Page 17

SEVENTEEN

ROSALIE

“ R ing around the rosy, a pocket full of posies, ashes, ashes, we all fall down.” Daisy’s giggle resounded through the room, her white dress flowing out around her as she clutched onto Beary. As the song came to an end, so did her happy demeanor. A scowl twisted her innocent features, her eyes becoming two black pits of nothingness as she glared at me.

My heart thrashed wildly against my ribcage, and I stumbled backward, my back connecting with the wall where a door should have been. Glancing around, I noticed that the entire room had changed. The windows were gone, the closet was gone, and there was no escape. Nothing but a large white box.

Daisy tipped her head to the side, blood so dark it appeared black, spewing from her mouth. It flooded down her chin and splattered against the white floor. The gash along her neck was wide and open, making my stomach curl with unease.

“You killed me, sissy,” she accused.

My eyes filled with tears as I took in the horror before me. “I-I didn’t mean to, baby. I love you so much, Daisy. I miss you. Please, don’t go.”

“You. Killed. Me,” she growled, her voice coming out muffled like we were in two separate worlds.

“It was an accident,” I defended. “I never would have done it on purpose.” My words came out choked and I crumbled to my knees as sobs shook my body. “I just want to hold you again. To hear you laugh, to take you to that diner you always loved. Come back to me!”

She inched closer, her head still tilted to the side in a way that was so unnatural it looked like her neck was broken. “It’s too late, Rosie. You killed me and you ‘liked’ it.”

I reeled back like she’d punched me in the face, my eyes wide with horror at what she just said. “I didn’t!”

“Liar, liar, pants on fire.”

I shook my head, tears streaming down my face, blurring my vision. I didn’t. I didn’t. I didn’t. My stomach twisted into knots, bile burning the back of my throat like acid.

Let me fucking hold you.

Let me switch places with you.

Let me love you.

Don’t leave me!

Please, God. Bring her back to me. Make this my final request.

“No,” I choked out.

“The adrenaline,” she continued. “You liked that.”

Glancing up at her through my tears, my chest rattled with every intake of breath. That was a big word for her, one she didn’t even know how to pronounce. But I was so wrapped up in the horror of my sister that it didn’t matter.

“Admit it,” she demanded, black streaks spilling down her cheeks.

I shook my head.

“Admit it!” She screamed, the sound piercing through me.

“Fine. I fucking liked it! But I don’t like that you’re gone! Are you happy now?”

My body jerked in bed, ripping me from the horrible nightmare I’d just been subjected to. My chest heaved erratically; my throat raw like I’d been screaming in my sleep. I couldn’t keep living like this. She should be here.

My breathing calmed as I came to a sudden realization. I couldn’t keep living at all.

It didn’t matter that one day I’d get out of here. It didn’t matter that I still had Alex. It didn’t matter that Gentry was finally gone. Nothing mattered if Daisy was no longer here. The dream version of her might have been right. The adrenaline of taking a life was consuming. Watching Gentry topple over had been exhilarating. That’s what had given me the rush. Not killing Daisy. When I realized I hurt her, my entire body seized up. She was the only thing in the world that truly mattered to me.

If I wanted to end my life, there was only one person who could truly do that for me—who would be willing to get rid of me. Well, aside from the twins. I had a feeling their methods were a lot more unhinged, and I’d prefer to go more quickly. But Seven hated me from the moment I showed my face, from the moment Archer noticed me. He might have touched me, made me feel good during a stolen, drunken night, but I knew that wasn’t enough for him to forget his hatred for me. I might have been innocent in the physical department, but I wasn’t na?ve. Sex to guys like him didn’t matter. Touching a woman or fingering them, licking them, none of that mattered.

Shoving myself up from my bed, my feet connected with the cold, tiled floor. My thoughts blurred together, but the outcome was the same. To die. I knew I couldn’t mess this up. If I did, I’d end up in solitary, or worse. It needed to be executed precisely.

I glanced at the clock on my wall, my heart beating wildly. I’d live today like it was my last, and then I’d die as soon as the sun set, as soon as Mr. Mitch clocked in. He never did head count like he was supposed to, he never bothered us. It was the perfect opportunity.

My body thrummed to life with ecstatic energy. I wasn’t scared. This was acceptance. It no longer mattered that I’d have to live this life without her. I’d join her.

I crossed the room and changed my clothes as quickly as possible before slipping on my shoes and running a brush through my hair. When I was presentable enough, I stepped out into the hallway. As expected, it was bustling with noise due to people leaving their rooms and heading toward the cafeteria.

I hopped in the breakfast line, my skin prickling with anticipation. This was it. This is what I wanted. Suddenly, the air entered my lungs more easily, and for the first time in a long time, I felt alive.

I even smiled at the lunch lady when she made my plate, which she hesitantly returned. Grabbing my meal, I fixed a cup of coffee and glanced around the cafeteria. Instead of heading to my usual table, I started for Archer’s table instead, knowing he wouldn’t turn me away. He’d been more distant lately. Ever since he cornered me in the bathroom and kissed me. We’d only really spoken once after that, and it was because I caught him and Seven screwing in the woods.

Archer’s eyebrows rose when he spotted me making my way toward him. I slipped down into the empty spot next to him with Seven on his other side, who was glaring daggers into the side of my face, but for once, I didn’t give a shit. Because nothing mattered anymore.

“You seem different today,” Archer pointed out skeptically, his eyes searching mine for a hint of why that might be.

I shrugged. “It’s a good day to be alive.” He didn’t need to know that this was the last day I planned on living. Knowing him, he would try to stop me. That was a risk I wasn’t willing to take. I couldn’t go to Jordan about it because he’d bluntly told me that he kept his word, and he promised to protect me. That was another risk I wasn’t willing to take.

“Why are you over here?” Seven demanded with an edge to his tone. A flicker of annoyance flashed within his icy blue eyes, like he wanted me anywhere but here. He could stomach it for the day.

“Why are you?” I shot back.

Archer released a laugh, glancing over at his lover slash friend. It was hard to understand their dynamic. When his gaze returned to mine, they sparkled with a mixture of admiration and amusement. “You’re feisty today.” He smirked. “I like it.”

As much as I wanted to say that I didn’t give a shit about what he liked or didn’t, there was no mistaking the way my heart sped up at his words, like my body yearned for his approval. But that was another thing I didn’t have to dwell on, because it would all be over soon.

Even when Archer’s hand landed on my bare thigh, I didn’t so much as flinch. I’d actually expected it. Anytime we sat together, he had this need to touch me.

Jordan glanced up from his sketchpad, his eyes skimming down on me where I sat. A small tug of his lips had me following the movement, and it took me a minute to realize he was almost smiling.

“What are you doing in my spot?” A screech sounded from behind me. Archer’s hand tightened on my thigh, sending sparks of electricity careening through me.

I glanced over my shoulder, my eyes connecting with Alina’s brown ones. A small smile tugged at my lips, but before I could reply, Archer beat me to it. “This is her spot today,” he said dismissively.

“Are you fucking kidding me?” Rachel snapped, her eyes narrowing into slits as she glared at me. “We always sit here.” Under any other circumstance, I’d probably be shaking in my shoes beneath their evil gazes, but today, it didn’t so much as phase me. They wouldn’t have to worry about me come tomorrow.

“Not today,” Jordan cut in, surprising me. His attention was back on his drawing, his eyes never leaving the page like he didn’t have a care in the world.

In a weird way, I felt accepted by them. It was stupid. They barely knew me, but apparently, they’d rather me sit here than the twins.

Rachel reeled back like his words damaged that black heart of hers. She seemed to bounce back from it quickly, though and turned her heated gaze on me. Her dark irises promised vengeance and malice. It evidently didn’t matter to her that Jordan had warned her to leave me alone, but I wouldn’t expect anything less. She was a narcissist, after all. Plus, I did waltz right into her territory. But that was fine. She couldn’t do anything to me that I didn’t plan on doing myself.

Alina spoke up again, her words laced with venom. “You’re fucking kidding me, right?” She seethed. “We’ve sat here everyday with you guys for the last?—”

Jordan snorted, laying his pencil down on his sketchbook once he’d closed it. “We never invited you to sit with us,” he drawled, his tone laced with boredom like he’d rather be doing anything else. “In fact, I precisely remember telling you two to find somewhere else to sit and to fuck off.”

Alina bristled at that. “But you’re okay with her sitting with you?”

Jordan shrugged. “She doesn’t annoy me as much as you do.”

That was a lie. Or…maybe it wasn’t. Most of our encounters ended up with him glaring at me, threatening me, or with him storming away. If they pissed him off more than I did, that was a sight I didn’t even want to witness. A part of me was shocked that they were even still standing if that was the case.

The twins both shot me one last scathing glare before storming away, probably to plot their revenge on me, but oh well.

I remembered how it felt to be at their mercy, my head craned back while the other twin held a piece of dirty glass to my face. They were just getting started. If Jordan hadn’t shown up when he did…

A chill swept down my spine. I didn’t even want to think about that.

Archer’s hand on my thigh brought me back to the present. His thumb moved slowly over the sensitive part of my leg, goosebumps skittering along my flesh. “I wouldn’t keep fucking with them if I were you.” He grinned, though there was amusement along with surprise in his gaze when he said it, like he enjoyed me stealing Alina’s seat as much as I did.

I shrugged, completely unphased. “It doesn’t matter anymore.” Nothing did. This was my mantra for the day and would continue to be my mantra until I was lying lifelessly on the cold hard floor.

His smile faltered, his eyes searching mine with concern before he glanced over at Jordan and Seven who both seemed equally as tense. I wasn’t sure if it was what I said that gave them pause, or how I’d said it, but it felt like their minds were catching up with mine—like they knew exactly what it was like when you’ve accepted a day as your last. It was kind of like a high. Not that I’d ever been high before, but it seemed like an accurate comparison.

“You good?” he asked.

“Never better.”

I followed them out into the hall after breakfast, exhilaration still pumping through my veins. Patients flanked us on either side as they scurried down the hall towards group, some of them even heading back to their rooms first. When Seven moved to walk away, my arm snapped out and my fingers curled around his wrist.

He tensed, turning to face me with furrowed eyebrows. Annoyance flickered across his face before he jerked his hand from my grip and swiped it along his jeans like touching me was a means for some unwarranted disease.

I rolled my eyes at his theatrics. “Can I talk to you?”

“There. You’ve talked.” He moved to walk away again, agitation settling deep into my stomach.

Jordan and Archer both watched us with varying looks of confusion, but I didn’t care. Even if it made me look like a dick whipped little bitch. I assumed Seven already had a field day, telling them what he did to me while I was partly unconscious, and how I begged him for more.

I released a frustrated huff, begging him with my eyes to be serious for a second. This wasn’t about what happened that night. Frankly, it was the last thing I wanted to talk to him about. After a few seconds of us staring each other down, his shoulders dropped, and he released a sigh of defeat.

“Fine,” he mumbled. “Come on.”

He turned away from me again, and I hurried to step into stride with him. My heart pounded furiously against my chest cavity with nervousness. I suppose that if he turned me away, I could find a way to do it on my own. Going to the twins would be a last resort, but I’d make it happen. That much I was sure of.

I followed him into his room, barely sparing a glance around the small space. It looked just like my room—just like Jordan’s room. When the door closed behind me, he turned, quickly invading my personal space and pushing me up against the cold door. He braced a hand on either side of me, his muscles bulging with restraint. Either he was seconds away from murdering me or fucking me. By the look on his face, it had to be the former.

“What the fuck was so important that you couldn’t have said it in front of Archer and Jordan?” he demanded. “If this is about me finger fucking you, and you wanting another taste of what I can offer, forget about it. I only did it because?—”

Hurt and rage seared through my chest, my blood heating. “It’s not,” I snapped, unwilling to hear anything else he had to say about that night.

His shoulders eased up a fraction, probably with relief. “Good,” he replied, his dimple poking out with the word. “Because it meant nothing.”

I shoved against his chest, trying to get some space between us. He stumbled back, dropping his arms to his sides to regain his balance. “Noted. Now will you shut the fuck up and let me speak?”

His eyebrows raised in surprise, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. “You are feisty today.”

I tried to ignore the annoying flutter in my stomach, from the way he was looking at me, like he was impressed. I cleared my throat, wanting to get straight to the point. “You hate me and I’m not too fond of you either,” I started, though my body was calling me a liar. It remembered the things he made me feel, the way it felt to have his tongue between my legs, and how he made my back bow off the mattress in pure ecstasy. His finger work was just as magical. “Archer has shown an interest in me, and you don’t like that?—”

He narrowed his eyes at me. “If this is some proposition to get me to share him with you…”

I couldn’t help it. I laughed right in his face, all my warring emotions rising to the surface at that single comment. “No. Idiot,” I retorted. “I want you to kill me.”

He stumbled backwards, his expression morphing into something that was comical on the bad boy who’d threatened me not that long ago. He was at a loss for words. “You’re fucking with me,” he accused, like it was unheard of for someone to want to take their own life. Since my options were limited here, and my last suicide attempt had failed, this was the next best thing.

“Don’t act like you haven’t thought about all the twisted ways you could get rid of me. I’m giving you that opportunity. If you don’t want it, then I’m sure Alina and Rachel would be more than willing.” I was bluffing, but he didn’t know that. I was banking on him agreeing to this.

His jaw tightened and he glanced away, staring at the wall to his right as if it had suddenly become the most interesting thing in the world. “When?” he growled.

“During dinner,” I decided. That way everyone would be occupied and if I screamed, no one would hear it.

He swallowed thickly and nodded. “Where?”

“The woods. I can meet you at the tree you fucked Archer at,” I suggested. His head whipped back to me, his eyes narrowing, but I just smiled sweetly in return. Had he thought I’d forgotten?

“Fine, but I’m going to make it hurt.”

My pulse accelerated, but did I really expect anything less? The dude was head over heels for Archer, and for that, he despised me. Now that I knew they had something going on, it all became abundantly clear to me. He would want revenge, even if it wasn’t my fault. But I knew that was a possibility when I came to him.

Swallowing down the fear, I nodded. “I do have one request, though. When you get done torturing me or whatever it is you want to do, will you end my life by slicing my throat if you can find something sharp enough that will puncture the skin?” Just like I sliced Daisy’s.

“I have something sharp enough. Now hurry the fuck up. We’re going to be late for group.” The bite in his tone wasn’t as natural as usual. It felt forced and he sounded rattled. I was relieved that he didn’t ask me why I suddenly decided that my life was so meaningless. It was a conversation I didn’t want to have.

“Keep this between us.”

He rolled his eyes. “I’m not an idiot.”

I turned, reaching for the door and pushed it open before retreating into the hallway.

Group therapy felt like it dragged on forever, even though it had only been a couple of hours. When Mrs. Octavia released us, I couldn’t get out of there fast enough. I made my way to my room and sat on the edge of the bed, grabbing Beary and holding him against my chest. His soft fur brushed along my skin, and my chest felt heavier with each intake of breath.

There was nothing here for me anymore, and I needed to keep reminding myself that in case I started having any doubts. I murdered two people, my mom most likely didn’t want to see me anymore, Alex was out there alone without me, I’d already caved and let two stupidly hot guys touch me. Alex deserved better. A part of me wanted to confess everything to him and hoped he’d understand, but the other part of me was too cowardly to do that. I suppose it didn’t matter anymore either.

I was nothing but a walking contradiction. Pretending to be good when deep down I was just as corrupt as everyone else in this place. My first couple of weeks here, I’d been terrified. Scared that someone was going to attack me or make an example out of me in some way. In the end, I was begging for that exact same thing to happen to me. I wasn’t better than anyone here or anyone out in the real world. It was time for me to accept that.

The world was better off without me, and I was better off without it. That was fine. There was no one here who would miss me except for Alex, and he deserved so much better than I could give.

I leaned against the tree of our meeting spot with exhilaration pumping through my veins. The sky was a light blue, indicating the sun was on the brink of setting, but there was still a good enough view for me to see the surrounding trees and bushes. Nervous energy prickled along my skin as doubt started creeping in.

What if he didn’t show?

What if he told Archer and Jordan?

What if he snitched on me to the staff?

Mr. Mitch might have been cool for the most part, but I don’t think he’d allow a suicide attempt. Something like that wouldn’t be swept under the rug. There would be paperwork and a body to dispose of.

Just when I started to lose all hope, I saw him.

Seven stepped through the trees, his skin sparkling like diamonds beneath the dark sky. My gaze zeroed in on his hand, a knife twirling between his fingers.

I can’t believe I’m really doing this.

When he approached, a small smile graced his lips which was so unlike the version of him that I knew. “Ready to die, little virgin?”

Despite the heavy weight on my chest from his words and from the situation altogether, a huff of laughter slipped from my lips. “I guess I am about to die a virgin, huh?”

He shrugged. “I mean…I could fuck you first.”

I rolled my eyes. He was obviously joking. He’d made it abundantly clear that he wasn’t that interested in me when we spoke earlier in his room. “Let’s just get this over with.” I sighed, pushing away from the tree and moving to stand in front of him.

He reached out with his free hand, his fingers dancing along the side of my face like he was cataloguing it for memory. I couldn’t help it. I leaned into his touch, reveling in the sparks of electricity that flowed from where our skin connected.

“You’re sure about this?” he asked softly.

My throat constricted and I glanced away. “Don’t go all soft on me now. I chose you because you’re an asshole and because you hate me.”

“I don’t hate you, Rosalie. I tried to, but you don’t make it easy. You’re too fucking nice and it pisses me off.”

I snorted at that. “You’re mad because you can’t hate me?”

He shrugged. “Among other reasons. But you’re not here because you want answers. You’re here because you want to make it all stop. Even if you changed your mind, we’d still be enemies tomorrow.”

At least he was honest. That’s one thing that intrigued me about him. Jordan and Archer were that way, too. They weren’t scared to hurt people’s feelings. They’d tell you just like it is, regardless of how it made you feel.

I nodded in agreement, because it didn’t matter. I wasn’t changing my mind. But I needed one last thing before he took my life. Just to feel for a moment longer, however brief it may be. I reached forward, fisting his shirt in my hand and tugged him toward me. He stumbled, but didn’t even try to fight it. Rising on my tiptoes, my lips brushed against his softly. To my surprise, he reacted immediately, cupping my face with his free hand and deepened the kiss.

He sucked the breath right from my lungs, my head spinning with the intensity of it. I was the first to pull away, my chest heaving and my lips tingling.

“I’m ready. Do your worst.”

His throat bobbed as he swallowed, and his hand fell to his side. “Sit on the ground,” he ordered.

I lowered myself to the ground as instructed, extending my legs out in front of me. He came behind me, placing a leg of his on either side, his torso brushing my back.

“Lean against me,” he whispered in a shaky voice.

I did as he said, placing my head against his chest. He brushed my hair over one shoulder and brought the knife to my neck, the cold metal pressing against the skin. He waited for a few moments, silently urging me to change my mind. When I didn’t, he applied more pressure.

My breathing hollowed out, a tear leaking from my eyes and trickling down my cheeks. This was it. It was what I wanted. I couldn’t afford to have any doubts now. He wasn’t going to make it hurt like he threatened. He was going to make it fast and as painless as possible. Even going out of his way to make me comfortable. My heart swelled at the kind gesture, but that’s all it was. I couldn’t afford to feel anything for him, because that alone could give me doubts about this entire thing.

“Do it,” I urged.

His hand shook where he held the blade, but still, he made no movement to kill me.

“Seven,” I continued. “Please.”

When he still didn’t do anything, horror swept through me, twisting my insides and tying them into knots as realization settled in. He was backing out.

He dropped his hand, scrambling to his feet as quickly as possible. “I can’t, Rosalie. I’m sorry.” He shook his head and started for the trees, turning his back on me.

“What? No!”

No!

I jumped to my feet and started after him, anger coursing through my veins.

“Sorry,” he said again, not bothering to turn and face me. I deserved a better explanation than that.

I shoved him, causing him to stumble forward, but he quickly composed himself. If he was too much of a coward to give me what I wanted, then I’d piss him off enough that he’d have no choice.

“Rosalie,” he warned, turning to face me.

“Fuck you,” I snapped. “You said you’d do it. I didn’t take you for a pussy. So, man up and give me what I fucking asked for.” I shoved him again, but he barely stumbled this time, as if he were expecting it.

His eyes narrowed, his jaw thrumming as he clenched it. Bingo. “Don’t press me,” he growled, the sound sending shivers through my body. “I know what you’re doing, and it isn’t going to work.”

“Do you really hate me so much that you won’t even put me out of my misery?” I demanded, the words coming out more choked than intended.

From the moment I woke up today, my mind had been set on this. It wasn’t like I hadn’t had suicidal thoughts at all since Daisy’s death, but I’d pushed them away, too scared to focus on them. My nightmare reminded me of everything and told me the cold hard truth. I was a monster. Something in my mind shattered with that dream. There was no such thing as good and evil, not in the black and white sense. We were all people, and we were all capable of both good and bad things. You were only bad if all you did were bad things, and you were only good if all you did were good things.

Seven rounded on me. “You’re accusing me of hating you because I won’t kill you. God Rosalie, do you even know what the fuck you’re asking me to do?”

I knew it sounded crazy, but I didn’t care. He agreed to meet me here tonight with the intent of killing me. If he refused to do it, I’d provoke him until he did.

“Why is it so difficult for you?” I shot back. “I know you’ve had to have thought about it at least once. I’m giving you the chance.”

He shook his head, running a hand through his white hair. “Fucking crazy bitch.”

That was fair. He could call me whatever the hell he wanted to as long as the result ended the same. But he didn’t know my story. He had two loving parents that always visited him every week. They shelled out money whenever he asked them to. I didn’t have anyone. He wouldn’t know what that was like.

I was determined to make this happen. I’d already accepted it, already said my goodbyes to this life. I was tired of hurting, tired of betraying Alex, tired of mourning, and tired of being completely and utterly alone and helpless.

If he wouldn’t do it, then I would.

I lunged forward, snatching the knife from his grasp and pressed it against my neck. His eyes widened, full of panic, like he couldn’t comprehend why I was so set on doing this.

Closing my eyes, I allowed a single tear to drift down my cheek before I applied more pressure. A trickle of blood started running down my throat along with a sharp pinch of pain. It wasn’t a deep cut; it had only broken through the surface of my skin. I knew I wouldn’t die doing it like this, but if I managed to slice an important artery, there was a chance. Cutting deeper this time, more blood coated my neck. I took in one last deep breath of oxygen, knowing it was the last time I’d taste it before?—

My eyes snapped open as something hard collided with my body and I hit the ground hard, my back plastered to the dirt with Seven on top of me. There was a manic look in his eye as he pried the weapon from my grasp.

No.

“Why?” I choked out, a sob racking through me.

“I don’t fucking know. But you’re not going to die here.”

My head spun with his words but before I could focus on them, his lips came crashing down on mine. Instinctively, I wound my arms around him, tugging him closer, unable to fight this connection—the way he felt pressed against me, the way his mouth devoured mine like our souls yearned for one another. It was wrong, messed up, and shouldn’t be happening. We were from two different worlds, even outside of this place our lives were vastly different. Maybe that was the appeal. In here, we could be equals.

He broke the kiss, running his lips down the side of my face and then down my jaw. My hands drifted through his hair; the knife long gone. For right now, I didn’t care. When his lips found my neck, he sucked the blood from my skin, groaning from the taste alone.

It shouldn’t have turned me on. He was getting off from my blood and I fucking liked it. It was hot, erotic, even taboo. It didn’t matter that he’d killed a girl doing this same thing. If he accidentally killed me, then he fulfilled our agreement, and I couldn’t be too mad about that.

“Cut me.” I breathed, not even recognizing my own voice.

He tensed, his eyes drifting to meet mine. “Rosalie—” he started with hesitance, but I was quick to cut him off, bucking my hips to meet his hard erection.

“Do it,” I growled, digging my nails into his back through his shirt.

“Goddamn. Okay.”

He leaned back, grabbing the knife where he’d deposited it. His eyes were glazed over with hunger, with bloodlust, and he’d never looked sexier. He cut through the fabric of my shirt and tugged the scraps from my body, his hands working fast like he couldn’t get to my body fast enough. When he reached my bra, he cut that from me, too. A gust of cool air wafted over me, hardening my nipples instantly.

We were so caught up in this bubble we were in that nothing else mattered. But like all bubbles, it would eventually pop, and we’d be thrown right back into reality.

He tore my skirt from my hips, discarding the fabric to the side and then cut through my thong.

“Fuck, you’re gorgeous,” he panted, taking one of his hands and palming my breast.

My heart sped up with the compliment. Seeing the hunger in his eyes as he looked over every inch of my body with admiration, feeling his hand against my breast as his thumb ran over my nipple. There was nothing like it. I felt powerful.

He took the blade, dropping his hand from my breast and he lined the sharp point up with my shoulder, pressing into the skin until it drew blood. I winced slightly from the sting, but his mouth was immediately on top of it, turning the pain into pleasure. A breathy moan slipped from my lips, my legs moving to rest over his hips. His jeans brushed against my pussy, his erection pressing into my clit. A growl erupted from his chest, vibrating against me.

Leaning back again, he pressed the tip of the blade to my other shoulder and repeated the action. My body shuddered against him with the swipe of his tongue.

He cut me a few more times, and then tossed the knife in the grass with restraint, like it was taking everything in him not to keep going. I was breathing heavily, completely caught up in this new kink .

But he wasn’t done. He shifted down my body and lowered his face to my pussy that was probably drenched from what we’d just done. Not to mention, he’d been rubbing against me with every movement he made. He swiped his tongue along my slit, my back arching off the cool ground. My hands twisted in his hair again, a silent plea for him to keep going.

Swiping his tongue against me a few more times, he plunged it inside. A breathy moan tore from my lungs, his spell cradling me in its embrace. The only sounds were him licking me and my heavy breathing filling the air. Just when I was about to shatter, he withdrew, exchanging his mouth for his fingers. He started with one, slipping it in and out a few times, groaning when my pussy clamped down on it. Slowly, he eased in a second one and started moving them around like he was preparing me for something.

As if reading my thoughts, his eyes connected with mine. “I’m going to fuck you”

My heart flipped wildly. “What if I say no?”

He grinned maliciously. “You won’t. But even if you did, I’d still do it.”

For some reason, that didn’t bother me. Probably because I’d already expected that. I was the one who lured him here, after all. I knew he had a thing about blood, and I cut myself right in front of him, then asked him to cut me. It would have been my fault had I truly not wanted this.

Once he’d stretched me enough with his fingers, he pulled them out and tugged his shirt from his body. My eyes trailed down the ridges of his muscular build. He wasn’t as stacked as Jordan, that was for sure, but he was beautiful in his own way. His skin was void of tattoos unlike his two friends who were covered in them. He shifted as he worked his pants and boxers down his body, my eyes widening when his dick popped out.

Piercings decorated the entire length, and it was a massive length. Swallowing nervously, a new fear sprouted within my mind. Would he even fit? It already felt uncomfortable with just his fingers. Not to mention, there were also piercings on it.

He took himself into his hand and pumped it up and down a few times before shifting on top of me, his skin pressing into mine. This was already the farthest I’d gone with any guy before. His tip brushed against my folds, my heart hammering wildly in my chest.

“Spread your legs more,” he instructed.

Reluctantly, I did, bracing them over his hips as I’d done earlier. Slowly, he eased inside me. A gasp sprung from my lips, my nails already biting into his back from the pressure alone. His piercings were cold against my inner walls as he stilled, allowing me to adjust before going any further.

“Relax, little virgin. It’ll hurt less.”

My chest was moving up and down in rapid succession and I willed my breathing to calm. I’d always thought that Alex would be the one to take my virginity. But I knew that after Seven had come to my room and I allowed him to touch me, that it wouldn’t be him. I wasn’t that much of a monster. To let a guy touch me and to carry on with Alex like it had never happened.

I was pulled from my thoughts when he started pushing into me again, a whimper falling from my lips. His eyes rolled and he groaned from the sensation of feeling me wrapped around him.

“You’re so fucking tight,” he moaned, leaning down to kiss me, and I could taste myself on him. “You’re doing so good, baby. Just a little further.”

My heart fluttered with his words, my hands drifting back to his hair as he rolled his hips, moving in deeper. A sharp pain shot through my core, making my eyes water.

“It hurts,” I admitted.

He kissed me again, more hungrily this time. “It won’t for long. It’ll start feeling really good.”

His lips came back down on mine as he seated himself to the hilt, the sharp sting shooting through me, but he slipped his tongue through my lips, trying to distract me the best he could, and I was grateful for it. After a few moments, the pain slowly ebbed away, and I throbbed around him, needing more friction.

I gasped as he started to thrust, pleasure shooting through me this time instead, just like he said. A groan fell from his lips as he quickened his movements, my body jostling beneath him.

Feeling his skin pressed against me while he moved on top of me was the best feeling in the world. He was obviously experienced, his hips moving in a circular motion that hit this spot deep inside me. I couldn’t stay quiet if I tried.

He eased back so that the tip was the only thing inside of me before driving his hips forward. A cry fell from my lips as pleasure coiled around my insides.

“You like that?” he panted.

“God yes.”

He smirked and did it again, my back arching off the ground this time. His piercings rubbed against my insides, creating a secondary form of pleasure, and the sensation was almost too much. My nails dug into the back of his shoulders. If he cared that I was marking his skin, he didn’t show it.

He dropped his face into the crook of my neck, his warm breath tickling the sensitive skin there. His forearms were braced against the ground on either side of me, as he used them for support to drive his movements.

“You’re unbelievably tight,” he grunted. “Even for a virgin.” His breath was loud in my ear as he spoke causing a shiver to tumble through me. “Every time I pull back,” he started with a pant. “Your tight cunt tugs against my piercings.”

“Is that bad?”

He laughed, the sound coming out breathy. “Fuck no.”

Instead of pounding into me like he’d been doing, he seated himself again, going as deep as possible until we were pelvis to pelvis. I fluttered around his girth, my breath coming out in short, breathy gasps.

He captured my lips again, his teeth tugging at my bottom one as he slowly moved inside of me. He continued to kiss me while he thrusted, doing his best to stay buried to the hilt. Pressure began to build around my abdomen, my legs shaking around him. My moans were muffled by his mouth against mine, bleeding onto his tongue which he devoured like it was the last thing he’d ever taste. I returned the kiss with the same ferocity, the same hunger, clinging tightly to him as pleasure started to consume me whole.

With a few more thrusts, I was shattering around him, a cry tearing from my throat. He gasped against my lips before withdrawing and quickly pulled out of me. As if my release had triggered his own, he allowed the warm white substance to coat the earth around us.

“Holy shit,” he panted, sitting back on his heels, his eyes drifting to meet mine. “That was hot as fuck.”