Page 21 of Tin

As expected, he showed up wearing a suit. No tie, but still. Very proper. I was almost relieved I gave in to Kirsten and wore the dress.

Aside from the nearly formal wear, Carson is completely clean shaven with short black hair and brown eyes. He’s tall and definitely hits the gym. He’s got the gym body. Not like Riker who has the hard work body. And yeah. There’s a difference. Personally, I prefer the latter. But this isn’t a competition. There’s no comparing the two, and I knew long before I ever even met Carson that I’d rather be spending the evening with Riker.

Nevertheless, here we are and I’m doing my best not to embarrass Kirsten. I’m listening politely and nodding every time I count to ten while Carson tells me all about his work and golf, the real passion of his life. Apparently, he’s really good. I’m assuming. He could be speaking another language for as much as I’m understanding.

He interrupts his story to point at my nearly untouched dinner. “Are you enjoying your beef bourguignon?”

“Oh. Yes.” I hastily reach for my fork and enthusiastically stab a slice of meat with it. “I’ve just been so engrossed in your stories I guess I forgot to eat.”

His head practically expands as my little lie goes straight to his inflated ego.

“You know, you’re not the first person to tell me that.” He smiles. Not a nice smile. It’s an icky smile that makes my insides churn. Then his eyes travel below my collar bone while his finger rounds the rim of his scotch glass, and I’m certain I can’t force down another bite of my food without throwing it up.

I do my best to smile back. “I can only imagine how many people have missed a meal because of you.”

As expected, he mistakes my insult for charm. “Yes, well, I’ll be sure to make up for it when the time comes for dessert.”

Seeing an easy out, I place my fork down in a hurry. “Oh, to be honest, I don’t think I could eat another bite.”

Carson’s menacing grin widens as he covers my hand with his, then leans over the table. “Who said anything about eating?”

I’m too stunned to even speak. And that never happens.What the fuck?Clearly, Nate doesn’t know this asshole as well as he thinks. Or else Kirsten doesn’t know Nate. Because there’s no way in hell my sister would have purposely set me up with pervy creeper over here, no matter how respectable his job and family are.

Clearly mistaking my silence for some sort of a yes, Carson flags down our server and pays our tab. Before I know it, we’re out in the parking lot walking toward his Chrysler 300. As if the drive here wasn’t bad enough, the drive home is going to be that much more awkward when he finds out I intend to go straight back to Kirsten’s place.

I’m standing beside the car waiting for him to open the door when I feel his hand on my back, then quickly move down over the curve of my ass.

“Excuse me. What do you think you’re doing?” I take a step forward to get out of his grasp, a mistake I realize too late, because it only places me deeper into the darkness between his car and the Suburban parked beside him. My heart begins to race, and it takes every ounce of effort I have to keep reminding myself that I’m here. In the present. I’m safe. I’m with a gross guy. But I’m safe.I’m safe.

“Come on, Quinn. There’s no reason to play coy with me.” Carson takes another step to close the distance I just placed between us. His hands are already touching me again. This time they start at my waist. But they’re roaming, so there’s no telling where they’re headed next.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing? Get your fucking hands off me.” I shove him hard in the chest, and he stumbles. He didn’t see it coming this time, but I won’t have that same advantage again.

“Would you chill the fuck out? Nate already told me all about you, sweetheart. So there’s really no reason to keep up this little act of yours. Just relax and we’ll both have a good time. I promise.” He leers at me, and my skin crawls.

“What exactly did Nate tell you?” I fight the urge to back up any farther. There’s nothing behind me except a brick wall I can’t get over or around.

Carson chuckles. It sounds downright evil, and it makes me feel dirty just having heard it. “He just explained why you came here. How you had to leave your hometown because of your reputation there and that Kirsten insisted you move in with her and Nate to get a fresh start.” He grips my chin with his thumb and finger. “It’s cool. I won’t tell anyone your little secret. They don’t even have to know about us hooking up. Although, truth be told, that would probably go a long way in fixing your bad rep.”

I close my eyes, certain he’s about to kiss me. I don’t want to see it. Don’t want to know what he looks like as he closes in on my lips with his. His disgusting lips. And his disgusting hands as they move up my waist and under my rib cage.

Shock is setting in, leaving me completely frozen and at his mercy. I have no choice but to simply zone out. I can do this. I can let go long enough to survive this. I’ve survived worse, so I know itwon’t kill me. It won’t even hurt. Because I won’t fight. I’ll just disappear. He can do whatever he wants with my body. I won’t be in it.Damn it. I don’t want to be in it.

But I am. Because I can feel him. Can feel his mouth moving over the skin on my neck. He’s sloppy, leaving a wet trail behind, which runs cool as the evening breeze catches it the same way it does on my damp cheeks. Tears. Silent sobs ripple my chest as he continues to touch and caress me in ways that make me ache at the core of my being.

“Quinn?”

The sound of his familiar voice rips me out of my trance. My eyes open and search for his, locking on them instantly.

But I’m not the only one who takes notice of him.

“Do you mind, asshole?” Carson barks. “How about some fucking privacy?”

Riker’s still staring at me. Then, slowly, his gaze moves to Carson, turning hard. And terrifying. I’ve never seen him like this. He barrels straight for Carson, gripping fistfuls of his shirt as he practically carries him to the edge of the lot, then slams him into the brick wall.

“I’m going to kill you! You hear me? I’m going to fucking kill you!” He shakes Carson, repeatedly ramming the back of his head into the stone.

“Get your fucking hands off of me!” Carson tries to fight back, but it’s pointless. He may be taller than Riker, but height is nothing compared to brute strength fueled by emotions so deep and dark I know Carson doesn’t even have the capacity to feel.

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