Page 36 of Bound to a Killer

“Is the owner of the car inside?”

“Yes—I mean, no. Sorry, he just stepped out for a second.” Then, without thinking, I slip up and blurt, “Did you want to wait for him?”

His eyes drag down my body, slow and steady, making my skin crawl.

I regret ever asking.Of course he wouldn’t wait in the snow, you idiot. Now you just invited him inside.

His smile unsettles me as he glances over my shoulder. “That’d be great, thanks.” He pushes his way inside, brushing past me to get out of the cold.

Closing the door behind him, I feel my stomach twist, a wave of unease crawling up my spine. I don’t feel good about this, but what am I supposed to do now? This won’t take too long. I need to get ahold of myself.

Turning around, I spot him standing over the fireplace, extending his hands toward the flame to warm his fingers. Paranoia claws at me as I wait, motionless. Can it be possible that he’s just a random hiker?

He cranes his neck to get a better look around, his eyes drifting to the kitchen sink, then to the leather couch, before finally settling on the bed. The silence stretches for several awkward seconds before he asks, “Any idea how much longer until he gets back?”

“Soon,” I answer a little too quickly. His eyes settle on me, narrowing to watch my lips.

I fight the urge to bolt under his scrutiny.

He laughs, the sound rattling through me. “Are you sure about that?”

He steps toward me and I feel my panic begin to spiral. My eyes dart to the door, but there’s no trace of him back yet, and the dark glint in this man’s eye tells me he knows it.

Then I make one of the biggest mistakes you can make when confronted with a man like this.

I beg.

“Please…”

I inch backwards, unable to silence the alarm bells ringing in my head. This was a huge mistake. I feel it deep in my bones.

“Don’t worry.” He circles me like a hunter sizing up his prey.I can’t breathe. “We’re just talking. Nothing wrong with that, right?”

I’m not being paranoid. This isn’t just in my head.

I take another step back, but he keeps moving in.

“He’s going to be here any second.” I can’t keep the fear out of my voice. I barely recognize myself.

A sinister smile stretches over his stubbled face. Seconds later, I’m thrust onto the bed, landing on my side as the air is knocked out of my lungs. It happens fast, and I gasp as I pull myself up on my elbows and use my feet to kick at him, but he’s too big.

My vision blurs. He blocks every kick, but I don’t stop. I can’t stop. My arms flail as I try to fight him off, but he pins them down with a frustrated grunt.

“Calm down,” he bites out. His sour breath makes me gag harder on my tears. I don’t even realize I’m crying.

“Please, stop.” I sob harder when he shoves his hardening bulge against me. Nausea rolls in my stomach. This can’t be happening. I can’t breathe.

“Say please again,” he says, smiling wide to showcase his crooked teeth before grinding into me again. I squeeze my eyes shut and shake my head instead.

Please. Please. Please.

Somebody. Anybody. Make it stop.

I cringe as his fingers tangle in my hair, yanking painfully on the knots. My muffled cries spill out louder.

“Pretty thing like you could show me a good time, isn’t that right? Make it worth the hike up here?”

I convulse beneath him, still trying to fight as he moves his hands from my hair to pin my arms down again once they slip free. I’m just not strong enough. My body rocks with violent tears, bracing myself for the worst.