Page 27 of Saving Her

“Penny,” he warns. “Stop.”

My pulse increases. My chest tightens.

I wait for the usual revulsion to overwhelm me, but the nauseating protest doesn’t appear.

For some reason, there’s no humiliation. No sickening disgust.

Instead, there’s apprehension. Thick and cloying concern.

He’s not acting the way I’ve come to expect from Luther and his men.

He’s not devouring this opportunity like a stereotypical predator.

“You don’t want me?” I ask, sounding offended. “Aren’t I as tempting as your little fox?”

The reminder of the other woman is for my benefit. I need to remember he’s not innocent.

“You’re a temptation, but not in the way you think.” His tone is gentle as he steps back. “You don’t need to do this.”

He’s wrong.

This is exactly what I need to do. I have to get closer. Distract him further. Add more confusion.

“I’m a gift.” I grab his belt and begin to pull it from its confinement.

“Jesus Christ. Stop.” He pushes at my wrists. “Just fucking stop.”

He’s revolted by me and somehow this humiliation is far worse than what I’m used to.

I’m not good enough for him.

Or maybe I’m too used. Too abused. Too broken.

He has the opportunity to take anything he wants and he hungers for nothing. There’s no perversion in his eyes. No deviance.

I don’t know what to do. I need to be close. I can’t strike from this distance. “Luca, I…”

Words fail me as my cheeks heat in shame.

Has my life sunken so low I now need to beg for violation? Is that where this hellish existence has led to?

“Please,” I plea, my humiliation plunging marrow-deep.

“I don’t want to fuck you,” he snarls. “I want tohelpyou.”

“Then help me by letting me do my job. Let me make up for hitting you yesterday.”

His nostrils flare. “As far as I’m concerned, I deserved your aggression. And I deserve far more for leaving you behind. But for now, you’re going to wait in here while I go back out there to keep an eye on Luther.”

No. Jesus Christ,no.

He can’t distract Tobias from his mission. He can’t stop me from succeeding, either.

Luca stalks around me, heading toward the door as undiluted fear sweeps through me.

“Wait.” I pluck the hidden device from my waistband and tuck it into my palm, keeping the weapon out of view as I scramble to catch up.

He doesn’t pause. He gets to the door and reaches for the handle.

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