Chapter 3 Don't Touch Me

Sam strode over and grabbed Madison's wrist. Her panic only fueled his anger. If he hadn't caught her on the phone, would she have left with Johnny without a word? The thought made his grip tighten. He kept his eyes on her, his gaze steady and unblinking. "Where are you going?" Pain shot through Madison's wrist. She winced and pulled against his grip. "It hurts. Let go." Let her go? Not a chance! Sam pulled her close and claimed her lips in a rough kiss. The kiss overwhelmed her, stealing her breath. "Sam…" Madison whispered. The sound sent heat flooding through him. He pushed her back onto the mattress and held her there with a hard grip. "Why? I already let you go. Why are you still trying to run off with Johnny?" he demanded. Why would she lie to him? Sam's eyes went bloodshot. He wasn't thinking anymore. He dragged his mouth along her skin, sucking hard enough to leave marks. As she watched Sam unravel, Madison saw herself three years ahead, with those men assaulting her again and again. Terrified, she shook uncontrollably and screamed, "Don't touch me! Please, let me go..." The despair in her voice snapped Sam back to reality. He froze and looked down at her, already in tears. His chest tightened. What had he done? He'd tried to force himself on her. The apology got stuck in his throat. Madison shoved Sam back and pulled her knees to her chest. The disgust was all in her head, but it still made her gag. Sam set his jaw. His eyes went hard and cold. The air seemed to tighten around them. Did he disgust her so much that even his touch made her sick? He clenched his fists, managed a wry smile, and left the bedroom. Madison flinched at the hard slam of the door, her heart thudding. It took her a while to steady herself. She walked to Sam's bedroom and hesitated outside his door. Eventually, she pushed it open. The room was dark, and she could barely make out his outline on the bed. "Sam..." she whispered. He said nothing. She tiptoed to the bed, slipped off her shoes, and lay down beside him. Sam's whole body tensed. Before he could process what Madison was doing, her arm slipped over him. Pressed against him, her warmth and softness made him lock up, his breathing quickening. "Sam..." The sound of her voice stole his breath for a beat. Her arm tightened around his waist. "I'm not leaving with Johnny. Never. Wherever you are, that's where I'll be." Sam didn't respond. Madison knew he was awake. He just couldn't handle how fast she'd come around. That was fine. She'd wait until he trusted her. Eventually, she drifted off. Sam opened his eyes and watched her, his feelings scattered and hard to pin down. He knew she might be after something, but he couldn't bring himself to let her go. … By morning, when Madison opened her eyes, Sam was gone. She reached for the space beside her and found it cold, which meant he'd been gone a while. Feeling hollow, she went back to her own room. Her phone started ringing on the nightstand. It was Kaitlyn. Madison didn't want to answer, but it wouldn't stop. She finally picked up, her voice tight with impatience. "What is it?" After hearing the edge in Madison's voice and remembering their call had been cut off last night, Kaitlyn tried to calm her. "Did Sam pressure you into something again? Maddie, you should just move out of his place. You now have a career and are financially stable. Why let him keep controlling you? Come to my place. "I have friends here, and Johnny is here too. You two can talk." "Sure," Madison answered without hesitation. After she hung up, she narrowed her eyes, and a cold glint flashed in them. How could she have forgotten? Kaitlyn was still living in her villa. Kaitlyn had come from out of town. Worried she'd have nowhere to stay, Madison had let Kaitlyn use the villa her parents had left her. But Kaitlyn treated it as if it were hers. Madison scoffed. This time, she would take back everything that had been taken from her.