Page 67 of First Time

The thought of his ropes and the hardness of his body came to mind, heating my face.

He cast a sideways glance my way when I didn’t answer. Chuckling, he turned his focus on the road and merged into fast-moving traffic. “While I would love to fulfill whatever fantasy is running through your mind right now,” he murmured, his voice low, “you had a single piece of toast for breakfast.”

“I was thinking—”

“What the fuck!”

Something slammed into my side of the car, and I grabbed hold of the dashboard as Daniel grasped the steering wheel steady. Heart in my throat, I glanced out the passenger window.

Stephen glowered at me from inside his old car. Face mottled—eyes red-rimmed.

Drunk and deep in a rage—

“Look out!” I shrieked as he jerked the wheel and smashed the side of his car into Daniel’s again.

“Call 911,” Daniel said, swerving into another lane and putting some distance between Stephen and us.

I grabbed his phone from the console, my hands shaking. A woman’s voice came over the line, and I started to tell her our emergency.

“Fuck!” Daniel bit out the curse as Stephen drove into the back corner of the SUV before getting behind us. He stayed on the bumper, and Daniel fought to keep the car straight.

Hemmed in on all sides in the middle of the highway, we had nowhere to go.

Half-hysterical, I blubbered into the cell phone, trying to tell the woman what was happening, my head whipping around, trying to keep track of Stephen’s clunker as slowing traffic allowed him to continue battering the SUV.

“Where are you? What mile marker?” she asked, her voice calm.

“I-I don’t—” I peered ahead, and Daniel sped up as traffic allowed, swerving into the right lane.

Stephen smashed into the driver's side, and I shrieked, grabbing hold of the dashboard. Eyes wide and filled with madness, he met my gaze across Daniel’s body. He dragged a finger over his throat while drifting toward our left.

“Hold on!” Daniel stomped on the brakes as Stephen yanked his steering wheel our way.

The front of Daniel’s car clipped the rear fender of Stephen’s, sliding him sideways.

I blinked.

The undercarriage of Stephen’s car filled our windshield and flipped before I realized what had happened. Pieces of plastic and metal scattered as we slowed, a few other cars skidding off the highway to avoid Stephen’s tumbling car.

We stopped along with dozens of other vehicles.

Sounds of rear-ending cars behind us sounded in the sudden silence.

My heart thudded in my ears as I clutched the cell in my hand, fighting for breath.

“Are you okay?” Daniel’s rumbling voice seemed far away as the woman on the phone spewed questions. “Becky.”

I jerked my gaze off the mangled car resting on its roof in the middle of the highway.

Daniel cupped my cheek in his hand. “Okay?” he repeated

“Y-yes.”

“Stay here.”

I nodded and realized the 911 operator was still trying to get my attention. “Th-there’s been an accident...”

My focus went to Daniel as he strode toward Stephen’s car, but I answered the woman’s questions.

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