Page 13

VIOLET

She was brushing her teeth the following morning when Jesse tentatively knocked on the bathroom door. When she didn’t answer, he tried the locked door.

“Violet?”

When she didn’t answer, she heard a thump. She wasn’t sure whether it was his hand or forehead that hit the door.

“Violet.”

The frustrated longing in his tone made her eyes water. She rinsed her mouth and quickly finished up her tasks in the bathroom. She unlocked his door before she double timed it to her bedroom and locked hers.

All night, she rehearsed what she would say to him. She had no idea how he would respond. He heard the same sermon at church yesterday. He had to see the parallels and recognize the risks they were taking—not just with their own relationship, but their family. After sleeping on it, she hoped he’d come to the same conclusion. Bottom line, he meant too much to her to risk losing him. He couldn’t argue with that.

As she dated, she’d been pushing the limits with her wardrobe, but today she wasn’t trying to attract or please anyone. Not Jesse, Tucker, or any other guy. She pulled on jeans and a loose fitted top, put her hair in a ponytail, and put in gold heart earrings. Comfortable, simple, not sexy at all. She just wanted everything to go back to the way it had been before sex got in the way.

When she made her way into the dining room, she found Mom and Dad at the dining table doing devotions. This was usually something that happened on the weekend, not a weekday. Mom was typically in a hurry to get to school and on his days off, Dad was often working on a house project, fishing, or helping the church with something. Apparently, they were planning on being more present, which worked in her favor.

“Hey, honey,” Mom greeted.

She was comforted by Dad’s half smile. All was forgiven. Today was a new day and an opportunity to make good choices. She went into the kitchen to make herself oatmeal and stiffened when Jesse materialized at her side.

“Morning.”

Her eyes flicked up, clashed with his stormy blue ones, and quickly looked away. “Morning. Do you want oatmeal for breakfast?”

“You left something on the bathroom counter.”

“Sorry about that,” she said lightly. “I’ll grab it later.”

“Jesse,” Dad called. “You’re going to talk to Coach Rick today about leaving the team?”

“Yeah,” Jesse said curtly.

There was a startled pause and then Mom asked, “Do we need to talk more about this, son?”

“No,” Jesse said and shocked them all by turning on his heel and walking out the front door.

Mom and Dad glanced at each other and then Violet as she turned to watch his exit. Jesse had never talked back to their parents or showed any disrespect before. His terse tone and display of temper wasn’t like him at all.

“Should I talk to him?” Dad murmured.

Lynne let out a long sigh and sat back in her seat. “Are we doing the right thing? This is his senior year. Making him quit football is a huge punishment.”

Dad rapped his fingers on the table. “We can’t let him get away with thinking what he did is okay.”

“Of course not, but his team could make the national championships, and he’s worked so hard.”

“The only way for him to learn his lesson is to have him give up something he cares about. Anything else won’t be a real punishment,” Dad countered.

Through the living room window, Violet watched Jesse pick up the basketball and start dribbling on the driveway. She assumed he was upset about them when he probably wanted to talk to her about dropping out of football. It was a big deal. He was letting his whole team down. Everyone would want to know why he was quitting. What was he going to say? Her shoulders slumped. Another thing to add to the never-ending list of things that were her fault.

Glumly, she turned when the kettle screamed and poured hot water over the oats and added brown sugar and milk. She sat at the table, only half listening as her parents debated what was an appropriate punishment for Jesse. She secretly hoped they would come up with something else and couldn’t conceal her dismay when Dad put his foot down.

“I didn’t ban him from playing sports completely, which I could do. Giving up football will make him think twice before he acts in the future.”

As Dad left the table, Mom focused on her. “Are you okay?”

“This is all my fault,” Violet said and dropped her spoon, unable to take another bite.

Mom didn’t deny it. “It’s better for both of you to learn these lessons now rather than later.” Mom chucked her under the chin. “This seems like a big deal now. It may seem like your world is ending, but one day you’ll laugh over this.” When Violet gave her an incredulous look, Lynne’s lips quirked. “I swear you will. And as for your punishment, no going out with friends after school. Once Jesse talks to Coach Rick, you two come straight home.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Violet lingered over her oatmeal until it was time to leave. When she walked out the front door, she saw Lynne talking to Jesse on the driveway. He had his head bent as he listened to his mother and nodded. As Violet approached, he unlocked the SUV so she could get in and went into the house to get his backpack while she fidgeted in the passenger seat. Lynne backed out of the driveway as Jesse got behind the wheel.

“We have to talk,” he said as he fired up the engine.

Violet clasped her hands between her thighs. “I’m sorry that they’re making you quit football. I know how much you love it. Maybe if you talk to Dad, you can convince him to?—”

“I don’t care about football. I care about us,” he snapped.

Her heart skipped a beat. “We’re fine.”

“Are we?”

“Of course.”

He braked a little too hard at a stop sign as he navigated through the neighborhood.

“Is that why you’re locking me out of your room? Because we’re fine?”

A hint of the aggression he displayed the day he beat Tucker’s ass was coming back, making her anxiety skyrocket.

“I think,” she began stiltedly as she plucked imaginary lint off her jeans, “considering what happened yesterday that you would agree that…” Why was she so nervous? This was Jesse. She could tell him anything. “That what we did…” she fumbled and burst out, “We can’t do that anymore!”

The veins on his arms stood out as his hands flexed on the steering wheel. “No.”

She forgot about her rehearsed speech. “What do you mean, no ?”

He shot her a searing look out of narrow, glowing blue eyes. “You don’t get to end us because you’re scared or have a guilty conscience.”

“I don’t have a guilty conscience,” she lied. “I just realized…” She dragged her hands down her face. “What were we thinking? You’re my brother .”

“We aren’t blood related.”

“But we were raised as siblings. I never saw you as anything else until…” She shook her head wildly and held both hands up like a traffic cop. “No. No! This ends now. We never should have let it get this far.”

He reached over the console and gripped her thigh. “I’m not going to let you do this.”

“Did you see Mom and Dad’s faces when they found out about Tucker? Can you imagine how they’d react if they found out about us?” Her voice quavered as her mind conjured up all sorts of traumatic scenarios. “They don’t even believe in sex before marriage and we…”

He squeezed her knee. “It’s okay, Vi.”

“No, it isn’t! Nothing about this is okay. It’s wrong and sinful, and we did it anyway! Mom and Dad would die if they knew!”

“We can’t make decisions based on how Mom and Dad will feel,” he said harshly. “We’re old enough to make our own choices and accept the consequences, whatever they are.”

“I-I’m not willing to accept the consequences for this,” she stammered as she tried to brush his hand off her leg. “I’m not going to be the reason our family breaks apart. I’ve made a lot of stupid decisions, but I can fix this.”

His grip tightened. “There’s nothing to fix. You and I are supposed to be together.”

“We will be! As siblings, as family, nothing more!” She smacked his hand. “You can’t touch me like this! It’s inappropriate!”

Her voice was rising. She was getting hysterical. Her emotions were a wild, feral thing clawing at her, making her lash out. She wanted this done, buried, over. Why was he arguing with her? Deep down, he knew this was the right thing to do, he just didn’t want it to end right now . But it would have at some point, most likely when he’d gotten his fill. This was a novel experience for him—a girl ending things. He was just being stubborn.

“Stop pushing me away,” he rapped out.

“I’m not pushing you away. I just don’t want you to touch me.”

“Yesterday I was licking your pussy, and today I can’t touch you?”

His vulgar language was as shocking as a slap. She felt the blood drain from her face. “Don’t talk to me like that.”

“You really think we can go back to acting like siblings after I’ve been inside you? After everything we’ve done?”

“Yes!”

He shot her a look filled with incredulous fury. “Didn’t the last few days mean anything to you?”

An invisible needle pierced her heart. Their day at the lake had been so special, almost dreamlike in its perfection. She would cherish that memory, especially since she knew they could never repeat it.

He squeezed her leg. “Vi.”

She swallowed hard. “The past few days have been nice, but?—”

“Nice?”

She flinched, partly because of his deafening shout and partly because, “You’re hurting me.”

He snatched his hand from her leg and ran his fingers through his hair. “I don’t believe this.”

“Isn’t it bad enough that you have to give up football? That Tucker ended up in the hospital? How many signs do you need to convince you this isn’t meant to be? Didn’t you listen to Pastor Sonny’s message yesterday?”

“I heard it.”

“And?”

A muscle ticked in his jaw. “That has nothing to do with us.”

Her mouth sagged. He was being deliberately obtuse. Pastor Sonny’s message was a warning of how a seemingly harmless transgression could cause so much destruction. She wasn’t willing to risk their family. Nothing was worth courting such an outcome. Couldn’t he see that?

Was this proof that regularly indulging in sin changed a person, so they cared only about satisfying their cravings, regardless of anyone else’s feelings? Was Jesse that far gone? Her resolve hardened. She vowed she would get them on the right path and that’s what she would do, regardless of his bullheadedness.

“I want our relationship to go back to what it was,” she said into the fraught silence.

“And if I don’t agree?”

“You don’t have a choice.”

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw his head turn in her direction. He didn’t say a word. He didn’t have to. His gaze, sharp as the tip of a knife, slid over her. When she was on the verge of begging him to look back at the road, he did so.

“This wouldn’t have happened if you hadn’t caught me with Tucker. It started this domino effect that’s led us here. I don’t want anyone else to get hurt, and that’s what would happen if we continued on this path. I don’t want to disappoint Mom and Dad any more than I already have.” She blinked rapidly as her eyes filled with tears. “And you mean too much to me to risk our friendship.”

He said nothing.

“We won’t talk about it. It’ll be like it never happened,” she said.

He didn’t move a muscle, but the force of his anger was an invisible force that hammered at her, making it hard to breathe. She braced for an explosion that didn’t come. Several minutes later, she slumped in her seat. His volatile temper unnerved her. He’d changed so much in so little time. She wanted her patient, considerate, affable brother back. This wasn’t him.

She wanted everything to go back to the way it had been when she had nothing to hide, and she felt safe and clean and there was no threat of being exposed. He had to know this was destined to end badly. It was taboo, scandalous and if discovered, would haunt them for the rest of their lives. No one would support them exploring such a path. Even their friends would be horrified. Once Jesse had time to consider the long-term effects, he would agree with her. But until then, things between them would be strained. She hated being at odds with him, but it was necessary. He wasn’t thinking clearly. It would take time to reprogram their minds, so they didn’t see each other sexually. It was best to end it now before they hit the point of no return.

Although she knew she should leave him alone, she couldn’t resist asking, “What did you tell Mom and Dad about the day you beat Tucker?”

“A complete fabrication.”

She twisted her hands together in her lap. “Thank you for not telling them the truth.” The silence that followed made her cringe. “I’m sorry. For everything.”

“I’m not.”

She wasn’t sure what he meant by that, but didn’t ask him to elaborate. It was a relief to reach school. Before he parked, she had her seat belt undone, and her backpack on her lap. When she hopped out, she expected him to say something in parting, but he didn’t.

A group of their friends were several cars over. She approached Marissa, Brody, Anton and a few others with a big smile, determined for everything to go back to normal.

“Hey,” she greeted.

“Where’s Jesse going?” Anton asked.

She turned. She thought he’d be right behind her, but he was striding in the opposite direction, across the empty field. “No idea.”

“See you tomorrow,” she told Marie before she headed toward the SUV. Jesse was already behind the wheel. She opened the passenger door and asked, “Did you talk to Coach Rick?”

“Yeah. Get in.”

Apparently, his mood hadn’t improved. The need to apologize rose again, but she knew it wouldn’t do any good. She got in and fastened her seatbelt. “That didn’t take long. I thought he’d try to talk you out of it.”

“I talked to him at lunch.”

Which explained why they were now creeping through traffic mere minutes after school ended. “Are you okay?”

“Does it matter?” he asked testily.

“Yes. If I hadn’t let Tucker?—”

“You saved his life. I wouldn’t have stopped if you hadn’t interfered.”

That made her feel marginally better. “Have you told anyone besides Coach Rick that you’re quitting?”

“No. Coach is going to break the news at practice.”

“What reason did you give?”

He shrugged. “The truth. I made a mistake that made my parents pull me from the team. I deserve it.”

She sat back and closed her eyes. Although Jesse didn’t blame her, it didn’t remove the crushing weight on her shoulders. She was grateful Jesse was speaking to her. She hadn’t seen him all day and suspected he was avoiding her. Although she was secretly grateful he was making himself scarce, it made her feel even worse.

Although she did her best to act like everything was okay, she wasn’t pulling it off well. Three of her friends asked if something was wrong. Georgia hadn’t accepted her weak excuse and started interrogating her about the status of her relationship with Tucker. When she admitted that she and Tucker had broken up, her friends gave her hugs when she started to tear up. If they only knew the real reason she was crying.

Without conscious thought, she reached out to Jesse, seeking comfort, before she caught herself. She told him this morning that he couldn’t touch her. That was a two-way street. Things were still too raw between them, even to hold his hand.

Her hand passed over her burning eyes. How had things gone off track so quickly? In a matter of days, it felt like she lost so much. Tucker, Jesse, her innocence, her parent’s respect and trust. It had been a rollercoaster of highs and lows, and now she was at rock bottom with no idea where to go from here.

She hadn’t expected this to be so excruciating. Why did doing the right thing feel like she was killing a part of herself? She felt drained, sad, and lonely.

She and Jesse were in the awkward, angry phase of a breakup. Even with her eyes closed, she sensed the battle going on inside of him. Whether that was because of her or the fact that his teammates and a good portion of the school would soon be speculating why he was quitting football, she wasn’t sure.

When the SUV slowed, she opened her eyes and frowned as he turned into the same deserted park where he first kissed her.

“What are you doing? Mom wanted us to go straight home.”

“She thought I’d talk to Coach after school, so we have time.” He parked, undid his seatbelt, and turned toward her. “We need to talk.”

Her heart skipped. “About what?”

His eyes narrowed. “About you and me.”

“There’s nothing to talk about.”

He leaned forward, sky-blue eyes glittering as he stated, “You can’t give me what you gave me and take it back, Vi.”

“That was a mistake,” she whispered.

“No, it wasn’t,” he clipped. “This…” He gestured between them. “Isn’t a mistake. Can’t you feel it?”

“Feel what?” she asked, feigning confusion.

He tensed. “Don’t do that.”

“Do what?”

“Act like you don’t feel anything for me.”

“I never said that. I love you. You’re my brother.”

He leaned in and growled, “We both know you haven’t seen me as your brother for a while now.”

It was the closest he’d come to acknowledging his late-night visits. The eruption of butterflies and heat in her belly horrified her. She thought declaring that their relationship was wrong would be enough to suppress her body’s reaction to him. Not so. Her weak, susceptible flesh was eager to jump back into the fire, heedless of the consequences.

When she tried to turn away, Jesse clasped her face, forcing her to look at him.

“I’ve been in hell for so fucking long. I can’t go back to that.” He rested his forehead against hers. “You love me, and not just as a brother. Admit it.”

Her heart slammed into her ribcage as her eyes flooded with the tears she’d been keeping at bay all day. “We can’t.”

“We can.” His voice vibrated with implacable determination.

She wanted to leap into the deep end. To let him lead and take care of everything, but she knew he wasn’t thinking it through. Indulging for the moment would only lead to more heartache. “Jesse.”

“Do you honestly think how we feel about each other is going to go away? We didn’t just kiss. I claimed every inch of you. You wanted it just as much as I did. You still do.”

She flushed and braced her hand against his chest, pushing for breathing space. “It doesn’t matter! This is wrong.”

“Stop saying that. There’s nothing wrong with this.”

“If this is so right, then are you willing to tell Mom and Dad?” she challenged.

If he truly wanted her, he would be willing to tell their parents this wasn’t a fling, but a genuine, loving relationship he wanted to pursue. No such words emerged from him. The long silence cut deep and confirmed everything she’d been thinking. He didn’t care how conflicted she felt or that, if discovered, it would devastate their parents. Like Amnon, he was focused purely on sex and wouldn’t stop until he quenched his needs. He also seemed fine with keeping their relationship a dirty secret. Why? So there would be minimal damage in the long run?

She wrenched away from him and ran her fingers through her hair as she tried to stuff down her feelings of being sullied and used. That’s what she got for engaging in such a relationship. Regardless of how much her body enjoyed what Jesse did to her, it wouldn’t last. She cattle prodded her hormones into submission and took a deep, calming breath. She promised God she would stop them from continuing down this slippery slope. Jesse was already too far gone, so she had to take a stand for both their sakes.

She stared through the windshield at the empty park as she said, “I’ve made so many mistakes. Mistakes with Tucker. Mistakes with you that have made things…” She swallowed hard. “Difficult. I’m sorry for that. I can’t take it back, but I can do what’s right, starting now. I just want to forget it ever happened.”

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw he sat facing her, completely motionless.

“Please take me home,” she said quietly.

“You think you can end it, just like that?”

Despite the way her heart banged around in her chest like a trapped bird, she turned her head to meet and hold his gaze. “Yes. Just like that.”

Although his face remained blank, something shifted in his eyes that made the fine hairs on her nape stand up. Everything in her went on high alert. Obeying a gut instinct, she undid her seatbelt, yanked on the door handle, and tumbled out of the SUV all in one motion. She staggered before she caught her balance and stared at Jesse, who hadn’t moved. Feeling frightened, foolish, and embarrassed at her overreaction, she glared at him.

“Get in the car, Vi,” he said coldly.

She’d always trusted Jesse implicitly, but for the first time in her life, she hesitated. He seemed to be in control, but something told her if she got back in the car, he would cross every boundary she just set. She was ashamed that a part of her wanted him to. It would be so easy to get lost in him, but her fear of ending up alone was stronger than her sexual desires.

She slammed the door in his face and headed for the trail. They both needed to cool off. She’d go for a walk while he sat in the car and… She stiffened when she heard a door closing, the familiar beep of the SUV’s alarm, and the sound of someone running toward her.

A hand wrapped around her upper arm. “Violet.”

She pivoted to face him, squinting into the sun as she went on tiptoes and enunciated through her teeth, “We’re done talking. Nothing you say is going to make a difference. I’ve made up my mind. You have to accept it.”

He searched her eyes. “That’s your final word?”

“Yes!”

He nodded and glanced around. “You want to see the park?”

She blinked, taken aback by how quickly his mood had shifted. “I… I think I’ll take a walk.”

He gestured for her to precede him. She eyed him for a moment before she turned on her heel and strode off. She expected him to continue the argument, but he gave her space, staying a few paces behind her so she didn’t feel crowded. After minutes passed without a word exchanged between them, her hunched shoulders dropped.

His forceful pushback unnerved her. He had grounds to be disgruntled, even angry, but she expected him to accept her decision with grace. He’d always been so easygoing, respectful, and willing to cede to her wishes and now… Now, she had no idea what was coming next.

She was seeing him in a new light. His broody edginess thrilled and alarmed her. She shouldn’t be aroused by it, but there was no denying that she was. There was something wrong with her. There was no other explanation for why she’d gotten wet when he ordered her to get back in the car. This was Jesse , the brother who braided her hair, comforted her when Mom and Dad fought, and helped her with her homework. Why hadn’t she ever picked up on the steel beneath his guileless smile? Why was she simultaneously attracted and repelled by it? This wouldn’t do. She was supposed to be purifying her thoughts, but her mind was overwhelmed with graphic, inappropriate fantasies that she tried to smother without success.

Why had no one ever mentioned how addictive sin was? It was a drug one could get hooked on by partaking of the forbidden just once. Jesse was so consumed by it that he wasn’t himself. He hadn’t been for some time, though. Jesse had been sipping from the pool of debauchery far longer than she had. Who knew what he’d been doing with his exes, who were so eager to get back together with him? He hadn’t been caught, which had emboldened him to this point. Being outed by Tucker should have been a wakeup call that he wasn’t going to get away with everything. Why didn’t Jesse get what he needed from another girl? Why put so much in jeopardy to sleep with his stepsister?

Her calves cramped as she went uphill. She slowed to catch her breath and made a mental note that she needed to exercise more. She was grateful when the path curved beneath some trees. As she paused to enjoy the shade, she cocked her head when she heard running water.

“There’s a stream that runs parallel to the path. Want to see it?” Jesse asked.

When she nodded, he led the way through the trees. She perked up as she got a glimpse of blue up ahead. When they came to a small clearing, she put her hands on hips and surveyed the tranquil scene. Sunlight danced on the surface of the fast-moving water.

“I can see why you like coming here. It’s beautiful,” she said.

She closed her eyes for a moment, letting nature soothe her troubled thoughts. If only she could rewind the clock. She longed for a time when things were simple and innocent, but a part of her knew those days were gone. Like Eve, she’d taken a bite of the apple and now there was no going back to seeing the world in cute, pastel shades. Now, she could see every vivid shade of the rainbow and had firsthand knowledge of the temptations in the shadows. With adult decisions came severe punishments, complications, and impossible choices. But she was doing her part and keeping her promise to God. That’s all that mattered.

A soft gust of air was her only warning. She opened her eyes to find Jesse in front of her. Her hand flew up in a protective gesture as she stumbled back.

“What are you…?”

“I can’t go back to what we were.”

His flat delivery made her freeze, but it was the strange, unholy gleam in his eyes that made her heart begin to beat like a drum.

“I-I want to go back to the trail.”

Even she could hear the anxiety in her tone. Jesse’s only response to this was to match her retreating steps. His eyes were fixed on her like she was prey. He wasn’t even blinking.

In a distant part of her mind, she noted that he had pretended to accept her decision so she would let down her guard and bring her somewhere secluded where no one would interfere. They were a significant distance from the path without a soul in sight.

“Last week was a dream for me. Taking your virginity and then having you surrender so completely, giving me everything…” One hand balled into a fist at his side. “Now, you say you want to forget it ever happened, and I’m supposed to go back to treating you like a sister.” He shook his head. “It doesn’t work that way, baby.”

“We have to get home. Mom and Dad…”

“Things were perfect until that call came in,” Jesse cut in, ignoring her nervous chatter. “I don’t care that I have to quit football. That’s a small price to pay for giving him the beating he deserved.”

“Tucker—”

He closed the distance between them with a speed that made her let out a startled yelp. He pinned her against a tree and gripped her face as he ducked down, so they were eye to eye.

“That’s the last time you say his name,” he said through clenched teeth. “I’m sick of hearing about him. I don’t regret what I did. I’d do it all over again, except I wouldn’t stop until I was sure the damage was permanent.”

“You can’t mean that!”

“I do.” He trailed his knuckles down the sensitive line of her throat. “He had no right to touch you.”

His pupils were so dilated, there was only a thin ring of blue. She should run, fight, or scream her head off, but she was locked in a strange paralysis that kept her pinned between Jesse and the massive tree at her back.

“You can’t tell me you don’t feel anything for me. I won’t believe you.”

His knuckles trailed down to her breasts. When he strummed her nipple, she jolted.

“You love what I do to you,” he rasped as he cupped her breast and tightened his hold on her face, giving her no way to hide her reaction from him. “You want this so bad, you’re shaking.”

She was shaking. Whether it was from desire or terror, she wasn’t sure. She wrapped both hands around his wrist and tugged. “Please don’t do this.”

“I’ve never felt like this about anyone,” Jesse said almost to himself. “I thought I would be satisfied once I had you, once you gave yourself to me, but you’re always trying to slip away.” His expression hardened, and his fingers dug into her cheeks as he pressed his lips to hers. “But I have you now, Violet. And I’m not letting go.”

He held her gaze as his hand left her breast and went to the button of her jeans. Her paralysis broke. She erupted into motion, but he was anticipating that and swept her legs out from under her.

She landed on her back without any idea how she’d gotten there. Winded and stunned, she lay there, staring at the underside of the tree’s canopy until Jesse blotted out her view. He undid her jeans, yanked them to her knees, and slipped his fingers inside her. She sat up with an outraged shriek as he retracted his hand. Before she could defend herself, he shoved those same fingers into her mouth so deep that she gagged.

“Tell me again you don’t want me,” Jesse mocked.

Along with bile, she tasted her own honey. She wrenched her head to the side and coughed.

“We’re not going backwards,” Jesse declared with frightening calm as he positioned her on her hands and knees and knelt behind her. “Nothing’s coming between us. No other guys, Mom and Dad, even God.”

She reached back and pushed at him. “You can’t do this!”

“I have to do this. For both of us.” When she tried to scramble away, he pulled her back and smacked her butt hard enough to stun her into immobility. “You’re scared of what people think and too ashamed to admit what you really want.”

His fingers slipped inside her.

“Soaked, just like I knew you would be. Are you wet for your brother, Violet?”

“Stop!” she sobbed as she tore at the grass to get away.

He gripped her hips, hauling her backwards, and slammed in to the hilt. She screamed. The horrible sound bounced off the trees and ricocheted back to them. As she hung her head, panting, she waited for the distant shout of some Good Samaritan coming to the rescue, but there was nothing but the pleasant sound of the stream, which she now realized would drown out any call for help.

“I come here often because of how isolated it is,” Jesse said as he blanketed her much smaller form. “Scream all you want. Nobody’s going to hear you.”

“This isn’t you,” she said, her voice thick with tears. “Something’s wrong. Can’t you see that?”

“You’re what’s wrong with me,” he groaned into her hair. “I haven’t been sane for over a year. You love toying with me and throwing obstacles in my path. I’d let you do whatever you want to me, but the moment things get rough, you want to run. I’m not going to let you do that anymore. You’re sticking with me.”

He began to move in shallow, hard thrusts that stabbed something inside her that made her keen and uproot the ground around her.

“How can anything that feels so fucking good be a sin, Violet?” he panted as his hand slipped under her blouse and stroked her stomach. “We were made for each other. Can’t you feel it?”

She let out a choked sob as he planted himself deep. She couldn’t believe this was happening—that he was so far gone that he would take her in a public place. He was ruthless, shameless, completely out of control. As he began to move more forcefully, her knees sank into the soft earth.

“We’re supposed to be together. Everything in me says so. I know you feel it, too. I’d do anything for you, baby, anything.”

She shook her head.

He slowed his pace and pressed his cheek against her clammy one. “What, baby?”

“You wouldn’t do anything for me,” she said raggedly.

“Of course I would,” he whispered as he rocked his hips. “Tell me what you want, and I’ll give it to you.”

“I want you to stop.”

He abruptly pushed on her shoulders, so her face was mashed in the grass and her butt was up in the air.

“You don’t want me to stop, and I’m going to prove it.”