I knew he was right, but I could really use some comfort. I wished my dad was here.
Taking another deep breath, I looked around, and there, with his eyes fucking on me, was that creeper from the bar. His eyes bore into me like a laser. His mouth was set firm, and he wasn’t smiling like he’d been at the Saddle Room.
I immediately felt sick.
“Whoa!” Christian held on to Mushu while he shifted beneath me. “What just happened? Your face went as white as a sheet.”
I swallowed the bile in the back of my throat. I’d have to deal with that asshole as soon as this was over. I was done feeling like I was being watched. I couldn’t continue going into each rodeo with eyes on my back. The dude seriously needed to fuck off.
I was going to have to take this into my own hands.
I shook my head at the same time Mushu tossed his, trying to shake off the nerves.
“Larsen, you’re on deck!”
“I got this,” I whispered, but Christian read my lips and nodded. His eyes were full of concern as he led us to the gate.
I don’t think he believed me, and I certainly didn’t believe myself.
As soon asMushu was unsaddled and back in his borrowed stall for the night, I stormed right over to the creepy bastard leaning against the stands and gave him a quick knee in the balls.
“Stay the fuck away from me!”
He doubled over, grabbing his junk. “Bitch!” he hissed through his pain.
“When I told you to fuck off in Joseph, you should have listened.”
“You fucking bitch,” he spat, regaining his composure enough to quickly grasp my arm.
I squeaked, surprised by the fast and forceful movement as he spun me around. His arm looped around me like a boa constrictor, pinning my arms to my sides. He gripped the back of my neck with his other hand, pressing me up against the support rail.
I bucked against his grip, but his hand at my neck wrapped around my jaw, wrenching it to the side, putting a strain on my neck until he could press my cheek into the cold metal. His fingers dug into my skin as he squeezed. Squeezing so hard, I thought he might break my jaw. Air puffed out through my nose. My lungs heaved.
“Get the fuck off me,” I tried to say, but it only came out like a desperate groan.
His body pressed against mine, and his sour breath reeked of beer and chew. It made me want to hurl.
“You think you’re too good for me? All you needed to do was say ‘yes’ to a little dance, Lina. You should have let me show you a good time. I canstillshow you a good time.” Hot air drifted across my face.
My heart raced, my chest heaved. I tried to buck my hips, to squirm my arms loose, to push away from him, to get even an inch of separation, but he was stronger. The guy was getting off on this, the evidence of just how much was digging into my spine the more he hurt me. Bile crawled up my throat. I was going to vomit, but the way he was squeezing my jaw closed would mean I’d have to swallow it unless I wanted it coming out my nose.
“I know you like to play. Maybe you even like it rough.” His thumb brushed the underside of my breast where his hand wrapped around me. I wanted to crawl out of my skin and pretend this was not happening right now.
There’d been more than one guy I encountered who got a little too aggressive or handsy, but I’d never had someone who couldn’t take “no” for an answer. Fear washed over me like a bucket of ice water.
The sounds of my labored breathing and pounding heart almost drowned out the distant drunk laughter of the remaining rodeo-goers leaving the fairgrounds. They might be my only saving grace. Anyone could stumble upon us. I could feel him hesitate at my back.
“Next time, you’re not saying ‘no’ to me.” He pushed off me then, letting my cheek dig into the metal one last time before leaving me under the stands in the dark.
Tears stung my eyes, and I straightened my button-up shirt. My hands trembled as I brushed loose strands of hair away from my face, tucking a piece back into my braid. I was going to be sick. I opened my jaw, letting the joint pop. It already ached. Fuck. I clamped my eyes shut and tried to calm down, shaky breaths forcing their way through my lungs. Shit, I was in trouble. I couldn’t handle this alone. It was bad,reallybad. The only question was, what was I going to do about it?
I turned around, peering out at the shadowed rodeo grounds illuminated by a few arena lights. Fortunately, I was heading home tomorrow. I needed to regroup. Maybe I could see if Dad would be able to come to the next rodeo with me? There was no way in hell I was going to continue traveling the circuit by myself when this guy made it perfectly clear he wasn’t going to leave me alone.
Taking a steadying breath, I willed myself to move, to look forward and head straight to my truck. More than once, I’d sleptin my vehicle while on the circuit. I’d get in, lock the door, and make sure my bear spray was within an arm’s reach if anyone tried anything.
I turned the corner from the entrance, heading to the parking lot, when a hand whipped up, taking my arm.
I spun around, swinging my fist right into?—
