Page 21 of Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea

My body stills. That was my first full day in town. I know because I hadn’t been back since. “I smiled at a lot of people that day,” I stupidly tell him.

“Liar.” He hisses and shoves me hard against the door of the SUV behind me. The handle juts into my back hard enough where I know it’ll leave a bruise, and I yelp, wincing from the pain. Heignoresmy pain. “You led me back to your home. You got off in the tub for me.”

He’d been in my house.

He’d been in my house.

Shoot—shit—shoot. I remember finding something on my bedding, not knowing what I’d spilled there, but I had to throw it in the wash. His next words confirm what I remember and freak me right the hell out.

“I returned the favor in your bed. When you said you had a man, I knew what this game meant to you. I like being your man. But I’m done with getting off without you.”

“You aren’t my man. Please, let me go.Please.”

He shakes me hard. “Quit your lies, Liv. If I’m not your man, why do you keep my favorite beer in your fridge?”

That’s when I realize he’d been in my home just yesterday. Maybe even this morning.

When he brings his mouth to the crook of my neck, he inadvertently loosens his grip. It gives me just enough space to rear back and slam my knee into his groin.

As Michael doubles over, I run, screaming for help. Bare breasts and all.

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