Page 33 of Doesn't Count

“No one touches her. She’s a disease you don’t want to catch.” Khaos growls.

“Ouch.” I say, coming out from the room.

“He doesn’t mean it.” Than consoles me, but I’m not really offended.

“I wouldn’t care even if he did.” I tell them.

The guys’ smile, chuckling, but Khaos’ breath becomes heavy with anger. I think it finally dawns on him what his actions just proved... I’m winning.

Chapter Ten

Khaos

It’s been two weeks on the road and we’re all tired and irritable. I’m not sure I’ll make it another day. I need out. I need to get away from the relentless flirting between Ash and Hypnos. He’s doing it just to bother me and Ash is eating it up.

She hasn’t spoken to me since I kissed her. Other than the few insults we exchange from time to time. It’s starting to grate on my nerves. The fact that I care is what’s driving me over the edge. I don’t want to care. I honestly hate her. She’s everything I despise in a person. The last thing I need are my band mates pining after her.

We all decided it was best to take the next few days to relax and camp out at the Keystone State Park in Sand Springs, Oklahoma. We’re buried in the woods, but a couple miles out is the lake where families kayak and swim. It’s a picturesque family vacation, one I’ve only dreamed of.

The snoring from my bandmates is muffled as I’m shut inside the only small room on this vehicle, but the slamming of the bus door rings in my ears clear as day. I lean over in my bed,pushing the curtains aside and see a little blonde in a sports bra and leggings, shoving headphones in her ears. I watch her start to jog, then I pull on a T-shirt, jeans, and my black mask before I follow.

It has to be six in the morning, the sun still struggling to rise. I choke on the cold humidity that clings to the air, making it hard to breathe in my mask. Ash is ahead of me by a few paces, but I can still see the neon pink of her bra weaving between the trees.

I tail her quietly and hover behind the trunk of a tree when she reaches the clearing. The water is like glass, glittering against the sun that’s breaking through the murky morning. I watch as she catches her breath, staring at the water like it's calling for her. She’s aggravatingly stunning, something I hate to admit even if it’s just to myself.

There’s an undeniable attraction to her that hurts the more I try to fight it. The fact that I followed her into the woods without her knowing is just proof that she’s got me hooked on something bad. Like a lethal drug I can’t quit no matter how many stints in rehab and those two weeks of pretending I don’t want her, just makes me crave her even more. All it took was just one little hit, one little taste of Ash on my tongue and I’m a goner.

Before she turns around to jog back to the bus, I retreat. Hiding deeper into the woods, so she can’t see me. I lean against a tree as I hear her footsteps get closer. When her breath reaches my ears, I spin around, making myself seen.

Her eyes widen in surprise, her heels digging into the dirt to halt herself, but she’s too late. She plows right into me, and I catch her. Gripping her biceps, I push her backward into the same tree I was leaning against.

Her chest heaves, her erratic breathing drowns out the song of the birds and her eyes gleam with confusion and fear. Thewild look on her face ignites a fire inside my soul. She licks her dry lips, leaving a sheen of saliva behind. My eyes fixate on the spot her tongue just left and a hunger starts to claw its way through me.

“You’re looking at me like you want to kiss me.” She whispers into the morning air, repeating my words from two weeks ago.

The world around us slows and it’s just me and her in this forest. The chill cools my burning skin and keeps me focused and in control, but it’s taking every ounce of effort I have. The lack of sleep at night sometimes makes me a little delirious and fucks with my judgement and I’m trying to make sure this is not one of those times, but who am I kidding?

“And what if I do?” I test.

“Then I'd have to saycheck mate.” She smiles and it rips my brain in two, I'm mesmerized by the beauty of her face and infuriated by her audacity to call me out on my lack of restraint.

"Don’t flatter yourself. I’m just here for a little conversation.” I lie.

“Is this how you have all your conversations with women? Pinning them against a tree?” She laughs.

I spin her, shoving her face into the sharp bark. “I don’t see any women here, Eris.”

A small moan escapes her perfectly pink, plump lips as she shoves her ass against me. It’s the smallest movement, one you might miss if your dick wasn’t straining against your jeans, desperate to break free. I grab her ponytail, yanking her head back against my chest, forcing her to look at me.

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you.”

“Why not?” She challenges, biting her lower lip.

I groan, feeling myself fit perfectly between the crevice of her ass cheeks. I’m curious to know how far she’ll let me takethis. She accepts my touches every now and then but doesn’t seem like the type to take it past a simple kiss.

“I’m really close to losing my shit.” I growl a warning in her ear.

“Then lose it.” She pants, clearly just as bothered by our tension as I am.

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