Chapter 2 #2
That is what a kiss is supposed to feel like. That is what I want.
And I’m not going to get it anytime soon.
Dropping my hand, I open my eyes and sigh. “Maybe I should just give up.” I wipe away a rogue tear that rolls down my cheek. “It doesn’t matter anyway. He doesn’t care.”
More tears threaten to escape and I groan, wiping under my eyes furiously. When I think I’ve gained back some control of these sudden emotions, I square my shoulders and nod to my reflection. Smile. Everything will be okay.
I move towards the door and unlock it. I go to pull it open but stumble back when it’s shoved inward. I’m hit with the familiar—and slightly overpowering—smell of my earlier dance partner’s cologne. I watch with wide eyes as he slams the door closed and locks it.
“What the—”
“I felt how you brushed up against me as you walked back here. I knew you wanted more. Too bad that bloke interrupted us. Don’t worry, baby, I can fix that.”
Ugh, baby? Seriously?
He crowds me back and I stumble, pushing at his chest. “I’m sorry, but—”
“I know. It was rude of you to leave me hanging like that earlier.” His hands reach up and grip my face hard.
“What? No—”
“You’ll just have to make it up to me,” he rushes out and slams his mouth on mine.
Fear swells in my chest and my body locks up as his rough, greedy hands skate down my body. He rips at my dressing, pulling it up my thighs and the cool air kickstarts my senses.
“Stop.” I lean my head back as far as I can, fighting for any semblance of air. My plea falls on deaf ears and one of his hands reaches back up to grip my jaw, pulling my face back to his.
I whimper helplessly, my eyes slamming closed as his blunt nails scrape over my now exposed arse. He thrusts his hips forward and it throws us off balance. The mirror cracks as we stumble into it and I cry out at the sharp sting on the back of my head.
He doesn’t stop his advances though and bile crawls up my throat when he uses the opportunity to shove his tongue into my mouth.
Lawson.
My eyes spring open at the single thought. Lawson’s out there. I just need to get to him.
Pushing at this guy’s chest with all my strength, I suck in a desperate breath when he tilts backwards. “I said no,” I yell.
He pauses and I relax slightly when he pulls back.
The short relief is doused in a new wave of panic when I look up to see his face twisted into a sinister sneer.
“What do you mean ‘no?’” I cry out when he grips my jaw so tight I’m sure there will be fingerprints left behind.
“You wanted this. I know you did. You were practically begging for it with the way you were grinding all over my leg earlier.”
“N-no. I don’t—”
“Yes,” he hisses. “You made the first move, baby. I’m just making sure you follow through on what you started.” He slips his hand from my jaw and covers my mouth. On instinct, I bite his palm. He pulls back with a grunt and glares down at me. “You bitch!”
My head ships to the side, my temple colliding with the mirror. My face flames with the power of his hit, but I don’t get the chance to cry out before his hand is back to covering my mouth.
He pins me in place with the full force of his much larger body. My hands scramble for purchase anywhere I can gain leverage to get him off, but I come up empty.
I let out a muffled sob when there’s a hard knock on the door.
“Occupied,” he yells as he uses his other hand to rip at my shoulder straps. I whimper when one rips free, the fabric folding forward, almost exposing half my chest.
“Sydney?” My eyes widen at the familiar low timbre of Lawson’s voice and a renewed strength races through me.
I reach up and grab one of the fingers on the hand covering my mouth. Wrenching it back as hard as I can, I suck in much needed air when he pulls back with a cry of pain.
“Lawson,” I scream the moment my mouth is free.
“Sydney!” I try to call out for him again, but my throat constricts when my attacker slams his forearm against my neck. “Move!” I hear Lawson yell on the other side of the door before it rattles.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
It fractures open on the fourth and Lawson’s imposing figure fills the doorway. His blazing eyes rake over the scene before settling on my face. The shadows seem to multiple as he charges into the room and rips the man off of me, a roar bursting out of him.
I slide to the floor, coughing, as sounds of fighting echo around me. I wrap my arms around my chest, one hand covering my sore neck and the other holding up the broken corner of my dress.
“Oh my god!” a voice screeches from the side and I look over to see a crowd blocking the doorway, phones poised towards the two men.
“Lawson,” I croak. He straddles my attacker, fist raining down. My eyes dart to the phones and I surge forward on my hands and knees, crawling towards them. “Lawson!”
His arm pauses in the air, mid swing, and his head whips in my direction.
“Take me home,” I beg. He immediately moves to kneel in front of me. I lean into his touch and blink away the tears. “Please.”
He hesitates, his eyes moving over my face before he finally nods. Bending slightly, he slides an arm behind my back and the other under my knees.
People jump back as he approaches, clearing a path for him as he walks down the hallway. I peek over his shoulder at the stricken faces, blinking when a phone’s camera flash goes off.
I tilt my head down and let the racing beat of his heart ground me. My fingers twist in his shirt and shiver when I feel his lips brush my forehead.
“I got you,” he murmurs into my hair. “I got you.”
I close my eyes, pressing farther into the safety of his arms, unsure if the three words he keeps repeating is more for me… or for him.