Throne of Truth (Truth and Lies Duet #2)(7)

His eyes met mine as he licked his lips. “I was going to make us official tonight, but I’ve waited so fucking long to have you, Elle, I’ve become a bit of a sadist.”

He leaned in, brushing his mouth over my bruised cheekbone from the driveway gravel. “I’m so hard for you, but the anticipation of what I’m going to do to you is almost as good as doing it.”

Letting me go, he unbuttoned his shirt and tossed it on the floor, followed by his shoes, socks, and jeans. “For the next few hours, we’ll rest. And then...we’ll have some fun.”

He wasn’t lying that he wanted me. His cock stood proud in white boxers, mimicking a totem pole and flagstaff.

I tore my eyes away in disgust.

He chuckled under his breath. “Time to sleep, Elle. Tomorrow is a new day, and we have a shit-load of things to do.” Pulling the twine around my wrist, he guided me to the bed and pulled back the sheets. “Get in.”

My throat swelled with tears. The scream inside wanted to erupt and destroy—to summon help even though Greg had successfully laid a red herring and driven in a car I’d never seen before to a cabin he’d never mentioned.

We’d cut through forest and roads and small townships.

We were well and truly gone.

No one would come if I cried for help.

No one could save me but me.

When I didn’t move, he pushed me onto the mattress. I fell forward, flopping angrily onto my side and curling my legs up to hide as much of my lingerie-clad body as possible.

Greg stared down like a doting lover, running his finger over my jawline, tucking in a curl. “I can’t believe we’re here. Together.”

I arched away from his touch, trying to kill him with my stare. “We’re not together. I don’t want this. You’re forcing me. Don’t ever forget that I don’t want you. I never have and I never will.”

He stiffened. “You’ll take that back. You’ll see.”

“Wrong. It will only become more and more real the longer you keep me. I liked you before, Greg. I thought you were a nice friend. But now...now, I hate you.”

Clenching his jaw, he swiped the comforter from beneath my legs, making me roll a little. “Your lies are almost as bad as his were.”

The painful barb wriggled inside me as he gently placed the linen over me. His footsteps fell heavy on the floorboards as he turned out the light and climbed into bed.

I remained stiff and unyielding, but he spooned me, gathering me tight in his arms.

His erection prodded my ass, making me sick.

The memories of sleeping with Penn and the chemistry between us tried to replace my current situation. But even that wasn’t comforting. Penn had destroyed what I’d felt for him by being so terribly linked to my past.

He’d proven I couldn’t trust anyone.

Only my cat.

Thank goodness, Dad had taken Sage home tonight; otherwise, she’d be unfed and unloved.

God, Dad will panic when I don’t show for work tomorrow.

Fear about his heart pushed through me, ignoring my situation, tearing me into pieces about what this would do to him.

I swallowed my loathing, whispering in the dark. “Greg?”

He snuggled closer, his hips jamming forward. “Yes, baby?”

I shivered. “I’m not your baby.”

“You are now.”

I wouldn’t let him distract me with an argument I couldn’t win. “I need to call my father. You know he has heart issues. He needs to know I’m okay.”

His nose tickled the back of my neck. “He’ll survive.”

I tried to wriggle away, but his arms looped tighter. The damn rope around my wrist kept me pinned. “He’ll panic.”

“Not my problem.”

I shoved backward, rocking the bed. “It is your problem. And I’ll tell you why. If he dies because of the stress of what you’ve done, I’ll never stop trying to kill you. You have my undying promise that I will—”

He slapped a hand over my mouth, dragging my head backward until my skull wedged against his chin. “Hush. I’m trying to sleep.” His cock thrust against my ass. “If you’re a good girl, I might let you call him tomorrow. If you agree to our agreement.”

I tensed.

No way in hell would I willingly sleep with him, but if he held my father’s health as bribery, I would do what he wanted. I’d obey because I could never live with myself if Dad had another heart attack.

I hate you, Greg.

He kissed my cheek. “Now, no more talking.” Wrapping the string from my wrist around his fingers, he stroked my hair with a threat disguised as tenderness. “Goodnight, Elle. Tomorrow is going to be so much fun.”





Chapter Four


Penn


“SHE’S GONE, LARRY.”

I fought every instinct to crush my phone with furious fingers.

My heart, my blood, my motherfucking breath raced with adrenaline from bolting from my place to Elle’s and grabbing the security guard with the threat of a lawsuit if he didn’t let me into her apartment to make sure she was safe in bed and not taken as I feared.

He’d done what I asked.

Her bed was empty.

And now, I stood in her kitchen where red wine stained the floor, her phone and silver bag from the party—the same bag I’d shoved off the limo seat to pull her into my lap—sat sadly on the counter.