A Picture of Desire Read Online Free PDF Page A

echoed in the room. Ava had to force herself to not retch at the revulsion she felt. She mentally berated herself for not reaching for her knife before he had tied her hands, even though she knew a knife would never have been enough against the gun he held. In an instant every horror story she’d ever heard about sexual assault and rape went through her mind. She sobbed and closed her eyes, preparing herself to face the abuse the man had planned for her.
    Suddenly, in an instant, the man’s hand was gone. Ava kept her eyes squeezed tightly shut, not wanting to see what the man was doing. She heard a shuffling noise. A grunt. Then she heard a bump and a thud. Fearfully, she opened her eyes, unsure what she would see.
    The man lay on the floor, unconscious. Beside him stood Todd. He stared at the man on the floor, his expression one of dark fury. Then he glanced at Ava and the crease in his brow relaxed, and his eyes filled with worry. He strode quickly toward her and gathered her in his arms. “Are you okay?” he asked. She could hear the concern in his voice.
    And the love.
    Ava nodded, leaning against the comfort of his hard body. Tears started to stream down her cheeks as she considered the fate that might have been in store for her. “He had a gun,” she gulped. “He could have killed you.”
    “I know,” Todd said. “But I wasn’t going to let him hurt you.”
    The man’s motionless body lay on the floor. Ava was tempted to kick it. “Did you kill him?” she asked.
    Todd shook his head. “I just knocked him out for a little while,” he answered. He went to Beth and removed the tape from her hands and feet. For the first time ever, Ava saw that Beth was speechless.
    “You should probably call the police,” Todd said, gently.
    Beth nodded. “I’ll do that,” she said, and slowly left the storeroom. Ava could see that Beth’s legs were shaky and her gait was hesitant.
    Todd turned his attention back to Ava, stroking her cheek with the tips of his fingers. Her breathing had just begun to slow, but it quickened again when her gaze met Todd’s dark eyes.
    “I guess I should untie your hands,” he said softly.
    She nodded, unable to speak.
    “But I kind of like you tied up,” he said with a loving smile.
    Ava remained silent. He gently reached behind her and removed the tape from her wrists, slowly peeling it away so the adhesive wouldn’t hurt her skin. Then he grabbed her shoulders and turned her to face him, his eyes questioning.
    In that moment she knew. Knew that he loved her. Knew that she loved him. Knew that she would never marry his brother.
    “You’re mine now,” Todd said. “You know that, right?”
    Ava fell into his arms, her mouth open and willing for the kiss he gave her. She pressed herself against his hard body, already feeling the passion that built inside her as his tongue sought hers. She quivered as Todd’s hand stroked her breast, his touch light with possession.
    “Yes,” she said, breaking their kiss. “I’m yours. And only yours.”
    And, in her heart, she knew it was the truth.
     

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