I jumped at the sound of his voice. It was close. Too close. And...different.
My skin prickled, a knot coiling in my stomach. The niggling in my gut that I’d ignored before was screaming at me now, but it was too late. Liam was going to kill me, and I couldn’t blame him. I was an idiot.
“I...um, maybe I should wait out there. Someone might need me. Why don’t I go back out, and you can ask them to come out so we can talk.”
“Go in, Jenna.”
I spun around and tried to push past him, ready to run back out that door kicking and screaming if I had to. But before I could take a single step, he grabbed me.
“Hel—”
His hand slammed into my face, snapping my head back. Pain and panic surged through me, but before I could react, his arm locked around my chest and his hand clamped over my mouth. His other arm wrapped around my hips, pinning my arms to my sides and my body against his. His fingers dug into me. His erection stabbed into my back.
No. God, no.
I tried to buck and twist away. Tried to wrench my arms free. Tried to headbutt and kick and bite and elbow and do a heel strike, but his grip was punishing and unbreakable. All my struggling did was make me rub against his penis.
There was no room to move, no room to fight. Trapped like a helpless child, he carried me into the sensory room, away from the door, away from escape.
My heart raced and my chest heaved, burning and aching, frantically trying to pull in air through his thick, clammy fingers.
“Breathe, darling. Breathe through your nose.” His voice oozed over me, stealing the last bit of air from my lungs. I desperately wanted to refuse, but I needed oxygen more desperately.
I forced my body to relax, to push back the panic and breathe through my nose, and when some of the pressure in my chest eased, I tried to yell again, but he tightened his hand in a jaw-crushing grip.
A whimper tried to escape, and tears streamed down my face. I thrashed harder. Or tried to anyway. His arms were like steel manacles around me.
He laughed, low and menacing, his hot, wet breath heavy in my ear. “That’s my good girl, I knew you’d be fun. Relax, though. I don’t want to hurt you. Not yet.”
Panic clawed at my insides. He was insane. And so strong. And his penis...
Liam, where are you? Hurry, please.
“Do you know who I am?”
I might not be able to fight him, but I wouldn’t play along. I kicked and writhed mutely.
“I said, do you know who I am?” His voice was angry now.
I didn’t. But even if I did, with his hand wrenching at my face and fear wrenching at my heart, I couldn’t speak anyway.
His hand around my hips was gone suddenly, but before I could do anything, his fist plowed into my stomach.
My body jerked, trying to fold in on itself, but he held me in place against him, gasping and heaving. My stomach spasmed like it was trying to force its way up my throat.
“Shush, darling,” he purred. “Take a deep breath. You’re okay.”
Pain and dizziness blurred my vision. It felt like he was moving, but I couldn’t see. Couldn’t breathe.
No Jenna, don’t panic.I had to be ready to fight.
Long, horrifying moments later, the sharp pain faded to an ache and I finally dragged in air. I looked around, but nothing made sense. I blinked, trying to focus.
Oh crap. We were on the floor in the middle of the construction, and he had me cradled on his lap, my arms pinned to my sides. One of his hands clamped over my mouth, the other wrapped around my legs, and his penis jabbed my butt.
I tried to scramble away, but I was a minnow in the jaws of a great white. And we were alone. I was a fool. The other guys weren’t here—not doing any construction, and not to save me. But at least it wasn’t all of them against me.
“I’m sorry for hitting you. Let’s try again. Do you know who I am?”