Page 19 of Broken Skulls

“Dirty and bloody. Brave and bold. Broken and beautiful. A Phoenix rising from the ash,” he says quietly, gathering my wild ratted hair in his fist.

I take another look at myself as he holds my hair in his hand. His eyes meet mine briefly before he dips his head. His warm lips brush over the back of my neck.

“You smell divine. A mix of blood, fear, anger, adrenaline.”

A low growl vibrates from his chest and makes me shiver against him. His fingers wrap over my throat as his mouth moves to the side of my neck. His teeth nip gently at my skin. My inner thoughts begin to argue.

“I don’t want to feel good.”

“Yes, you do.”

“Stop him.”

“I’ll kill you if you stop him.”

“Stop,” I whisper.

“You bitch!”

Instantly, JD steps away from me.

“I want to go back to the dark.”

He turns me around to face him. “Okay. I’ll take you back, but you should shower first and then I need to look at your wounds.”

The minute he reminds me of them, a burning sting rushes over my arms. Blood is smeared across my skin, and nausea suddenly rushes over me. I need it off.Now!

I try to hide my panic as JD pushes me toward the bathroom. “Go on, get started. I’ll grab you some clean clothes.” He turns the water on for me and then walks out, closing the door behind him.

The minute it latches shut, I strip out of my clothing and hurry to get in. I hold my hand over my mouth, gagging.

I force my memories to the corner of my mind and step under the water. As soon as it hits the raw skin on my arm, I let out a little hiss. This is going to sound weird to say, but it grounds me in some way, bringing me back to the present.

Each time he pulls me from that dark room, I come out feeling everything so intensely. It’s euphoric in a way, but it’s also overwhelming.

JD knocks before coming back in. “I’ll just leave these on the counter,” he says from the other side of the curtain.

He doesn’t wait for me to respond; he’s gone in an instant.

I’m so confused. One minute he’s kissing the side of my neck. His gaze full of hunger, his grip intense with possession, and then I said stop … and he stopped. No argument. No switching tactic. Or at least it doesn’t seem like he’s trying to manipulate me into getting something more.

Who is this man?

When the water runs cold, I reluctantly step out.

The clothes on the counter aren’t mine. It’s a man’s t-shirt and a pair of sweats.

It feels weird, intimate even, to be putting on his clothes.

He apologizes the minute I step out. “Sorry, all of your clothes are dirty. I’ve been slacking in the domestic department for the past few days. I’ll get on the laundry tomorrow.”

His smile makes me relax. I really thought he was going to be mad or offended because I stopped his advances earlier.

JD pats the spot next to him on the couch. A first aid kit lies open on the coffee table in front of him.

After I lower myself beside him, he takes my arm, resting it over his knee. He’s so careful with me. His hands are warm, calloused, but kind.

JD is kind.

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