Ryland by Kathi S. Barton

so damned stubborn and let
me.”
    Bronwyn knew that she had no choice. It
was either he helped her or someone else did and she had a feeling he wouldn’t
go and get anyone else for her, so she would wet the bed. Not really an option,
but she was contemplating it seriously.
     “You wet the bed and I’ll make you tell
my mom you ruined her mattress.” Ryland laughed. “And no, I can’t read your
mind, though you seem to be able to communicate with me and my streak.”
    She was getting desperate. “I’m going to
sit up and you just stand there and keep me from falling over when I do. And if
you try anything, they’ll be picking parts of you up for decades.”
    She couldn’t do it. When he leaned over
her she stiffened, not sure what he was going to do to her. When he put his
arms under her shoulders and at her legs, she lifted her hand to shove him
away.
    “Just move your legs to the side of the
bed as I pull you up. I can do it slow or fast. Tell me which you prefer.” He
was so close she could see the dark lashes at his eyes and the colors of his
eyes. “Bronwyn?”
    “Fast.” Before she could take a breath,
he had her sitting there, her legs over the side and her feet touching the
floor. Taking several deep breaths, she knew that if he did anything to her now,
she’d not be able to stop him.
    “I’m going to put my hands on your hips.
Can you put your good arm on me?” She nodded. “I’m going to lift you straight
up.”
    She looked at him. Sweat beaded on his
forehead and he looked to be in a great deal of pain. She wondered why he was
hurting and asked him if he’d been shot.
    “No. Touching you like this…it’s not
easy.” She looked down, hurt. “Bronwyn, it’s not that I don’t want to touch
you. Christ, you have no idea how much I want to, but I know that you hurt.”
    So, she thought, if she wasn’t bleeding
and weak, he’d take her. She nodded to him and put her hand on his shoulder. She
felt his hands slide up her thighs and he cupped her ass. She wanted to tell
him to back the fuck off, but she was suddenly standing.
    She screamed. There was no help for it. Every
part of her body hurt and she dug her fingers deep into his shoulder. Her
breathing hard was making her dizzy and when he took a step back, she took one
forward. Not soon enough, they were at a door.
    “I’m going to sit you down on the
commode. Can you do…can you fix your under things?” She reached down to tear
them from her when she realized she had none on. She told him that.
    His entire body seemed to expand. She
felt his hands tighten on her ass and she knew he was going to rape her, damn
how hurt she was. When he sat her down and backed away she swayed, but caught
herself before he could touch her. Looking up at him she could see that he was
hard, his cock thick against his jeans.
    “I’ll be right out here.” He walked out
and closed the door behind him. She stared at the door for a full minute,
trying to think what she’d done wrong then realized that she needed to take
care of business.
    Standing was easier in here. She was
close enough to the hard counter that she could brace her body against it as
she shuffled to it. Washing her hands and face took a lot of energy she didn’t
have, but she felt better. He told her through the door that the new toothbrush
was hers and there was paste on the counter.
    Brushing her teeth felt wonderful, but
took the last of her strength. Moving to the door, she reached for the handle
the same time it opened and she looked up at him. Not saying a word, he pressed
his body to her and lifted her to him, cupping her ass again.
    “Let me go.” She tried to struggle, but
he held her tighter. She looked up at him when he stopped suddenly.
    “I’m getting you to bed. I’m not joining
you in it. Once I get you there I’m going to cover you up and leave you.” He
looked over her shoulder. “I don’t know who hurt you like this, but it wasn’t
me.”
    “Not yet