RUSH (Montgomery Men #1) - C.A. Harms Page 0,67

I remind you of who you truly belong to.”

The tears I fought to hold back spilled free when he jerked up from the chair, grabbed my hair and yanked upward as he dragged me off toward my bedroom.

“Fucking you back into submission is going to be the highlight of my life, Kinsley.” He laughed.

Bile rose in my throat as I tried to free myself. I knew I would pay for it later, but I couldn’t let him take me without a fight.

“Fight me, baby,” he whispered as he lifted me from the floor and threw me on the bed. “You know I like the challenge.”

Jase began to undress, and with each movement of his hands I grew more terrified. This was it. He’d come to take everything and everyone I’d grown to love away.

ASHTON

AS SCREAMS ECHOED THROUGH THE penthouse, I leaped up from the couch in my office and ran toward the sound. Terror filled my chest as Kinsley’s cries continued.

When I reached my bedroom, she was thrashing from side to side on the bed, fisting the comforter and kicking. The sight nearly brought me to my knees.

“Please no,” she begged.

I moved toward her, not caring if she struck me as she fought the demons in her mind.

“Baby,” I whispered as I reached out to touch her cheek.

“Stop, please, don’t do this,” she whimpered.

“Kinsley, it’s me, sweetheart. It’s Ashton.” As I touched her shoulder, she moved away and curled her body into the fetal position. Her legs were tucked up so tightly to her chest she looked more like a fearful child than the gorgeous woman I’d left only hours ago.

“No,” she cried, and I couldn’t take it any longer.

I moved in and did all I could to wake her from the nightmare. I didn’t retract when she pummeled my chest with her small fists. I didn’t pause when her foot came within inches of my balls. Instead I continued to say her name over and over, telling her that I was here and everything was okay.

“Wake up, baby. Come back to me, Kinsley,” I begged.

Her eyes shot open in panic, and she looked around the room, trying to assess her surroundings. When they focused on me, she lurched forward and wrapped her arms around my neck. Burying her face into the space that now belonged solely to her, she cried harder than I’d ever seen her cry. And it was pretty close to impossible to hold my own emotions at bay as the strong woman I’d fallen for so hard fell apart in my arms. Her body shook with each sob as she pressed her body to mine and dug her hands into my sides as if she feared I would let go.

But there was no way I was leaving her. No fucking way I was letting go. Ever.

“It all felt so real,” she whispered.

“What did?” I asked, holding her tight against me.

“He was there, and I swear I can still feel the ache in my jaw from the impact of his hand.” I tensed involuntarily as she went on. “He was waiting there at my apartment when you dropped me off. He said he’d been watching me and it was time I remembered who I belong to.”

“Me,” I whispered.

She pulled back just enough to look up, and the moment her gaze connected with mine, I insisted, “You belong to me, and I’ll never let him or any other person hurt you again.” I gripped her face with my palms against her jaws. “I need you to trust me when I say that I’m doing everything I can do to assure your safety.”

She looked back at me in silence, the blue of her eyes appearing even bluer against the bloodshot background.

“I meant what I said earlier; this is now your home.” She shook her head, but I didn’t pause to acknowledge her resistance. “This isn’t up for debate, Kinsley. I will keep you safe, and nothing is going to stop me from doing just that. Not even you.”

Her lip trembled, and something inside me broke as I leaned in and placed my forehead to hers. “I love you so much, sweetheart,” I whispered. “Please don’t fight me on this. Let me love you, let me protect you.” I didn’t pull back to look at her because I knew with how raw I was that a look from her would send my own emotions spilling out. “Trust me when I say I will never hurt you, and I will always