Page 143 of The Order

I run my fingertips along the rough skin of his mark, feeling how it curves like mine. He shudders beneath the touch, his eyes glued to my movements.

“I’ve never let anyone else touch it,” he whispers, moving my hand from his mark to the nail gouges streaking his side. “The only reason she spent the night was so she wasn't wandering the streets in a drunken haze. I can’t stomach her touch in the ways you think I can. When she touched me here, I was furious. But nothing happened.”

I scoff. “You don't need to justify who you hook up with to me,” I say, pulling my hand away from his chest. His mother's ring dangles from a chain around his neck, gleaming brightly in the glow of the moonlight.

“You were wondering about Valerie. That's why you're angry, right?” he says, his presence slowly entering my mind.

Slowly, I lower the waistline of my pants, showing him my mark. I feel him keep his presence in my mind, ready to test his patience. He eyes my hip with surprise, gently touching the skin with his slender fingers.

“Might as well give him a show if he’s going to creep in our mind,”It whispers.

“Like I said,” I whisper, letting the image of Xavier touching me at the dinner earlier tonight fill my mind. “I could care less who you choose to warm your bed,” I finish.

His hand clenches my waist as I keep the image in my mind. His fingers trail beneath the hem of my shirt. I expect him to back away out of anger, but instead, he stays still, his presence no longer tiptoeing through my mind.

“He’s touched you?” he questions, my mouth curling into a smile.

“Xavier? Here and there. I can show you if you'd like,” I push, ready to feel his anger wash over me.

He clenches his jaw, both hands firmly on my hips now. Even with his barriers up, I can feel his trepidation as he sees the lust in my stare as I keep the image of Xavier at the forefront of my mind.

“If you look at me like that again while thinking of him, Forest, or show me images of him touching you,” he mutters, his anger now more discernible. He moves my chin, facing it toward a metal table filled with odds and ends. “I can promise you I won’t be able to stop myself from laying you across that table and fucking you until you forget his name.”

My mouth snaps shut.

"I will make sure he knows I've had you.”

My heart races at his promise, unable to find my next words.

“My turn?”It asks. I release the lock on Its cage.

I draw in a deep breath and It overpowers me. It pushes us further into Fallan. Suddenly, I'm much more confident in my ability to manage his threats.

"What's stopping you then?” I question, trying to push him past his limits.

He ponders a response, glancing down at my lips.

“It’s getting late,” Fallan whispers, his hands nearly under my shirt.

I watch him back away slowly, leaving us on the same merry-go-round of emotions.

“How many times will you do that to me?” I question, his posture going rigid.

“Until you realize,” he starts. “That you're only a distraction to me.”

“If I’m only a distraction,” I push, pointing my finger to his chest, “Why do you care about Xavier touching me?” I spit.

He looks back at me angrily and turns on his heels. Rushing toward me, he slams the wall behind me, his eyes lowered as he speaks.

“Hate me!” he yells, my heart racing. “God damn it, Forest, just hate me so I don’t have to think of you every fucking time I close my eyes! You eat away at my every waking thought like a vile disease!” he spits, lingering in the space above me.

I don't back down. Instead, I move closer.

“You're a lousy liar,” I hiss.

It doesn't take long before he grabs his things and shoves the door open with a heave, leaving me alone in the gym with my feelings.

My back stays pressed to the wall as I slowly slide down to the cold floor.

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