Page 29 of Doesn't Count

"What youneed is to go find a pretty girl and let some of that frustration go. You’ve been pent up for too long, it can’t be healthy.” Hypnos adds.

I flick him off. This has been an ongoing conversation for the longest time. Unlike the rest of the guys, I haven’t exactly been interested in girls for, well... a long time now. Not that I don’t find them attractive, I’ve just been struggling with some hang ups. Enough hang ups to dampen any game I once had and since Ash arrived, I’ve been reminded that everybody has needs. I just wish I could turn mine off.

“Unlike you guys, I don’t have to jizz into every girl I set my eyes on.” I growl.

“No, just one.” Hypnos goads.

I shove him before tailing him out of the room, stopping in front of Ash. She sits there with her head hanging, hands tied behind her back and eyes blindfolded. Her shoulders stretched back, her chest pushed out, clad in a pretty little sun dress. She’s quiet, not a peep. I nod to the guys, who hesitate, but finally leave me to free her.

I yank the bandana off her head first, leaving her blonde hair a mess. It sticks out all over the place, falling around her shoulders. She puffs out air, trying to rid the strand covering her face. My eyes fall to the necklace of forming bruises on her skin. I realize I might have overreacted now that I’ve come down from whatever terror filled high I was riding.

If guilt wasn’t gnawing its way through my sternum, I’d take pride in the colors blooming against her pale skin, but those marks were made out of fear. A different kind of passion than the one I wish I could show her.

In this moment, I feel the taut rope fraying, my resolve weakening.

“I’m sorry.” I mutter, lowering my eyes to the floor.

I can feel her gaze like two sharp ice picksstabbing me all over. It’s an uncomfortable feeling, guilt. It certainly steals any power you once held.

“For what, Khaos? For hunting me down in a forest in the middle of nowhere? For dousing me in what I assume was animal blood? Which don’t even get me started! For leaving me without clothes for an entire night and having me sleep on the couch? Or how about choking me until I almost pass out? You have a lot of options here.” She rants, her hands still tied behind her back.

I shrug, “I took it a little too far. I just... I don’t trust easy.”

She stands, her pace slow, but deliberate as she comes my way. If her hands were untied, I’d bet money she would be pointing her finger in my face. She’s small, but the way her face contorts in such anger actually makes her feel bigger than she is.

“This has nothing to do with trust. There’s something very wrong with you.” She stops an inch away, forcing me to look directly at her.

“I know.” Is all I can think to say.

Suddenly, her face softens, and her shoulders drop just slightly. She seems to be taken aback by my response.

“Free me.” She demands, but there’s a hidden meaning in her words. She wants out of my hold, away from my wrath, but it’s never going to happen.

“I can’t.” are the words that leave my mouth.

Our eyes lock, battling each other’s will and I refuse to give in. The color of her irises are like different shades of the sea swirling together. There’s a plea in her stare and a defiance in mine and I have a feeling we’re both going to lose.

“I meant my hands.” She finally says.

I swallow, desperately wanting to keep her like this forever. Soft, compliant, tied up and waiting for me.

“Turn around.” I order.

She does as she’s told, and I pull a pocketknife from my jeans and cut the tape, letting her go.

“I need to grab my things. Everything was left in the green room.” she says as she rubs her wrists.

I nod toward the door, letting her lead and follow her back inside to collect her stuff before we head over to the hotel to join the guys.

Chapter Nine

Ashton

The presidential suite of the Hilton is ginormous with two bedrooms, an entire living room and kitchen, not to mention the jacuzzi in the bathroom. This entire suite is bigger than my apartment with Sam.

“Thank God!” Hypnos shouts at us when we enter. “Can this feud be over?”

“There’s no feud.” I announce, hoping it’s the truth.

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