Page 80 of Nails

His grip around her waist was like a steel band, pinning her arms at an angle that killed any hope of getting leverage.Her nails scraped at his knuckles, but he only tightened his hold, his palm pressing harder over her mouth until she could barely breathe through her nose.

His two friends provided cover, shifting their bodies to block anybody’s view if they were to look up that way.

Once he had her in the room, he shoved her onto the couch.Before she could move, he was on her, using his weight to hold her down.His hands grabbed at her top, ripping the straps that tied around her neck.His fingernails scratched her chest and arms as she thrashed beneath him, trying to fight her way out.

“No!Please stop!”she screamed as he continued to grope her.

He lifted slightly, and she was able to get one of her arms free.She punched him in the face, stunning him and allowing her to ram her knee into his crotch.He howled and grabbed his groin.Using all her strength, she pushed him off her and sprinted for the door.But she underestimated his quickness as he grabbed her hair and yanked her backward.She cried out as pain seared through her scalp.

He spun her around and slammed her into the wall, knocking the breath out of her.Then another backhand came across her face, causing white dots to cloud her vision.

Dazed and unable to fight back, he crashed his mouth down on hers.It was disgusting.He tasted like whiskey and cigarettes.She did the only thing she could to get him to stop.She bit down on his lip so hard she tasted blood.

“You bitch!”he roared, as he pulled from her lips.He touched his lips with his fingers, and when he saw the blood, his face twisted into anger.“You’ll pay for that whore!”

Riley was panting for breath, finally regaining her bearings when he grabbed her by the front of her top and flung her back toward the couch.Stumbling toward the sofa, her heel caught on the carpet, and she crashed into the glass table shoulder first.She cried out in pain as the table shattered, and shards of glass pierced her skin.

“I'm done playing games.I hope you like it rough because I’m going to fuck you so hard that you won’t be able to walk for a week,” he said as he stalked toward her.

Lying there in pain and with glass sticking out of her, she was out of options.There was nothing she could do.He was going to rape her.

Just as he went to reach for her, the door to the room burst open.

“Get the fuck off her!”Nails roared as he and two other bouncers ran in and pulled the guy off her.Nails punched the guy in the face so hard that the guy hit the wall.One of the other bouncers then grabbed him and held him steady as Nails punched him two more times before his eyes found Riley.

“Shit,” he breathed.“Riley.”

She sat slumped against the wall, her top torn, bleeding, and shaking so hard she couldn’t stop.

Leaving the guy to the bouncers to handle, Nails hurried over and scooped her up into his arms.

“You’re okay now.I’ve got you,” he told her.

She wanted to respond, but all she could do was lean into him as he carried her out of the room.

Riley didn’t remember crossing the club floor, only the feel of Nails’ solid arms locked around her and the thud of his boots against the hallway floor.

Her cheek burned, her shoulder throbbed, and she could feel the sting of tiny shards embedded in her skin.

Her fingers trembled despite her best effort to keep them still.She wasn’t going to cry, not here, and not in front of him.

Nails kicked the changing room door open and carried her straight over to the small couch in the corner of the room and sat her down gently.

She watched him walk over to a mini fridge, grab a cold bottle of water, and then retrieve a first aid kit from a closet before walking back to her.

He crouched in front of her and tried to assess the damage.His hands were surprisingly gentle, but he was quiet—too quiet, and she could see how tense his body was.

He ripped open one of the antiseptic packets and began wiping her shoulder where the blood was dripping.

Riley flinched, feeling pieces of glass embedded in her skin.

“Shit!I’m sorry.You’ve got little pieces of glass stuck all over you,” he said in a low voice as he continued to clean around the wound.He wouldn’t make eye contact with her, though.

Finally, Riley reached out, her hands still a little shaky, and she touched his cheek.

“Nails…” she said, trying to get him to look at her.But he wouldn’t.He just shook his head.So, she tried again.

“Nails, please look at me.”