Page 36 of Corrupt Obsession

She braced her hands on his shoulders. “What are you talking about?”

“Let me show you,” he cooed as he undid the button of her shorts.

She grasped his wrist, eyes wide. “What are you doing?”

“Making you feel good,” he said against her lips. “Come on, give me this at least. Let me touch you.”

“Y-you want to touch methere?” she whispered, scandalized.

He stared at her for a moment before he shook his head. “You’re such an innocent. It’s a miracle no one’s got to you before now. I guess I have Jesse to thank for that.”

He tested her grip on him before he pulled down her zipper. This was dangerous. She knew that, but she couldn’t find the will to stop him as he lifted her shirt to examine her underwear.

“Of course you’re wearing pink,” he said with masculine approval. “So pretty and perfect.”

“Tucker?”

She wasn’t sure if he kissed her because he heard the uncertainty in her tone. If that was so, it was a good strategy. It was wiped any thought of resistance from her mind. She sensed his excitement and urgency as his hand brushed over the front of her. She gasped and was thankful for his bumper, which gave her something to sit on when her legs gave out.

“I’m going to make you feel so good,” he panted as he adjusted his hand. “I want you to come on my fingers. God, you feel…”

One minute he was pressed against her and the next, he was gone. She opened her eyes and stared at the empty space where Tucker had been without comprehension before she heard ashout and then a strange scuffling sound. She rose on shaky legs, rounded the vehicle, and stopped in her tracks.

Jesse straddled Tucker, who was splayed out on the pavement. Even as she watched, Jesse drew back his fist and rammed it into Tucker’s face. Tucker’s head snapped back and collided with the pavement with a sickening crack. Jesse landed two more forceful blows before she came out of her horrified stupor.

“Jesse, stop!” she screamed.

Blood spurted as he landed another punch before she caught his swinging arm.

“Stop!”

Her desperate shriek finally seemed to penetrate the haze. Jesse stilled. Tucker’s face was covered in blood from a split lip, a broken nose, and what might be a shattered cheekbone.

“What the hell, Jesse?” she whispered, shaken to the core.

As Jesse rose, she collapsed beside Tucker to make sure he was all right, but before she could touch him, Jesse roughly hauled her to her feet. She hauled in a breath to yell at him, but the chilling look on Jesse’s face wiped her mind clean.

“Touch her again, I’ll kill you,” Jesse said with chilling softness.

Her mouth dropped. “Jesse, he?—”

He ignored her and began to tow her across the parking lot. She dug in her heels.

“I’m not,” she began before Jesse turned, crouched, and tossed her over his shoulder. She braced her hands on his back so she could see Tucker. “He isn’t moving!”

“He’s alive,” Jesse said curtly as he set her beside the SUV and yanked the door open. “Get in.”

She gawked at him, unable to believe what he’d done. She had no idea he knew how to throw a punch, much less how to systematically beat someone to a pulp. Tucker had been inhis fair share of fights, but Jesse had incapacitated him with shocking ease. She didn’t know Jesse had that level of violence in him, but the splatter of red on his shirt, arm, and hand said different.

“Why did you do that?” she demanded.

It was an unfortunate moment for her gaping shorts to drop to her knees. In the time it took her to haul them up and fasten them, Jesse had crossed quite a distance on his way back to Tucker to finish what he started. She wrapped her arms around his waist and pulled back with all her might.

“Jesse,don’t!”

He stopped, but didn’t turn back to the car. She was very aware that if he wanted to, he could continue to beat the crap out of Tucker and there was nothing she could do about it. His chest pumped as he tried to rein in his temper. He was angrier than she had ever seen him.

“Jesse?”

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