“Dickhead,” I chuckled as I stepped through the bedroom door into the hall.
Checking my watch, it was just after midnight, but of course, my family had all retired to bed and the house was in darkness. I let out a sigh of relief, not wanting to hear the lectures I was going to get about missing supper. Although I didn’t care; it was worth it for what was almost a perfect Christmas afternoon and evening.
What would make it perfect?I asked myself. Maybe another one of those kisses Charlie had given me earlier. I almost groaned as the thought burst into my head, making me remember how soft his lips were and how he dominated my mouth with his tongue.
Nope. Stop that right now, Fern.
I ignored how loudly my heart hammered from the memory, or how wet I felt between my thighs. “Jesus, pull yourself together, Fern,” I whispered as I walked through the dark hallway toward the curved staircase. Moving through the house I realized that I’d still not got to spend much time with my sister or Ari, resolving to make that my mission tomorrow, even if I had to go sit in the nursery with them.
Eventually getting to the kitchen, I shuddered as I stepped into the cold space, wishing I’d put my sweater back on before I’d come downstairs. No one in my family cooked except me, so the kitchen was set up for the staff. Industrial steel, huge appliances, and the giant double fridge.
Leftovers. That’s what this night needs.
Opening the fridge, I pulled out the food, making Charlie and me a tray of turkey sandwiches, glazed ham, potato salad, pickles, and fruit. I put two glasses on there as well before I turned to fill a jug of water when I heard a noise behind me. Glancing back over my shoulder, presuming it was one of the staff, I let out a cry, dropping the jug which smashed in the sink.
“Alone at last.” Fear gripped me tightly, stealing the air from my lungs and the voice from my chest. James stood in the doorway, hair messy, dressed in a white t-shirt and black pajama bottoms. There was a time when seeing him like that—relaxed and unfiltered—would have turned me on, but right now, I just felt sick.
“I’m just heading back upstairs. Charlie is waiting for me.” The mere mention of his name made James harden his jaw, his blue eyes darkening.
“Can’t keep lover boy waiting, can we, Fe?”
He stalked forward, his hands curled at his side, closing the space between us. I sidestepped, trying to move away from him, but he somehow backed me toward the fridge, making me gasp when the cool surface hit my shoulders.
James caged me in, slamming his hands on either side of my head. Leaning in, I could smell the alcohol on his breath, sending a ripple of fear through my body.
“It’s been a while, Fe. I was starting to think you were ignoring me.”
My fear transformed into anger. “Of course I’m ignoring you, you fucking idiot. You made me think we had something and then I find out you’d been fucking my sister the entire time. I don’t want to be anywhere near you. Now back off because my boyfriend is waiting for me.”
I couldn’t contain the cry as James grabbed my hair, yanking my head back so hard my eyes watered. “I heard you and your little boyfriend earlier. Fucking. I heard him slamming into you. Does he know what a whore you are? Can he make you come like I did?”
I fixed my eyes on him, refusing to let him see how frightened I was. “You weren’t as good as you think. I hardly ever came. I don’t have that problem with Charlie. He knows how to turn me on.”
James released his hold on me and I thought I’d won, convinced he’d back off, which meant the force of the back of his hand striking my cheekbone sent me stumbling sideways.
“Lying bitch,” he spat, grabbing me around my bicep so hard I knew I would be left with bruises. “You were always wet and wanting. Gagging for it.” I dropped my head, running my fingers over my face, which was on fire, hoping he would leave me alone, but things got a whole lot worse.
“You had such potential, Fern. You were so easy to manipulate, so eager to please. If you’d just agreed to carry on behind your sister’s back, we could have been so good together. Although if I’d known how frigid your sister would get once we were married, I would never have picked her over you.”
I lifted my head in shock.
“Aw, there she is. Look how excited that’s gotten you. Do you still think about me, Fe? When he’s inside you, do you wish it was me?”
“I told you how I feel about you,” I hissed, trying to shake out of his hold. “I told you at the wedding and I’m telling you again now. I don’t want you. I don’t want to be with you. I don’t want you to touch me. I wouldn’t ever take you back.” By the time I’d finished, I was shouting, my chest heaving with anger.
“Yeah, but the way you look at me… how you react to me being around you, that tells me a different story.” Thrusting his hips forward, I whimpered when his hard cock pressed against me. “You want me, Fern. You’ve never been able to say no to me.”
“James, please. I don’t want this,” I begged, fighting in his hold.
“Of course you do. You’ve been acting like a whore since you got here. Being a brat, not behaving, dressing like some sort of groupie. Is this what he likes? If you were mine, you’d be in dresses and heels every day and I wouldn’t let you wear underwear, so I could have access to you whenever I wanted it.”
“Fuck off, James. Get your filthy hands off me.”
His grip tightened around my arm as his free hand crept under my vest until he found my breast. Yanking down my bra, he twisted my nipple as he buried his face in my neck, groaning loudly. “Fuck, I love your tits. Your sister insisted on breastfeeding so hers are nothing but saggy useless bags, but these pert beauties. God, I want to put my dick between them and fuck them until I come all over those pretty lips.”
“James,” I sobbed. “You’re hurting me. I don’t want this. Get off me.” He let go of my arm, but instead of releasing me, he pushed his hand under the waistband of my joggers. “You were a virgin when we got together. Are you still nice and tight for me, Fern? Will you whimper when I force my fingers inside you?”
I slammed my hands against his chest, desperate to put some space between us as his hips pinned my body to the fridge. “I said no. Get your fucking filthy hands off me.” I couldn’t lift my knee to hit him in the balls, so I yanked his hair and then did what I’d learned in self defense class the two times I’d actually gone, swearing that if this worked, I would go every week for a year. Punching him in the throat, James staggered backward, spluttering, his eyes wild. I turned and ran, but I didn’t get far.
