Obsession (22 page)

“I’m not done.”

His voice was like deadly velvet, and
I stopped in my tracks, fearful to turn around and face him. But I
didn’t have to. He found my hips, his erection pressing against my
lower back as his large frame leaned over my trembling body.
Grabbing a fist of my hair, he tugged my head back, his lips
whispering in my ear.

“
I fucking love you, Jamie, and I own you and your body.
Don
’
t ever get any ideas, or
I
’
ll take that family
you
’
re so worried about hurting and
tear them apart. I know their secrets. A matter of minutes and your
life would crumble, leaving us alone and together forever like we
should be.
”
His
words were venom, piercing through me while his hips moved,
searching for my opening.

“
How the hell are you so dry? I just came all over
you,
”
he
muttered, painfully forcing himself inside of me. If only my tears
could travel down my body. I couldn
’
t numb this, not
anymore, and I feared just how deep he
’
d go to
hurt me if I didn
’
t comply with his
demands.

The night felt like an eternity. I
thought Rod would never finish. His pace was punishing, his hand
pulling at my hair like he wanted to rip it from my head. Once he
was finished, he passed out on top of me, ignoring my silent tears.
After a few minutes, he rolled from me, continuing to sleep by the
fire.

Bravely I faced him, covering my body
as though he’d wake and give me another taste of what I’d imagined
hell to be like.

Once I got the courage, I reached for
my clothing with a shaky hand, pulling my cell phone from my jeans
pocket. There was a message from Landon.

Landon: Everything okay? I can come
get you anytime.

A tear rolled down my cheek, wanting
to spill all the terror Rod was filling me with. I had no idea who
he’d turn into when he wake up, but no matter what, the outcome
wasn’t going to be a good one for me.

You up?

Landon:
You okay?

Can you come get
me?

Landon:
That fucker. Text me the address. Do I need to
bring Dad?

Another tremble ran through me as I
messaged him the address. I couldn’t disappoint my
father.

No. Just you. Please. Text
me when you get here.

Landon:
On my way.

Setting my phone on my jeans, I
quietly put my clothes on, wondering what I could do to make sure
Rod would sleep the next hour and a half until Landon got
here.

Making my way to the bathroom, I tried
to clean up, wincing when I sat down. Visions of Rod’s hands on me
wouldn’t escape my mind, especially how he’d gripped my neck, and
the anger in his eyes as he tried to squeeze the life out of me,
then how he got turned on by it afterward.

I was too ashamed to look in the
mirror, knowing I’d most likely have evidence of his brutality. My
body went stiff.

We didn’t used condoms.

The uncontrollable sob fell from my
lips as my quivering hand tried to cover my strangled moans of pain
and humiliation. How could I have let this happen?

I felt the air evaporate in the
bathroom. A knowing presence was in the doorframe, and the angst
overpowered me. I cowered on the toilet, pulling my knees to my
chest. Was he still not done with me?

He moved slowly, his head dipped low
until he was standing above me, then dropped to his knees, his eyes
filled with sorrow as he sobbed heartfelt cries. His hands reached
for me and I flinched, but Rod wrapped his arms around my waist,
urging my legs to drop so he could place his head in my
lap.

“I’m sorry,” he wept. “I’ll never hurt
you again.”

I ran my hand through his hair
cautiously, agreeing with him in my mind. He would never hurt me
again because once Landon was here, I’d be safe in his car, driving
far away from him.

“Let’s go to bed,” I said with a shaky
voice, guiding him to stand.

His hands went to the sides of my
face, forcing me to look at him. He carefully leaned down, kissing
my lips. I didn’t have it in me to kiss him back. Every part of me
wanted to knee him in the balls and run as far away from him as
possible, but I had to put on an act for him; otherwise, who knew
what switch he’d flip before I could get out.

“Please, Jay, tell me you forgive me,”
he whispered, massaging my jaw. I didn’t like it. He was too close
to my neck, so I pulled both his hands to our sides, forcing myself
to give him a quick peck while turning to take us to the bedroom.
He needed to go back to sleep. That would be the only way I could
leave peacefully.

“Jamie
…”

Once we reached the bed I pulled the
covers back, removing my jeans shyly. I had to play the part. “Can
we just sleep, Rod? I’m tired, and worn out.”

“I won’t be able to sleep unless you
tell me you forgive me. Tell me that you love me still.” He
followed me into bed, pulling me to his chest. “Will you take your
shirt off? I want to feel your skin against mine. I know you’re
upset with me, but let me make it better, Jamie,” he begged,
kissing my shoulder tenderly.

My body trembled as he guided my shirt
over my head, my hair falling down my back as he tossed it to the
ground. I covered my chest, not wanting him to see me naked. He
held me gently like he had earlier in the day. More tears were shed
by both of us, and I didn’t know what to do. Sweet nothings and
everlasting apologies were said over and over into my ear along
with soft kisses on my cheeks and forehead.

My phone buzzed once
softly. Thankfully, Rod had dozed off, but he held me in a vice
grip firmly to his chest. My first attempt to move
didn
’
t work; he only pulled me
tighter.

“
Rod,
”
I
murmured softly, running my hand along his cheek, trying to coax
him awake yet keep him sleepy.
“
I have to go to the
bathroom.
”

He grumbled something, but
only held me tighter. My phone buzzed again, and I shook, afraid
and indecisive on what to do. I heard the front door click open,
and my spine stiffened, but my hands became firmer as I pushed on
Rod
’
s
chest.
He couldn
’
t know
Landon was here. That would flip his dangerous switch. Thankfully,
Rod mumbled something unintelligible, then rolled over. I held my
breath as I removed the covers, then threw my shirt on while
grabbing my jeans. I had to get out fast.

The dark shadow of Landon walking
toward me once I got into the hall startled me, but eased my nerves
at the same time. “Landon,” I whispered, reaching for him. He held
me tight then pulled me away.

“Where is that fucker?” His brown eyes
were dark and filled with hate, ready to pound the shit out of
anyone. He’d been training for the Air Force boot camp, and he’d
gotten strong quickly.

“Let’s go, please,” I begged quietly,
tugging on his hand. “He’ll hurt you.” I pulled him into the
kitchen successfully.

“What did he do to you?” Landon yanked
his hand from mine, stopping in his tracks.

“Let’s talk about it on the way home,
please.” I trembled as I put on my jeans, my hand fumbling with the
button and zipper as I made my way to the door.

“
What’s going on?” Rod was
in the threshold of the hallway, standing in only his boxers as he
glared in Landon’s direction.

“She’s leaving,” Landon
said firmly, taking a protective step in front of me.
“
I
don
’t know what you’ve done to her, but I
promise you’
ll pay.
”

Rod let out a slight laugh, then crept
toward us in the shadows. “I’ve done nothing to her. She’s the one
who came onto me at the station, took her clothing off while we
were on the job. She got on her knees for me.”

Embarrassment moved throughout my
body, and I could feel the tension from Landon’s shoulders
radiating throughout the whole room. “She’s a minor.”

Rod’s lip twitched.
“
Not in
Florida.
”

“Legal age is eighteen, you dip
shit.”

I put my hand on Landon’s back,
worried Rod might lash out for his name calling.

“Google Romeo and Juliet Law. Legally,
there’s nothing they can get me for.” Rod was only a few feet from
Landon, and taller and broader. My brother wasn’t a big guy, but he
was a quick and agile wrestler who could hold his own.

“The bruises on her arms are proof
enough. I’ll be sure to file a report if you don’t back the fuck
off,” Landon spat, reaching behind him to lay his hand on my
forearm. “Open the door, Jamie.”

After a beat, I did as my brother
commanded. He walked backward, his hand still on my arm. “She’ll
come back to me,” Rod said confidently. “I’ll see you Tuesday,
Jamie. I love you, sweetheart.”

“
Ignore him,” Landon said,
guiding me to the passenger side and slamming the door once I was
securely inside.

Rod’s eyes were on me through the
windshield, promising he wasn’t through with me. I had a feeling my
life with Rod was far from over. My body began shaking, trembling
from his murderous stare. I’d fucked up, and I had no way to stop
the spiral it was about to take.

“You’ll be okay,” Landon said gently,
setting his hand on my shoulder as I cried into my lap.

“He wasn’t safe,” I choked, afraid of
the possible connection we might share for the rest of our
lives.

“You’
re pregnant,
aren
’t you?”

“I don
’t know.
I don
’t always get a chance to make sure he puts one
on.”

Landon sighed in frustration, but I
could tell it wasn’t with me. He knew who the monster was in the
situation. “When will you know?”

“I’m a few weeks away from getting my
period.”

“Fuck.” He tapped his steering wheel.
“I’ll take care of you, no matter what, okay?”

I nodded, knowing I would always be
protected by him.

Chapter Sixteen

The bright sun beamed against my
closed eyelids, and I snuggled the body that was softly snoring
next to me. The woodsy scent caused me to take a deep breath,
inhaling security as my hands moved to the chest of the wonderful
smelling body. I slowly opened my eyes, realizing where I was and
what had taken place the night before. I jolted, staring out at the
daytime version of the city. Mitch mumbled as he rolled, wrapping
an arm around my waist.

Shit
.

I’d fallen asleep, and hard. Becca was
waiting for me at home, and this was going to be one hell of a
story to explain. Tyler would think I slept with him, coming home
disheveled and out of sorts. Even though the night was the best I’d
had in a long time, it couldn’t happen again.

“I need to go,” I said quickly,
standing from the makeshift bed of blankets and pillows.

“
Huh?
”
Mitch
said sleepily, sitting upward and rubbing his eyes. My heart
softened when I saw him, groggy from sleep.
“
Wow, guess we fell asleep. What
time is it?
”
He
pulled his phone from his back pocket.
“
It
’
s just after
seven. Can we grab a quick breakfast?
”
Standing, he stretched, his
muscles flexing.

I shook my head, gathering
my purse.
“
I
’
ve got a lot to do today,
sorry.
”

Mitch nodded
, collecting the
blankets and pillows. I tapped my foot, anxious to get home but
nervous as hell.
What was I going to tell
Becca and Tyler?
Mitch
wasn
’
t a part of the drug scheme, but
that wasn
’
t going to explain why
I
’
d been out all night. Tyler and
Nathan should have believed him in the first place about not hiding
the drugs instead of treating him like an idiot. Part of me wanted
to say nothing to them and let his brothers continue to
sweat.

Mitch
had a car parked outside of
the building to take me home. The drive was silent, and Mitch
seemed to be on cloud nine. Until he set his hand on my thigh,
causing me to jump and pull away from him.

“
You okay?
”