“Will ...” I trailed off.

Jay waited in the silence I’d created. Didn’t probe. Didn’t ask any questions. Just patiently waited.

“Will I have to testify against him?” I asked finally. The mere thought of having to walk into a courtroom, have to have another minute of my life controlled by this horrific incident was sickening. But, of course, I’d do it. I’d do it if it meant the bastard would be locked up. Punished. I’d do it to make sure that what he did to me didn’t happen to another woman, one who wouldn’t get saved in the nick of time.

“No,” Jay said. “It’s going to be taken care of.”

He was going to take care of it. I had no idea how that was going to happen. Though my knowledge of legal proceedings came from the show Suits, I knew that a lot went in to prosecuting someone for attempted rape. I also knew that the victim needed to provide statements. That was me. The victim. So I had no fucking clue how Jay was going to take care of this. I should’ve asked. But I didn’t. I just trusted Jay.

This made absolutely no sense. I didn’t know this man. I’d been in his presence twice, including right now. There was nothing about him that should’ve made me trust him. There was a darkness to him. A danger. But there was something else too. Something that I couldn’t explain. Something inside of me instantly responding to, connecting to this man.

He was dangerous, yes.

But not to me. Not in this moment at least.

“Okay,” I murmured.

“You’re going to have a shower now,” Jay stated. “Follow me.”

My heels clicked against hardwood floors as I did what he ordered. He led me out of the kitchen area to a wide hallway with many doors on each side. All closed. It smelled of him.

He opened the third one on the left. It was a bedroom. Nice. Exceptionally so. I didn’t take much notice of the décor, instead, I focused on his shoulders. His back.

We walked into the en suite off the bedroom. It was also impressive. Larger than my living room. Everything was white, and there was a tub big enough to swim in.

“I’ll leave some new clothing for you to change into on the bed,” Jay said.

I nodded. “Thank you.”

He made to leave.

“For everything,” I whispered. “Thank you.”

He paused his exit, peering up at me with eyes the color of gemstones. “I did this for more selfish reasons than you think, Stella,” he replied before walking out, closing the door quietly behind him.

I spent a long time in the shower. Standing there, letting the water mix with my tears. Shaking as I washed every inch of my body until it was red and near raw. The scene replayed in my mind over and over, and I had to place my fingers on the white tile to remind myself where I was.

Safe.

Jay had left clothing on the bed like he’d promised. Cashmere sweats. In my size. I wondered whether he had an entire portion of his closet filled with women’s clothing in various sizes for his female guests. For his one-night stands. Arrangements.

I wondered why the fuck I was here.

My hand settled on the comforter of the bed, an elegant, smooth fabric. Inviting. There was a TV perched on the wall in front of me with two armchairs facing it. The room was expensively appointed. Everything in soft shades of white and beige. It felt very feminine. Definitely not Jay’s bedroom.

The cashmere slipped over my body like butter. I half expected the delicate knit to catch on my rough edges, but those were only on the inside.

There was a bottle of Fiji water on the nightstand alongside a glass. The bottle was unopened along with the bottle of Advil beside it. My hands shook as I unscrewed the cap and took three small pills. I was sure my throbbing head would thank me.

My purse was on the bed along with my phone. I was scrolling through Wren’s messages when a light knock sounded at the door.

“Come in,” I called out, my voice still rough and weak.

Jay entered, looking almost comical in this room, the blackness of his suit and his freaking aura like a shadow descending upon the room.

“My friend,” I explained, holding my phone up. “Sending her a signal that you haven’t tied me up in the basement or anything.” The joke was lame and weak. Jay didn’t laugh. I wondered if he’d done that before. If that’s what he did with women. Tied them up.

I swallowed roughly.

“She knows your location,” Jay said. Not as a question, but I nodded anyway. “Smart,” he commented. “You haven’t eaten.”

I shook my head. “I can’t.” The thought of food roiled my stomach.

Instead of trying to argue with me about it or tell me what I needed, Jay stayed silent. “Sleep is a good idea.”

Tags: Anne Malcom The Klutch Duet Erotic
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