“What’s wrong, Freckles,” the corner of Mason’s mouth lifted in a smirk that was anything but playful. “Can’t handle your own lie?”
The only thing that came out of my mouth was a stuttered, “I-I-I.”
He was right. I couldn’t handle my own lie. But I had to. I couldn’t let anyone find out the truth. I’d been through so much to keep them safely away from Daddy. I couldn’t give up now.
“You what?” Mason spun around and cocked a brow. “Were beat the fuck up by someone?”
My heart was pounding so hard that I had to clutch onto the bench to keep myself steady. “It was an accident.”
After everything I’d done, it shouldn’t be this hard to lie. Just say the words and move on. But the longer I stayed in this house, surrounded by judgemental glares, the harder it was to force the words out. Especially to him.
At school I could pretend that Mason was only angry with me, and went on with a happy life when I wasn’t around. But he wasn’t happy anywhere. He was snubbing his family, and arguing with Silas, while drinking himself into an early grave. I hadn’t just destroyed the little boy, I crushed his soul.
“Oh, I see.” He nodded and took a step closer. “So you accidently fell on someone’s fist repeatedly?”
I was more worried about the determined glint on his face than I was about his nakedness or what I might see. He wasn’t going to back down, and I didn’t know how to make him. He continued to advance. Taking long confident strides that I shimmied back on the bench to avoid.
When my back hit the wall, I whispered one word in panic. “Stairs.”
“Are you talking about that big marble staircase in your house?” Slapping his palm down on the wall next to my head, Mason leaned in and added, “You know, the kind people die falling down.”
What could I say? I tripped and only fell down a few steps? Somehow I didn’t think he’d buy that. There was only one thing left to do.
Run.
A poor choice to make when one was trapped in a shower.
The wet man wasn’t hard to slip past. I easily ducked under Mason’s arm. The wet floor, however, posed a different challenge. My bare foot slapped down on the tile and immediately gave way to the slipperiness.
Mason’s hand fisted in my hair as my legs flew out from under me. I barely had time to blink before he pulled me back and slammed my butt down, making me wince when the hard bench smacked against my tailbone.
“Trying to run from me, Freckles,” he tsked. “I thought you knew better than that.”
I thought I did too. But apparently my middle name for the day was stupid because I didn’t sit still with my head down and keep quiet. I abandoned all three of my rules and lashed out. Throwing my arms wildly at him while kicking my feet when he tried to advance.
And God, did it feel good. The first slap I connected and the rake of my nails down his arm sent a surge of adrenaline coursing through me that I needed more of. It was freeing, empowering, and all consuming. I liked it far more than I should’ve.
Unfortunately, so did Mason.
“Yeah baby.” He grabbed my chin and growled, “Fight me while I shove my cock down your throat.”
My entire body instantly went stiff.
What?
His green eyes glittered at my shock. “That’s right.”
This couldn’t be happening. It had to be a joke. Mason Kessler didn’t want me that way. He was just messing with me because I was asking him questions. He was annoyed. That’s all it was. I just had to apologize.
“I’m sorry.”
Dread settled in when he cupped the bottom of my chin and lifted my head.
“I’m sick and tired of your fucking sorry’s. Now open your goddamn mouth!”
Panic didn’t fully hit me until his fingers dug into my cheeks, prying my jaw apart. I tried twisting my neck to pull my face out of his grasp while clawing at the arm holding me. That fight was more fruitless than the last.
Mason slammed my head back against the wall. “Keep it up and I’ll take your ass instead.”
