by Julia Sykes
“Here,” he said softly, reaching for my face with his free hand. “Let me.”
His thumb lightly traced the line of my cheekbone, wiping away the wetness on my face with a tenderness that shocked me. It stood in such jarring contrast to the way he held me so firmly. The feeling of his rough, calloused skin against mine made my flesh tingle. He was such an enigma: unbearably cocky, somewhat terrifying, and shockingly tender by turns.
And I couldn’t seem to resist him.
His hand shifted to cup the side of my face. His touch was feather-light, but I found that I couldn’t move; I was locked in place as though he were holding me in an iron grip. My gaze involuntarily flicked from his eyes to his full lips, and I unconsciously licked my own.
The corners of his mouth twisted upward, a knowing smile. He inclined his head forward, inching towards me at an agonizingly slow pace. His eyes were studying mine as he neared me, gauging my reaction. And there was a playful light there as well, as though he was enjoying making me wait.
Well, I wasn’t standing for that, wasn’t going to let him toy with me. But instead of pulling away, I acted on an insane impulse: I wrapped my free hand around the back of his neck and pulled him down into me, crushing my lips to his.
For a moment, his mouth was still against mine. My only warning was a low, rumbling growl. His hand left my face to tangle itself in my long hair, fisting at the nape of my neck. He pulled sharply, and I drew in a shocked breath at the slight pain as my head dropped back in response. Only when my lips were offered up to him in the way that he wanted did he finally take my mouth.
His lips were hard and demanding, forcing mine to shape to his with almost bruising force. The delicious sparks that had danced across my skin from his lightest touch were finally ignited as though they had met with an accelerant. Flames bloomed within me, racing through my veins until my whole body was ablaze, utterly consumed by the erotic heat that Sean had awoken within me. And I gave in, reveling in it. I had never felt anything like this before, and I wanted more, craved it. All thoughts of where I was and what was happening to me were gone from my mind. All I knew was that Sean was touching me, and I never wanted him to stop.
He obliged me as his tongue delved between my lips, tangling with my own as I fought to match his intensity.
But I never stood a chance. He pressed his body into mine. I would have stumbled if he hadn’t steadied me with his grip on my hair. He didn’t release my mouth as he pushed me backwards. I gasped in shock as my back came into contact with the wall. I barely had time to register the fact that he had released my hair before he grasped my wrist firmly. Never having let go of the other, he drew my hands up sharply, pinning them against the wall on either side of my head. The coolness of the tiles contrasted deliciously with the heat of my skin, and I shuddered in pleasure at the sensation.
The part of me that would usually be screaming at me to struggle was oddly silent. Instead, I went completely still, compliant. His tongue took possession of my mouth, stroking my own tongue firmly as he explored every inch of me. The feeling of him inside of me, claiming me, made me suddenly, acutely aware of another area that I desperately wanted Sean to fill. There was something warm and wet on my thighs, and my core pulsed in need. I pressed myself up against his hard thigh, a strange whimpering sound escaping me. I could feel his lips curve up into a satisfied smile as he continued his relentless assault on my senses.
He shifted his grip on me, his fingers reaching to entwine with mine. But when he pressed his palms to mine, I couldn’t hold back a small cry as pain seared across them.
Sean drew back from me immediately, breaking the connection between us. He grasped my hands gently this time, holding them carefully as he inspected the scrapes on my palms where I had torn them against the brick wall in that alley…
The flames within me were doused instantly as reality hit me like the shock of ice cold water to the face. How could I have possibly enjoyed what Sean was doing to me after almost being raped minutes earlier? How could I possibly want any man to touch me after that? This was so fucked up. I was so fucked up. And it was all Sean’s fault.
I quickly extricated my hands from his grip, and I was disgusted to realize that a part of me was reluctant to do so.
Unable to meet his eye, my gaze fell on the red stain that marred his t-shirt. “I should check your stitches,” I said, forcing myself to sound clinical.
He ran a hand through his hair, mussing it in that sexy way. “Shit,” he said under his breath. “Claudia, I-”
I shot him a frosty look, a silent warning.
He dropped his hand, his shoulders slumping slightly. “Alright,” he said. There was a flicker of distress in his eyes, but his face was quickly schooled to an unconcerned mask. He stripped his shirt off compliantly, and I forced myself not to admire his perfect body.
I was hesitant to touch him, worried that I would be caught up in his power again. “You should go to the bedroom,” I said, my tone detached. “I’ll have to clean out the cuts in my hands and then I’ll come patch you up.”
He reached out for me. “Do you want me to help-?” He began kindly.
I jerked my hands away as though his touch would scald me. “Just go,” I said coldly, lifting my chin to stare at him defiantly.
His brows drew together, and the hand that he had extended turned to a fist. He held my gaze for a long moment, challenging me. But I wasn’t backing down, wasn’t going to turn to putty in his hands again. Seeming to recognize that I wasn’t going to yield, he turned and walked away stiffly, his muscles once again taut with repressed anger.
I didn’t allow myself to breathe out a sigh of relief until I had locked the bathroom door behind him. I wanted to fall to pieces, to slide down onto the cold tile floor and cry until all of my tears were dried up. I couldn’t understand what was wrong with me. Sure, Sean had shown me some compassion, and it was possible that I had allowed myself to be charmed by his cocky, self-assured side. I had certainly allowed myself to be pulled in by his physical beauty. But there had to be more to it than that.
He saved you, a voice whispered inside of me. So many times.
Was that it? Was I coming to view him as my savior rather than my captor? Was that how I had been able to fool myself into thinking that I wanted him even after he had returned me to my prison? I had been so close to freedom…
And what kind of freedom would that have been? I went cold at the thought of the pale-eyed man who had attacked me. How long do you think that man would have allowed you to live when he was finished with you?
I shuddered, forcing my thoughts away from him. So my first escape attempt had failed. I was alive to keep fighting, and that was what mattered; I wasn’t about to give up. I hadn’t been lying to Sean: I refused to remain here as his pet doctor for the rest of my life, my existence reliant on the whims of the men who held me captive.
I wasn’t going to allow myself to fall apart. So I squared my shoulders and turned on the sink faucet, adjusting the water so that it was lukewarm. With a hiss of pain, I forced myself to gently work soap into the long, thin abrasions that marred my palms. They weren’t too deep, but cleaning them stung like a bitch. When I was finished, I inspected myself carefully. I didn’t think I would even need Band-Aids.
I couldn’t help but linger in the bathroom. I wanted to stay in there, to savor my privacy. But Sean was bleeding in the next room, and despite my anger with him, I couldn’t bear the thought of him in pain. Taking a deep breath, I unlocked the door and navigated through the darkened living room until I reached the warm glow of Sean’s bedroom. Tentatively, I stepped inside, calling myself a coward for not meeting his eyes as I approached the bed.
As I unwound the gauze from around his chest, I was grateful for the thin barrier that the medical gloves provided, lessening the electric effect of the feeling of Sean’s skin touching mine. I worked quickly and quietly, making four new sutures to replace the ones that he had broken open while saving my l
ife. He endured silently, not even tensing as the needle pierced his skin. The air around us was heavy with suppressed emotion, suffocating me as it pressed tightly against my lungs. It was a relief when I finally finished bandaging the wound; I could finally put some much-needed distance between us again.
“I’m going to take a shower,” I said quietly, still not looking at him. I didn’t wait for any kind of acknowledgement or permission. Now that I thought about it, I felt horribly dirty, as though trails of grime were encrusted on my skin where the pale-eyed man had touched me. My hands, so steady moments before as I had stitched up Sean’s wound, were now trembling as I fumbled to turn on the shower. I turned the temperature as hot as it would go before stripping off my slutty dress and stepping under the scalding spray, letting the uncomfortable heat of it scour the filth from my skin. I longed for a loofa to scrub it away, but as it was, my fingernails would have to do. After a few minutes, the rational part of my mind realized that I was causing myself too much pain; I was rubbing my skin raw.
I forced myself to draw in a deep breath. Calm down, I ordered myself. Think of something else.
My mind turned to Sean of its own accord, the memory of his furious roar, the strength of his arms as he held me, carrying me away from my assailant.
“You’re safe now.”
And it had been true. Despite everything, I knew deep down that all he wanted was for me to be safe, whether that meant standing up to his best friend or fighting off a rapist in the street. He had put himself in danger for my sake tonight when he could have easily solved all of his problems by letting me die.
But what about protecting you from himself?
It was clear that Sean wanted me. And – I forced myself to admit – I wanted him too. Why couldn’t he respect my wishes and keep his distance? Was it possible that he found himself just as drawn to me as I did to him? Did he also feel that nearly preternatural connection that seemed to tether me to him despite my best efforts?
The memory of his kiss flitted across my mind, and my body began to burn from more than just the heat of the water that pounded down on me. The way that he had handled my body, demanding complete control as he took my mouth…
That unfamiliar pulsing between my legs was back. I had never experienced this, this… wanting. Sean had awoken something within me that no man ever had before, that I had never allowed any man to before. And now that the flames were back, licking at me insistently and stoking the warmth at my core, I found it impossible not to seek release.
My hand slid slowly down my stomach, my fingers coming to rest at the top of my soft curls. I paused, my mind whirring.
What are you doing, Claudia? I thought furiously. I rarely did this; I never really saw the point beyond meeting an occasional desire.
But this was more than just desire. This was need. Maybe if I just got it out of my system, I wouldn’t feel so affected by Sean?
That thin excuse was enough for me to rationalize my actions. Tentatively, I trailed my fingers lower, gently touching my soft folds. They were slick with more than just water. I closed my eyes and leaned back against the wall to steady myself. The coldness of the tiles reminded me of how Sean had forced me up against the wall, pinning me in place while he claimed my mouth, making me melt for him.
My forefingers found my hardened bud, and one touch nearly sent me over the edge. God, this felt so good. I was greedy for more. I began to trace little circles around it, picturing Sean’s cocky smile, his corded arms, that dusting of dark hair that led down into his jeans…
My orgasm hit me harder than ever before, and a small cry of pleasure escaped me before I could quickly stifle it. I bit down on my lower lip as I rode out the waves of bliss that were emanating out from my rippling core. I didn’t take my fingers from my clit until the contact became painful; I was desperate to wring every last delicious drop of ecstasy from my body.
For a moment, I remained pressed back against the wall, breathing hard. As I came back to myself, I realized that the water was going cold, making my skin pebble. Was I shivering from the chill or from the residual pleasure?
As I turned off the tap, I tried to force my thoughts into some sort of order. What had I just done? How could I be disgusted by the taint on my body one minute and caressing it the next? My stomach was churning, half-disgusted by myself and half-thrilled at the new discoveries I had just made about the potential for pleasure that my body had kept secret from me for my entire life.
Well, perhaps one good thing would come of this: the release I had achieved might make being around Sean more bearable.
But I was just fooling myself.
Chapter 7
As soon as I entered the bedroom, my eyes were drawn to him like a magnet. He was staring at me, a curious light in his eyes as his gaze flicked up and down my body. My cheeks warmed as I realized that my nipples were still hard, the little peaks of them clearly visible though the thin nightshirt I wore.
I did my best to pretend not to notice as I positioned myself on the bed as far from him as physically possible, praying that I wouldn’t cuddle up to him in the night. I was tempted to sleep on the floor to ensure that it wouldn’t happen. But that would just prove to him that he had some effect on me, some hold over me. And I wasn’t about to show him my uncharacteristic vulnerability when it came to him.
I stared resolutely up at the ceiling, my muscles drawn tight as I tried to ignore the pulsing tension between us. How I hated it.
“Do I have to lock the door?” Sean asked quietly, his voice tinged with shame.
“No,” I said shortly. I wasn’t going to try to escape again. Not tonight.
He paused for a beat. “How did you get out earlier?” He asked.
“Bradley forgot to lock the door,” I lied. I hoped he would buy it; I didn’t want him to take away my hairpins. I might need them again.
“Alright,” he said after a moment. But his tone was skeptical. I held back the sigh of relief that I wanted to release. It seemed he had been affected enough by the drugs that his memory was hazy.
“You should get some sleep,” he said after a moment.
I huffed out a breath, saying nothing. Right. Like I was going to be able to sleep with my mind in overdrive. But to my surprise, my exhaustion got the better of me. After everything I had been through, my body insistently pulled me under. I was out in minutes.
His hot, putrid breath blew across my lips as he panted against me in gleeful anticipation. Rough, dirty hands were groping me, ripping at my dress. My fingers clawed at him, but they seemed to pass through him as though he was an apparition, and he leered at me as my desperate efforts to fight him off had no effect. I tried to scream for help, but I couldn’t seem to make a sound. He gripped my shoulders, shaking me.
“Claudia,” he said my name insistently. But it wasn’t the soft, inhuman voice that I remembered. “Claudia. Wake up,” the deep, familiar voice ordered.
His comforting, musky scent surrounded me, enfolding me like a warm blanket.
“Sean,” I breathed his name like a prayer as I looked up into his gorgeous green eyes, which were filled with concern. His browns were drawn together, betraying anxiety. His arm snaked around me, pulling me into him. I clung to it, the strength of his hold reassuring me. I felt safe, protected.
He brushed my sweat-dampened hair back from my forehead, stroking it tenderly. I closed my eyes and leaned into his touch.
“It was just a dream,” he said gently. “You’re safe now.”
“Don’t leave me,” I mumbled, sleep pulling me back under.
“Never,” I thought I heard him say softly.
But when I woke the next morning, I was sure that I had imagined it.
“Why is this door unlocked?” Bradley’s voice jerked me from my slumber. “And what the fuck happened to her?” I opened my eyes to find him standing in the doorway, studying me. His eyes were focused on my cheek, clearly taking in the bruise that had formed there overnight. The slight thro
bbing of it let me know that it must look bad.
Bradley’s attention shifted to Sean, who was sitting upright with a book resting on his chest. “I thought you were all for treating her humanely. What did she do to make you snap?” He began to advance on me. “If you hurt him, bitch…” he began menacingly. I scooted back from him, intimidated, but I was stopped short when my back hit the headboard.
Sean was on his feet in an instant, positioning himself between his friend and me. His expression was taut, the lines of his face etched with anger. “I didn’t do that,” he growled.
Bradley glared at him. “Well I sure as hell didn’t. What did she do, slam her face against the wall?”
“No,” Sean said quietly. “She was attacked in the street last night. After she escaped,” he added reluctantly.
“What?!” Bradley demanded, his face a thunderhead. He tried to sidestep his friend to get to me, but Sean blocked him again.
“Calm down, Bradley,” Sean ordered levelly. “I got her back, and everything’s fine now. Besides,” he added, his tone hard. “You forgot to lock the door. Did you expect her to just stay here when she knew she had a way out?”
Bradley’s eyes clouded over in confusion. “I’m sure I did…” Then he shook his head. “Fuck. I was so tired last night. I guess I screwed up.” He eyed my injury again and smiled in grim satisfaction. “At least it looks like you got what you deserved, bitch. I hope that teaches you a lesson.”
Sean growled, his fingers curling to fists. “Get out, Bradley,” he said, the warning in his tone clear.
Bradley took an involuntary step back, his eyes wide with shock. “What the fuck, Sean?” He demanded. “Are you really going to fight me? Because of her? What has she done to you?” His eyes narrowed at me. “I don’t think she should stay in here with you anymore. I’m moving her to my room.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out the handcuffs. I couldn’t suppress a shudder as they glinted cruelly in the morning light.
