Then the brute tackled me to the ground, the hard pitch toward the surface tumbling us both toward the lapping water. As a splash washed over my face, I did everything I could to regain leverage, crawling only a few inches before being yanked back by several feet.
Brogan finally had enough, rolling me over and straddling my hips. The snarl on his face reminded me of a feral animal, the deep rumbling growls he issued primal and unhinged. He cocked his head, staring down at me as he slammed one of my arms over my head then the other, a single oversized hand easily able to hold both of mine down.
I curled my fists, still struggling, but it was no use. The man was huge, his body weight crushing me into the sand.
“Goddamn it, Dahlia. You refuse to learn. Don’t you?”
I had nothing to lose so I spit in his face.
Oh, boy. That angered him even more than kicking him in the balls. I thought for certain he was going to rip me apart with his teeth, chomping down on flesh and bone. Instead, he hovered over me like a vulture, his eyes glistening like prisms, the colors so vivid that I had to blink because of the glare.
He took several deep and ragged breaths. Then he leaned over, lowering his head until our lips were almost touching. I was cradled in the sand, water splashing over us, but I did everything I could to sink further into the muck. When he smiled, the look was devious, a hunter who’d captured his prey.
“You’re one very naughty girl,” he whispered, the sound floating away, but I was able to capture every syllable.
“I had to learn to be that way.”
He snorted then did something that shocked me to the core. He crushed his mouth over mine, only he didn’t tear at my lips or consume my mouth as I would have expected. Instead, he allowed the heat to build, generating a combustible feeling between us. If I’d thought the kiss on the balcony had been something special, the feel of his full lips pressed against mine was positively perfection served on a silver platter. Without realizing what I was doing at first, I succumbed to the moment of passion, my hips swiveling against his until I was able to feel his throbbing cock pressing into my stomach.
I should be repulsed by the entire situation, disgusted that the convict believed he could dare take advantage of me, but I was so aroused I couldn’t think clearly. He was true to his dominating nature, peeling open my mouth and exposing all the sensual layers I’d fought to keep hidden. I’d never wanted to become close to anyone. I’d learned from my mother that doing so meant losing your virtue as well as your heart.
I never wanted that to happen to me. I’d purposely stayed away from men, avoiding any physical contact, but the kiss was an awakening, more so than being stripped of every ounce of virtue by Alexander or the time I’d spent with him before.
He swept his tongue against mine, exploring every dark crevice, taking his time to enjoy what he was doing. My nipples were aching, the tiny pebbles now so hard they hurt as they scraped against my shirt. Even my pussy was clamping and releasing, an indication of just how turned on the brutal man had made me.
Everything was a wondrous blur and for a few minutes, I could almost believe that we were lovers, enjoying a perfect vacation on a beach hideaway. No one else to bother us and nothing to do but explore each other’s bodies.
Then reality rushed in, dragging my mind from the ugly gutter of fornication that it had been shoved in. I started fighting him in earnest, biting down on his tongue until I tasted blood.
Brogan reared back with a sharp cry, hissing toward the sky. When he lowered his head again, I could see his wheels in his brain churning, his thoughts drifting toward something even more disturbing.
“What the hell are you doing?” The sound of Daniel’s snarky question drew both our attention.
Brogan tossed his head toward the man, his chest heaving as an entirely different level of anger rushed in. He didn’t like being interrupted or told what to do.
“Ensuring she doesn’t run away.” He jerked to his feet, yanking me with him. Then he tossed me over his shoulder with ease, taking long strides toward his buddy.
“That’s not what it looked like, my friend.”
“Mind your own business, Daniel. I don’t like being here any more than you do, but it’s necessary. You said so yourself.”
“Yeah, I guess I did. Come on.”
I didn’t bother fighting him as I was carried through the dark foliage, but I tried to listen to every sound, paying attention to everything around me. I would get out of their clutches one way or the other.
My inner voice reminded me that if I was so lucky, they would come for me again.
And again.
There was no place left that I could consider safe, no location on Earth where they couldn’t find me.
I was fucked and there was nothing I could do about it.
CHAPTER 9
Cassie
Sinners.
