His fists pummelled my side, stealing the oxygen from my lungs. I squirmed and kicked, but the liquor in his blood muted whatever I managed to land on him.
Stumbling to his feet, Daniel kicked me in the belly. “That’s for hurting my dick, bitch.”
Agony radiated out as fast as lightning. I groaned, sickness dousing every inch. I curled up, holding my stomach, cursing him in every religion. Somehow, I compartmentalized the pain and lashed out with my foot. My toes hooked around his heel, sending him toppling to his knees.
He grunted, but it didn’t stop him from punching me again in the thigh. “Plenty more pain where that came from. Like it? Do you like it when I kick you like the bitch you are?”
I moaned in torture as he rolled me onto my back. “You’re not going anywhere, whore. Not this time.”
The tent turned fuzzy as the drugs made everything so hot. My muscles were weak from lack of food. I wouldn’t be able to win the fight.
You can win.
I growled, aiming for his nose.
He deflected my hand as if it were nothing more than pollen.
I can’t.
I tried again, slapping his cheek, connecting with his hot flesh.
I can!
Daniel snarled, his fingers fumbling with his belt. “That’s the last time you’ll hit me.” His head came forward, cracking his forehead on mine.
The mutual pain crested through my skull, rendering me numb and lost. Swimming through it, I did my best to scramble backward, kicking him. “Leave me alone!” Somehow, I got free of his putrid embrace, crying in fleeting triumph.
“Fuck!” He grabbed my ankle.
“No!” My skin tingled, awoken by the drugs from the fire. I moaned as another flush of heat and hatred became bedfellows in my heart. Every inch of me was swollen and wet with desire. I’d never wanted sex so much but fought so hard to avoid it.
The awful contradiction stole every last dreg of energy.
He yanked me back, a morbid chuckle on his lips. “Getting tired yet?”
“Never.”
Yes, so much yes.
Tears torrented down my cheeks even though I didn’t permit myself to cry. My body bypassed synapses, defending, slipping into preservation. “I’ll kill you. You’re nothing.Nothing.”
“I’m nothing? I’ll show you fucking nothing.” Rearing upright, Daniel cocked his fist and ploughed it straight into my cheek.
Stars.
Galaxies.
Lions and tigers and bears.
I lost consciousness.
How long, I didn’t know. I floated in an ocean of affliction, vaguely aware as cold air licked around my hipbones, then arse, then thighs, then toes.
Lucidity slammed back as the rotten feel of his fingers on my pussy jerked me awake.
I came to with my jeans ripped away and my knickers wrenched to my knees.
The room spun as my cheekbone shrieked in pain. “No...”
