Page 82 of Lamb

I popped open the car door just as I heard Mint’s voice pop up again.

“What’d he do?” he yelled, just as I heard the telltale dragging of Jax’s boots moping across the lot.

“Told Anna,” Jax whined.

“Fuck,” Mint swore. “How long we got before hell breaks loose?”

“That’s the thing”—Jax shivered—“she didn’t care at all.”

Mint paled even further. “We’re dead.”

I took that opportunity to ignore their whimpering and swung open the door. Ash’s head jerked toward me as if she’d just seen me standing there. She mustn’t have heard me talking, or the door opening. Her pale, clouded eyes stared at me, wide and white, jerking and flickering over my face for any ounce of information she could glean.

It was a rare moment of vulnerability, where she looked to me for answers.

I wasn’t sure I had any to give.

“Let’s go.” I leaned across, devouring the soft, light scent of her skin, and popped her belt. I hadn’t realized how little we’dbeen near each other in the last few days. I felt like an addict falling off the wagon. Ironic, I know.

Ash didn’t move, her head spun like an owl’s, flickering over my shoulder, to the front of the car, squinting through the windshield, and then back again. Overwhelmed by information and instinct, she hadn’t even heard my words. I was like a transparent ghost around her—not seen, heard, or felt.

“Ash,”I repeated, my tone sharper and stronger. I cupped her hands, and they felt limp and weak between mine. “Ash.”

Still. Nothing.

I wasn’t one to be ignored, nor was I one to be patient.

I pressed my lips against hers, jerking my hand around the back of her neck, forcing her to look at nothing but me. I stared at her as I tasted her sweet, soft lips, tracing their lines with my tongue.

At first, Ash didn’t react. Her body was limp in my arms, her eyes wide and blinking. Just as I thought I hadn’t done enough, Ash’s eyes locked onto mine. Heat and surprise burst from her eyes in an uncontrolled mix that parted her mouth, hands jumping to my shirt. Fever and desire burned through our touch, our skin melting into each other, mouths demanding more and more. The taste of bitter medicine mixed on our pallets, and I pressed further to get a better taste and—

Ash struck.

Her swing struck gold, and the indent of her knuckles against my throat had me reeling back. My bruises throbbed, and my throat sputtered air as I coughed and choked, staggering a step back from the car.

I pressed my hand gingerly over my throat, protectively and soothingly, as I looked up at her.

Ash sat with both hands propped on the front seat and back, her vicious knee tucked up to her chest, lips wet and swollen. Shepanted, eyes wide as she looked at me, a fractured expression of both lust and anger fighting for dominance over her face.

“Now you look at me.” I smirked, ignoring the pain and thriving in the sweet satisfaction that purred deep inside. I craved that look. Pure emotion incited by me and me alone. Her whole attention was mine.

“That was unnecessary,” Ash hissed, adjusting herself in the seat as her heckles settled. Her pale green eyes were scathing as she clambered closer toward me.

I smiled sweetly, smelling her scent closing in.

Her eyes flickered to my throat, to where the dark bruising matched hers, a fracture of guilt flashing across her features. “Consider us even.” Her shoulder slammed into my side as she barged me out of the way and climbed out of the car, straight past me and into the fresh Fellpeak air.

We aren’t even. Not even close.

I turned and observed her. She stood still in the car park, long brown hair caught in the stirring winds, her back to me. A tepid coldness swirled around her, fridged but fragile as she stood on the ground she’d sworn to never return to. She was alive, and although worse for wear, she had returned.

Ash was back.

I wondered what it meant for her to be back. How she would feel. What emotions it would stir. My curiosity would never be satisfied around this woman. I would get few answers, and even fewer would I understand or relate to. But that was fine by me.

What felt like an eternity only lasted a moment. The winds began to pick up, as did Ash. She spun toward the compound and walked, her strides long and confident. This would not be like the last time she’d been here; this time, it was different.

“Hurry up, fucker,” Jax growled, jerking his thumb over his shoulder. “Lose her, and you’re dead meat.”

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