“I want you, Abby,” he said. “I want your mind as well as your body. Let me give you pleasure. You’ll see how good we can be.”

Clay caught her wrists, dragged her over to the sofa, and pushed her down, used his body to pin her beneath him. Abby struggled, but Clay was sixty pounds heavier, and he was in prime physical condition. His grip on her wrists was like steel as he dragged her hands over her head. Trapping her with his weight, he cupped her breast and squeezed, bent his head, and tried to kiss her.

“Let me go!” When she turned her head away, he pressed his mouth against the side of her neck.

“Give us a chance, Abby. Let me show you how good it could be.”

Abby struggled to get up. “Clay, if you don’t stop right now, I’m going to scream.”

One hand covered her mouth while the other slid down her body, into the front of her slacks. Abby sank her teeth into Clay’s palm and bit down hard. Clay was the one who screamed.

“You bitch!” Blood trailed across his palm and dripped through his fingers. “I’ve had enough of your games!” Clay backhanded her so hard her ears rang. He ripped open the front of her blouse and Abby cried out. Her head was spinning, Clay’s heavy weight pressing the air out of her lungs, making her even more light-headed.

A pounding started on the door. “Abby! Are you all right?”

“Gage . . . !” She tried to throw Clay off, but he slapped her again, knocking her head into the arm of the sofa.

“You said the two of you were over!” Clay shouted. “I should have had them finish you off in Mexico City!”

“What?”

The door crashed open, and Gage roared into the room. He took one look at her blouse and the red mark on her cheek and went after Clay like the lion he was.

Gage jerked Clay off Abby and sent him crashing into the wall. He grabbed the front of Clay’s shirt, hauled him up, and punched him in the face, sending him flying backward again.

“Get away from me!” Clay shouted as Gage strode over, hauled him to his feet, and hit him again.

Abby shot up from the sofa. “Gage, stop! You’ll kill him!”

Gage ignored her. “You hit her, you son of a bitch.” A fierce blow knocked Clay against the end table, sending the lamp crashing to the floor. When Gage drew back for another blow, Abby grabbed his bicep and held on as hard as she could.

“That’s enough, honey. Please stop, please!”

He looked at her over his shoulder, took a deep breath, and slowly released it. When he finally let go, Clay slid down the wall and didn’t get up.