Page 5 of When It Rains He Pours

Because I wouldn't give him that. I would never stop fighting him if he pushed me, I would never just give in and let him do whatever the hell he wanted.

My body stilled, his breath hot like lava, burning my skin as he spoke. “Stop pretending like this is a game. Because if you haven't noticed, we're not playing along.”

We? Why is he saying we?

What the fuck is he talking about?

“I can't. . . I don't under—”

Cutting me off, his lips turned razor thin. “If all of this isn't enough to make you see, if it does nothing to let you know that we're serious, then you're really fucking stupid.”

My hair fell back into my face as my head tilted into my shoulder. This man was confusing the hell out of me.

“I won't tell you that you can do this. I can't.” Hanging my head lower, I lifted my hands into my lap and nervously fiddled with the nails.

All I wanted was for him to leave me alone. That was it. I wasn't sure how I could take any more.

Dropping to his haunches, he ran a heavy hand across my chin. “It didn't have to come to this, but if you don't change your mind, it's only going to get worse.”

Change my mind?! Does he really think I'll just lay back and accept it with open arms?!

Flaring my nostrils, the pain in my chest turned sharp, piercing my heart like hot needles. “Fuck you.”

“Ha,” he laughed out loud, dipping his head into his chest as he stroked his jaw. “No sweetheart, that's where you're wrong. All of this, it's only going to fuck you. But you already know that, at least you should now.”

My blood began to boil, percolating under the skin like coffee. How dare he? How dare this man come into my place—into my worldand try to shatter it?

He had no right.

Balling my fists, I cocked my head up. Veering my stare, I tried like hell to see his face. The shadow had shifted, allowing the faint light to break across his jaw. A dark stubble coated his chin, his lips were thin and cheeks sharp.

Show me your face, Asshole!

You're a coward—a weak, fucking coward, hiding behind that hood!

The scream sat on the back of my tongue, but no matter how much I tried, I couldn't get it out. It was stuck, digging claws into the muscle of my mouth to stay inside.

My insides were a torrent of anger and confusion, sadness and pain. Today had been shit. I wanted to wake up from this nightmare and start the day over.

But I wasn't sleeping. None of this was a dream, and no matter how much I wished it was, I couldn't un-live it.

Today was the catalyst of something bigger, it was a turning point that was forcing me into the rabbit hole. And I didn't know if I'd ever be able to climb back out.

Dragging a finger down my arm, the stranger drew small circles around my elbow. A devilish smile curled on his face, making me sick.

My chest began to constrict, muscles twining and contorting in ways I had never felt before. A purple haze clouded my view, as the world around me began to swirl and morph. I couldn't breathe, I couldn't think or move or speak. I was mute, sinking deeper and deeper as water filled my lungs.

Get away from me! Don't fucking touch me!

“Hey! Hey you!” A husky voice yelled from over the man's shoulder.

Instantly, the guy jumped back, allowing cool air from the open door to spill over my face.

Throwing a hand to my chest, I fell forward, taking in long pulls of oxygen. But no matter how much I tried to breathe, it felt like nothing was reaching my lungs. Pushing my lips into a tight circle, I breathed in through my nose and out through my mouth.

Closing my eyes, I focused on slowing down my lungs, doing my best to stop the panic attack before it took hold.

Heavy grunts filled my head, as shuffling feet rumbled the floor. But it was all over before I even had time to process what the hell had happened.

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