Stepping into the bedroom, my mouth feels like death.
Lips dry and chapped and tongue desperate for water, but all of that is forgotten when I see the bag laid open on the mattress.
Stacks of money inside.
I can’t even guess how much is in there, I’ve never seen so much money in my life. My heart races inside my chest.
“What’s this?” I croak, trying not to run to the money and hug it.
“You say you love me,” he says, staring at me, dissecting my reaction.
“You can either stay with me, love me, earn your own way in life, or you can take this money and leave. But Alice…” He says my name like a warning.
My eyes dart to his and a shiver snakes up my spine.
“If you take the money, you must run with it, because I will hunt you at some point and come for what’s mine.”
There’s a predatory gleam in his eye and I know he means what he says.
I must have played the loved up schoolgirl better than I thought, for him to actually give me the options. Grazing my eyes over Erik’s stiff form, I sigh internally.
I’ll miss the sex. No one has fucked me like Erik Ross has. But he’s a fool to think I’m capable of love.
Going over the last thing he said in my mind I swallow the dry stone lodged in the back of my throat and ask, “What’s yours? You mean the money?”
Narrowing his eyes, the corner of his mouth lifts up. “No. You, little bird.”
Will he actually let me leave with this money?
As I take a step towards it, he closes his eyes and then opens them.
The pupils swallow the color, and he transform before me, a cold barrier shutting down over his features.
His hand snaps out and grasps my throat, dragging my tired, worn-out body to his.
My hands come up to hold his wrist, yet there’s no point fighting him. He will win.
Catching me off guard, he crushes his lips to mine, devouring me.
His other hand begins frantically tearing at the shirt I’m wearing until it’s hanging off me in shreds.
Lifting me off my feet by my neck and throwing me down on the bed, I choke and gasp for air, gaining only enough to keep me conscious.
He slides his hand from my neck up to cover my mouth.
The beautiful features of his face contort into an angry sneer.
I want to tear his hand away and laugh at how easy it was to play him.
Ripping down the shorts I’m wearing he nudges my thighs open with his knee, and I obey, spreading them for him.
Take your fill before I’m gone forever.
He pulls his cock from his slacks and rams into me without mercy.
It’s burns and hurts.
He offers me no pleasure, his hand smothering my cries of pain.
Asshole.
He takes my body like he owns it, lips exploring, teeth marking my flesh, drawing blood.
Rough hands grip my hip so tight I know his bruises will take weeks to heal.
He fucks me so hard we’ve moved across the bed and almost tumble off the other side.
Skin slapping skin and angry grunts echo through the house.
When he finally finds his release it’s intense and fast. Hot, warm come pumps into me, filling me up.
And then a cold whoosh of air replaces the heat of his body on mine as he abandons me.
My body trembles and my eyes burn with tears from the pain of his intrusion.
I look up at him, standing over the bed with his cock still dripping.
And I have to hold in the smug smile trying to push away my tears.
This was so easy.
“You’ve been an expensive whore, Alice. Now get the fuck out,” he growls before leaving the room.
My lungs constrict and fire heats my cheeks.
Quickly getting to my feet, I grasp the scraps of clothes, grab the handles of the bag, rush from his house, and don’t stop until I get home.
Asher is fixing his bike up in the yard when I make it back home.
He drops his rag and tool to the floor when he takes in my appearance.
“Alice, what the fuck happened to you?”
“Nothing,” I can’t help the pounding in my chest, like the chase has already begun.
Asher follows me inside and up the stairs.
“What’s in the bag?” he asks, his tone taking on a biting edge.
“My future. Now get out of my way, I need to pack and change,” I say as I absentmindedly discard Erik’s clothes and pull on a pair of panties and bra, all the while feeling Asher’s burning gaze on me.
“You leaving?”
“Yes, Asher, and don’t act like you’ll miss me,” I scoff.
Grabbing my arm he forces me to turn to him.
“Where are you going?” he demands. “What the fuck are those bruises on your neck, Alice? Did that bastard do that to you?”
“No! He gave me a life. One away from this place, from you, from that fucking bitch of a cousin… and I’m never coming back, Ash,” I state, tugging my arm free and throwing some sweats on.