Page 21 of Hysteria Rises (Dark Falls Hollow #1)

FIFTEEN

HAYZE

I’m faster than the girl—Twenty-three—is expecting. I snatch the clothing she’s chucked at me out of midair just before it hits me in the face. Who does she think she is? She’s playing with fire. My brows raise, and I exhale audibly through my nose, then smirk as her mouth drops open.

Her lips press together. She’s clearly fighting an internal battle here …

and losing. Sucking in a breath, she aims a lethal stare at me as she spits, “If you heathens were so concerned, you could have let me shower before now or brought me a change of clothing.” Her jaw locks visibly, likely to prevent the trembling of her lips.

She’d seemed cautious up until just a minute ago, but now not so much.

I think whatever control she thinks she’s capable of is slipping, as if we’re pushing her to her breaking point …

which is exactly what the Collective wants.

Too bad I read people well. Her tiny act of rebellion has cost her.

She’s spirited, I’ll give her that. I’m certain there’s no fucking way she’ll allow either of us to see how her current circumstances have rattled her.

She stands there, expression carefully blank, not even bothering to cover herself.

Inwardly, though, she’s terrified. I can tell by the stiffness of her body language.

The way her eyes dart between the two of us.

And most important for us to be aware of—she’s actively looking for either a weapon or a means of escape, whichever she can figure out first. Smart.

The jerking of her chest as she inhales draws not only my gaze, but Cross’s as well. My lips twitch. Can’t blame him. He’s lucky. This is the second time he’s laid eyes on those breasts. Her nipples. All this creamy, beautiful skin.

Heat licks over me, flaming hot enough that I swear I feel the burn. I huff out a laugh when Twenty-three shoots us a scathing glare. Unexpectedly, it makes my dick jump. “Assholes,” she whispers, pressing her lips together.

She needs to learn not to express herself so freely. It’s time to teach her a lesson. I reach in, cranking the faucet to the on position as I collar the back of her neck. “Watch yourself,” I bite out before plunging her beneath the water that hasn’t had nearly enough time to warm.

A gasp of dismay wrenches from her, and she immediately wraps her arms around her naked body, diverting her gaze from us. She shivers, her body quaking with the cold shock of it all.

I strip out of my clothes right down to my boxer briefs. I’d take them off, but I predict that would increase the struggle that’s about to commence. I watch the girl’s body shake and the way she refuses to look at us. She can do whatever she wants, so long as I complete my task.

“Here ya go, man.” Correctly understanding my needs as he so often does, Cross lobs the bar of soap at me.

I throw up a hand, catching it, then return my attention to the woman in the shower. It’s then that she turns ever so slightly. Her eyes widen, then travel the expanse of my body. Blinking, she tears her eyes away.

None of our women would ever look so carefully at us. It’s simply nothing they would have the opportunity to do. And even if they did, we are not for them. They’re kept here for one reason alone.

Her slow study has me under additional strain, never having experienced anything like it before. My cock stiffens, and I exhale.

“This is going to get interesting,” Cross mutters so low, I doubt she can hear him over the water. But I did. I give a brief nod, then join her in the shower stall.

Not one to waste time, I get the bar of soap wet, then, when she steps away from me, I grab hold of her by the elbow. “Turn around,” I grunt, my jaw going rigid as she forces me to make her. The deep rumble of my voice ricochets throughout the bathroom.

I glance downward, noting how she’s staring straight ahead at my chest, possibly studying my tattoos. My lips twitch into a smile as I manipulate the soap until I have plenty of suds coating my hand, then set it on a small inset shelf.

Blood pounds in my ears like the beat of a drum. I steal a look at Cross. The bastard seems content enough to observe for now, his eyes skimming over every bit of her flesh they can. I’d tell him to get the fuck out, only she’s less likely to cause trouble with both of us in here.

I take a deep breath, my soapy hand experimentally running along her shoulders and down the rather delicate curve of her spine while my eyes follow.

A groan reverberates inside my chest, and I cup her ass cheek, liking having the rounded globe in my hand.

Fuuuck. I need to touch her everywhere. I squeeze, grunting softly.

“Don’t. Fucking. Touch. Me.” She shifts, turning to look up at me from under her spiky-wet lashes. Then, without warning, she attempts to yank her arm out of my grasp, which only makes me clamp my hand more tightly around her.

My lip curls. “I’ll do what needs to be done. And nothing more.” It’s a slight exaggeration. None of the Collective would probably have risked this, but I could be wrong. Actually, come to think of it … my own father—

Shutting down that line of thought, I lean in.

“I’m going to let your arm go so I can finish up.

Don’t try anything.” Only a few moments later, I pull her back to my chest, filling my hands with her breasts.

I give her nipples a brief flick with my thumbs just to see what they feel like. And because I can.

Cross gives me an approving smirk as I spin her around to face me, then readjusts himself.

Bending at the waist, I quickly soap her calves, running my hands up her legs, behind her knees.

“Stay still.” I give her a slight shake of my head.

I could swear she was getting ready to kick me.

“I wouldn’t.” I jut my chin toward Cross.

“But if you want me to bring him over to help me hold you, we can.”

At the quick shake of her head, I grasp a thigh with each hand and knead her soft flesh. Eyeing her, my lips twist as I ever so slowly drag my fingers through the sensitive skin at the apex of her thighs.

She yelps, yanking away furiously as she attempts to take a step backward.

“Stop,” I command roughly. “You’re only going to wear yourself out.

” When she ignores me and keeps right on trying to tug away, I wrap my arms around her.

She lets out a gasping breath when I haul her from her feet and catch her against my chest, feet dangling.

With her arms pinned, she’s completely helpless.

Despite the fact that I’m far stronger than she is, she does everything in her power to make me drop her.

She thrashes like a fucking maniac, twisting and squirming.

Her efforts are futile, and only serve to make my blood run hot.

Her skin is warm in comparison to the water cascading over us, and the feel of her naked body pressed up against mine is like—well, like nothing I’ve ever experienced before.

Tipping her head back, she glares. I’m certain she thinks this is somehow effective in relaying her feelings.

But it doesn’t matter what she thinks about me.

And also, there’s something about it that makes my heart thrum a little faster.

I’m still pondering why that is when out of nowhere, she pinches my sides. Hard.

“Fuck,” I growl, giving her a shake. “Stop.”

Cross comes closer, circling behind her and meeting my gaze. My jaw twitches. “If it’ll help, I’ll wash her hair real quick while you’ve got her somewhat … subdued.” I could swear he’s laughing about the whole situation.

“Do it quickly,” I bite out. “We need to finish with her.”

“No shit,” Cross huffs. Yep. Fucker’s amused. “If this is how she reacts to a shower, she’s not going to like the next part.”

At his revelation, she shudders. And the thing is, she has no idea the task that was assigned to me because my father is nowhere to be fucking found. But there’s no denying she’s going to hate it.