Page 68 of Tempting Rowan (Trace + Olivia 3)

“I’m leaving for a week,” I answered.

“That’s not what I asked you,” he stepped further into my room and it felt like the aqua walls were closing in around me.

“I don’t see how where I’m going is any of your business,” I stood up straighter. I would not be intimidated and I would not act afraid. I was a strong woman and I wouldn’t let this insignificant piece of shit frighten me. Jim preyed on the weak, and I certainly wasn’t that.

He reached out, wrapping a strand of my hair around his finger and tugging—hard. My teeth ground together as I fought to control the wince that so desperately wanted to twist my face.

“Don’t. Touch. Me.”

The words were hissed between my teeth and they barely sounded human. I was sick of being afraid in my own house.

Jim clucked his tongue. “You can’t talk to me like that.”

He pushed me onto my bed, and all the air left my lungs as his body fell on mine, pining me to the mattress.

Panic shook my body. I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t move. I couldn’t think.

One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten.

The counting calmed me and helped to clear my head.

Jim pinned my wrists down and despite the fact that he was a scrawny man he was still strong.

One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten.

I counted again and then again.

His lips were sucking on my neck as he ground his hips into me. I knew screaming was futile. My mom was passed out drunk in bed, and the neighbors would never hear. I was on my own.

“Stop,” I tried to wriggle my arms free. “Stop it!”

“Shh, I know you want it,” he continued to suckle my neck. I was going to throw up.

“You asshole, last time I checked ‘stop’ didn’t translate to somebody wanting something!” I squirmed some more, but his hold didn’t lessen. “Let me go!”

I’d given him the perfect opportunity for this. Tristan and Ivy were gone, and he knew my mom would never wake up. If only I had already been gone.

A part of me had been anticipating something like this happening for a while. Disturbing, I know, but the guy was a creep.

My phone vibrated in my pocket and I prayed it was a text from Trent, saying he was here.

Counting on Trent to be outside waiting, I kneed Jim in gut. He grunted, releasing my wrists. His face was red with anger. He pulled his fist back to punch me, but I head-butted him in the face first. Blood spurted everywhere, and he fell to the ground, clutching his broken nose. “Bitch!” He spat.

My heart racing, I grabbed my suitcase and ran out of the house.

Trent wasn’t parked outside, like I had expected.

I felt myself beginning to panic. I turned around, looking behind me to see if Jim was coming after me. He wasn’t. I knew he wouldn’t, but I was still scared. I was out in the open, where any of the neighbors would see him attack me, and Jim wasn’t stupid.

My head throbbed painfully where I’d bashed my head against his nose, and I knew I’d end up with a killer headache. As I pressed my

hand against my head, I happened to look down and see blood—his blood—on my shirt.

My panic escalated, making my heart race painfully in my chest.

I needed it off.

One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten.

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