Page 38 of The 13th Daughter
"Looking for you," he answered and came to sit down across from me. The position was identical to the one we'd been in last time we'd met here. "You're a hard woman to find, Cassie Jayne Bishop. I've been waiting here every day this week, hoping you'd show up. I knew you'd come today."
"You think you know me so well?"
"I do." He smiled that slow, lazy smile that sent waves of heat pounding through me and caused a slow burn to make its way up my neck only to bloom into my cheeks. Why could he do this to me?
"You don't know me at all," I told him and tried to get up. His hand shot out and grabbed mine. His touch burned like a brand on my skin. "Let go," I bit out.
"No. You're not getting away this time, Cassie." His own voice was low and angry. "We need to talk. I want to explain..."
"I don't want to hear it," I snapped. "Besides, there's nothing you can say."
"You're right. There's nothing I can say to excuse what I did, but I am sorry."
"Sorry!" I yelled, furious. All the hurt and anger boiled over. "Sorry that you lied to me or sorry you got caught doing it?"
"I didn't mean to hurt you. I agreed to do it before I knew you, before I kissed you, before I fell in love with you!"
"What?" He didn't just say what I thought he said, did he? My heart clenched up and then started beating way too fast. I wanted so badly to believe him, but how could I?
"You have to let me explain, Cassie, please."
"You're lying, Ethan. You don't love me."
"Cassie..."
"NO!" I jerked my hand free and scrambled back. "I'm not going to listen to your BS. I can't believe I fell for it to begin with." I stood up. "Leave me alone."
He jumped up and took a step toward me.
I held up my hand to ward him off. "Stay away from me. I can't think when you touch me."
"Good."
He moved closer.
I ran.
I didn't make it five feet before he tackled me, turning so his back hit the ground first and then he rolled us over, pinning me beneath him. Crap. I felt every inch of that body pressed into mine. My breathing hitched up a notch and I wanted to get closer, feel his lips on mine. I missed him so much. I needed...NO!
"Hold still, you little hellcat," he growled as I twisted and bucked, trying to push him off.
"Get off me!" I shouted and tried to knee him.
"Oh no you don't, sweetheart," he whispered and pinned my legs with his own. "You're going to listen to me."
"The hell I will. If you don't get off me right now, I'm going to scream bloody murder."
"Go ahead," he said grimly. "There's no one around to hear you."
He was right. I hadn't seen anyone else when I came into the cemetery. I realized if he wanted to hurt me, he could. Ethan was much bigger than me and he had me pinned, but I didn't really believe he'd physically hurt me. He'd been too angry with Dad for hurting me. Then again, I still needed to get away from him and I was really pissed, so I did the only thing I could. I hauled off and hit him in the face as hard as I could, thumb outside my fist just like Dad had shown me. My hand vibrated in pain and shock. It was so worth it, though.
"Dammit!" He grabbed both my hands and pinned them above my head. "What did you do that for?"
"You deserved it! Now. Get. Off. Me."
"Cassie, please, please, please just listen."
I opened my mouth to make a smartass remark and then I saw his eyes. They were dark, almost black with anguish. He was hurting. I saw the depth of my pain reflected out of his eyes.
