Page 198 of If Our Hearts Collide

But then I feel it. His fingertips, pulling my chin up. And?—

Oh shit.

His lips. They are on me.

I struggle and hear him moan. It is a deep, guttural sound. My mouth stays rigid, and my heart feels like it will beat right out of my chest as I panic.

Thoughts of Mark Tanner touching me flitter through my system.

His sinister smile is so vivid. The way his voice turns evil is so clear.

It’s those talons of memory that stalk my hope for happiness and claw at my inability to fully move on. I’m trapped in a maze of mirrors, unable to get out unscathed, as haunting images race through my brain like a nightmare on loop.

My mind shutters as hands roam over me.

It’s as if I’m witnessing a scene play out where I’m the main star, and yet I’m simply a bystander.

Was that all I ever was to Mark Tanner—collateral damage? I was just a naive girl who fell for the guy who promised to make her modeling dreams come true.

Shoving my fragmented memories into the shadowy vault in my brain, I squeeze my eyes tightly shut for a few seconds and think of a way out of this unwanted petting session. Placing my hands on Wesley’s chest, I try to push him away, but he takes it as playful reluctance and just teases my waist with his fingertips. Moaning.

Why is he enjoying this so much?

I push—hard—and do not stop the pressure until I am released. Out of breath, I pant, flopping forward a bit and placing my hands on my knees. “I…am…not interested…” My words come out raspy.

He grabs my arm, yanking me to him. “It’s not nice to tease.”

Using the techniques taught to me, I get my arm free. Righting myself, I glare at the menacing eyes of Wesley. How did he just flip the switch like that? Jerk. “I…”

Then I feel a looming force behind us before actually finding proof of his existence, as his aura fills the room like a protective fog.

Collins.

My eyes scan the crowd, ignoring Mr. Handsy, and search for the one man who seems to have a choke hold on my lungs—and my heart.

Then I find him standing with venom in his eyes directed right at the man who stole more than just a kiss. He stole another opportunity for me to be near a man and it not end in re-traumatization.

Last visit, Neil triggered me. On the street outside of Ground Floor, it was the guy from the speed dating.

When will this stop?

When will I be able to be with someone and it not be a horror scene inside my head?

And then I remember how the man who is here to rescue me made me feel.

Collins is safety.

Collins is comfort.

Collins has my toes curling as I predict his next move.

It takes him three long steps to close the distance between us to be face-to-face in front of Wesley, who basically looks like he’s seen a ghost.

38

PENNY

“Touch her again if you want to deal with the fallout,” Collins threatens, his tone pure venom.

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