Read Online Phoenix: The Beauty in Between (A Beautiful Series Companion Novel) by Lilliana Anderson - Free Book Online

wall.
    Bile rises in
my throat as I watch Jeff kick him repeatedly, continuing even
though the guy is on the ground, curled up in the foetal
position.
    He seems too
still, and I hope to god that he’s just passed out. “Jeff!” I call
out, trying to grab his attention and make him stop. “Jeff!”
    He pauses and
looks over his shoulder at me, his face dark and stormy. It scares
me.
    The young guy
is covered in blood and laying fairly still on the concrete at his
feet. Jeff turns back to him, kicks him in the kidneys one last
time, then spits on him.
    “He’s all
yours,” he says calmly, and I notice that the bouncer from the back
door is standing not far from us. The bouncer nods once and watches
as Jeff strides toward me and ushers me into his car as if this is
a normal occurrence. “Let’s go.”
    I’m slightly
frozen and stumble as my feet refuse to move at the speed Jeff is
dragging me, which only seems to make him more furious. He opens
the passenger door and deposits me, roughly, inside. I just manage
to get my feet tucked safely inside when he slams the door and
stalks his way over to his side of the car.
    We drive home
in complete silence. I have no idea what I should do or say. I
don’t think that he’s capable of hurting me, but I can’t be sure.
Honestly, I never thought he’d beat that guy up the way he did. He
just didn’t seem the type to me.
    The moment we
arrive home. I reach for my door handle to get out. “Wait,” he
commands. So I do.
    He gets out of
the car and stands a few metres away, making phone calls while I
wait quietly in the car. I can see him running his hand back and
forward over his head as he speaks, and as much as he is scaring
me, I can’t help but admire how strong and attractive he is. It
saddens me that someone I’ve only known to be kind and giving can
have such a dark side to them.
    After almost
half an hour, he comes over and opens my door, holding his hand out
for me to take. He still isn’t smiling. His anger is rolling off
him in waves, but he seems to be in quiet control.
    I take my cue
from him and place my hand in his without speaking, without
smiling. I make eye contact and try to silently tell him that
everything will be ok. But I don’t really know that do I? I mean,
what if he’s really hurt that guy?
    Once inside, he
closes and locks the door, still holding my hand as he does. I
simply stand by, waiting and watching, unsure of what I should do
right now.
    I’m standing
between him and the door, and he edges closer to me, pressing me,
pinning me, between him and the cool wood. He reaches up and wraps
his hand around my jaw, so his thumb is on one cheek, and his
fingers are on the other. He tilts my head up and meets my
eyes.
    His are
searching, challenging, but I hold his gaze and keep my breath
steady. After what seems like an age, he crushes his mouth against
mine, kissing me fiercely as if he’s trying to somehow absorb
me.
    One hand snakes
around my waist and pulls me tightly against him, while the other
grabs tufts of my hair at the base of my skull and tugs. Still
holding me tightly, he walks us over to the dining room table then
spins me around so he’s behind me. His kisses and heavy breathing
move along my jaw and neck, and turn into firm sucks, then painful
bites.
    I close my eyes
tightly and breathe. I just need to keep calm.
    He pulls my
shirt over my head and drops it on the floor, his hands curling
around me to knead at my breasts. There is nothing gentle about
what he is doing, but even though I’m afraid, I’m walking that fine
line between wanting to stay and wanting to run.
    I suck in my
breath involuntarily when he pinches my nipple, the pain is a
little more than I’m comfortable with. He removes his hands from my
front and pushes me forward, so I’m bent over the table, my hot
breath making fog circles on the smooth surface.
    Still, he
hasn’t said a word. It’s strange to me because he normally talks a
lot when we’re