Page 49 of Trapped

“Yeah, darling.That’s the idea.”

Still, I struggled, refusing to sit there and comply with the bastard’s noxious offensive.He might have ended up being stronger than me, but I wasn’t a green young thing just out of college.I knew men like him.I’d met them before.

I should have known better than to land myself in trouble like this.

As I raised my knee and shunted it into his belly, I realized that criticism wasn’t fair.I hadn’t landed myself in the situation, and as far as I could tell, neither had Eli.It was the asshole ranting angrily between my legs who was to blame.I couldn’t permit him to gaslight me and push the culpability my way.

“You’ve got too many clothes on,” he growled.“But how about a little foreplay before I enjoy you?”

“Fuck you!”Hadn’t he heard me the first time?“I don’t want anything to do with you.”

“Such a pity…” He seemed calmer, as though I’d whispered something tender in return.No doubt that spoke to the instability of the man, that he seemed reassured by my resistance, rather than perturbed.“Maybe I’ll find something to gag that pretty mouth with.I don’t want you upsetting yourself.”

“No!”

The idea of being gagged in the midst of such terror inspired more fear—an outcome I presumed he’d intended with the threat.Closing my eyes, I silently berated myself for taking his bait and falling straight into his trap.

“Keep that mouth closed and I might not need to.”His smile was menacing, suggesting he knew how much he’d got to me and heightening my regret.“Play nice, and I’ll reward you.”

Reward me?The mere premise was hideous.

“Just sit there.”His free hand rose to my chest, groping the weight of my right breast through my clothes.“I’m sure we can reach a compromise.”

Get off me!

I sent the message with my glare, knowing he understood entirely and was still willing to completely ignore my protest.He had no right for any of his sick performance, but being manhandled was the latest indignity I was forced to tolerate.

Where are you, Eli?

My gaze traveled past the fiend who was prepared to assault me, searching the space behind him.If only Eli was there.He’d find a way to save me.He’d…

The unyielding drum in my head drowned out whatever pitiful thought was coming next.Eliwasn’tthere.Hell, for all I knew, he was dead, and however I might want to dress him up as the savior in the story, he was no hero.Hadn’t he bound me and refused to let me leave the cabin?Hadn’t he taken me over his knee and hurt me without my assent?He wasn’t much better than Hawkins.

That’s not true.

Turning away from the repulsive, overweight man, I listened to the voices warring in my head.

Eli can be a dick—he pushed my boundaries and tried my patience—but he’s nothing like this.I always wanted him, always fundamentally trusted him.He never truly harmed me.

But like it or not, Eli had inadvertently led me down the pathway to the place I found myself in.He had been a part of the problem.

“Please!”

Hot tears born of frustration rose as I choked on the word.I couldn’t believe the enormity of what was happening, and of everything that had transpired before.James, Miles, Chelle, the storm, and then Eli—it had all mounted up to be an impossible tally long before the monster molesting me had showed up.

The emotion ballooned, rising and falling in waves that stirred the well of nausea swirling inside.Anxiety, concern, and anger merged, melding themselves into a sinister knot of overwhelm as they pushed north.

“You want more?”His tone was wry as he released my hair and lowered his other hand to join the first.Feeling through my layers of clothing, he fondled my breasts, clawing at my sensitive tissue as though he was a starving man who’d never seen food before.

“Just get off me!”

Rage swirled through my blood, repressing any need to be silent and still.Fuck him and his fabricated rules.Fuck him and his threats.No matter the repercussions, I wasn’t going to just sit there and let him attack me.

“Tut tut.”His face reddened as his hands finally withdrew.“What did I tell you about that pretty mouth of yours?”

I stared directly at his face as the first sure sign of the nausea rose.I’d sensed its presence before, but not in the same, certain way that seemed to suck the blood from my cheeks.Apparently, my nervous system had reached its limit and was about to launch vomit out of the exit it could find.Usually, I would have clasped a palm to my mouth to try and prevent what came next, but with my hands tied, there was no hope of that reprieve.In the split seconds that stretched out between the realization and the nausea’s arrival, I threw myself forward as far as the cretin, and the ropes, allowed.

The sounds of my retches echoed around the poor décor, followed closely after by the first round of puke.I hadn’t vomited for a long time, but as a child, I had a proven track record of barfing until my stomach was completely empty—especially when I was over-heated and emotional.It didn’t look good for Hawkins’ poor choice of shirt.

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