Buttons and Lace (Buttons 1)

If I went home with him tonight, I’d have to get underneath him. He would shove a dildo up my ass then fuck my pussy. He would probably gag me so my cries were muffled. He wouldn’t use lubrication, just to hurt me. The only way to avoid it was for me to rub my clit and try to think of sexy things, to think about Jacob when the sex was good. Then his cock wouldn’t hurt so much, but he’d assume I was wet for him—when I was just repulsed.

I couldn’t go back to that.

I didn’t want to.

I had to get out of there—tonight.

“Excuse me, I need to use the restroom.” I rose to my feet and waited for him to stop me. I expected him to grab my wrist and drag me back down.

But he let me go.

I walked away and felt my back muscles tense as I headed to the stairs. I wondered if he was watching me, looking at my ass shake in my gown. I wondered if he really trusted me.

I didn’t have a chance to second-guess it. I kept going.

I reached the end of the staircase and gave a quick sweep of the place. No one looked at me. No one paid attention to me. There didn’t seem to be any men hovering around—at least not the kind Bones employed.

And that’s when I spotted the man by the bar.

In a crisp dark suit, he leaned against the counter with one hand in his pocket. He wore a gray collared shirt underneath, along with a teal-colored tie. It had a pattern on it, but it was too intricate for me to determine. His black suit reminded me of the men who came to visit Bones. But that soothing tie was something none of the men would wear.

At over six feet, he was a tall man. He had long legs with muscled thighs, and his shoulders were wide like the wingspan of an eagle. He had long fingers, masculine and strong. His body was lean and tight, compacted with muscle, skin, and tendons. He seemed athletic, the type of man who didn’t put on weight no matter how much scotch he drank.

My eyes trailed up his neck, searching for danger in his look. He had a strong jaw, rugged and rigid. His five o’clock shadow looked scruffy. If I brushed my hand against it, I would feel the friction. His lips were interesting. They were thin and hard-pressed, making him appear distinctly dissatisfied by something.

When I examined his face, I realized he was looking at me. He turned his moss-green eyes on me, examining me like he knew exactly who I was. His dark brown hair was short, carefully styled to make him look sleek and graceful. Despite how calm and suave he seemed, his eyes were unforgiving.

He was beautiful.

And terrifying.

I turned my head, even though it was too late to act like I hadn’t seen him. He didn’t seem like he worked for Bones. But that didn’t mean he didn’t have his own evil agenda.

Was anyone in this country a good person?

I entered the bathroom and felt the door shut behind me. There were no feet under the stalls, and that’s when I realized I was alone.

Alone.

I did it. I made it. My hands shook in excitement. I forgot how to breathe because I could taste freedom on my tongue. My plan to trick Bones succeeded, and I was going to get away.

I was going to make it.

There was a window high above the sinks. It wasn’t wide, but it was long. If I could crawl up there and slide it open, I could squeeze through. It probably led to the ground above the auditorium. All I had to do was throw my heels aside and run.

Without further thought, I kicked off my shoes.

“Don’t do it.”

I nearly jumped out of my skin when I heard him. He locked the door before he came farther into the room. The teal tie matched my dress. If we knew each other, we would look like dates. He only said three words, but his eyes said a lot more.

“You work for Bones?”

He didn’t answer me. “This plan is stupid. The second you crawl out that window, his men will see you. And he’ll kill you.”

How did he know what I was doing? How did he know about Bones’s men? Why was he warning me? “Who the hell are you?”

“Do your business then go back.”

“Why should I trust you?” I couldn’t go back to that terrifying man. I couldn’t.

“I didn’t tell you to trust me. You should never trust anyone. How do you think you got into this mess in the first place?”

“Excuse me?” I snapped. “Are you helping me or insulting me?”

“I was never helping you. Only insulting. Now do what I say, or you’ll regret it.”