Page 22 of Land of Monsters

He watched me.

“I don’t judge you for your family, so don’t judge me for mine.”

A crazed sound came from him. “You sound like our families are equal. That yours is some normal, everyday run-of-the-mill family and mine is just eccentric. Mine was a fuckingcult. Fucked-up people who liked orgies with neighbors and hinted at pedophilia!” He exploded. “We are not even close to being the same!”

I whipped around, confused and angry at why he was so mad at me.

“You have a family who loves you. Who would do anything for you. Take it from someone who didn’t have that kind of family as a kid…go home.”

I didn’t want to. It was absolutely crazy, but being here with him made sense. It felt right. I couldn’t even explain it to myself. Like against all odds, the girl who partied last New Year with her boyfriend was supposed to be in this bathroom this year with him.

Yet I knew my family had to be freaking out, and I was only bringing more danger to Ash the longer I stayed. My family wasn’t the kind you just called and told you were fine and not to worry. They would track me down from one phone call.

Either I stayed silent and remained with Ash, or I called them and knew it meant I would be going home.

Fuck. I didn’t want to think about my father’s temper once he hugged me and knew I was okay. He would shift into his beast for days, denting the deer population. But really, it was my mother who, when truly provoked, scared the daylights out of me. Her natural obscurer could kick mine’s ass. She had that quiet anger where you wished to be screamed at instead. While my brother would probably whack me on the back of the head and say, “Glad you’re back, doofus.”

Ash brought us back here to send me home. To do what was “right.” And it seemed better for everyone if I just made the call.Have someone come get me and jet me back to America, our journey concluding uneventfully.

“You should get in the shower.” Ash stepped back, curving for the door. “I’ll go find our room.”

“Wait.” I clutched his hand, stopping him, a desperation to keep him close. What if tonight was our last night? What if I never saw him again?

“I need help getting these off.” I indicated my pants and boots.

A nerve jumped in his cheek. Ash took a long moment, and I was ready for him to make an excuse. To walk out the door.

He finally turned to face me, and I didn’t move, staring up at him, waiting for him to act.

As if he could read my thoughts, he picked up on what I didn’t say. He stepped closer to me, his body barely inches from mine. His hand reached for the waist of my pants, undoing the top button and sliding the zipper down. His fingers slipped along my skin, palms sweeping out over my hips under the material, pushing the material over my ass.

Ash lowered himself to his knees, his mouth only centimeters away from my pussy, the heat of his breath sinking through my underwear, curling into me.

Air moved in and out of my lungs, and I could not control my response to his touch. To him.

He untied my boots, helping me step out of them, and pulled off my socks. His hand wrapped around my thigh, and I leaned into him as he took each pant leg off. Slowly. In complete control. While everything in me wanted to snap.

I could no longer hear moans, beds squeaking, or music and loud voices from below. I existed just in this room. My heart pounded in my ears, desire stirring up my dark dweller.

It needed. Craved.

Leaving me in only paper-thin underwear and bra, his palms glided up my legs to my hips as he stood, his body almost against mine, looming over me. His gaze dropped to my mouth, his fingers digging harder into my hips. “Raven…”

“Knock, knock!” a sing-song voice called out, the door opening, Maestro’s head popping in.

Ash jerked away from me, but the procurer’s eyes danced from us to my clothes strewn over the floor.

“Oh, I’m so sorry to interrupt.” His eyes flared with lust. “I’ll just leave these here for you.” He dropped the pile of clothes onto the floor. “You can use room 306. But I’ll warn you, the bed squeaks really loud.” He winked before shutting the door, taking whatever might have happened with him.

Ash was back on defense, his hand running through his dirty hair, and he avoided looking at me.

“Don’t use all the hot water,” he grumbled before grabbing the satchel and stomping out of the room.

It was a full two minutes that I stood there, confused, wanting to cry, and trying to tell myself he wasn’t about to kiss me.

I wanted to kill Maestro, but at the same time, it might have been for the best.

Ash was still in love with this Kek and Lukas.

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