Claimed

She would take her fight underground. She would let James think the violent, sociopathic obsession he called “love” was being reciprocated. She would have to be careful though. Whatever else he was, James wasn’t stupid. She would have to lull him into believing she’d not only accepted her lot, but had come to embrace it.

I will beat you at your own game, she silently promised as James pulled the car to a stop in front of a large log cabin flanked by a screened-in porch. And this time, when I get the gun, I won’t be afraid to use it. And that’s a promise.

Chapter 9

James parked the car beneath the shade of a large tree with low-hanging branches and cut the engine. He released his seatbelt and then Kelsey’s as well. “Welcome to your new home,” he said with a peculiar smile that sent shivers of trepidation along Kelsey’s spine. He opened his door and climbed out, moving out of Kelsey’s line of vision as his shoes crunched on the gravel. A moment later he pulled open Kelsey’s door. He crouched beside her and reached behind the seat to release the bungee cords.

A thousand stabbing needles of pain pricked her arms and hands as she pulled them forward onto her lap. She flexed her fingers and curled her hands into fists, wanting nothing more than to smash one into James’ face.

He pulled her from the car and she saw he was holding the gun. The gravel was rough and warm beneath her bare feet and the wound on her leg had resumed its throbbing. It was hot outside and she was thirsty. She turned toward the cabin, expecting James to help her inside. Instead, to her extreme dismay, he pushed on her shoulders, forcing her to her knees on the dusty gravel.

“I want you, Kelsey. I want you so fucking bad.” His voice was hoarse with lust and she saw the huge bulge of his erection beneath his shorts. With one hand, he tugged at his fly and pulled it open, while gripping a handful of her hair with the other. He pushed his shorts down to his knees to expose his cock and balls.

James leaned against the hood of the car and dragged her closer, pulling her up by the hair. “Suck my cock, baby. Do it good. Make me come like I made you come. And make sure you swallow every drop.”

The head of his large cock was pressing insistently against her lips, his fingers twisting her hair so it tugged painfully against her scalp. “Do it,” he urged, an angry tone now edging his voice. Without choice, Kelsey let her lips part, and James’ thick, heavy cock slid into her mouth. He groaned with pleasure, loosening his grip somewhat on her hair. She had a brief fantasy of biting down so hard she bit it off, but even if she’d dared, it was shoved so far down her throat she couldn’t close her mouth.

She heard the clunk of metal on metal and then felt his second hand on her head, holding her still while he fucked her face. She struggled not to gag as he slid in and out of her mouth and it was hard to breathe with the constant onslaught. The small rocks beneath her knees were digging painfully into her skin.

The gun, she thought suddenly. That was the sound I heard. He set it on the hood. Make him come and then make your move. Infused with a sudden energy, Kelsey brought her hands to his crotch and forced herself to cup his balls. He groaned, his grip tightening in her hair. “Yeah, baby. That’s it. Yeah.”

He continued to rut into her mouth for another minute or so and then he stiffened and thrust hard, his bitter jism shooting down her throat. His grip eased in her hair and his hands fell away as he gave a deep, satisfied sigh.

A spurt of adrenaline propelled Kelsey to her feet. There it was, glinting darkly in the sun. Kelsey grabbed the gun before James even had a chance to open his eyes. Her heart was beating high in her throat. He opened his eyes slowly and stared at her. In another second he’d leap to life and try to grab the gun.

Not this time, motherfucker.

Her hands were shaking as she took a step back, but determination overrode fear. She clutched the gun and cocked the trigger. Aiming at his face, she imagined the bullet tearing through skin and bone and exiting the back of his head with a splatter of blood and brains.

She squeezed the trigger.

The gun clicked.

James smiled grimly.

Kelsey stared at him, baffled. Confusion, shock and dread collided in her head, short-circuiting her ability to process what was happening. Again she pulled the trigger, and still nothing happened. Acting off instinct, she threw the gun as hard as she could at James’ head. He lifted an arm to deflect the weapon, which fell with a thud to the gravel.