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To get away.

A knock at the door sounds, then, but neither Georgetta nor I make a move to answer.

“Open the door, loves. I know you’re in there.”

2

I’m embarrassed atjust how fast I throw myself at the door. As soon as I hear Ian’s voice, I feel a mixture of dread and relief. He’s not going to keep me safe, but he might keep me alive. Ian doesn’t love me – regardless of what my father implied to Georgetta – but he’s not going to kill me yet. If he does, I just hope he does it fast. My father sure as hell won’t.

“You’re here,” I whisper, throwing myself at him. To my utter-shock, Ian wraps his arms around me and holds me close. The hug is almost tender, almost gentle.

Ian is not a gentle person.

Georgetta hands back, sitting on the bed, looking nervous.

“I got her here,” she says.

“Good work. Let’s get you both out of here.”

There’s no need for us to stay at the motel any longer, and I’m actually completely relieved about this. It’s not just that I was afraid of being eaten by giant cockroaches and lizards, but that I was nervous about being away from Ian for so long.

We aren’t together. I’m quite sure he doesn’t even like me. He recently drugged me, took control of me, and within what seemed like minutes, had me begging for his dick and more. He’s a dangerous sort of man who does dangerous sorts of things, but I can’t resist the pull of Ian.

“I didn’t get the phone,” I tell him, pulling away. I’m embarrassed by this. He literally asked me to do one thing and I couldn’t even do it.

“It’s okay,” he says.

“It’s not.” I should have found a way to do what Ian asked of me. Now I’ve disappointed him. I’ve disappointed myself, too.

Ian reaches out and grips my chin, forcing me to look at him. The familiar pain of his grip washes over me. He’s not being gentle. He’snevergentle.

“Shut your fucking mouth, Rose.”

His words are harsh, and embarrassment washes over me. He’s talked like this to me before, but not in front of people. Not in front of anyone. Last time, the two of us were alone. He could say whatever the fuck he wanted to me. Ilikedit, even. I liked it more than I should have. I didn’t even seem to care.

Now, though, the fact that Georgetta can definitely hear him makes my cheeks hot with embarrassment. I don’t like that he’s talking to me this way in front of her, but my pussy sure as hell does. It’s like his words just make me wet. I can’t explain it. I don’t really know why I get this way, but the fact that I do is just entirely humiliating.