Page 75

Her stomach dropped. She wasn’t in the mood for sex this early in the morning, especially after a long restless night. In fact, she hadn’t been in the mood for a while but that never mattered to Ben. She was exhausted and wanted to go back to sleep. Alyssa sighed deeply, pushing all thoughts and emotions from her mind.

Time to put on a happy face.

Alyssa sat up and wrapped the sheet around her chest. Yawning, she watched Ben dash around the room in an effort to get to work on time.

“Damn it, Alyssa. Haven’t you done any laundry lately? I can’t find any clean work jeans.” Walking out of the closet, he said, “They’re all in the hamper still.”

He was starting to get revved up and it was making her jittery. Why hadn’t she just thrown in a load yesterday? Oh, that’s right. Her leg was still aching from the day he took his belt off and hit her with the metal buckle.

“I work so you can stay home. I dropped out of college for you. All you have to do is make sure my fuckin’ clothes are clean. Can’t you even do that?” He growled.

She swallowed. “I’ll make sure they’re all done today. I promise,” she said shakily.

Ben walked around the bed and leaned down into her face. “You will make sure all my clothes are cleaned and put away by the time I get home from work. You ain’t got nothin’ else to do but sit on your fat ass all damn day. The least you can do is make sure my clothes are clean? Do you understand me?”

She nodded her head furiously. “I do. It will be done, Ben. I just wasn’t feeling well and my leg was still hurting.”

His lips lifted into a sneer. “Don’t fuck up again, or I’ll make the other leg hurt, too. Don’t try using that pregnancy as an excuse around here. You got me?”

Her eyes widened. “Yes.”

“Good.” He leaned down and smashed his lips to hers. Pulling back, Ben shoved at her head. Alyssa fell back onto the bed, her head hitting the wooden head board in the process. She flinched, squeezing her eyes and grabbed for her head.

Fuck, that hurt.

The sheet she had been holding dropped from her chest and exposed her enlarged breasts. Ben’s eyes turned dark, his tongue slipping from his mouth to lick his lips.

“Damn, you are so beautiful. Even fat and pregnant,” he muttered, staring at her chest. Ben readjusted his pants and she prayed that he wouldn’t demand sex again.

His eyes softened when they met hers while she lay there in fear of his next move. His knee indented the mattress as Ben crawled over her, a tear slipping from the corner of her eye from the pain throbbing in her head.

“I’m sorry, baby. I didn’t mean to yell at you,” he said, using the sheet to wipe her tear away. “Forgive me?” He pleaded with puppy dog eyes. The guy was bipolar.

Alyssa stared into Ben’s eyes trying to figure out what caused such a drastic change in him. Or had he always been so … physical and she just had not known it? He had never really laid a hand on her before she was pregnant. Only a few times playfully, but those didn’t really count.

Right?

Alyssa pulled her hand away from her throbbing head. Gently, she cupped his stubbly face and brought her mouth to his.

“Of course, baby,” she whispered before she kissed him as if she meant it.

“See you later.”

Alyssa breathed a sigh of relief. The next nine hours were the highlight of her day.

John stood under a tree waiting for Alyssa. When he offered to pick her up, she declined saying she’d rather walk because she needed the exercise. Just standing under the tree he was hot. He couldn’t imagine her walking miles to his house in this heat. He should’ve just ignored her plea and went to get her. What would his father have done? Luke?

John stared at the glistening mirage. It looked like gasoline shining on the dirt road. Screw this. He knew where the prick lived. He was going to get her.

Jumping into his truck, John sped out of his driveway and hooked a right onto the street. Not even a half mile up the road, he spotted Alyssa walking … in jeans in the midst of an Indian summer? Shaking his head, he pulled to the side of the road and rolled down his window.

“Alyssa,” he motioned for her, “hop in.”

She looked stunned. For a moment she was paralyzed. “Alyssa, get in,” he demanded.

Alyssa pulled the truck door opened and plopped down onto the cushioned leather seat and wiped her forehead. Looking over at John, his grim face worried her.

“Why the hell are you wearing jeans in this heat? Are you out of your mind?”