Page 19 of Drowning Her

Everything inside of me was hot. I wanted to hate her so badly, but I couldn’t. Even if she was the standard that I couldneverachieve, her desperation made me feel guilty. It was time to go. I climbed the fence.

“Maisie,” she said, her voice quivering, “Please.”

My feet hit the dirt and weeds on the other side of the wood. I wrapped my arms around myself, the emptiness settling inside of me. I felt stupid, out of place, wearing the clothes Wilder had provided for me. Where were my fishnets? My elbow gloves? The flashy dresses? The clip-on extensions? Everything that made me,me.Everything my biological family didn’t want.

And why didn’t I care about that anymore? The constant need to rebel. To wear ridiculous clothes just to prove a point. Now, it all felt wrong.

But what would feel right?

I kept my eyes on the asphalt, heading back to my car, but as I passed the empty playground, I wandered past the equipment, heading to the trees. I slumped against a trunk, staring out at the street. When they had blocked off the Pierce Park Tunnel after an accident, I started coming out here. Snuck out every night. Got high with people I hadn’t spoken to in years. Became best friends withBambi. Did anything I could to feelsomething.To make sure that I was everything my parents didn’t want. It was easier knowing that there wasn’t any chance for redemption. Never giving myself that option. And time passed that way until Bambi and I met Green. Tears filled my eyes, but I blinked them away. I didn’t know why I was crying. I had given up feeling bad for myself. I didn’t care anymore.

“You aren’t good at listening,” a throaty male voice said. Every hair on my body stood up, but before I could turn around, a hand cupped my face, my arms twisted behind my back. I grunted, pushing against the force, but that leathery, earthy scent surrounded me.Wilder.“Why are you crying?” he growled. “You feel sorry for yourself?”

“You bastard,” I said, my words muffled. He lifted his hand, letting me talk. “You’re using me for my sister?—”

“Why the fuck would I want your sister?” The tension in my shoulders evaporated, and I gaped at him, a hurricane swirling inside of his eyes. Fiona was perfect, and he didn’t want her? “You have a family. A family that gave you a good fucking life.”

“You don’t know what I’ve been through,” I hissed.

“I know what I see. You ran away from it all. Again.”

I seethed inside of myself, every muscle tensing up. Because he was right, but I couldn’t believe it. Wouldn’t let myself. I railed my fists forward, directing every blow at his chest, knowing that no matter what I did, it would never be enough. Punch after punch. He didn’t budge. Didn’t even flinch. I pulled my hair at the roots, then howled as loud as I could, looking at the dark sky. Immediately, Wilder kicked my feet out from under me, knocking the wind out of me as I collapsed on the ground. I wheezed, trying to get a hold of myself. He pinned me to the grass, staring into my face.

Finally, I could breathe again. His body was pressed on top of mine, his cock bulging against me.

“We have an agreement,” I sneered. “We arelegallytied to each other. Why were you following my family?” I forced a laugh. “Is it your secret way of getting to know me? Maybe you are obsessed with me! Maybe that’s the sick reason why your father sought me out!”

His hand traced my side. “You’re not wearing the perfume I bought.”

I snapped my teeth. “When I wear it, you don’t come near me and it gives me a fucking headache. You can shove it up your ass.”

His lips pulled back, revealing his teeth. A deep breath expanded his chest. Something shifted inside of him. His hand skimmed my waist through the clothes, the movement jerky like he wasn’t sure what he wanted to do: hurt me, or explore me. My pussy clenched. It was the first time he had purposefully touched me like that. His bulge grew, pressing into my leg.

“I could end this right now,” he murmured.

“Go ahead,” I said. I narrowed my eyes. “Divorce me. I don’t care.”

He growled, then thrust his hand down my jeans, his fingers cupping my pussy. His eyes rolled to the back of his head. I automatically bucked my hips forward. I didn’t care how much I hated him right then; I needed his touch. He pressed a thick finger inside of my pussy, his eyes unblinking.

He wanted me. I could see it.Feel it.

I reached for his face, and he flinched away. I let my hand go to his hips, tracing to his cock, and he growled, rage flashing in his eyes.

“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” he roared.

He whipped me around, shoving my face into the grass, thrusting his hand back down my pants as he spread my legs, fingerfucking me from behind. Like he didn’t care how uncomfortable I was, as long as he got what he wanted. A car passed on the street and I stilled, holding my breath; I was always thrilled and terrified of getting caught when I was a teenager. But Wilder didn’t stop. He kept jabbing at me, his movements harsh, like he hated me, like he didn’t know what to do to make me understand his lack of passion. But I understood. I was only a game to him: his wife transformed into an object that he could beat down under his brutality until he could discard me. My knees shook and the dew on the grass smeared my face. He pressed against my body, one hand fingerfucking me from behind and the other hand wrapped underneath me, rubbing my clit. With his nose buried in my neck, he sucked a long, sharp breath, and moaned.

Suddenly, he removed his fingers. Like I had electrocuted him. Like he had gone one step too far.

Why wouldn’t he let himself touch me?

“You will never control me,” he growled. And he left me there.

Chapter 7

Wilder

The woodsnext to Pierce Mountain were one of my favorite spots to hunt. The trees were dense enough that they kept you guessing, always checking your surroundings, and once the fog dissipated, the swamp water permeated the air. Clouds covered the sky, leaving the area in perpetual dusk. Best of all, my wife hadn’t followed me here.

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