Page 16 of Moth to a Flame

I’m fucked.

Fucked.

I promised myself I wouldn’t go through this again and look at me.

Panic clutches at my chest. My heart races so fast I’m two seconds from having a stroke.

Worse still, I like it.

I like him holding me.

“Calm down,” the stranger whispers, and I refuse to be attracted to his voice. “I’m not going to hurt you.”

My back is pinned to the man’s front, and my arms are glued to my body.

There’s no reaching for my gun. He won’t let me.

Fighting him off is the only option I have left. I give it everything I have, bending my elbow as much as possible to try to wrangle myself out of his hold.

“Shh.” His fingers flex on my belly, his palm applying pressure to pull me closer to him. He’s hard, and even that doesn’t terrify me. What’s wrong with me? “Did you hear me? I said I wasn’t going to hurt you.”

My nostrils flare, dragging air into my lungs. Fainting won’t do me any good. It would be bad. Very, very bad.

“Blink once if you understand. If you promise not to scream.”

He’s asking. Not ordering, asking.

Ten years ago, Lester didn’t ask. He demanded.

He didn’t fold me into his arms like this, either. Like I matter. He held me at knifepoint.

This stranger behind me uses his body alone.

He can break me in half with how strong he is.

Still, I don’t fear him.

He could’ve dragged me to an alley by now. Kicked Mojo or strangled him to assure I won’t be saved.

Raping me would’ve been so easy for a man his size. He’s not overly muscular from the little I could gather. He’s just broad and lean. Powerful.

Yet here I am. Here, instead of being beaten and raped. He doesn’t reach down to my leggings. Doesn’t start ripping my clothes off.

I suck in as much air as possible. Slow inhales. Here. I’m breathing. I’m alive.

He’s not going to hurt me, exactly like he said.

“Well?” The man turns my face to him.

His dark eyes are partly amused, partly curious. His cologne and the smell of the ocean envelop me. And…now that I can breathe, I smell it. A faint, underlying scent of copper.

Mojo lets out another one of his whines, pushing my shin with his snout.

“Blink and I’ll release you.”

I have my gun. If this stranger tries anything, I’ll just shoot him in the head.

One blink.

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