Page 24 of Brutal Obsession

He nods slowly. “I hope not.”

I turn around and head back to Willow, then stop short. Knox is on my stool, giving her all his attention. There’s a chance she completely missed what just happened… and I don’t want to ruin her night. I’ve been doing that a lot lately. Ruining things.

The beer has traveled to my jeans, dampening the waistband. My skin is sticky, my hair gross. I want to scream. That verbal spar didn’t go as planned. Didn’t happen the way I wanted it to at all. And if I want to retaliate, I’m going to need to take another look at that fucking nondisclosure agreement.

For the first time, I feel utterly silenced. I feelsmall. Unable to respond in the way I want to, knowing that if I insinuate anything about the accident, he could take everything from me.

I spin on my heel and march right past Greyson and his cronies, heading for the exit.

7

VIOLET

Imake it halfway home when someone grabs me. Their hands wrap around my mouth and waist, yanking me backwards. They pinch my nose closed. I suddenly can’t take a breath.

I thrash and kick wildly, but my attacker doesn’t care.

On some level, I know it’s Greyson. The neighborhood on this side of the university has always been quiet, almost sleepy at night. Willow and I have been living here for three years without incident.

My chest aches the longer I go without oxygen. My throat screams. Black spots flicker in my peripherals, and it only takes another few seconds for my vision to dim.

It’s only when I sag that he releases my face.

I suck in a deep, hiccupping breath.

He spins me around and puts me against the wall. The rough brick of the apartment building rubs into my back, catching on my hair. He has his hood pulled up, and there’s a wild look in his eye.

Without warning, he covers my mouth and nose again. His other hand presses down on my chest, keeping me pinned. Tears burn my eyes. My body is on fire, and all I want to do is fight my way out of this.

I scratch his skin. Pull at his wrists. For the first time, Iamafraid of what he’ll do. And he sees it the moment it registers in my eyes.

He releases my nose, keeping my mouth covered, and leans in close. I suck in as much air as I can get. His lips touch his knuckles, the only barrier between us. His fingers dig into my cheek. His gaze moves all over my face.

“This is what I want,” he breathes. “I didn’t know it until just now. But your fear is better than any drug. I thought I wanted to torment you. But now I just want this. Over and over again.”

I shudder.

He’s a fucking lunatic.

And then his hand on my chest inches lower. He cups my breast through my wet shirt, squeezing roughly before moving down.

I swallow, and he catches the movement.

He’s breathing heavy, too.

When his fingers slide under the waistband of my pants, a new fight emerges. I buck and jerk my head to the side. I need to dislodge him.

“Do you fight me and make this worse for you?” he muses. “Or better?”

A rhetorical question, seeing as how I haven’t been able to get him to release my mouth.

“One day I’ll want your fight,” he decides. “Right now, I want your silence.”

He pushes past the hem of my panties, and I close my eyes. I have to fight my own groan. No one’s touched me there in months. I haven’t wanted anyone near me after the crash—especially not Jack. Evident by the sloppy blow job I gave him without asking for anything in return.

Greyson doesn’t have that problem. And even if I were able to voice my opinion—that he should get the fuck away from me—I have a feeling he wouldn’t listen.

He runs his finger down, and my eyes flutter open again. He pins me against the wall better, his leg keeping mine open. And when his finger moves across my clit, I can’t hold back my groan.

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