“Where are you taking me?”
“My out-of-the-way place. Someplace no one will hear you scream for me.”
Those ominous words sent a chill through her frozen body. So cold, she couldn’t even hold onto the saddle pommel to keep herself steady. Her blue fingers refused to move. She tried not to lean into him or scoot her bottom further into his groin. No use, her body wouldn’t do what her brain told it to do. She slumped against him, barely able to stay upright at all. It only took a minute to realize exactly what was pressed against her bottom. He rubbed against her backside. He moved in the saddle far more than the horse’s gait made necessary.
She cringed and shoved her elbow into his belly. He ignored her. “Stop,” she yelled, panicked this had gone too far.
“You are one fine piece of ass. I’m going to fuck you good. You’ll be warm and hot in no time, baby.” He nibbled on her neck and bit hard enough to get her to settle down, making her scream in pain.
“Stop,” she begged. He didn’t. Last resort—if she couldn’t stop him, she’d stop the horse. She grabbed the reins and tugged hard, hurting the poor animal. She hated to be aggressive with the horse, but she had to get away from Ken.
The horse skidded to a jarring stop. She swung her leg over the horse’s neck, breaking Ken’s hold, and fell hard to the ground. Lightning shot up her feet and legs when she landed. She let her shoulder take the brunt of her fall as she tipped over like a felled tree onto the dirt and grass. She tried to keep her face from skidding in the dirt, but it was just no use. She could barely move anymore. The shaking and the cold went down to her bones. She might just shatter into a million pieces. She wondered if she’d ever be warm again.
Ken dismounted a few feet away, closed the distance, rolled her over, and sat on her hips. He ripped open her shirt, buttons popping as he spread it wide.
Blake, her mind screamed. She didn’t have the energy to scream herself.
Ken leaned down and kissed her. She tried to turn away, so he grabbed her jaw and held her in place. “You cost me my job. Time to pay up.” He smashed his mouth to hers again, and then he licked her cheek, her jaw locked tightly in his grasp.
“Yeah, you taste like honey.”
No way she let this asshole defile her.
No way she let another man tear her down when she had a man who wanted to lift her up.
The fury gave her strength. She reached between them and grabbed his balls, squeezing as hard as she could. He bellowed and grabbed her wrist, pulling her hand away, but she held on as long as she could. His whole face flushed red with rage.
She threw a right cross and hit him in the eye. He fell back but came forward. She used the last of her energy to rear up and head-butt him in the cheek. She fell back, exhaustion stealing the last of her energy. Her head hurt like hell. Ken’s fist rushed toward her face, until a flash of brown leather crossed her blurry vision and Blake’s boot connected with Ken’s jaw. The bastard fell off her and landed in the dirt.
Ken rolled to his knees, spit blood, swiped the back of his hand across his mouth, and jumped to his feet to take on Blake.
Blake saw red. A kick in the face was just the beginning. Blake stalked Ken. Not finished with the fight, out for blood, he’d bury the bastard.
In a mindless rage, Blake went after Ken and punched him in the mouth. He ignored the sting in his knuckles, cocked his arm back, and swung again, clipping Ken in the eye Gillian had already made swell. Ken fell back but came out swinging, nailing a shot into Blake’s gut. Blake pushed Ken back by the shoulder and returned the favor. Ken stayed on his feet, but Blake swung again and got him in the jaw, sending his head snapping to the side before he caught his balance and swung back at Blake. Blake feinted out of the way and punched Ken in the face again.
Ken stumbled back into Uncle Lumpy’s chest. The big man grabbed Ken by the shoulders and spun him around to face him.
“He’s gone crazy. Stop him,” Ken pleaded.
“You know what they do to rapists in jail? You’re going to find out, asshole.” Uncle Lumpy cracked him in the jaw with a meaty fist.
Ken fell to his knees, swayed, and fell back onto the dirt.
Blake leaned down, grabbed him by the shirt, and hauled him up. “I told you, touch her, and I’ll fuck you up.” Blake punched him in his fucking face again.
“Blake. Enough. Stop.”
Gillian’s soft voice penetrated his rage-induced haze. She leaned against his back and slid down. He shoved Ken away, turned, and caught Gillian before she hit the ground again.
“Gillian? Gillian, baby. Can you hear me?”
“Stop,” she said weakly. “Please stop.”