Page 54 of Wonder

Squeezing, inside my chest. Swallowing around the desert that seems to have taken up residence in my throat, I glance over at Hatter. He’s on the bed on the other side of Chess; his face turned in my direction.

Deep purple circles linger beneath his closed eyelids, evidence of his exhaustion.

On the other side of me, a bed creaks. I turn to Buck. He has his back to me, his body shifting awkwardly on top of the small mattress before he stills.

I lay there for a few more minutes, my thoughts wandering. I don’t look over at where the twins are sleeping.

When my bladder is yelling louder than the thoughts running rampant through my mind, I slip my hand out of Chess’s and push myself upright, biting back a groan. And then I pause, sniffing.

Wow.

A shower. I definitely need a shower. And a fucking toothbrush wouldn’t go amiss either, although I don’t remember seeing any in there.

I suppose that dental hygiene isn’t something our benevolent overlords particularly care about, since we’re all marked for death anyway.

I’d rather not die with a carpet mouth, though.

I stare down at the filthy, ripped, sweat-stained clothes I’m still wearing and sigh. At least someone removed those fucking shoes. I glare at them as I pad past, toward the door to the communal bathroom.

Still contemplating the sorry state of clothing that I’ll have to put back on after I shower, I don’t bother to knock. Don’t bother to check.

I just walk in.

My body locks up, heat burning a fiery trail across my cheeks. “Uh—,”

Kayden and his twin turn to stare at me.

None of us move.

I’m not particularly averse to nudity. Hell, half the time I prefer it. But the sight of both of them standing there under thewater, soap suds trailing down two sets of impressively defined pecs,lower… I swallow.

“Um. Sorry. I’ll just—,”

“Are you okay?” Kayden’s twin reaches out with his hand before I can spin around and make a hasty exit. He looks concerned. “You need anything?”

I shake my head a little frantically, my hands flapping in a weird sort of brush off movement that I don’t ever remember making before. And my fucking voice – I didn’t actually know it could get that damn high. “No! Nope. I’m fine. Very –veryfine.”

Oh, god. My eyes drag down his chest, catching the glint of a nipple ring before I whirl. “Shit. Sorry. Didn’t mean to look.”

“You can look.” A low voice. Kayden. “But we’re done. Getting out now.”

I stay where I am, cheeks burning as I fix my eyes on the ceiling and pray for some sort of divine intervention.

I don’t need to look. I don’t.

Butdamn.

Don’t be such a thirsty bitch, Alyss. You have one. Maybe two.

I pause.

Potentially… three.

Fucking hell. How much dick does a girl actually need?

And now I’m thinking of… group activities, that only stoke the flames higher as I listen to the twins shut the water off.

Then I think of Chess’s reaction if I suggested it. That douses the flames pretty quickly.