Alex Kava Bundle - Alex Kava [129]
Nevertheless, when the car pulled off the road and slid into the clearing overlooking the river, the panic crawled through her, sending a shiver down her back. Her empty stomach churned. She felt light-headed again. No, she couldn’t pass out. Something told her that if an unwilling woman couldn’t stop Eddie, neither could an unconscious one.
Eddie cut the engine and extinguished the headlights. The dark engulfed them as though they hovered in it, looking down on black ruffled treetops, the glittering river below. Only the sliver of moon added a pathetic reassurance that the darkness couldn’t swallow everything.
“Well, here we are,” Eddie said, turning toward her expectantly, but staying behind the wheel.
Her foot found the beer bottle, and she kept it from sliding under the seat. Without the car’s inside panel lights, it was too dark to see his face. She heard a wrapper crackle, followed by a slap. Then a match sizzled, the smell of sulfur attacking her nostrils as he lit a cigarette.
“Mind if I have one of those?”
In the light of his cigarette, she saw the twisted smile. He handed her one, lit another match and waited for her. The match burned down close to his fingers. By the time he lit hers, he ended up scorching his fingertips.
“Damn,” he muttered and shook his hand. “I hate matches. Lost my lighter someplace.”
“I didn’t know you smoked.” She inhaled, waiting, hoping the nicotine could calm her.
“I’m trying to quit.”
“Me, too.” She smiled at him. See, they did have something in common. She could do this, couldn’t she? By now her eyes had adjusted to the dark, and she could see him. She wondered if it would have been easier if she hadn’t been able to see him. He looked so cool and calm, his arm stretched out over the cracked seat. She needed to stay cool and calm, too. Maybe she could, at least, keep the situation from getting violent. “Do you really know where Timmy is?”
“Maybe,” he answered in a puff of smoke. “What are you willing to do to find out?” He moved his arm across the seat until his stubby fingers brushed her hair, then wandered across her cheek, swooping down to her neck.
“How do I know this isn’t just some trick?”
“You don’t.”
His fingers slid under her coat collar, unbuttoning and pulling the coat open until he could see her blouse and skirt. Her skin crawled under his touch. It was difficult not to grimace. Even the nicotine couldn’t help.
“That’s not really fair, Eddie. There has to be something in it for me.”
He pretended to look hurt. “I would hope your incredible orgasm would be enough.”
His fingertips brushed across her breasts. It was all she could do to stop from slamming her body against the side of the car, bolting from his reach. Instead, she sat perfectly still. Don’t think, she told herself. Shut off. But she wanted to scream when his hand fondled her breast, squeezing her nipple, watching and smiling at it growing hard and erect under his touch.
He put out his cigarette and scooted closer so that his other hand could assault her thigh. The stubby fingers slithered up, and she watched as they disappeared under her skirt. She refused to part her thighs for him, and this time he laughed, his breath sour in her face.
“Come on, Christine, relax.”
“I’m just nervous.” Her voice quivered, and he seemed pleased. “Do you have protection?”
“Don’t you use anything?” He shoved his hand between her thighs.
“I haven’t…” It was hard to think with his rough gropes. She wanted to throw up. “I haven’t been with anyone since Bruce.”
“Really?” His fingers poked at her, pulling at her underwear to allow him access. “Well, I don’t use condoms.”
She couldn’t breathe. “I’m afraid we can’t do this if you don’t.”
He obviously mistook her breathlessness for excitement.
“That’s okay,” he said, running the fingertips of his other hand over her lips and pushing his thumb into her mouth. “There’s other things we can do.”
Her stomach lurched. Would she throw up? She couldn’t…couldn’t afford to make