Page 81 of Scarred Souls
He was probably right, but I had to try.
“You’re not the first asshole I’ve escaped.” I snatched up a handful of sand and pitched it in Vaughn’s face.
Then I dashed. Judging by the furious growl behind me, the sand had found its way into Grim’s eyes. That only gave me a few seconds’ head start, but I’d take it.
My arms pumped. My legs moved with a speed I’d never known I had as I dodged palm fronds and jumped over low shrubs. I needed to make it back to the house. Dee had guns inside. If I locked the doors and grabbed one, I had a chance to defend myself.
“Hope, goddammit. Stop!”
He was so close. The house came into view, but I wasn’t going to make it. I needed a weapon right now.
I grabbed a shovel from beside the vegetable patch and spun to face Vaughn. “Don’t come any closer.”
He skidded to a halt on the sandy path, palms outstretched in a placating gesture. “Put that down.”
I shifted on my feet with the shovel tight in my sweaty grip. “I can’t believe I trusted you.” I hated the way my voice cracked. “You said you’d protect me.”
“I am protecting you!”
“Bullshit!” I launched forward and swung the shovel at his head.
Vaughn ducked, then moved out of range again. “You don’t want to listen, Gatita? You’d rather fight me?”
My lip curled in a vicious sneer. Yes, I wanted to fight him. I’d love nothing more than to clock him over the head and leave him sprawled on the sand. I was so mad that he’d deceived me.
I answered Vaughn’s question by swinging the shovel at him again. This time, he stepped in and caught the wooden handle. With a fierce growl, he tore it from my hands and flung it to the ground. His furious expression sent a tremor through me.
On jelly legs, I bolted again, with Vaughn hot on my trail. The dogs barked like crazy as I sprinted toward their large pen. Inside the house, behind the screen door, Titan anxiously watched the commotion unfold.
Almost home.
Then a pair of arms clamped around me like steel bands. Vaughn tackled me to the sand, both of us landing on our hip and shoulder.
I squirmed in his bear hug, my back plastered to his hard chest. My legs kicked like my life depended on it.
Vaughn rolled and maneuvered me so I was trapped beneath him. Both of us gasped for air. I fought him with all my strength, but as soon as I had my hands free, he pinned them above my head with one of his.
“Let me go!” I spat.
Sand covered his neck. Wayward strands of dark hair hung over his slick brow.
“Nah. Don’t think I will.” He gave me a sly grin, which only made me want to scratch his goddamn eyes out. “You should know better than to run. It’s my favorite kind of foreplay.”
I writhed beneath him, hating the way his scent and hard body felt familiar. Hating the way I still found comfort in it.
A golf ball–sized lump worked its way into my throat. Foolishly, the part that stung the most was that I’d allowed myself to catch feelings for Vaughn. Feelings he couldn’t possibly share. Otherwise, he’d never hurt me like this.
A tear slipped from the corner of my eye, and I wished like hell the waterworks would stop. I wasn’t a crier.
“Oh, Gatita.” Vaughn’s rough finger traced the path the tear had taken. “Is this for me? Did I break your heart?”
I jerked my face away from his touch. “Screw you!”
His gaze darted to my lips. “That can be arranged.” And then his hips pressed into mine, grinding his hardness against me.
A fireball of heat shot straight to my core. No. No. I wouldn’t allow him to elicit that response from me after what he’d done. I despised him. He represented everything I loathed in this world. Vaughn was just another violent man who wanted to use me for his own gain. I didn’t want him. I refused to want him. Yet when he arched into me again, I shivered and a small whimper left my lips.
Brain to body: check your fucking messages! The asshole wedged between your thighs is your enemy.