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I started to close the thick material, but he slapped my hands away, pressing me backwards until my back hit the wall. It was pretty much the same place I’d stood last night when I’d pounced on him; tried to get him on my side.
He trailed one finger along my shoulder. With his other hand, he gripped the base of my throat. It wasn’t tight, but it was uncomfortable enough to relay the message. He was calling the shots.
‘You washed the sheets.’ It was a statement. I didn’t dare move.
I nodded.
‘Why?’
What did he mean, why?
‘Because they were dirty,’ I said hurriedly, frowning in confusion.
He appeared to think about that for a moment before releasing his grip and taking a step back.
‘Get dressed,’ he said. ‘You’ve got one minute. Go.’
I stumbled to the bedroom, fully aware that if I wasn’t dressed in one minute, he’d make me leave the house in my birthday suit. I dragged a denim skirt and panties from the closet and threw them on, followed by a bra and a black scoop-neck tank that clung to my breasts. There had been no pants in the bag of clothes he had left me a couple of weeks ago. I didn’t miss the significance of that.
I heard the click of fingers, and knew I’d narrowly escaped an outing in my underwear.
I quickly tried to grab a pair of shoes, but he was already there, blocking my way.
‘No shoes,’ he said. ‘Shoes make it that much easier to think about running.’
I gave a small nod to say I understood.
‘Where are we going?’ I asked dully, looking at the floor.
He took my hand and looked at me sidelong as he guided me to the front door.
‘You’ll see.’ The threat in his words was unmistakable.
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
DORNAN
The road was rough — the sealed asphalt had gone as far as the main tourist drive of Joshua Tree National Park, but beyond, the corrugations were more rustic. He drove and drove, Mariana fidgeting beside him.
Finally, she spoke.
‘Can I have some water?’ she asked softly.
‘No,’ he replied. ‘Nothing until we leave.’ He didn’t want her to try and run from him. No shoes and no water made her even more helpless than she already was.
‘I’m thirsty,’ she protested.
He glared across at her, one hand going down to his belt. ‘There’s only one thing in this car that’s going in your mouth,’ he threatened. ‘Your choice, darlin’.’
She closed her mouth and slumped back in her seat, staring out of the side window.
Thought so. He put his hand back on the wheel. Damn, being a bastard came a little too easy to him sometimes. He almost delighted in her suffering.
‘Are you bringing me out here to kill me?’ she asked a few moments later.
He raised his eyebrows. ‘No.’
‘Seems an awfully convenient place to bury a body,’ she continued.
