“And then what? I’ll be your own personal little toy?” She seethed out the words, not bothering to hide the disgust and hatred in her voice.
He pushed away from her and crossed his arms over his chest. “I want a companion for the road. It’s been a lonely five months since the infection spread.”
“I’m not going to escape these assholes just to be strapped with another one.”
He chuckled and slid his eyes up and down her body once more. She was filthy, but he looked at her like she was a damn T-bone steak and he was a starving carnivore.
He grinned, and it made her feel even dirtier. “I can protect you just as well as those two assholes you were traveling with.” He was silent for a suspended moment, and the sound of the men talking loudly and bragging about the nauseous things they planned on doing to her had the threat of vomit rising up. “You really don’t have any other options here, princess. You can either take me up on my offer or these bastards behind me are going to fuck you every which way, and I guarantee it won’t be pleasurable.” She looked over his shoulder. Did she actually think Mason and Asher would come for her? They had only known her for a handful of days, and Mason didn’t even want her on the road with them. He was probably glad she was gone. Asher had been kind to her, but the two men had been together for far longer, had a bond, and she was just the third wheel, a woman tagging along.
But they saved you from the infected, asked you to tag along, and even seemed concerned when these barbarians took you.
She exhaled loudly. All of that was true, but then again, why would they risk their lives for someone they hardly knew? Rescuing her now was far different from thrusting a knife in one of the sick. These men were alive and packing some serious firepower. Sparrow wasn’t a naïve fool in thinking this man wasn’t just as deranged as the rest, but what other choice did she have? She had to believe in herself, had to trust that when this was all said and done, she would be able to leave and be on her own. She would try; that was for sure.
“Okay, since I don’t really have a choice, at least not one I want.” He didn’t smile, didn’t gloat, and instead nodded once and leaned in close. She held her breath when their mouths were only an inch apart. “What are you doing?” she hissed. He pressed his body fully against hers, and she closed her eyes and stayed still. This man was attractive, hard and strong and clearly sure of himself, but she didn’t want any part of his sick plans for “company.”
There wasn’t any fire inside her like she felt when she was with Mason and Asher. It was ludicrous to have such feelings for one man she met, let alone two, but none of that mattered anymore, because they were long gone for sure, and Sparrow needed to think about her future. She was tired, but not tired enough to give up on life.
“I have to make it look convincing.” He moved his hands around the trunk until he was gripping her wrists. “I have to make them think I’m on board with what they have planned.” A shiver of fear worked through her. She could feel his erection, but he didn’t press it against her or rub himself on her body like some kind of motherfucker. Instead, he started working with the rope that bound her wrists together. “Contrary to what you might think, I don’t rape women. It might have been a long fucking time since I’ve felt anything as soft as you, and even though I consider myself a monster, I won’t hurt a woman.”
“Damn, look at Collin getting all into the bitch. We gotta draw straws, man.” There was a chorus of laughter, and he lifted his head and looked over his shoulder. His profile showed his wide smile.
“I’m just sampling. Nothing wrong with that, boys.” There was a murmuring of agreement, and then the assholes went back to talking about all the nasty things they planned on doing to her and slugging back even more alcohol. When he turned back and looked at her, his smile fell instantly. He eyed the side of her face, the area that still throbbed after that fat fuck back at the shop punched her, and she clenched her teeth together. He didn’t say anything, just continued to work at the knot of the rope. When she felt it loosen and finally slacken, he stopped and leaned back once more.
He moved one of his hands between their bodies, and her eyes widened when he lifted the front of his shirt. But he wasn’t going for the button of his jeans and instead showed her the small handgun that had been tucked into the waistband of his pants. The way his body was positioned made it so everything else was blocked from her view, but then again, he was a big guy with wide shoulders.