Page 24 of Caution Tape

I’m upset because Target Guy gets to stroll around doing whatever his sadistic little heart desires while I’m stuck here with this moron.

Shrugging, I gaze out the window once more, looking down at the people walking on the sidewalks beside the busy roads. They’re just living their lives, as if any of what they’re doing in their day to day has meaning. How pathetic. They look like ants.

I want to squish them.

Putting them out of their misery would be the nice thing to do.

“Cora?”

“What?”

“I think the more important question here is, are you content with where you are now, in life, or do you want to change?”

“Change,” I echo, folding my arms across my chest. “I don’t know anymore. Even if I did, I don’t know if I’m even capable of it—“

“You are,” he speaks over me, tucking a loose strand of hair behind my ear. I freeze in place. He’s looked at me like this before, like there’s a fire burning within his eyes, but he’s never actually touched me. Never acted on his impulses physically. “You are capable of anything, Cora. You just have towantit.”

Catching his wrist with my hand, I squeeze it as hard as I can, holding it beside my head for a moment longer before swatting him away.

Confusion floods through me.

“Your support system is gone,” he taunts, stepping closer. I immediately step back. “Your only friend is gone.”

“I’m well aware,” I mutter.

He plants a firm hand on my shoulder. “You must feel alone right now,” he points out, wetting his lips with the tip of his tongue. “Veryalone.”

“Do I?” My voice is a challenge, and my face is blank. I blink up at him, waiting for his reply.

“Yes.” He slips his arms around my waist without warning and takes my ass in his hands, giving my flesh a firm squeeze.

“But you have me,” he announces, finally revealing his true self. His true intentions. “I’m here for you, Cora.”

My body immediately reacts to his suggestive touch. I recoil, taking several steps back while he studies my reaction.

“I fucking knew it,” I declare.

He says nothing, although the expression on his face almost appears disappointed with my rejection, as if I had failed his test.

Yes.

That is exactly what this advance on me was.

A test.

My hands ball into fists at my sides as I get the sudden urge to castrate him. Instead of acting on this impulse, I find myself turning away and heading for the door.

“Cora,” he calls out from behind me. “I’m only trying to help you. You do understand that don’t you?”

Glancing over my shoulder hastily, I glare at him. “Don’t bother trying to explain yourself. You’re just worried I’m going to run to mommy or the cops and tell them how my creepy doctor crossed the line and groped my ass.”

He blinks at me, mouth agape, unsure as to what he could possibly say to make me stay.

“Well, I’m not,” I tell him. “And for what it’s worth, even if I did tell them, they wouldn’t believe me anyway. Nobody ever does.”

With that, I slam the door behind me.

Chapter Eleven

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