Page 49 of Collision

Ben sighs. He moves quickly, opening drawers to retrieve a t-shirt and underwear for me, before perching on the side of the bed with his back to me.

“Okay.” He holds them out and I take them gingerly, my breath caught in my throat as I wait for his next words. “Put these on.”

Icanfeelhisbreath fanning against my neck as his arms wrap around me and he pulls me against his chest. I sigh, expelling pain and finding a strange release, when I feel his hand flat against my stomach and his legs tucking up behind mine.

“Is this okay?” he asks.

I nod.

In the warmth of him, I feel safe. His arms are strong and his chest is firm. I feel his skin against me, and as his lips press against my head, I close my eyes, ready for what I fear is still to come.

“No.Josh,stop.”Myvoice is broken and hoarse.

I should have gotten a taxi.

I should have gotten a taxi.

“Come on, Mik,” he whispers in my ear as his fingers paw at my dress.

I feel the rip of the fabric and my knee jolts up, connecting with his groin as he grunts. I push him away from me, my back raw from the way I’ve been shoved against the car door.

Something sharp scratches between my shoulders and the sting of torn skin screams for attention.

His weight is heavy on me.

“You fucking bitch!” His words are venom in my ear, his voice an acid that drips over my skin, as he grabs my arm and pushes me down further. I cry out from the pain of his grip and he pushes me back again. “You’re a tease, Mikaela. A fucking tease.”

Bile rises in my throat as his fingers squeeze my body and his words rip through me.

“Get off of me.” I sob as he bites down on my shoulder and his hand trails up my thigh. “Get off of me now!”

“Come on, Mik.” He repeats himself. “You can’t tell me you don’t want this.”

I scream.

“Shh.It’sokay.”Benholds me tight as I thrash in his arms, a scream tearing through the darkness of my tiny apartment. “You’re okay. I’m here. I’m right here, Mik.”

“Ben?” I turn to him, burying my face in his chest as he pulls me closer and holds the back of my head.

I tremble as the tension of my nightmare seeps out of my skin.

“I’m right here, Mik.” His voice is the softest caress.

“Okay.” I pant as I blink against his skin and his hands rub my lower back in small circles. He holds and hushes me as my breathing starts to settle to a steady pace and he presses another soft kiss against my forehead. “Okay.”

He holds me silently, not moving and not pushing for me to speak. He waits for my breathing to be completely even and my hiccups to disappear before he says a word.

“Mikaela.” His fingers comb through my hair and a shiver travels the length of my spine. “What happened tonight? I need to know.”

I peel myself out of his arms, moving slowly so that I can look at him, still longing to be touched by him. His eyes are dark as the strength of his anger simmers beneath the blue, but he chews his lip, softening his expression as he looks at me. My heart aches just looking at him and, as if he needs the contact too, he brushes his fingers over my cheek and holds onto me as I lay facing him.

I know my face is blotchy and red and my eyes are swollen from tears and I don’t care. His fingers trace the creases between my brows, and I smile sadly at him as some stray tears spill.

“I - erm - I told him I didn’t think we would work,” I begin with a strained voice. “I don’t even know why.”Liar.I close my eyes and take a deep breath. “That’s a lie. I do know. He - Josh - he reminds me of Matthew and I just can’t do that again and I felt like the whole restaurant was closing in around me and I needed to get out of there. But he offered to drive me home and I thought -God- I thought it was sweet.”

“But you were walking?”

“He pulled up a couple of blocks away,” I whisper. “He said he wanted to talk about it.”

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