5
WINNIE
I tell myself to push him away, but my fingers only dig into the man’s shirt as his mouth takes over mine in a deep, hard kiss. My lips move against his as though they’ve done it a million times. “Open for me.” He orders. Without thinking, my body responds. I part my lips letting the handsome man inside of me.
A loud groan comes from deep inside of him. The sound has my whole body lighting up. His crude words had done the same. I should have smacked him but instead I’m standing here, letting him take what he wants.
“Fuck I missed you,” he says between kisses. My eyes fall closed, enjoying being close to someone. My mind lets go for a moment in time. His hands start to roam my body over my dress, gripping my hips in a possessive hold.
Suddenly he jerks back. My loud breathing fills the room as I try to catch my breath. My head is still spinning that I just let this strange man push me back into the bathroom and kiss me. What the heck is wrong with me?
“Kennedy.” The one word comes out like a deep growl, making my heart flutter with unexpected excitement. It’s weird but I think I recognize his voice. It’s the same one that plays in my head on a loop. I don't know when, but I’ve definitely heard this man speak my name at some point in my past.
His eyes drop to my stomach. It’s then I realize his hand is pressed right up against my small baby bump.
“Winnie! Are you okay in there?” Jill shouts from the other side of the door, trying to open the handle. We both ignore it.
I sink my teeth into my bottom lip. This man clearly knows me. On some level I must recognize him with all that I’ve let him do to me without question. Could be that strong dominance I feel at night in my dreams? The idea is crazy, but all of this is. Yet, I know there is something here. Unless I’ve just gone full-on crazy at this point.
There is something familiar about him. He easily towers over me by at least a foot. He’s not a small man by any stretch of the word. He’s hard all over. My lips still tingle from his kiss. Along with other parts of me.
“You’re pregnant.”
I nod my head. Hurt and anger show on his face. A wave of guilt hits me that I don’t understand. “What the fuck is going on here, Kennedy?”
More banging comes from the door. “Winnie! Answer me.” Jill shouts even louder this time.
“I’m okay,” I shout back.
“Winnie?” He says my name, or I suppose the name Fawn had given me.
“I don’t know your name.” He closes his eyes for a long second. “I’m sorry.”
“What happened to you?” His big hands cup my face so very gently, his eyes searching for something he’s not going to find. I can’t find it either. I find myself leaning into his touch.
I jump when the door flies open, hitting the wall with a loud bang. The handsome man releases his hold on me, spinning around to not only face Jill but a few other locals.
“Do we need to call the police, Winnie?” Lisa asks. I start to shake my head no. This is the first time I’m getting somewhere. I need to know more.
“For fucking what?” I swallow at the hardness of his face. Jill doesn't look bothered by it.
“For accosting the damn girl, you asshole.”
“You can do whatever the hell you want. I’m leaving.” Wait, what? He’s leaving. Panic and doubt start to take over. He’s just going to leave me. Before I can ask, he grabs my hand, pulling me with him.
“I swear to Christ.” Jill tries to whack him with one of the menus, but he grabs it, pulling it from her hand tossing it to the side. “You’re not taking her anywhere.”
“Who’s going to fucking stop me? She belongs to me, and so does that baby in her stomach.”
Jill’s eyes go wide for a moment, not sure what to do with that information. I know the feeling.
He starts pulling me again. I follow after him, not sure where we are going, but he must have some kind of answers for me. He has to. He pulls me out of the diner and across the street.
“Key,” he barks at a tall blond man in all black. He tosses him a key. “In you go, precious.” He opens the passenger door to an SUV. I stand there, not sure I should get in with him.
“I don’t even know your name.” I tilt my head back to look at him. I notice a slight tick in his jaw. There is anger and frustration in his eyes.
“Dane Osborn, but everyone calls me Oz.”