Page 205 of Maddening Fixation

He stood.

Before I could react, he slipped an arm around me and gently pulled me to my feet.

My legs nearly gave out beneath me.

The alcohol had hit harder than I’d realized.

I tried to steady myself, but my body refused to cooperate.

He draped one of my arms across his shoulders while wrapping his other arm around my waist.

“Come on.” His voice was low. “I’ll take you home.”

I attempted to pull away.

“I said...” My words slurred slightly. “...I don’t trust you.”

There wasn’t enough strength left in me.

As he guided me toward the exit, he leaned closer.

“You know...” he murmured near my ear, “you’re unbelievably beautiful, Juliet.”

His voice dropped to a whisper. “So fucking beautiful.”

My stomach twisted. “I wish you were really mine.”

Without warning, the hand around my waist slid lower.

His fingers deliberately squeezed me.

My entire body went rigid.

A surge of revulsion cut through the haze clouding my mind.

I planted my feet as firmly as I could.

“Stop.”

The word came out weak...

But it was still a command.

He lifted his hand. Only for a second.

Then he smiled.

“You keep telling me to stop,” he murmured, “but I know you want this just as much as I do.”

Before I could react, his hand shoved between my legs, grabbing me hard through the thin fabric of my dress.

The crude violation ripped through what little composure I had left.

We were standing in the middle of the club.

People were everywhere.

Anyone could have seen.