Chapter 2

Glass shattered, and Paige’s eyes popped wide open. Then she heard a loud thud and looked over at the clock. But as soon as she did, the intruder rushed into the bedroom. She quickly grabbed her cordless phone, but the tall muscular man snatched it away from her and slammed it against the wall.

The moonlight shone through Paige’s window, and she could now see part of his face. “Are you absolutely sure you want to go through with this?” the man asked.

“I’ve never been more sure about anything.”

At first the man hesitated, but then he grabbed both her legs and dragged her closer to him.

Paige squirmed to the other side of the bed, but when he pulled her back, he slapped her so brutally she saw stars.

“That’s it,” she said, moaning in pain. “But harder.”

The man sighed but did as he was told. He beat her repeatedly with both his fists, and Paige broke into real tears.

Next, the man pulled out a gun and struck her across the face with it. He struck her three different times, and Paige bellowed out in sheer agony.

The man backed away from her. “Paige, please. I just can’t do this.”

“Yes you can!” she exclaimed. “You promised me you would. Now come on!”

The intruder sighed again, set his gun down on the nightstand, and savagely ripped Paige’s nightgown apart. Then he lunged on top of her, and the two of them struggled like longtime enemies.

At the same time, though, Paige hoped Pierce would appreciate the fact that she’d literally had to concoct this whole rape scheme just so they could be together. She hadn’t wanted to take things this far, having to endure such excruciating and violent physical pain, but it was a sacrifice she’d been fully willing to make. She’d done so because she knew it was all going to be very much worth her while in the end—she knew when it was all said and done, Pierce would thank her profusely and would be glad to know she was the kind of woman who was willing to do anything. Anything at all to be with him.