“We were in Orlando. Home is Hudson, but you probably already know that. Now if you would just tell me where you were going in the middle of a tropical storm.”
“I don’t know. I told you that already.”
“Yes, yes you did. At least ten times. Now, I already told you, lay your seat back and rest.”
I did as I was told, moving the electronic buttons to a reclining positon. My eyes closed and I drew in a deep gulp of air, trying to slow my breathing, relax, and ease the pain in my ribs and my chest. That’s where it got me the most. Directly in my chest and down my right side. The cracked ribs, I supposed.
My eyes closed and my mind searched for answers. Every time I had asked about the girls, my own children, Paxton shot me down. He wouldn’t tell me anything about them. The only explanation I got was about why he hadn’t brought them to the hospital. He didn’t want to scare them. That was his reasoning. Other than that, I knew nothing. Not that I really tried all that hard. I didn’t feel like anyone’s mommy. I didn’t even ask to see a photo. I must be a horrible mother.
I didn’t move a muscle when I felt Paxton raise my dress above my knee, high on my thighs. My husband was a nympho. His wife had almost died, and all he had on his mind was sex. I kept my eyes closed and held my breath while he drove, caressing my leg with his hand. That’s when I noticed they were rough. Paxton actually worked for a living. The roughness abraded the skin on the inside of my tender leg. That surprised me a little, and I wondered what he did as a job. Of course I didn’t care enough to ask.
A burning ignited in the pit of my stomach when his hand crept up, moving farther until he could touch me. But he never did. He got very close, massaging my inner thigh all the way to the crease where my thigh met my groin, but he didn’t touch me there. I waited for it, but it never happened. His thumb swiped back and forth, but only my leg.
I peeked through a slit in my left eye when the car slowed, coming to a stop behind a semi-truck. I could tell by the buildings and the street that we had gotten off the highway and were in a town. I just didn’t know what town. My breathing halted and my heart stopped beating when he slipped my dress higher.
Paxton slid my panties to the side. My lids twittered but remained closed while I waited for the contact that never came. He never touched me. Not there anyway. He spread my good leg more and hissed. Even through the tiny slit, I could see the lustful desire in his eyes as he exposed me. It mortified me, but I pretended like it never happened. I never completely opened my eyes, didn’t even acknowledge that it occurred.
I knew one thing, and one thing only. As soon as I could manage it, I would be getting far, far away from Paxton Pierce. I would figure it out and find a way. I didn’t care what he said, or anyone else. I didn’t belong with—or to—Paxton. Maybe before, but not now. Not anymore. I would never be able to submit to this authoritative figure. I straight-up hated the guy and the way he took the circuitous route to show me who was boss. It wasn’t me, and there was absolutely nothing I could do about it.
For the time being.
Once Paxton the perve backed off, I think I dozed off after a while. It wasn’t long. I couldn’t rest because it quickly became unbearable.
The seat hummed as I pushed the button, bringing it to an upright position. “I have to take something, Pax—Paxton,” I sputtered, swift on the save. God, the pain. It was hard to think about anything but that. Dull in my lower back, sharp between my shoulders, piercing in my knee. I couldn’t take it much longer. I needed a pain pill and somewhere to lay down. I didn’t care where. Anywhere.
Paxton laced his fingers with mine and brought them to his lips. That hurt, too, bad enough for me to gasp and jerk my hand away. Just because it wasn’t the broken one, didn’t mean I could bend it that way yet. Jesus.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to hurt you. Are you okay?”
My neck hurt clear down my spine, but I pondered on the cause. Whiplash from his split personality, or from my car accident?
“I’m fine. How much longer?”
“Twenty minutes or so. You should start recognizing where we are real soon. Rowan’s dance class is right up here. One of your boundaries.”
I pinched the bridge of my nose, the pain too much to respond. My eyes remained closed until Paxton started pointing out landmarks.
Nothing looked familiar. Not one thing. Not the market where he claimed that I shopped, the dance studio I supposedly took my daughters to, the park we played at. Nothing.
“Do you remember?” Paxton questioned as the car turned right. Right into a very lovely area.
I shook my head back and forth while my nerves began to stand on end, interest increasing. It appeared we lived in an exceptionally nice neighborhood, a cul-de-sac with large lots. Paxton stopped at a four-way stop sign and then turned right again.
“Are we rich?” I blurted, my eyes widening.