Page 41 of Terror Tuesday

And that was the point.

Because if I’d fucked her right then—pushed inside her and claimed her like an animal, like every instinct I have told me to—I’d be no better than the men who came before me. The ones who saw her gorgeous body as something to conquer. First Shane, her freshman boyfriend, thenHunter, then every smirking Greek Life prick who whispered about the girl with the perfect ass and the better bloodline.

They didn’t love her.

They loved showing her off.

And she was ready to hand herself over to me just the same. Willingly. Fervently.

But that’s not what I’m here for.

My girl doesn’t understand whoI am. Not yet.

I don’t want her submission if she still has marks around her neck from someone else’s leash.

So I stand in the dark, just behind a large oak, and breathe. The rain cools me off, showering me with a renewed outlook. Helping me control the pulse pounding in my dick. My heartbeatreturns to normal. Still yearning to reach for her again, my fingers twitch.

While I watch from a few feet away, she composes herself slowly, wiping her mouth, then her tears. Ever the perfectOlivia. Her legs shake as she smooths the dress back into place, still wearing confusion across her face. Despite it being muddy, she arranges her hair over her shoulder into some semblance of a style. She’s humiliated and aroused and doesn’t understand which is which.

Good.

Let her wonder.

When she walks forward, soft steps through wet leaves, she moves like she’s forgotten how to be human. Shoulders shake as she thrusts out her chest to regain some dignity. Her head turns once, but she doesn’t see me.

As she passes by my tree, she’s blissfully unaware. Until I grab her by the neck.

Not harshly. Gently.Possessively. Rubbing one thumb along the column of her artery. Her body stiffens in my hold, ready to run, but before she can get away, I’ve already slid the needle in.

Her breath stutters as her eyes find my mask and ask an unfinished question. “What…”

Limbs weakening, she flails and collapses into my arms, her body soft and warm against mine. I cradle her close like I’ve always wanted to hold her.

“Shh,” I murmur into her hair. “You’ll understand soon.”

twelve

Clouds fill my skull.All brain tissue has been replaced by cotton. Even my mouth is stuffed with dirty socks. My tongue scrapes across my lips as I try to soak in any moisture to rid it of the foul taste.

Who knew an eyelid could weigh so much?

Prying one open, I have some strength left to lift the other.

And then the memories come screaming back to me.

I’ve been drugged.

Vanq fuckingdrugged me. Not only that. He fingered me. Forced me to beg for him. Left me in the soaking rain, humiliated and wanton. Like Iaskedfor it. Like I was proving how desperately I wanted it.

And now, shame clings to my skin like scales.

My verynakedskin.

Without realizing, I’m scratching at my arm, over and over, until the spot burns. Pale morning light fills the space as I scan my surroundings. I’m in my room, back inONE.How the fuck did I get here? Did he cart me in like a corpse? Did no one notice?

A crisp breeze cuts through my cracked balcony door, white sheers fluttering, and I will my body to move. Each step feels like walking through molasses. But when I reach to close it, I freeze.

My laptop sits open on the other side of the mattress. The image on screen makes my hand slap over my mouth. It’s ofmelying in this very bed from last night. Lying exactly as I must’ve been when he brought me here. But I’m not alone in the shot.