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Yanking her toward their rectangular breakfast table, he shoved her into a chair and laid her still-lit cigarette in the glass ashtray in front of her. He set his own half-smoked cigarette next to hers.
She didn’t dare take her eyes off him. With her heart pounding, she sat still, completely mute, as he lit up one cigarette after another, lining them all along the edges of the ashtray. When the pack was empty, he sat down to her right at the head of the table.
Preston caressed the side of her face, pushing her hair off her neck, and she forced herself not to recoil. Her breath caught when he leaned forward and kissed her chin, repeating the soft kisses along her jaw. When his lips reached her ear, his voice was soft, seductive. “You need to be taught a lesson.” Pulling away, his tropical-blue gaze met hers. “Don’t you agree?”
Her heart knocked hard in her chest, but she remained silent.
He ran tender fingers through her hair and settled his hand against her nape. “Darling,” he murmured a fraction louder, “I asked you if you agree.”
Goosebumps erupted over her skin. But still, she remained silent.
The fingers along her nape crept to the front of her neck. They tightened. Black spots danced in her vision, but she didn’t care. She’d rather suffocate than agree with him. She’d rather die than give him permission.
His eyes narrowed, and rage contorted his features. “I’ll take your silence as a yes, darling.”
He released her. Before she could gasp for breath, his hand swung out, and his fist landed square on her chest. Her lungs compacted, and her shoulders rolled in. She clutched her torso. For a desperate moment, there was no air. The black spots grew larger. As she fought to breathe, he grabbed her arm and pinned it to the table.
“A lesson, you stupid little cunt,” he spat.
Picking up one of the lit cigarettes, he brought it to her forearm. He slowly waved it back and forth, hovering it just a hair over her soft skin. She wanted to escape the heat of the ember, but terror froze her limbs.
“Lesson number one. When I ask you a question, you answer. Simple enough. Right, love?”
He crushed the burning cigarette into her arm.
A scream tore through her as it scorched her skin. The pain was sharp and icy hot. She struggled to free herself, but he held her outstretched arm in place.
Letting go, he punched her in the stomach. She wheezed and fell limply against the chair, cradling her arm. The small circular burn had already gone numb.
“Some things are meant to be...” serenaded her softly in the background.
“Lesson number two,” Preston continued, his voice mellow. “Donotfight me. The more you struggle, the worse it’s going to be. Look at me, my darling wife.”
He selected another lit cigarette and took a pull as he waited for her to meet his gaze. She tried to blink back the tears, but it was no use. She met his eyes, disgusted by the twinkle of smug satisfaction she saw in them. He pushed the cigarette slowly into her arm.
Her nerves sizzled down to her fingertips. Agony screamed from every pore. And more tears fell from her eyes.
But she didn’t move. She didn’t dare. An anguished whimper snuck past her lips. Preston didn’t seem to mind.
“Good girl,” he said. “See, that wasn’t so bad, now was it? Just a few more.”
“Alex? Are you okay?”
Somehow, she stifled her frightened yelp. Looking up, she saw Roxie standing at the base of the steps, concern apparent on her face. Blinking rapidly, she placed the crushed cigarette onto the small table and wiped her clammy palms on her pants.
“Sorry.” She cleared her throat. “I, um, didn’t hear you.”
Roxie nodded toward the discarded cigarette butt. “You smoke?”
The now-faint scars on her forearms tingled. She cleared her throat again and shook her head. “Not anymore. I just tried to, but it made me sick.” She gestured toward the railing. “Literally.”
Roxie grimaced. “Mind if I take them?”
“Not at all,” she said, tossing the pack over.
“Thanks. Don’t tell Quinn, though, he’d kill me.” Climbing the steps, Roxie settled into the rocking chair opposite her. “We both used to smoke. I think he did it because it was the perfect accessory for that stupid tough-guy image he liked to project. Naturally, I started because I wanted to do everything that Quinn and Joe did.” She dug out a cigarette. “Do you mind?”
“Go for it,” she said, nudging the matches toward the other woman.
