Now or Never

that almost as much as she hated him.
    Grayson forced herself to return the embrace, if a little stiffly. “You need help Josh.”
    “I know I do. I’ll go to counseling. I promise. Just don’t leave me,” he pleaded, stepping back so he could put the full force of his gaze on her. “I’ll do anything you want.”
    How many times had he uttered those exact same words over the years? Her shoulders slumped— way too many times to remember.
    When he kissed her, she was revolted by the feel and taste of him, but she didn’t stop him. It always worked this way. A huge fight, followed by crazy make-up sex, and then everything would be fine…until the next argument.
    Josh deepened the kiss, one hand curling around her waist as he pressed his hips into hers. He murmured, “I love you,” as he pulled off her shirt. “You’re so beautiful.”
    I can’t do this anymore, Grayson thought, fighting the urge to retch when her bra hit the floor, and his hands moved to cup her breasts—hands that had only moments before been wrapped around her neck.
    The same neck Josh’s lips now trailed down as he unbuttoned her jeans. She closed her eyes, tears soaking her cheeks.
    This is the last time he will touch me, she thought with determination. She would go through the motions to calm him down, and then she would run as fast as she could without looking back. That was the only way.
    “I need you so much, Grace,” he murmured, sliding her jeans down over her hips until she was naked before him. His gaze drifted down, and he licked his lips. “I don’t want anyone else looking at you or talking to you. If I had it my way, I’d keep you locked in the house all to myself.”
    Grayson hummed to appease him, rubbing her wet face on her arm as his head dipped to her breasts.
    When Josh lifted her off the ground, it was as if she weighed nothing at all. Instinctively, she wrapped her legs around his waist, and he carried her to the bedroom.
    Please just get it over with, Grayson prayed as the door shut.
    Thankfully, he never lasted long after a fight.

CHAPTER 2

    While Josh took his normal after-sex nap, Grayson lay in bed—as far away from him as she could get without falling off—and devised her plan as she tried to block out his annoying snoring.
    There wasn’t a whole lot to it. Her plan was simple—get out, and do it quick. She’d never been the kind of girl to make plans; she usually decided to just wing it, which got her into trouble a time or two. Josh, on the other hand, was methodical about everything.
    She had no idea where she was going or what she would do when she got there. She just knew she had to go.
    Grayson couldn’t help but think, .so this is what they mean when they say someone needs to hit “rock bottom.” Tonight had been the final straw that broke the camel’s back.
    She’d met Josh her first semester of college, in the food court. There were plenty of times since then she’d find herself wishing she never smiled at him. It had been stupid—Josh wasn’t even a student. He was there with his girlfriend, some tall, dark-haired girl who looked barely legal. Grayson caught sight of Josh where he lounged at the table as if he owned it, his blond hair, and tan skin making his blue eyes look like sapphires. They caught each other’s gaze, shared a smile, and the rest was history.
    Lying in bed beside his naked body, Grayson realized that was all there had ever been between them. Sex. Nothing deeper, even though they’d said ‘I love you’; it wasn’t anything more than a sex induced infatuation. If she had known about his insane jealous streak back then, she wouldn’t have given him the time of day. She’d always read about women getting involved with abusive men, and thought they were foolish. Yet, here she was, three years later, doing just that. She was ashamed and embarrassed that she’d allowed herself to become a statistic.
    Live and learn, she told herself. As far as she was concerned, if she never got involved in another relationship, that would be fine. The thought of being alone was a satisfying one. She didn’t need a man, or anyone else for that matter.
    There was no question, she had to leave.
    Josh jerked awake, one foot kicking out into Grayson’s shin. She bit her tongue as he rolled over and blinked at the large red numbers on the alarm clock. “Shit, I’m going to be late for work.”
    Grayson glared at his back, but smoothed her face immediately when he turned