Page 198 of Rite of Unity

I stepped closer.“Outside?No one will see.”

He cleared his throat, his gaze dropping to my naked legs.

“One?”

I laughed again.“Unless you wanted more.”

His shoulders drooped, gun falling to his side.

“Sure.”

The door opened, and a tremor shot through me, the outside world coming into view.He held it for me, and I strolled past him, smiling as I went.

The long drive was dark; no sign of guards outside.I exhaled a whoosh of air.

The guard’s hand landed on my shoulder, spinning me around, and I stumbled into him.

“Oh yeah, you’re feisty,” he said, walking me backward until I was pressed against the wall.

I wedged a hand between us, shoving, but he was immovable, crowding in and licking the side of my face.My chest seized as he pressed into me harder, his erection unmistakable through the thin fabric, my shoulder blade grinding into the wall.

I winced.“What about that drink?”My voice was breathless and far less confident than I needed to regain control of the situation.

His big hand came up, groping my breast through my shirt.“You like that?”he asked, ignoring my question.

Ice froze me in place as I gave up all pretense of the game and wriggled under his weight.

His gun slid into its holster, and a second hand dug painfully into my hip.“Mother.”He groaned, grinding against my stomach.“There’s nothing under that shirt, is there?”

I tried to bring my knee up, to tear his hands off me, but he was far stronger.

“Stop,” I demanded.

He laughed, the hand on my hip sliding down until fingers scalded my bare flesh.

“You came straight out after you fucked him, didn’t you?”He licked my face again, rough fingers sliding along my thigh.“I bet you’re still wet.”

I fought harder, shoving with all my strength.

“Don’t worry, baby.I’ll take care of you like he couldn’t.”

I stilled, the fight draining out of me.I couldn’t win.I couldn’t stop what was about to happen to me.

Calden’s warm breath against my ear surfaced, and I clung to the memory, trying to block out the hands ravaging my body.His words came back to me in a rush.His soft touches.

“A blade, or anything sharp.Slid between the ribs.”A gentle finger traced the line of my ribs.“Will incapacitate a man long enough for you to run.”

I closed my eyes.I didn’t want to incapacitate this man.I wanted him dead.

Calden’s phantom thumb touched the sensitive skin behind my ear, then slid lower, tracing a line along my neck.“A blade across tender flesh, or a quick, deep jab.A man doesn’t get back up.”

My eyes flew open, and my grip tightened around my weapon.

The guard’s neck was tilted as he leaned lower, sliding his tongue down my chest.

I raised the weapon over my head and slammed it down with all my might, driving it into his neck until my fist met flesh.My whole arm rang with it.

He gurgled something, his grip on my sensitive skin loosening, and his head sank against my half-exposed breasts.He slid to his knees, choking, spitting up blood.