Love Beyond Reason(18)
He winked at her before he turned around to lean over a desk drawer. Katherine took one hesitant step toward the door. To cover her movement she said, "Anything is fine with me. Whatever you're having."
"I love an uncomplicated wo- man." He straightened, holding a bottle of cheap liquor in one hand and two dusty glasses in the other. Katherine recognized them as those that were used in the campus cafeteria and wan- ted to laugh hysterically. Mr. Ronald Welsh didn't waste any money on his seductions.
"Come over here and sit beside me, Katherine. I want you to relax." He settled his bulky frame on the small sofa and patted the cushion.
Other than making a mad dash for the door which was across the room, Katherine had no choice. She would have to bide her time until she saw an opportunity for escape. But would such an opportunity come before it was too late? On shaky knees she went to the sofa and sat down beside him.
The sweet odor of the thick hair oil, his sweat, and the reeking liquor he was extending toward her almost made her retch. But she smiled and raised the glass to her lips. Her drinking habits were limited to wine or drinks that camouflaged the taste of liquor. She could barely swallow her tentative sip of the raw, burning rye.
"I like girls who wear dresses. You've never come to work in anything but a skirt or a dress." He placed his sweaty palm on her knee and began inching it up by small degrees. This couldn't be happening to her!
"A lot of men don't like panty hose, but I do. I find panty hose incredibly sexy, Katherine." His hand was under her skirt now, sliding higher and pressing harder. Beads of perspiration dotted his upper lip.
"Please, Mr. ... Ronald—" Her voice came out high and squeaky. His next move took her completely by surprise.
He lunged at her, forcing her backward on the sofa. He fell on top of her, knocking the breath out of her. His heavy hand reached for the front of her silk shirt, and the breast pocket came away in his fist as she jerked out of his grasp.
"You can't fool me, Katherine. You want this as much as I do," he grunted. "Go ahead and scream if you want to. No one will hear you."
He was panting, or was that her own ragged breath that echoed in her head as she struggled under his crushing weight. "No ... oh, God ... you're mad ... please, no."
He grabbed the front of her shirt and ripped it apart, sending buttons flying. He tried vainly to open the front clasp of her bra, but when his frantic fingers couldn't manage that, he impatiently broke the plastic fastener.
His mouth crashed down on hers. His thick lips pulled at hers, and, when she bit them, he raised one hand and slapped a stinging blow across her cheek.
Her tender breasts were exposed to his rough handling. Katherine cried out in pain as he scratched them and kneaded them with bruising pinches.
When his lips left hers to bury themselves in her neck, she screamed with her last ounce of strength. The piercing sound was joined with that of breaking glass and splintering wood.
Over Ronald Welsh's bulky shoulder, she saw Jace's booted foot give one final kick, and the door swung open under the impact. He was on Ronald in three long strides.
Grabbing the other man by the collar of his coat, Jace pulled him off Katherine and flung him into the opposite wall.
"You bastard!" Jace growled as he crammed his fist into Ronald's stupefied face. Katherine heard the sickening crunch of a nose breaking and saw blood spurt out of the smashed feature.
She sobbed hysterically as Jace continued to pummel Ronald's sagging body. He was no longer coherent and slowly slumped against the wall, supported only by Jace's grip on the front of his blood- splattered shirt.
Jace shoved his fist into Ronald's belly one last time and then let him go. With a deep, animal moan, Ronald collapsed into a heap on the floor.
Jace stood over the still form, his chest and shoulders heaving in exertion. He raked one sleeve across his forehead and then slowly turned toward Katherine.
She managed to sit upright, but felt that at any moment she was going to start screaming and never stop.
Jace knelt down in front of her and smoothed back the tangled hair from her white face. "Katherine?" he asked softly. "Katherine, are you all right?" His face was filled with such anxious concern that when she saw it, she was unable to contain the tears that flooded her eyes, and they spilled down her cheeks.
"Y-yes," she nodded. He wiped the tears away with his fingers and rested his palm against the red mark on her face. His lips formed a hard, grim line.
"I'll be right back. I want to get—" He made a motion to get up, but she clutched his shoulders with desperate hands.
"No! Please Jace, don't leave me alone in here with him. I can't stand it. Please." She was becoming hysterical and couldn't stem the flow of words.
Jace pulled her to him and cradled her head against his shoulder. He stroked the back of her head reassuringly.
"Hush, hush. It's okay. I won't leave you, Katherine. I promise. Hush now. I was only going to find something to write on. The president of this august institution is going to hear about this tonight. But I guess a telephone call will be even better."
Jace maintained his hold on her as he drew her up. He balanced the trembling body against his as he picked up her purse on the desk, then swept her into his arms and carried her out of the building into the quiet evening. It was already dark and the campus of Van Buren College was deserted.