Kallie

Before she could catch herself, James ripped her around on her feet. His lips came crashing down onto hers, his nasty tongue thrusting between her lips. His tongue that had been on other women. Kissed other women. Tasted other women. She worked her wrist from his grip and got her hands between them, then pushed him away. She wiped at her lips and grimaced before whistling fell on her ears.

She turned her head and saw a few guys with their phones out as their fists pumped in the air.

Kallie hoped they hadn’t taken any pictures. Any embarrassing photos that would surface later. She turned on her heel again and tried to get away, listening as James followed behind her. She was frightened. Pinned down. Felt like there was no escape. She held her hand up for a cab before James caught her wrist again, and she struggled to get free from his grasp.

“I don’t want you, James!”

She yelled it as loud as she could, startling him as he dropped her wrist. A cab pulled up beside her and the driver got out of the car, his eyes boring into the man standing in front of her. She glared at him. Took him in one last time before she ducked down into the yellow car. The driver slid back in and drove off, leaving James standing on the street.

“You okay, ma’am?” the driver asked.

But Kallie wasn’t paying attention.

Her phone was immediately ringing.

James was calling. Messaging. Leaving voice mails she didn’t want to listen to. She turned her phone off and closed her eyes, leaning back against the seat. What the fuck had just happened? Where the hell had that come from? James was many things, but forceful and possessive he wasn’t. It was like he wouldn’t let her go. It was like he came to the restaurant with the idea that she wasn’t leaving without him.

The thought made her shiver as she rattled off the address to her apartment.

She ran upstairs and tossed her things into a corner. Peeling her clothes off, she left a trail from the door to the bathroom, her hands trembling as she started to run a bath. The water was hot and the bubbles were thick. All she wanted was to wash off her ex-fiancé and the terrible feelings he engendered. Kallie poured herself a big glass of wine and settled into the bath, still trembling from the night’s activities. Tears streaked her cheeks as she chugged the red liquid, trying to get her body to relax.

“It’s okay,” she said to herself. “You’re safe. You’re fine. He’s gone.”

With the hot water soaking around her body and the quiet of her apartment, the wine was able to do its job. On an empty stomach, it warmed her and relaxed her muscles, easing her into a new life. A life without James or his disgusting tongue. The thought made her shiver again. That dirty mouth had been on hers and she didn’t like it. She couldn't believe the last man that would touch her after what she experienced with Ash that day was him.

James.

The man who had touched five other women during the course of their relationship.

Oh, shit. Ash.

She forgot to call Ash.

Before she could get out of the tub, a bang resounded at her front door. Her entire body tightened up and fear encased her heart. The bang sounded again and that time, Kallie jumped. Yelped. Shook as goose bumps fluttered along her skin. The wineglass toppled over as she reached for her bathrobe. Was James at her door?

James better not be at her door. She was going to claw his eyes out if he was.

With a shaking form, her eye looked through the peephole of the door. And what she saw settled her gut. It wasn't James standing at her door. It was Ash.

And he was pissed.

Kallie opened her door and he stormed in. His eyes raged with fear and confusion as he slammed her apartment door behind him. His eyes darted around the apartment as his nostrils flared, and Kallie planted her hands onto his chest.

“I’m sorry,” she said. “I’m sorry I didn’t call.”

“You promised,” he said as he gripped her hips. “You promised me you would call.”

“It was an eventful night. I turned my phone off. Ash, look at me.”

His wild eyes fell to hers as he backed her into the wall. His hands slid up her curves. His eyes darted along her skin. His warmth was comforting, and she instantly relaxed against every part of him.

“I called. Texted. Left messages. There was nothing, Kallie. I thought...”

“I know,” she said. “I’m sorry.”

“Why the fuck didn’t you call?”

His lips crashed against hers with a ferocity that sent shock waves through her body. His hands pinned her wrists above her head as his thigh pushed between hers. He stroked his leg against her bare pussy and she ached for him. She needed his touch. Needed Ash to be the last man who kissed her that night. Who commanded her that night.

Who pressed against her that night.

Ash’s lips fell from hers and she gasped to catch her breath. Her head was swimming and silver stars burst in her vision. It was clear he was riled up. Desperate. Worried. Angry. And she was all those things too. How was she going to explain what happened? What James had done and the things he had accused her of?

She didn’t want to relive it.

All she wanted ... was Ash.

“Promises are everything,” Ash said with a growl. “Don’t you dare break one again.”

“I’m sorry,” Kallie said with a whisper. “I won’t.”

“Is that a promise?”

Her eyes fluttered up to his and the rage gave way to desperation.

“I’m safe and sound,” she said. “And yes, that’s a promise.”

“I’ll be the judge of your safety,” he said.

Their lips crashed back together, and she could feel Ash tugging at her robe. Slipping the fabric from her naked body before it fell to the floor. His teeth bit down onto her lower lip, making her shiver as his hands roamed her body. He cupped her breasts a little too hard and pinched her nipples a little too much. She stood on her tiptoes and raked her hands through his hair, then tried to guide his lips down her neck.

But his hand fisted her hair and kept her upright. Kept her eyes connected with his as his body scanned her. Drank her in.

Made sure she was okay.

“Ash, look at me.”

His hazel eyes panned back up to hers and his pupils blew wide. The black of his eyes swallowed down the beautiful stare she was so accustomed to. Her hand came up to touch his cheek and he faltered, allowing his jawline to fall into the palm of her hand.

Then he took back his control, tugging her head to the side and sucking on a patch of skin at her shoulder.