One to Love (One to Hold 4)

I was at the end of my rope. That little candle of happiness so recently lit inside me was crushed out. How was this happening to me? I started to cry, flailing my arms any way I could until he pinned them against my sides.

I screamed again, but my voice was almost gone. “You’ll be sorry!” I sobbed. “My big brother is military. He’ll track you down and rip your throat out. Then he’ll shove it up your ass.”

I struggled to twist against his arms, but he was too strong. A voice jolted me. It was the thin man who’d been following. “Grif, maybe you should let her go.”

He only paused, still holding my back against his chest in a vice grip. “Are fucking kiddi

ng me? Get the fuck out of here so I can nail this bitch.”

I screamed again, but his large hand covered my mouth. “Stop screaming, pixie. I just want a little of your sugar.”

My voice was now a whimper broken by sobs. “Please stop. Please.” I’d done everything I knew to do, and I’d lost. He was going to take what he wanted, and there was no way I could stop him.

He jerked my thighs open, and my head dropped forward, eyes closed. Every muscle in my body braced for his invasion. Just then I heard the faint squeak of feet on damp sand. A loud CRACK! was right at my ear, and my attacker’s grip loosened.

Another CRACK! and his fingers roughly jerked my arms as he dropped to the sand, flat on his back. I fell forward on my hands and knees, shaking. It was dark, but I could make out a slim male figure standing over Grif, breathing fast.

I kept crawling until I was several feet away before I turned to look. The thin man was nowhere to be seen, but the new guy was fixed in the spot where he stood. His fists clenched and unclenched, over and over, and a low sound like growling whispered through his lips with each labored breath. It was as if an internal battle was playing out in front of me.

Carefully, I helped myself rise on wobbly legs. My shoes were lost in the darkness along with my panties, and my dress was torn. I took a few, hesitant steps toward the man standing over my attacker. I was only holding on by a thread and ready to run as hard as I could back to Mariska.

“Thank you,” I managed, my voice broken.

My words seemed to break the spell, and the guy staggered back. He turned to me, but I could barely see his face between my tears and the dim light.

“Are you okay?” His voice was as shaken as mine.

I nodded, unable to stop trembling. “You... you saved me.”

He was taller than me, and he had on knee-length shorts and a white tee that caught the light. He rubbed his stomach and leaned forward slightly. Then he coughed and took a deep breath, digging in his pocket.

“Do you need to call your brother?”

Confusion was my first response. “I don’t have a brother.” Then I remembered my failed last attempt at escape. “That was a bluff.”

He took a careful step toward me. “I need to go. Is there anyone you can call?”

The asshole in the sand groaned. “Shit,” my savior whispered under his breath. “Can you make it back—”

Just then I heard my name being yelled from the direction of the bar. I looked up to see Mariska in the distance heading our way fast, and behind her was what had to be Pete. Turning to the guy, our eyes met, and I had the strangest urge to rush forward and hide in his arms. I didn’t even know who he was, and he was clearly unglued over what had happened here. Maybe I was in shock, but I wished he would touch me, hold me. He saved my life.

“Those are my friends,” I said quietly. “I’ll be okay now.”

He nodded. “Good.” His hand went up, palm facing me as he backed away. “Go to them.”

“What’s your name?” I asked, but my voice was lost in the pounding of the surf and the swirl of the ocean breeze around us as he ran, leaving me there on the shore alone.

Slowly, I turned toward Mariska, but I jumped when I saw the thin man had returned. He was helping a moaning Grif onto his knees and glaring at me.

“Stupid bitch!” he spat. “You set him up, you fuckin’ cock tease. I watched you dancing with him, rubbing your ass all over his dick. Was that your boyfriend?”

Shudders racked my chest, and I didn’t even answer. This wasn’t my fault! For a moment, all I could do was blink at him like an idiot. Then I started running away from them, in the direction of Mariska and Pete. Bastard, horrible fucking bastard. I just wanted to get away as fast as my legs would carry me.

When I finally reached my friends, I collapsed into Mariska’s arms. “Take me home,” I cried against her shoulder. “I need to go home.”

Her body was tense as she held me, stroking my back. “Kenny! What happened? I couldn’t find you!”

Pete was with us then, and I felt his warm hand on my arm. “Are you okay?”