Page 86 of Roses and Skulls

My head lulls over to see the bright red numbers on my alarm clock, telling me that I’ve only been asleep for an hour. Groggily, I sit up and rub my eyes with the palm of my hands.

Tink. Tink. Tink.

Whipping the covers off, I stumble over to the window just as a tiny rock hits the glass. I lean over and spy a little minx taunting me from the ground.

She gives me a shy smile before she takes off running. I watch as she crosses the lawn and disappears amongst the trees.

I shake my head as I swipe my joggers off the floor. Oh, she wants to play, does she?

The full moon lights the path to her secret hideaway, which isn’t all that secret. I slow when I enter the space. The only sound is the chime hanging outside the little fort built around a giant tree. I smile before I shove the door open. It’s dark and empty. Slowly I spin around, jumping when I find her right behind me.

“Boo!”

The deep chuckle that begins low in my chest makes her take a step back. “So, you wanted me to chase you.”

“No,” she denies, taking another step back. “I-I couldn’t sleep.” She nibbles on her nail, refusing to meet my gaze. “You said I could come to you when,” her words die off and she huffs. “Never mind,” she waves. “It’s late. Sorry to…”

I take two steps before I’m wrapping my fingers around her neck and pulling her to her tiptoes, capturing her lips against mine in a brutal kiss. “Shut up,” I say against her mouth. My tongue explores hers as I carefully drag us back towards her playhouse.

When I feel the doorway at my back, I spin us around and shove her inside, slamming the door closed behind me. Darkness engulfs us. Christ, it’s dark in here. I hear her rummaging around and soon the light of a small lantern chases some of it away.

She slides to the floor, and I notice the edge of her nails, they are bloody and sore.

I don’t say anything about it, she doesn’t need me to tell her what she’s done to herself. I sit down cross-legged in front of her and take her hands in mine, kissing each finger gently.

“This is harder than I thought it was going to be,” she says quietly.

“You know, my dad has some really good tips for curbing the urge. I think you should talk to him.”

She rubs her cheek over her shoulder. “Okay.”

“But until then, I would be happy to help take your mind off of it.” I gently start to push her back, but she stops me.

“Wait, wait.” Her face turns fire engine red. “Are we going to…”

Oh, how I wish but I’m saving that for something special. Not that this isn’t an intimate little space but no. My girl deserves better than to be taken in a treehouse her first time. When I shake my head, the disappointment is evident on her face.

I try to encourage her onto her back once more.

“No. Wait, Elijah. I. God, I don’t know anything about sex, okay? There, I said it.” She slides away from me.

“Baby, I know that. We had this discussion at the cabin. I like that you haven’t been with anyone else,” I admit, grabbing her ankle and pulling her back to me.

She kicks at me. “Stop, you’re not listening. Let me finish.”

I pause but keep her ankle locked in my grip.

Her eyes are wide and beautiful. I could stare into them for days.

“I want you to tell me what will happen, and I want to see it.” She nervously points to my groin.

My hand releases her and she slinks back against the wall. “You don’t know what happens?” I ask cautiously.

Her face is so red it’s almost purple. “How would I?” she whispers.

My head pulls back, and I blink at her. “Well, haven’t you, um, you haven’t looked things up on the internet?”

She shakes her head back and forth. “No. I mean, I get what happens.” She rolls her eyes. “I get the gist, but I don’t.” She sighs and rests her head against the wall. “You know how my parents are. Do you think I would risk them finding out I was watching porn?”

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