Big Sky by Kitty Thomas Read Free Book Online

balcony. “This is why I hate men. No one hurt me. But any one of you could have done what you’re doing now. Isn’t that enough reason to hate and not trust? How do I know when a man looks at me like you did in the diner that he isn’t planning to act on his fantasies? I don’t. None of you can be trusted.”
    He’d gone to stroking over her skin where he’d struck her. She tried to pull away when his finger dipped between her legs.
    “You’re wet. Dripping.” He practically growled when he said it.
    “Stop it.”
    “No. Say ‘Sir, please stop groping me,’ and I’ll think about it.”
    “Never.”
    Another sharp slap landed on her ass.
    “Sir, please stop groping me,” she whispered through her tears. She was glad they were in the dark, because her face must be the color of a maraschino cherry.
    He gathered her in his arms and held her, stroking her hair... comforting her.
    “Please just kill me if that’s what you’re going to do. Don’t do this on top of it.”
    “Shhhhh. The first week or so will be the hardest, after that you’ll be happy with me.”
    He was insane. Completely certifiable if he thought she could ever be happy obeying him, being demeaned and degraded by him, reduced to a thing —not even a real person anymore.
    “Was Trish happy?” she asked, her tone accusatory, but the answer he gave wasn’t defensive or the one she expected.
    “Very.”
    “Were you?”
    His voice changed. Veronica was surprised when it came out choked. “Yes. You look a lot like her.”
    And did both of them look like his mother? Because that was in the serial killer handbook. Mommy issues. But she was far too wise to say that thought out loud.
    “Go back to bed now. I’ll let you sleep in since we were out so late.” He kissed the top of her head and she went back to her room, thankful at least that she had a room away from him. The memory of his lips pressed against her forehead seared into her brain, keeping her from sleep for a long time.
     
    ***
     
    Sunlight came in through the windows and balcony door, but Veronica rolled onto her stomach, taking the pillow with her to cover her head and block out the light. She wasn’t yet awake enough to remember where she was.
    Luke smacked her across the ass, not hard, but still degrading. “Get up, and make breakfast.”
    She squeezed her eyes shut tighter, as if she’d woken into another dream layer and if she concentrated hard enough she’d wake back up in the crappy apartment she’d been evicted from, or better yet, her penthouse. Being so tired, it was still possible to imagine that everything from losing the penthouse, onward, had been nothing but an ugly nightmare. After all, there was sun shining in her room. That had to mean penthouse.
    What was the more likely scenario? That a Big Deal ad executive had gotten into such bad credit card debt she’d become nearly homeless and had been kidnapped by a rancher, or that all of that was a nightmare that mixed in a few inappropriate sexual fantasies? When she took the pillow away from her face and opened her eyes, it would be her penthouse with the spectacular view of the park.
    The pillow was ripped away. She heard it hit the carpeted floor.
    “Now, Veronica. It’s nine a.m. That’s practically sunset around here.”
    Oh God. She hoped he was kidding. The sound of his voice made her think that was unlikely.
    She rolled back over and pulled the covers over her head. A second later, he’d ripped the blankets off her. Then she heard the unmistakable sound of a belt zipping through belt loops. Before she could react, he slammed the strip of leather against the mattress, so close to her leg she felt the air whoosh. She scrambled out of the bed, still wearing the bath robe from the previous night and crouched next to the night stand.
    “I-I’m not making you and your sweaty pigs breakfast.”
    Somehow the sound of boots on carpet was as intimidating as they would have been on hardwood. He snapped