His Three-Day Girlfriend novel · Chapter 12 of 24

Chapter 12: Dane's Place

Dane's loft had two floors, a wall of windows, and a bar cart with more bottles than furniture.

Colin walked me in himself and kissed my forehead at the door.

"Be good for Dane," he said. "Dane, no bruises."

Poppy waved from the stairs. "Take pictures!"

The door closed, and I was alone with a man who was still limping.

"Drink," Dane said, and pushed a glass into my hand.

I held it to my mouth, let it touch my lip, and when he turned to start the music I poured it into a potted fern.

He dropped onto the couch beside me.

"I've waited all week for this, gorgeous."

He took my wrist and laid my hand on his thigh.

"No," I said.

I said it clearly, in my real voice, the one I hadn't used on a man since Colin.

Dane stopped.

Then he grinned, slow and delighted.

"Cute. You never remember saying yes to anything. That's the best part."

He shoved me back against the cushions and his weight came down on my ribs.

I brought my knee up as hard as I could, exactly where Thursday's coffee had gone.

His scream rattled the glass.

I rolled off the couch, ran for the hall, and locked myself in the bathroom with my phone still recording in my robe pocket.

He hit the door with both fists.

"Open it, you stupid bitch! Colin said I could! Colin said you're ours, all of us, you can't say no to a thing!"

I pressed my back to the door and held the phone close to my mouth.

"Say it again," I whispered. "Louder."

He did.

Then a different voice, hoarse and close, said Dane's name in the hall.

I heard a crack, a grunt, and a body hit the floor.

"Merry." Elliot's voice came through the wood. "It's me. Open the door."

I opened it.

Dane lay on the rug with blood on his mouth.

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