Page 80 of The Pact

If I look half as bad as I feel, the expression on her face is totally justified. “Just take me to the bathroom. I might not feel too good for the next couple of days but Dr. Ross will know what to do. Maria!” I yell as loudly as I can.

The housekeeper comes rushing from the kitchen and as soon as Ausra explains what happened, she begins insisting that I go to the ER.

“Mr. Ashton, I can drive you.”

I summon all my energy to argue that putting hot water to the injured site is the best thing for me right now and the doctor will take care of the rest. “Just please, help Ausra to walk me to my room.”

The stairs take forever even with Maria’s help. “Please Maria, just call the doctor. I’m going to be all right.”

As they help me to the bathroom, Maria finally walks away and I exhale relieved. “Damn, Maria cares but the woman hasn’t seen me naked since I was out of diapers and I’d rather keep it that way.” I don’t comment on the fact that Ausra saw me naked a couple of weeks ago when we were in the bathroom with Shep. “Cutie, can you turn on the shower as hot as it’ll go?”

She does as I asked as I stumble into the shower cubicle. She extracts the shower head and gasps when I lower my swimming trunks. “That bad, huh?” I attempt to joke, wincing at the pain when turning my head to look behind me proves almost impossible. All my muscles feel stiff and sore, worse than after the most strenuous workout. I take a deep breath, leaning against the cubicle’s tiled wall.

The water is scalding hot but it provides immediate relief to the painful throbbing in my backside.

The rest of the afternoon goes by in a daze. I barely remember the doctor’s arrival, while I’m still in the shower. I don’t know if having the fish’s spines extracted from my butt cheek really happens or if I dreamed about it. I just know that I feel hot and cold. One second I wrap myself in my comforter, one second later I’m sweating and kicking the covers off.

I think the guys must’ve come to see me at some point but again, I don’t know what’s real and what isn’t.

The only constant in the whole ordeal is Ausra’s light touch as she puts cold compresses on my feverish skin.

18.

She Swallows

Ashton

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AUSRA IS THE FIRST thing I see when I open my eyes, I’m completely awake for the first time in I don’t know how many hours or days.

She’s asleep next to me, her arm wrapped around my waist as I’m lying down on my stomach.

Her long, blonde hair is tickling my shoulder but I don’t dare move so as not to wake her up.

Judging by the light in my room, it must be mid-afternoon. The throbbing in my ass cheek has gone from excruciating to just a dull pain.

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