Page 102 of Baseball and Shifters

Trent brushes my hair from my face, his fingers making my skin crawl.

“You belong to me,” he says, voice thick and syrupy. “Always have. Always will.”

He leans in close his lip brushing the shell of my ear. “You think they’ve saved you. But they can’t protect you forever.”

His hand trails down my arm, slow, possessive.

I flinch.

“You can’t run from me, Foxy,” he murmurs.

My whole body seizes, a scream building in my chest.

I wake with a gasp, air clawing its way into my lungs.

The living room is still dark, painted in the soft blue glow from the early light creeping through the windows. My skin is clammy, soaked with sweat. My shirt sticks to me. My hands tremble. My hair clings to my damp forehead, plastered by sweat.

I press my fingers to my face, willing the memories to fade. But Trent’s voice clings like tar.

I can’t stay here. Not now. Not like this. I don’t want Trent ruining this space for me, too. I’m already going to have to work to be able to think of those woods that were once a special place. He’s tainted them now. Him and my father. I can’t let them take this from me too.

I slowly extricate myself from the tangle of limbs and blankets, careful not to wake anyone. Derrick has his arm slung protectively across my chest. Lucas has a leg thrown over mine, and Bas’s hand grips my ankle as if shackling himself to me. Liam curls behind me like a second spine and I decide climbing over him will be the path of least resistance.

With whispered apologies and a few awkward tugs I manage to slip free.

Tiptoeing, I make my way into Liam and Lucas’s shared bathroom through Liam's room. When I’m finally alone in the bathroom, I quietly close the door behind me then lean against it before sinking to the floor.

I breathe in deep, trying to center myself. When my racing heart finally calms, I stand again and strip out of the too large scrub set. The fabric clings to me in patches, still smelling faintly of antiseptic and fear. I turn the shower to just shy of boiling and when it’s warm enough, I step under the spray.

Rinsing away the sweat from the nightmare is a good first step, but it doesn’t erase the feeling of Trent’s hand on my body.

You’re mine, Foxy.

His voice bounces around my skull, taunting me. My chest heaves as I try to breathe. I can’t seem to escape the grip he has on my mind. A knock on the door halts my racing thoughts and I zero in on the bond to see who it is.

Liam

“You alright in here?” His voice is gentle and calming as he enters the room closing the door with a soft snick behind him. He’s shirtless, wearing only a pair of black sleep pants slung low on his hips, his hair rumpled like he’d just rolled out of bed. “That’s a dumb question, I can feel you’re not through the bond. What can I do, Shadow Girl?”

I pull the curtain to the side and peer across the bathroom at him. His stormy blue eyes are full of desperation, a need to be here with me burning bright.

“Join me, please,” I say quietly. “I don’t want to be alone.”

“You never have to be alone again,” he assures as he strips out of his clothes.

The relief I feel when Liam enters the shower is immediate and all consuming. He stands a bit uncertainly to one side avoiding any unwanted contact but I don’t allow it. I reach out, grabbing his arm and pulling him to me. When he’s close enough I rest myhead on his chest and wrap my arms around his waist. Without hesitation he returns the affection, wrapping his arms around me and nuzzling his face against the top of my head.

His hands stay on my back, gentle, and grounding. He doesn’t push or pry. He just holds me, providing a stable sense of comfort.

“I’ve had nightmares about my father for years,” I whisper, voice cracking slightly. “I didn’t expect to have one about Trent. Or for it to affect me like this.”

“I’m so sorry.” Liam presses a kiss to the top of my head. “Fear like that… It lingers. But it’s not stronger than you. And it’s not forever, but we'll make sure his imprisonment is.”

I shudder, remembering I have to talk to the authorities today. I’m thankful Demi was able to hold them off for a while, and that my mates can stay with me. But I still don’t want to do it. He assured me I won’t go through this alone and I can’t explain how it feels to know I have people in my corner who will protect me and stand behind me. Unlike my father, who sadly is the one I most need protection from.

Pushing that thought from my head, I focus back on the moment.

My fingers curl against Liam’s back as I plant several small kisses across his chest. His length hardens against my leg and he pulls away slightly.

---