Page 49 of Ensnared

ButDomdoesn’t wait for me to answer.Hishand bunches in the back of my shirt and he yanks it up, exposing my bare body to the waist.Iscreech and try to pull it down with no success.

Beauis quivering.Ilook up at him, bewildered, asIfight againstDom’sgrip on the shirt.

“I’mgoing to kill him,Dom.”Furymakes his hazel eyes flash. “Andfuck you for forcing this.Imight expect her to look like this afterJasper, but at least he knows when to stop.”

Jasper?Mygaze flies to the beautiful man, my heart pounding in embarrassment and frustration and a renewed hint of fear.Thesame man who turns each page with mesmerizing, reverent care?ThatJasper?

Jaspertakes in my reaction in one assessing glance and directs a small, chilly smile atBeau. “Thisis far too crude for my taste.ButIdo so appreciate you frightening her; that will certainly make this easier on everyone.”

Histart words could cause frostbite, and the taste of violence in the air thickens.Itcurdles on my tongue.ThenDomruns his hand firmly over my bare, bruised hips likeI’man injured animal, andIflinch back.

“Letgo!”Idemand, hating that my voice quakes. “I—Iam not some toy to be thrown around!”

Thesliding door rolls open behind me, butDom’sgrip won’t let me turn.

“Gotthrown around plenty last night, sugar.Didn’treckon you’d be ready for round two already,”Jaykobdrawls. “Orthat’d make it round four now, yeah?”

Hisgaze is hot on my ass, andIwince, remembering altogethertoo muchfrom last night.

Givenhow angryBeaulooks,Iwould have put money on him going afterJaykob, but to my surprise, it’sDomwho drops my shirt and storms over to the other man.Ispin just as he slamsJaykobagainst the wall.

“Oh, sure, fucking typical.”Jaykob’sface darkens as he lifts his heavy arms to push the other man off him.EvenwhileI’mreeling from the sudden attack,Inotice he’s shirtless.

Dom’sgrip doesn’t budge. “Iknew you were rough, butIthought even you had enough goddamn restraint to hold back with someone like her.Didyou even bother to hear her limits?Hersafeword?”HeslamsJaykobback again and hisses, “She’snot from the club, asshole, she doesn’t know how to stop you.”

Wait,what?

Mymouth drops open, but beforeIcan say anything,Beaucrowds me protectively.Ipush against him, my horrified attention still absorbed on the scene in front of me, but it’s like trying to push past a stone wall.

“Lookslike she gave it her best shot, though,”Jaspernotes from the side, taking inJaykob’sscratched-up chest.

Darkapproval lights his angelic face asDom’sforearm presses againstJaykob’sthroat.Jaykobgrunts, his airway cut off.They’reof a size, butDomcaught him by surprise.

ThenJaykjabs a hard punch intoDom’sribs, making him loosen his grip slightly.Hefollows up with a swing to his jaw, butDomducks it, smashing him back again against the wall for a third time.

Evidenceof my nails markJaykob’sshoulders in red streaks, and my bite mark on his chest has bruised.

“Fuck.”Thewhisper is fromBeauabove me, sounding tortured.Itry to wriggle away from him again and he looks down at me as though he’s just rememberedI’mhere.Hishazel eyes are haunted. “It’sokay, darlin’.It’llbe okay.Fuck,I—”

“Whoa, the hell?”Luckycomes in from the kitchen, taking in the scene.

Jaykobjerks hard underDom’sarm, and whenDompulls a hunting knife from his belt,Ifinally find my voice.

“No!”Itcomes out unnaturally shrill. “No.Letme go,Beau!”

Hedoes, reluctantly, andIrush past him and over toDom.

“Stayback.Hewon’t touch you again,Eden.”Dom’sdark skin is flushed with rage; he presses the knife againstJaykob’sthroat.

Resignationand anger war acrossJaykob’sfeatures, and my stomach twists.

“Lethim go!Hedidn’t—”Thewords stick. “Hedidn’tforcehimself on me.Ilet him do it.”

“Youdon’t need to make excuses for him.Heshouldn’t have been so rough.Youdidn’t sign up for this.Wewouldn’t ask you to—Wewouldn’t dothis.”Beau’svoice is hard. “Stayback,Eden.Juststay out of it.Dom’shandlin’ this.”

“Or,Idon’t know, maybe you could listen to her,”Luckybreaks in with such an even lightness to his tone thatIknow he worked hard for it. “Shecan speak for herself.”

BolsteredbyLucky’swords,ItouchDom’stense shoulder.

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