Page 16 of Twisted Embrace

I raced from the room but heard him lumbering directly behind me, slamming into the door and walls in his desperate effort to get to me. There was no chance of getting out of the apartment. Instead, I rushed into my bedroom, slamming and locking the door. I wasn’t stupid enough to think the barrier would hold him for long. I threw open the closet door, frantically searching the small walk-in for the wooden bat I kept hidden behind some boxes.

As soon as I grabbed the thick piece of wood, I realized it was dead quiet. Not a single sound came from the other side of the door. There was no way the monster had left. None.

Trying to control my breathing, I sandwiched myself against the dresser and the door to the bathroom, waiting for the inevitable. It came seconds later when the lock was snapped off, the doorframe splintering.

He didn’t storm inside but took his time walking in. I’d never seen such a vile, evil expression in my life.

I lifted the bat and eased forward, my throat threatening to close. He took a deep breath, raking both hands through his disheveled hair. It was the first time I noticed the dark ink on his neck, vines crawling along his skin to the base of his ear. I only wished they’d become animated, wrapping around his throat and choking him to death.

“Don’t come any closer or I will use this.” I lifted it higher into the air, twisting my hands around the base as I’d seen baseball players do before taking a winning swing.

He moved his head from side to side, the cracking sounds of his neck sending another icy chill down my spine. The man was vicious and dangerous, and I’d fallen into his crosshairs.

“I will admit that I didn’t anticipate you’d be a little fighter. How very delightful. How very stupid of you, Joy.”

His tone didn’t indicate anything but rage, the way he accentuated my name sending a shot of electricity to my system. “Yeah? Well, you don’t know what I’m made of.”

“Perhaps I’ll need to find out,” he drawled, the velvety tone no longer seducing a single part of me.

My imagination was getting the better of me. I envisioned him standing over his prey, allowing his sultry voice to entice before slicing and dicing them into tiny pieces.

“If you put the bat down and come with me quietly, perhaps you’ll stay alive.”

He was threatening me? Me of all people? “That’s not going to happen. I’ll tell you what. If you leave quietly then I won’t bash your brains in.”

The beast of a man’s eyebrow quirked, then furrowed. Then a satisfied smirk lifted the corners of his voluptuous lips.

“Do you enjoy playing games, Joy? I’m all for them, the filthier the better.”

Was did he think he was doing, trying to seduce me?

“Sadistic bastard,” I muttered, horrified when his dark gaze zeroed in on my lips, his face still showing amusement. Now I wanted nothing more than to bash in his brains for his insufferable attitude. He was enjoying every moment of my fear.

When he issued a slight grin, amusement tinging his deep blue eyes into the color of murky waters stained with blood, I knew I had no other choice but continue fighting him if I wanted to stay alive. “You’re right, Joy. I am a sadistic bastard, and it would appear you’re going to learn just how much of one I am.”

Now I’d had it.

I didn’t give him any advance warning, swinging the bat with all the strength I had. I worked out on a regular basis, could bench press more than most men. But in this instance, it was as if I was nothing more than a slight bother. He snapped his hand around the bat in full swing. Just as he’d done before, he easily wrenched it from my hand, pitching it with enough force that when it hit the wall, he dented the wallboard.

Shock tore through me to the point I was paralyzed until he took a single step in my direction. That’s when I lost it again, doing everything I could to drive my fingers into his eye sockets. I was foiled again and he grabbed my wrist, swinging me around then wrapping his arm around my neck, yanking me against his chest.

For a few seconds neither one of us moved, his heavy breathing matching mine.

“That wasn’t very nice of you, Joy.” His hot breath cascaded down the side of my neck, tingling my skin.

“I’m not a nice person. Especially when it comes to assholes accusing me of something I didn’t do.”

He snickered, nuzzling into my neck and I was instantly sickened by how my body responded to him. Goosebumps appeared, trickling down my arms, my breath caught in my throat. Even worse was the fact my nipples had been completely transformed into hard pebbles, my panties soaked. How in the love of God could I still be attracted to a man who had every intention of killing me?

The only answer was temporary insanity.

“Keep struggling, little princess, and I’ll be forced to discipline you.”

Was the fucker kidding me? “Discipline me?” I hissed between clenched teeth. Then I stomped on his foot. He didn’t react at first. Then he tossed me onto the bed as if I weighed nothing.

I scrambled to reach the other side, but his hand snapped around my ankle a split second later, dragging me to the edge of the bed. I kicked out with my other leg, my aim a direct hit but he didn’t budge, nor did he grunt in pain. I was running out of ideas on how to free myself and exhaustion was about to render me powerless. Gasping, I stretched my arm, the tips of my fingers just able to reach the bedside lamp. With another brutal kick to his stomach, I gained enough momentum to jerk the thick piece of ceramic into my hand.

Without hesitation, I used the last of my strength, twisting and smashing the lamp against the side of his head, shattering the base. He was thrown, maybe dazed as the force was enough to break his hold. His body swayed for a few seconds and I was frozen, unable to think let alone move.

---