Page 33 of Unbound

I shut my eyes, letting my head drift back against the tiles as he makes his way down to my entrance, fingers swiping through my sensitive lips. I suck in a sharp inhale when the building pressure climbs much faster than I expected.

There’s no way. I can’t possibly come again.

Sterling seems to disagree. He keeps moving his fingers over me, pinching my clit between his index and middle fingers and teasing me. I grip his shoulders to steady myself. His head dips to start kissing the side of my neck.

“You’re secretly a greedy, greedy girl. Your body responds to me like a woman starving for touch, so willing and ready. You like the way my fingers feel, don’t you, baby?”

I whimper a yes.

“Are you ready to come for me again?” his deep voice rumbles into the skin of my shoulder.

I cry out as the wave of pleasure crashes through my heated frame. His filthy mouth does it to me every time, making me obey him instantly. My body collapses against the cool tiles, his hand supporting me as he pulls it out from between my legs and grabs my shoulder.

“Mmm, good girl. I think I’m addicted to making you come.”

I open my eyes to see him smirking as he grabs the showerhead to rinse my body off. I try to regain my composure, wondering how I’ll ever be able to handle him leaving for months.

He’s not yours.

But I really want to pretend he is, just for a little bit longer.

Duke and Sterling plan to go to the shooting range for some one-on-one brother time. Sterling asks me five different times throughout the morning if I’m okay with being left alone for a while. I reassure him as best I can that I’m completely fine, and I have some books to exchange at the library anyway.

Two hours after they leave, I grab my tote bag with the three Regency romance novels I devoured last week and put on my tennis shoes.

I open the door and make my way down the sidewalk. It starts sprinkling, the chilly November air making me wrap my arms around myself. The library isn’t far, so I pick up my pace to hopefully get there before the rain comes down any harder.

Once I’m a little over halfway, a truck drives by. Instead of continuing on, it slows down beside me. I ignore it at first, thinking the driver must be turning into a nearby driveway.

After a few more steps, I glance over, my heart falling out of my chest when I see Michael’s face behind the wheel through the open window.

“You need a ride, sweetheart?” he says.

My heart hammers in my chest as I spin around and take off running back to the house. I haven’t run since I’ve gotten pregnant, and I was never much of an athlete before. I hear the truck tires screeching over the pavement as he turns it around.

I don’t look back. My breath is coming in quick little bursts as I see the house two blocks away. I’m pumping my arms as fast as I can go, hoping I don’t trip and fall when I see the truck beside me. I drop the bag to lighten my load.

His brake lights glow red, and he jumps out of the vehicle. I slow to a stop, my heart in my throat as Michael approaches me with a cruel smile twisting his lips.

“Where you running off to? That’s my baby, you bitch.”

His hand reaches out to snatch my forearm. I jerk it back, but it’s no use. He drags me toward the passenger side of the truck. The vehicle must still be in drive because it’s slowly inching forward. He jerks open the door and shoves me inside.

He moves around to the other side. I’m hyperventilating, fear spiking in my veins. Tears are building behind my eyes.

Michael jumps into the driver’s side of the vehicle and slams his hand on the steering wheel. “Dammit! Why would you run from me? I just wanted to talk, Eden. I’ve missed you like hell since you ran off. You’re always fucking running away!”

He drives right past the house. I debate opening the door and jumping out, but it might hurt the baby.

I still don’t even know if it’s a boy or a girl. I might never find out.

He choked me until I nearly passed out last time. If he does it again, it could be the last time. I’ve read the statistics. I know my chances of survival at this point are slim.

Think of the baby. Don’t panic.

I release a steady, controlled exhale, leaning back against the seat.

“Look, I just wanted to talk about the baby. I had to hire someone to find you. You got married, Eden? Really? You’re pregnant with my baby and living with another man! All this time, I thought you were a good girl, but it turns out, you’re actually just a whore.”