Page 53 of Red

“Alex?” I begin and he hums. “What about Michigan?”

I feel how he tenses instantly. “No, it’s way too dangerous now.”

“But—”

“Julia, after what he pulled?! We might be walking right into a trap.”

“That’s why I need to make sure my parents are okay. I won’t ever forgive myself if anything happens to them because of me!”

“I’ll have Farah keep checking on them. You don’t need to worry.”

“I’m going!” I say firmly, crawling away.

“And how far do you think you’re going to go unable to walk?” He totally makes fun of me, wrapping his hand around my thigh. I feel him behind, his breath on my back, reminding me yet again of last night.

My body immediately responds, but I try to remain strong. “Stop being mean!”

“Oh, but you can’t run away from me now, little Red. You belong to me.” His palm wanders south my body and his fingers circle my swollen clit. “Are you sore?”

“Yeah,” I whimper, arching my back, being oversensitive.

“Awww, poor baby.” He licks the length ofmy spine all the way to my ear. “I can’t wait to get you to my place so I can keep fucking you.”

“What’s gotten into you?” I know what he’s doing and I hate that it’s working.

“I’m unable to keep my hands from you anymore.” I feel his fully erected cock rubbing against my ass, sending shivers down my entire body, from my head to my toes.

“Hm, I like this side of you.” I turn my face toward him, and we kiss. “Alex, Ireallyneed to see them.”

“You fucking died in my arms! Do you have any idea what—” his words trail off as he closes his eyes. The air around me stills and the cave envelopes in a complete darkness. “I can’t bear the thought of losing you.”

“You’re not losing me.”

“I’ll think about it. Keep resting.” He pulls me into his arms as we lay back down together.

Unidentified amount of time later, I wake up tohim cleansing me with a lukewarm washcloth.

“As much as I love you dripping in my cum, I thought you might feel more comfortable.”

There’s light pouring into the cave from the outside, so he must’ve left the entrance open.

“Oh, you went back?” I ask when I notice he brought my bag from the house that he finished packing. He even remembered to grab my coat and boots from the entryway.

“I had to make sure there were no hunters around.”

“And?”

“I killed both of them.” He shrugs like it’s nothing. Which at this point, it honestly doesn’t bother me, either. “But I got you some food and water. Your phone is in there, too.”

“Thanks, you’re the best!”

I fish out my toothbrush together with my iPhone. I dial my Mom while I clean my teeth.

She doesn’t pick up. I try Greg instead, but also no luck. I frantically keep blowing up both their phones, yet neither one of them replies.

“This is not right,” I tell Alex.

He looks devastated. Well, at least as much as his animal/beast features allow him to. And I know he’s torn. But he’s also the most ideal partner, and he says, “Getdressed. We can leave as soon as you eat your sandwich.”

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