Page 1 of Ruthless Desires: Vol. Two
Wretched Corruption
Ruthless Desires 4
Elira Firethorn
Chapter one
Wren
It’s just water.
It’s just water.
It’s just water.
I can’t get in enough air. My chest feels constricted, like some invisible force is trying to crush me until I’m nothing but dust.
Not enough air.
Need to breathe.
Let me up, please just let me up.
My lungs are aching. My body is screaming for air. My head is pounding, my mind is going fuzzy. Is this what it feels like to die? How closewasI to death? How close am I now?
My name. Someone’s saying my name.
But I can’t make it out—the word is a blur, and there’s no distinguishable voice. Hell, I can’t even see the water in the sink anymore.
“Wren?Wren.”
Hands are on my waist, arms encircling me. I’m pulled away from the stability of the counter, but I don’t lose my balance. No, something—someone—is holding me up. Someone familiar. Warm.
“Wren, look at me. I’ve got you. No one’s going to hurt you here.”
Something soft presses against my cheek. A sweater, I think. It smells nice. Like safety and sandalwood and oranges.
Ell.
“Love,please.” He takes one of my hands and presses it to his chest. “Focus on my heartbeat.”
A sound leaves my throat. Not a sob—I don’t think I’m crying. It’s more like a hum, startled and confused and the only acknowledgment of his presence I can manage.
“Take a breath through your nose,” he says soothingly. “Just like that, Wren. Now let it out slowly. Good, good. Again.” He does it with me once, twice, three times.
As I follow his instructions, I begin to regain my senses. I’m in the kitchen. Late afternoon light is streaming in from the windows. Elliot has one arm tightly around my waist, and the other is pressing my hand into his sweater. His heartbeat is steady as he searches my face, his eyebrows furrowed.
“There you are,” he murmurs, his voice weighed down with relief and terror at the same time.
“What…” I glance around, catching the still-full sink in my peripheral vision. My body goes rigid at the sight.
“Hey, it’s okay. I’ve got it.” Elliot loosens his hold on me, reaching into the sink to pull the plug. The water level immediately starts going down.
Fuck. What was I thinking?
Probably that I’m about to go on a trip to the fucking ocean and that I need to get it together.
After drying off his hands, Elliot turns toward me. He keeps himself in between me and the sink as he runs a hand over my hair.
