods…a figure standing before me.

Wet socks…ew.

“Shhh, I’ll take care of you,Baby. You’ll be mine, after all these years, no one will get between us now. I’ll be your–”

“What were you planning to do withme,exactly? Did you think I’d simply stand back and watch you harm her?”

“Easton!” Mr. Ferris? Why is he here? Who’s he yelling at? “Why are you in here! How–”

“How? I picked the lock. That doesn’t answermyquestion.”

“I-I…”

“You want her. You were going to rape her?” There’s a stretch of silence. “Do you know who Merzotto is?” Another pause. “My uncle.” More silence.

Things get foggier. Darkness blinking in and out.

“Take the money and get out.” Hissed words, but everything's so blurry in my mind.

“I will.”

“Great.”

Fuck, pain. So much pain… I really need to sleep…

The sunlight is so fucking bright that I move to roll away from it, but I’m stuck.

There’s a warm body under me. Warm, naked skin. I jump up, wincing from the pain as I stare down at the man.

“Easton!”

“Tatum!” he gasps, mocking my shock.

“Why? What? Why…” I stumble over my words, looking around us. I’m in the guest room at Mr. Ferris’s. I’m in a different shirt than the one I went to sleep in. Easton is naked from the waist up. There’s a bruise on his chin, bright purple blooms against his skin, and I gasp.

“Shhh, sweet Sparrow. I’m not hurt.” His words rumble with a low purr, trying to soothe me as his scent fills the air. Brownies… I lick my lips.

“But…”

“I’m going to tell you what happened, but you need to promise one thing?” He’s watching me so carefully, as he reaches up to stroke my hair. The way he watches me is so…intoxicating.

I nod.

“You must promise to stop wiggling this delicious body against me, I’m already hard, and you’re very tempting. Now is not the time for me to ravish you.”

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