Page 38 of Freckles

His lips move to my throat, taking tiny nips at the sensitive skin, sucking away the sting. Bruising it. Marking me.

Six o’clock is coming. He needs to leave!

I twist away and pull out the phone he gave me, anxious enough to bluff.

There’s no way in hell I want a cop anywhere near this place, but keep my voice steady when I say, “I’m calling the police.”

“Always so quick to threaten the police, aren’t you, Francesca? But do you really think that’s a good idea?”

Dots flash in my vision. My palms sweat until the phone is in danger of sliding right out of them.

“Yes, it’s a good idea,” I hedge. “You can’t break into people’s houses.”

“Your security is so lax, it’s more like I walked in.” He rests one palm on the counter, leaning forward to tuck a few loose strands behind my ear, giving my earlobe a gentle tug. “The same way you walked into the boys’ changing rooms last week.”

“Well, unlike you, I don’t want my dick sucked.” I sweep my hand towards the front door. “You’re welcome to go.”

His smirk grows wider, eyes alight with laughter.

“Are you sure you don’t wantsomethingsucked?” His voice is low, rumbling like a freight train as he bends to my eye level. “Would you prefer some licking?”

The suggestive reply sends a dizzying rush of blood to my head. He pops up his middle finger and slowly lowers his mouth over it, cheeks dimpling inwards as he sucks in a steady rhythm.

My lips pulse to the same beat, but I grit my teeth. “I don’t want anything from you.”

Like it thrives on denial, the gargantuan bulge in his sweatpants grows, straining the fabric. My throat turns dry, and I whip my gaze away.

“I told you it’s okay to look.” He shuffles another step closer until his erection bumps against my hip. His voice drops lower, thickening into gruffness. “I like the way you look at me.”

My fingers tighten around the phone. “Stay away or I’ll phone the police, I swear!”

“And tell them what?” He leans forward and I want to back away, but I’m already trapped against the counter. “That I gave you money? That I paid well above the going rate for your inexperienced services?”

“I’ll tell them you forced me to—”

“Forced.” He laughs, the sound low enough to be menacing. “Oh, please.” Thick fingers grip my chin, tilting my head back until I can’t escape his gaze. “Do you forget I gave you a choice? Youchoseto open that pretty mouth of yours.”

“Because you threatened to have me expelled or thrown to Alice and her mob, otherwise. That’s not true consent.” I inject firmness into my voice, echoing an old teacher. “Unless it’s an enthusiastic yes, it’s a no.”

“Wow,” he scoffs, releasing my chin to cup my shoulder instead. His other arm slips around my waist, pulling me against his torso, his cock bulging against my hip. “That year nine health class really stuck, didn’t it?”

When he lifts his hands away, my body is overloaded with so many crossed signals, the loss of touch leaves me reeling.

“But that’s fair,” he continues. “We can’t have you threatening to call the police every five minutes. That behaviour isn’t tolerated in my family. So, if I have to wait for yourenthusiasticconsent before we do anything further, I’m on board with that.”

The words are a balm to the worst of my fears, and I sag in relief.

That’s when he lunges.

One hand twists in my blouse. The other clutches my arm like a steel band.

“No,” I cry, phone dropping to the carpet as I fight to get free. “Let me—”

Panic steals my protest. My feet leave the ground as he drags me back to the bathroom.

Bubbles and water still fill the tub.

Adrenaline explodes in my blood stream, fuelled by my racing heart. I’m on my knees and push back against him, clawing at his fingers. My legs skid across the linoleum tiles, unable to brace for leverage.

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