by Lily Hayden
He saw her pupils dilate as her big, green eyes widened involuntarily as she read the situation, and her expression excited him. He lurched forward, his arms locking around her body and bent his mouth to hers. She twisted within his grip, turning her head and feeling his warm, wet lips against her cheek.
“Shauna.” He murmured into her neck.
Her hands were pinned uselessly to her side and she wriggled under his vicelike grip to pull them protectively to her chest. She managed to get one hand against his torso, wanting to brace herself against his bulk to create some space between them, but, even in his drunken state, he was quicker than her and he snatched up a wrist so now one arm was trapped between their bodies and her other hand was held firmly in his. As they struggled, his mouth was still moving hot, wet kisses across her face and she moved her head frantically side-to-side trying to avoid it.
“Aaron!” She pulled her head back sharply, feeling a pain reverberate in her neck at the sudden movement. “Get off me.”
He squeezed her hand roughly and she pulled away with every ounce of strength. She felt the lacy fabric catch under her feet and she stumbled backwards. He pulled her back to his chest, preventing her from losing her footing, and then as she righted herself, she felt him steer them backwards again. The edge of the desk slammed against the back of her thighs and she fell backwards against it. His body followed, covering hers, and suddenly she was on her back on the desk with his body pinning her to the hard table beneath.
The fall winded her and she felt her chest constrict with panic as she tried to draw in a breath. Her head was trapped beneath the bulk of his chest and she could feel his hands grappling with the long skirts of her dress. Blind panic enveloped her as she wriggled furiously beneath him trying to find any weakness in his hold over her. She kicked her legs wildly, hoping to make contact and hurt him. Something, anything, to get him off her. She felt her dress being wrenched upwards and she heard the fabric tear. Fear and revulsion ricocheted through every nerve in her body as she hammered her fists against his chest, desperate to free herself. He barely felt her blows, simply pushing his chest down against her, pinning her tighter beneath him. She could hear his breathing, heavy and excited, and she knew that the sick bastard was getting off on her fighting him. She felt the air on her bare skin as he managed to wrestle the dress up, exposing her thighs. His hot sweaty hands slipped under the dress and she felt terrified tears spring to her eyes as he pulled roughly at her legs, trying to force them open. With his other hand, she could feel him pulling at his belt, the sharp buckle digging in to her skin through the dress.
She felt his weight shift from her slightly, as he abandoned her unyielding legs for a moment to use both hands to work the last of the belt free, and as he did, a torrent of red-hot anger exploded through her terror. She used the sudden space to bring her upper body up sharply, drawing her knees up simultaneously and jerking them into the soft flesh of his groin. His head spun towards her, his hands still uselessly gripping the belt, and as he turned to face her, she swung her head in an arch catching the bridge of his nose with the heavy plane of her forehead. Her head bounced backwards with the impact and stars exploded behind her eyes, but he fell away from her, shouting out in pain, and she rolled onto her side, sliding from the desk and scrambling to her feet. Her vision was blurred, but adrenaline fuelled her, and she raced through the office, her heart pounding furiously in her chest. She bypassed the elevators and barrelled through the emergency exit doors at the end of the office, clutching her dress around her thighs as she raced down the stairwell.
She stumbled the last few steps, throwing herself against the emergency exit, but the doors stayed jammed shut and her heart fell as she saw the thick chain that was binding the door mechanism. She pushed through the internal doors into the lobby and spun around wildly, trying to find an exit. She looked up at the elevator display. The lights remained unmoving, telling her he wasn’t on his way down, and desperately she ran over to the doors, pushing and pulling them. She squinted through the glass into the dark parking lot beyond and she saw the lights of a car cruising the far end.
My cab.
She pounded on the door frantically, but the car turned out and the light disappeared from view. Her heart sank, and she looked around in desperation. She slipped behind the front desk, running her hands across Kevin’s workspace, looking for something she could use. Her skin was prickling with the knowledge that Aaron was three floors above her, dangerous and unpredictable.
This is not happening. Terror flooded her whole body at the thought of him finding her, trapped down here like sitting prey, and not being able to defend herself.
She upturned the last of the contents of Kevin’s desk and choked back a sob in sheer desolation. There was nothing! What was she going to do?
The elevator pinged, echoing in the creepy darkness, and fear made her blood run cold. She shrank back against the wall of the reception area, wanting to disappear into the shadows.
The elevator slid open and Shauna felt her breath catch in her chest as Aaron stepped out into the foyer. Even from across the room, she could see his anger, tangible in the tension of his shoulders. He marched, purposeful, confident strides across the foyer, his eyes fixed on her. As he came closer, she could see the blood dried around his mouth and his nose. His eyes were flashing with fury and he stepped behind the desk, pushing Kevin’s chair roughly away as he moved to her. She backed away, slipping through the tiny space between the desk and the window, putting the high counter between them.
“Stop fucking about.” He barked, retracing his steps so he was back on the lobby-side of the reception again.
She pressed up against the window, feeling her body trembling with fear.
“Please.” Her voice came out shaky and small. “Just open the door.”
“You fucking broke my nose, you little bitch.” He growled, and he darted forward, seizing her shoulders before she had chance to react.
Her head bounced back against the window and, for a moment, she prayed that he’d knocked her out cold, so she wouldn’t have to remember whatever he did to her, but aside from a shooting pain, she remained on her feet. He dragged her roughly behind the desk, jamming her against the counter. He held her wrists tight behind her back and, with his other hand, he pushed her head roughly down so her body was bent in half over the desk, slamming her head cruelly against the wood.
Unable to move, she yelled out wildly, shouting and cursing, pleading with him to let her go. Pain was shooting through her wrists as he twisted them, pinning them against her lower back. Every time she struggled, he twisted them harder and she knew that any more pressure would break the delicate bones.
“Shut the fuck up.” He grunted.
She could sense him fumbling with his pants and she felt the degradation burning through her physical pain as he pulled up her dress, exposing her creamy flesh against lacy black underwear. She braced herself for his assault, screwing her eyes tightly shut in terror and revulsion.
An almighty crash filled her ears and her eyes flew open as she felt the weight lift from her body. Aaron had staggered backwards, clutching his suit pants at his waist. Shauna struggled to her feet, using the diversion to slide again through the gap, pulling her dress down over her thighs.
The doors to the office were open, illuminated by the headlights of a car outside. Shauna could hear the low, growl of the engine and, for a moment, she thought someone had driven into the building.
She heard someone call her name and she turned towards the noise, dazed and disorientated, unable to see anything over the blinding blaze of the car lights. She darted towards the doors and felt strong arms catch her. Instinctively, she knew she was safe, and she looked up into the face of rescuer.
Armand Landry looked down at her, his face twisted in horrified concern.
“Shauna!” He gasped, cradling her to his chest. “What the hell has he done to you?”
Aaron puffed himself up to his full heig
ht, but Shauna could see he looked shaken and fearful. She watched wide-eyed as Armand looked him over, his lip curled up in disgust. His eyes rested on Aaron’s undone flies and Shauna saw Armand’s expression change to venomous hatred. He released Shauna for a moment and moved to face Aaron. His hands curled into fists and he launched Aaron from his feet with a single punch. There was a sickening thud and Shauna gasped horrified.
“He’s knocked out.” Armand said. “He’s not dead.”
Tenderly he wrapped his arms around Shauna and led her out to the car. Her racing heart was slowly starting to return to normal, but she clung to Armand, not trusting her shaky legs.
“You need to go to hospital?” Armand sat her down gently in the passenger side of the car and knelt before her looking deep into her eyes.
She shook her head. Now she was safe, she just wanted to go home and sleep. Her ankle was hurting, and she felt a little bruised, but it was the way that Armand was looking at her that made her heart ache.
“Was everything he said a lie?” She asked in a quiet, shaky voice.
A flicker of understanding crossed Armand’s eyes before he answered.
“That piece of shit is my cousin. MLB is our uncle’s business. I’ve had a feeling Aaron was up to no good for a while, but Mal has finally ordered an audit and I guess Aaron was hoping to lay some shit on me and give himself time to clean up his trail.” Armand spoke from between gritted teeth and she could see he was holding his temper back. “I’m sorry he tried to use you to get to me. I’m guessing you pissed him off and he got drunk and angry?”
Shauna nodded her head, feeling her blood run cold at what could have been.
“Sylvie said you were married.” She managed to choke out. “Aaron tried to persuade me to sign something to say you’d stolen plans from MLB and something else to say you harassed me.”
“I’ll fucking kill him.” Armand vowed, stroking Shauna’s hair back from her face. “If he did anything…”
She heard her own voice hesitant and full of emotion. She didn’t want to, but she had to know. “You’re married?”
Armand dropped his head into his hands and Shauna felt her heart shatter, but then he looked up at her and there were tears shining in his own dark eyes.
“Was.” He said earnestly. “A long time ago. I would have mentioned it, but it was honestly so long ago, I don’t even…”
His words were the final straw and she felt her reserve shatter. The events of the day burst through her and she collapsed into his arms sobbing. He just held her, stroking her face and murmuring into her hair, and when she was finally purged, she looked up into his dark eyes.
“I’m sorry.” He shook his own head and his voice was thick with emotion. “I would have mentioned it. I didn’t think…”
She laughed through her tears and he gently wiped away a smudge of mascara from her cheek.
“It doesn’t matter.” She reassured him, and he bent his head, finding her lips and kissing away her tears.
“Even when you thought that,” He asked in disbelief. “You wouldn’t help him?”
“Of course not.” She shook her head, wiping her tear-stained face. “I would have just blocked you and moved on, not framed you for fraud! That’s crazy shit!”
He laughed, bending his head to find her lips.
If It’s Meant To Be
This was probably the calmest Ella had felt in weeks, she realised as she scanned the motel room for any missing belongings. She dropped to the floor, stretching out and inspecting the small space underneath the bed. She hooked a fluffy pink sock with the tip of her finger and thumb and dropped it into her case. Satisfied, she slammed the lid of the case shut and wiggled the zip until she managed to shut the brimming baggage.
She sank down onto the edge of the bed for one final time and looked around the room, waiting for some kind of emotional reaction. She had expected to get upset, feel a little tearful at the very least, but she was feeling remarkably optimistic about it all.
She had walked out of the door of Henley Steelson with her head held high and her mind made up a little over an hour ago, coming straight back to the motel to pack. There didn’t seem any point in hanging around now she’d burned her bridges, and she sure as hell wasn’t wasting any more of her summer sitting around crying over what could have been. She had rolled up her proverbial sleeves and she was getting on with her life.
There was only one black cloud on the horizon of her sunny outlook, she thought as she looked around the room that seemed even more stark and impersonal, devoid of her clutter. Her whole time here had been problematic, and she wouldn’t be sorry to move on and forget about Caleb and her colleagues, but her decision to leave was tinged with regret at the way she had left things with Jason.
She flopped back on the bed and let her mind drift to Jason Stephens. If she closed her eyes, she could vividly picture the way his sexy grey eyes crinkled in the corners when he laughed, she could almost feel the way his stubble felt, rough and razor-sharp, beneath her hands when she ran them over his closely-cropped hair or traced her fingers across his strong jawline. She could still feel the way he held her in the still dark of the night, close to his body, with the gentle, rhythmic thud of his heart against her back. If she imagined hard enough, she could smell the woody scent of his cologne and feel the softness of his lips on hers.
She sighed, pulling herself firmly back into reality. It was no good dwelling on what could have been.
“If it’s meant to be, it’ll be.” She reminded herself aloud and got to her feet resolutely.
She jammed her feet into her boots and swung her purse onto her shoulder, checking the pocket for her passport for the millionth time. She had struck it lucky, finding the last seat on a flight to Ohio that evening. It had been a sign, she had decided, that it was her time to leave. She gave the room one fleeting glance before lugging her bags out of the room and shutting the door on that part of her life for good.
Ella dropped the key off to reception and checked out, heaving the bags into the trunk of the hire car. It felt a little weird that she had spent the best part of her summer here, yet she was leaving with nobody to say goodbye to. Even the woman who worked on the motel reception had barely glanced up from her phone when she had told her she was leaving earlier than planned. It would have been nice to have at least one person who cared that she was leaving, she thought regretfully as she reversed out of the parking space.
A little thought had been sprouting beneath the ever-growing list of practicalities since she had dumped an iced beverage over her obnoxious co-worker, thus sealing her fate. She had known she was going home from that very moment and it had crossed her mind, more than once, that she should stop off and say goodbye to Jason. Seeing Roxy and hearing her version of events had cemented what Ella had already really known: Jason was a good guy. They hadn’t even ended things badly. He’d sent her one message and tried to call her once, she’d ignored him and that had been that. She’d briefly distracted herself with Caleb, before he’d shown his true colours, but besides that, all she’d done was immerse herself in her work. It would be nice to see him one last time before she left, she told herself. Just as a nice, civil thing to do.
Would it, though? A sterner voice inside asked her. Would it really be a “nice, civil” thing to do? Or are you hoping he swoops in, declares his undying love and carts you away to live happily ever after?
She cringed as her inner-critic picked apart the fairy-tale ending her subconscious was secretly pining for. When she dared to put the words together, even in her head, it felt silly and naïve. She was leaving in semi-high spirits, considering all that had gone on. Her head was right, and her heart was not getting a say in this decision.
Besides, she thought glancing at the time, there was barely enough time to drop the hire car back, check-in and get some dinner before her flight. She hadn’t even told Shauna and Taylor she was going home yet. They’d both be at work anyway and she was planning on calli
ng to update them at the airport.
She was fast approaching the turning to Jason’s auto-shop and she steadfastly stared ahead, her eyes firmly on the road. As she passed the point of no return, she let out the breath she’d been holding and tried hard to ignore the ache of sadness that had appeared out of nowhere.
Maybe she should have stopped, she thought with a stab of regret. She should have just stopped, said bye, nothing else. She’d never get the chance again.
Her eyes flew to the rear-view mirror just as the junction disappeared from sight and she felt the vehicle drift left with her eyes. The wheel hit the curb, the steering wheel spun through her hands and she pulled it back sharply, feeling her heart bounce against her ribs. The car behind her honked and she swerved back onto the road, feeling sick with fright. She hadn’t even been driving fast, but she was shaken up by the bump and she cursed herself for her stupidity as her heart began to return to normal.
A few miles down the road, she pulled onto the freeway. Usually she would be blasting the tunes, but the bump had spooked her, and she sat rigid in her seat with her hands carefully positioned at the ten-to-two position. She stayed in the slow lane and when she had covered several miles incident-free, she plucked up the courage to crank the volume a little, finally starting to relax.
She sang along loudly, making up the lyrics when she wasn’t quite sure of the right words, when a heavy, clunking sound pierced her high-pitched solo. She paused, mid-high-note, and tilted her head to one side nervously. The rhythmic clunk was definitely not part of the track, she realised at the precise moment she felt the vehicle veering off course.
Fuck!
She checked her mirrors, flicked on her hazards and pulled over to the shoulder. There was a steady stream of traffic whirring past and she tucked the vehicle up on to the verge, hopping out of the car to inspect the damage. The tyre was shredded, hanging uselessly off the wheel. Ella held back a strangled cry of frustration.
