Shiver by Lisa Jackson Read Free Book Online Page B

have to get completely naked?
    “Now, put this on.” She heard a zipper hiss downward and then she was handed something soft and silky—a dress? Fumbling, her fingers nearly useless, she hurriedly bunched the smooth fabric and found a way to step into it. She didn’t know what it was, but it would cover her nakedness, and right now that was all that mattered. “Turn it around,” he ordered and blindly she gathered and rotated the fabric, then pulled the bodice of the dress upward, over her waist and higher to cover her breasts. Awkwardly, she found the long sleeves and pushed her hands through. Then he was behind her and he held one of her arms again as he slowly pulled the zipper upward where it stopped near her shoulders. His breath was hot. Nasty. Nearly wet as it touched the nape of her neck.
    Now…if she could just find a way to stop him. But that was impossible.
    Slowly, still holding her with one hand, he trailed the barrel of the gun against her skin, so that the cold metal caressed her neck.
    Goose pimples rose on her skin.
    If she spun around quickly now, she might catch him unaware, be able to knock the weapon from his hand, rip off her blindfold, and run like crazy. She was fast. And with the adrenalin pumping through her bloodstream, she could run five or six miles without stopping to catch her breath.
    “Uh, uh, uuuuh,” he murmured so close that she felt his chest against her back, his erection, though the soft folds of the dress, pressed into the cleft of her rump.
    Her chin wobbled. He was going to rape her…and probably the silent others in the room would have their turns with her, too.
    Why? Oh, Father, why?
    Run, Mary! Take a chance! So what if the gun goes off?
    The arm holding her shoulder snaked around her waist, drawing her tight against him. “Now, Mary,” he rasped and she nearly wilted when she realized he knew her name. She hadn’t been a random target. He’d wanted her for whatever evil purpose he had planned. “Here’s what you’re going to do to save yourself. Are you listening?”
    She nodded, hating herself. Hating him.
    “You’re going to take this gun and you’re going to shoot it into a pillow.”
    What?
    “That’s right, I’m going to put it into your hand, but you’re not going to turn around and kill me with it, okay? I won’t let that happen. My hand will be over yours. Like this, see…” He pressed the gun into her shaking, sweating hand and curled her index finger over the trigger. His strong grip guided hers, and when she tried to turn it, he forced the hand forward.
    “All you have to do is squeeze.”
    Her whole body trembled. This was insane. Crazy. She wasn’t going to shoot blindly into the dark. For a second she wondered if this was some nutty college prank, the kind sororities and fraternities were famous for, but she didn’t believe it. She hadn’t pledged any house on campus and was going to drop out of All Saints College soon. Besides, this overriding sense of pure, malicious evil didn’t have a drop of fun or jest in it.
    It was no prank.
    “Come on,” he urged, his breath whispered out in excited little bursts. She heard it again, that muffled cry—laughter? Terror? Where was it? Nearby? Far away? Someone hiding in a closet, or watching her? One person? Two? A dozen?
    So scared she physically shook, she knew that if it weren’t for the steely fingers pressed intimately over hers, the weapon in her hand would have clattered to the floor.
    If only this was a nightmare!
    If only she would wake up in her dorm room!
    “You’ve got five seconds.”
    No! Again the muffled noise.
    “Five.”
    Please, Father help me.
    “Four.”
    Do not abandon me, I beg of you.
    “Three.”
    I am your humble servant.
    “Two.”
    Have mercy on my soul!
    “One.”
    He squeezed the trigger for her.
    Bam! The gun blasted, jerked in her hand.
    A muted squeal came from somewhere nearby.
    She smelled cordite and burning material and something else…the