Page 5 of Hysteria Rises (Dark Falls Hollow #1)

FOUR

CROSS

The Disturbance releases a low, ache-filled moan. That’s what I’m referring to her as in my head. That’s all she is. A distraction. An intrusion on our daily lives. A hindrance that will throw the entire compound into an uproar.

My gaze darts to my father, checking in, but I fully realize he’ll respect me more if I just fucking dive in.

Honestly, I can’t decide if I need his respect or if I just want what his respect will bring me.

My father and the rest of the Collective are now well into their fifties.

Still relatively young, but they aren’t spring chickens.

Some day in the not-so-distant future, the other firstborn sons and I will take our rightful places as full-fledged members of the Collective.

Concealing the fortifying breath I drag into my lungs, I circle to the opposite side of the table from where he’s positioned himself.

I clench my hands at my sides and exhale quietly before taking charge in a way I know will make him proud.

“Everything off, I presume.” At least my voice is steady.

Shifting to one end of the table, I deftly untie the laces of one shoe.

My father’s lips curve into a smile as he does the same with the other.

We peel damp socks from her feet next, and I note her skin is pruned from being wet for so long.

“She’s so cold,” I murmur.

He nods. “Yes. And she’ll continue to be until we get to the point of the exam where we can cover her up. Let’s get a move on. I don’t want to be up all night, and who knows what else this exam will reveal.”

My teeth scrape over my lip, deciding not to offer my opinion so as to not appear like I’m questioning him.

It’s fine for me to do so in the privacy of my own head, but voicing my thoughts could mean trouble.

Instead, I follow his lead with the remainder of her clothing.

He divests her of her top while I unfasten her pants, then hook my fingers into the waistband and begin to peel them down over her hips.

My attention is caught on—or rather I’m distracted by—two things at once: the pretty pink underwear I’m having trouble keeping on her and the black bra concealing her breasts.

I’ve never actually seen garments like these before …

but I’ve read about them. In books. Our women own nothing even remotely similar.

“What are you waiting for?” My father’s sharp tone slices through the air like a knife as he removes the bra, and I immediately give myself a mental shake.

I meet his eyes, aggravated with myself that I’ve let him see my unabashed curiosity.

“No time for daydreaming, son. It’s just a body like any other. You’ll get used to it.”

Only it’s not. Because all the other bodies I’ve ever seen without clothing have been male.

He inclines his head, gesturing with it toward the girl’s pelvic area. My throat goes dry as he continues, “You’ll want to remove those, too. They have to be off for the rest of the exam, anyway.” His mouth quirks up on one side.

“Of course.” I take a deep breath, forcing myself to focus on the task at hand. I finally manage to remove the pants from her legs, then curl my fingers around the damp cotton at her hips, only daring to peek up at her bare breasts for a split second.

My father chuckles. “Son, you don’t have a shy bone in your body. Look at her all you want. Doesn’t bother me. Do whatever the fuck you like.”

My lip curls. “If you insist.” I tug the underwear off, then drop them unceremoniously onto the floor on top of her other clothing.

My father has already begun to sponge her off, cleaning the worst of the mud from the skin of her arms and shoulders. He’s matter-of-fact about it, probably the way I should be.

Working to steady my breath, I dip my hand into the pail of soapy water, locating another sponge and scrubbing it over her lower half.

I divert my gaze, teeth assaulting my lip as I think.

My father meticulously studies a jagged cut on her temple.

As he dips the sponge into the pail again, he squeezes and the water flows pink with diluted blood.

“Is it bad?” I give a subtle nod toward the injury.

“Not the worst I’ve seen, and we’ve had quite a few”—an odd look lights his features—“we’ll call them accidents, since coming here.

” A moment later, he seems to shake himself free of whatever he was remembering.

“She’ll probably be fine with a butterfly bandage or two holding the edges together.

I’ll take care of that once we’re done with the rest of the exam. ”

I’m torn between paying attention to what he’s saying and trying to clean her up.

It doesn’t help that I’ve also been doing my damnedest to drink my fill of her body in my peripheral vision.

Creamy, pale skin. Rounded hips. Plush thighs that remind me of pillows.

I suppress a groan, clamping my teeth tightly together.

The cloud cover from the storm made it so we couldn’t see shit tonight, no more than we can when the new moon is in the sky during the Hunting. Full darkness always makes our ritual more dangerous. My preference is to be able to see who I’m chasing.

But no matter the moon phase, what we do out in the wild under the dark cover of night is always raw. Savage. A heady rush. Men driven by their natural instincts with the least pure of intentions.

Having a visual of what we’ve been missing out on is something I was unprepared for. This woman has my body reacting in the most primal of ways. I have an almost violent urge to procreate. To whip my dick out and climb on top of this girl. Appropriate or not in this setting, the desire is there.

Whether it’s ten seconds from now or many days, I foresee a fucking catastrophe about to unfold, and I can’t turn my back and walk away.

Leaving this room would spell certain disaster for my future.

If I exit, that’ll be it. Members of our community who don’t demonstrate their worth don’t stay long.

The best I can do is try to control the lust-driven thoughts raging inside my head and hope the attempt isn’t futile. I intend to prove beyond a doubt that I’m capable. That I can be useful to the Collective.

Ever since reading about the complexity of what goes on inside a woman on a monthly basis, I’ve lived in a state of shocked curiosity.

My chest hitches as my gaze is drawn back to her pubic area.

It’s difficult to imagine everything that takes place beneath the skin and muscle, but my cock is only interested in what it’d be like to be buried deep within her walls.

With that thought, it jerks as my head spins with need, then begins to stiffen behind the confines of my trousers.

I take a few careful breaths, seeking calm.

“I think we’ve got her as clean as possible,” my father intones as he begins to run his hands over her arms like it’s no big deal.

“Help me feel for anything broken.” My thoughts tangle in my head, and when he glances at me rooted to the spot, he laughs.

“Come on, son. It’s not a big deal. Not only were you right there with Leif when he broke his leg, but you assisted when I set it. Not even a little squeamish.”

That might be but watching him care for my younger brother isn’t the same as this.

It is … and yet it definitely isn’t. I get what he’s saying.

Edging myself even further into the danger zone, I slide my palms over cool skin, gently probing spots where bruises have developed while palpating for anything that is out of place.

When I’m done, I shake my head. “I don’t feel anything.

” And honestly, I doubt she’d be so out of it if she were in that much pain.

Of course, I could be wrong. Maybe her body is protecting her from it.

Either way, the fact that she’s unconscious … that can’t be good.

“Perfect.” My father says with a smile as he heads back over to the sink.

I follow. We wash up a second time, scrubbing our hands with an antibacterial soap.

Gesturing with a jut of his chin, he murmurs, “I’ve got a cart with everything you’ll need on it.

If you’re done there, I’ll pull the stirrups out from under the table. ”

I disguise my swallow, watching as he wheels the supplies into place by the exam table. “Yes sir, I’m ready.”

“Good. We’ll need to shift her to the end.” He turns on his heel, reaching overhead to pull another lamp into place and flicking it on, flooding the entire area with bright light. Together, we easily slide her toward the edge at the foot of the table.

“Get her feet in the stirrups so you can look your fill.”

Fuck yes. Eyeing her long, slim legs, I reach for one, then the other, arranging her feet in the stirrups. My heart thrums an unsteady beat as my focus wanders up her thighs, then to the place between them.

I’m consumed with how badly I want a better view, but it’ll wait.

At a clanking sound, my gaze darts up, and I watch as my father pulls a worn leather cuff on a short metal chain out from under the table where it’s tethered.

Fascinated by this new development, my gaze follows as he works methodically to restrain each of her wrists and ankles.

Once she’s secured, he gives a pleased nod.

“She won’t move much for you even if she gains consciousness. ”

This is beyond anything I’ve ever imagined, and I’m anxious to get on with what’s coming next.

Based on everything he had me read, I believe I’m getting ready to perform my first pelvic exam.

Bowing my head, I take several steadying breaths, trying to calm myself because if I don’t, my dick is going to punch a hole in the front of my pants, all from sheer proximity to this girl.