I kicked at him as he reached for me, but he got me around my ankle and dragged me across the bed as I tore at the blankets.
His hand shot out and wrapped around my throat, making me wheeze. I clutched at his wrist as I stared up at him.
“D-Don’t,” I choked out, crying softly. “Please. Don’t hurt me.”
He leaned in, his warm breath on my skin through his ski mask as he ran his nose along my jaw.
I trembled, sobbing softly as he pushed me flat onto the bed and climbed on top of me, his big body pinning me down.
He released my throat and buried his face in my neck. I cried harder, not knowing what the hell to even do. He was the size of Ani. There was no way I could effectively fight him off and win.
He pulled away from me for a moment as he sat straddling me before grabbing my hand.
I cried out as he tried to remove my wedding ring and Ani’s engagement band from my finger. Desperate, I clawed at him, but only met fabric. I tried to twist away, but it hurt too much.
He got my rings off and stared down at them for a moment before he stuffed them into his pocket.
“No. No! Give them back! Please!”
He covered my mouth with his gloved hand for a moment to silence me. He leaned into me again before brushing his lips against mine. Only his lips were covered by the full face mask. I couldn’t even see his eyes because of his dark sunglasses.
My chest heaved as he ran his gloved hand up my leg to beneath my nightgown.
“No. Don’t,” I choked out. “Please. I’m begging you.”
He removed his hand and cradled my face. I stared into his dark sunglasses and tensed as he leaned down and rested his forehead against mine, his breathing heavy, as if he were trying to restrain himself.
“I will give you money. I won’t ever tell,” I whispered, my voice shaking. “Just let me go. No one will ever know.”
He seemed to find it funny, as his body shook slightly with a silent laugh.
When he didn’t take the bait, I tried a new tactic.
“What do you want?” I asked, my voice still shaking.
He ran his nose along my jaw again before he stopped at my ear, his voice a low, eerie growl.
“To make you a widow.”
My blood ran cold at his words. He pulled away and took in my reaction.
Swallowing hard, I reached for his mask.
I thought he’d jerk away from me, but he let me slip my fingers beneath the fabric.
His body was tense.
My breath came out in short, hard gasps. I pulled the mask from his face and stared into his intensely blue eyes.
Eyes I hadn’t looked into for years.
“Cole,” I choked out.
What? How? Why?
“Hey, Rosebud,” he said grimly. “Welcome home.”
“Why?” I rasped, crying softly as I stared up at him.
