Page 38 of Crave You

“Oh, you should have gone right there,” I say, pointing back over my shoulder. “We’re going the wrong way.”

“No, we’re not, don’t worry,” Matthew says. “I know exactly where we’re going.”

I suddenly feel afraid and looking at Matthew’s face does nothing to help. His smile is cold now; evil looking and it doesn’t touch his eyes. How could I have ever thought he was charming?

I have to get out of this car. I have no idea what Matthew’s game is, but I want no part of it. I reach for the door handle, not knowing what the hell I’m going to do even if it opens.

“It’s locked,” Matthew says. “And even if it wasn’t, what were you thinking of doing? Throwing yourself out into the road and losing the skin from three quarters of your body?”

I feel like it’s a rhetorical question but I’m not going to give Matthew the satisfaction of answering it anyway. I don’t want him to hear the way my voice will shake. I look around me frantically for anything I can use to whack Matthew over the head and hopefully knock him unconscious. I feel as though he can read my mind but in truth, he can probably just see my eyes darting around everywhere.

“Don’t try anything Leona,” he says. He casually reaches into his jacket pocket and pulls out a knife. He flicks the blade out. “For what it’s worth, I quite like you and if you behave, I won’t hurt you. It would be a shame to have to mark up that pretty little face of yours. Don’t think for a moment that I won’t though if I have to.”

“I don’t understand,” I say truthfully. “What have I ever done to you?”

“Oh nothing,” Matthew says. “This isn’t about you. You are just collateral damage. This is about Zander.”

“Oh well, then you might as well cut me up now then. Zander isn’t coming to save me. He’s with Tilly now,” I say.

“Don’t be so sure about that. My sister can build up quite the fantasy in her mind, but I’ve seen the way Zander looks at her and the way he looks at you.”

“Wait. Tilly is your sister?”

“Yeah. Did you not know that?”

“No.”

Could he be right? After all, if he’s Tilly’s brother, he knows her better than anyone. And Zander always looks at Tilly with such disdain. If he was going to cheat on me, I just don’t think it would be with her. But she was in his bed. What if he was already asleep when she got in there? What if this is all a misunderstanding? It probably isn’t, but it’s a nice thought to cling to as Matthew takes me to God-knows-where to use me to get Zander to do whatever he is after.

Chapter Fourteen

Zander

I wake up and feel someone beside me. For a wonderful second, I think Leona has come home early, but I instantly know I am wrong. Whoever the fuck this is, they don’t smell like my Leona. I jump up and throw the covers back. I am glad I am still wearing my boxer shorts.

Tilly sits up looking stunned for a moment and then she smiles. “Come back to bed Zan,” she says sleepily, reaching towards me.

“Come back to . . .?” I start and I have to stop because I’m so fucking angry I can’t form the words. “What the fuck are you talking about? Why are you here? How are you in my fucking bed?”

“So many questions,” Tilly says. “I think you know why I’m here. I got into your bed so we could make love as soon as you woke up.”

“Make love? Tilly I wouldn’t use you for fucking practice. I don’t know why you have this weird obsession with me, but it ends right now. Got it?” I shout.

“Don’t be like that Zander. Is it because you’re not a morning person?”

“No. It’s because I’m not a you person. I don’t want to be with you. I don’t want to have sex with you. I don’t even want to look at you. Get the fuck out of my bed and get the fuck out of this house and don’t come back again.”

I’m seeing red. I want to pick her up and throw her out of the window. It is taking every bit of self-control I have inside of me to remind myself that I don’t hit women, not even conniving bitches like Tilly.

It must be clear how angry I am because Tilly shrinks back against the headboard of the bed and she looks suddenly afraid. Good. If she’s afraid, she might listen.

“I’ll just get dressed and I’ll leave then, shall I?” she says.

“Yes. Go.”

“Aren’t you going to leave so I can get dressed?” Tilly asks.

“I’m not leaving you alone anywhere in this house. But don’t flatter yourself. You have nothing I want to see,” I tell her.

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