Page 66 of Petals and Strings
“Those years were a cycle of heat-inducing meds every weekend, my scent turning every alpha in the room into a rabid beast, and constant fights. The fights grew more brutal, my scent reacting differently each time. The blood sprayed over me and mountainous men fought against the cage and each other, ripping their opponents apart and sometimes themselves. I’m talking breaking bones with their bare hands, splitting skin and pounding flesh until it was unrecognizable.”
“That sounds brutal,” I admitted, my stomach turning at the descriptions.
“I guess they didn’t care to make sure that the cage stayed reinforced. One night, an alpha broke free. He ripped the cage open, metal tearing easily against his rut. He bit me the moment he reached me. I was cornered with nowhere to go, no escape, and the guys running it took their time getting in. They didn’t care that he was about to maul their biggest ticket seller. He forced the bond before they had a chance to take him down. He died before the medical team could break it, meaning he took a piece of me with him.”
Fuck.
He started to slip away from me, his eyes going vacant and I couldn’t let that happen.
“I always heard growing up that we had to bite them back, but I learned over and over that my consent or mark didn’t matter. That a half-bond was enough to break me.”
He nodded in agreement, swiping away a tear that was falling down my cheek.
“The entire building was a blood-bath. I shut down as more and more got in. My body was in pain, ravaged by the alphas that got through the guards. He wasn’t the only one to hurt me, but he was the only one who bit me. The rest were too focused on hurting each other, besting the other alphas. It took time, but I healed those flesh wounds. The rest… wasn’t as easy. I couldn’t bring myself to let it go. That’s when I stopped talking, tried to make myself invisible. I stayed in a numb sort of trance after that. I think it was my way of taking back my body.”
I could imagine him laying in that hospital bed, bloody and broken, and I wanted to hunt down and kill every alpha that looked at him wrong.
No wonder he hated them.
“I wish I could say I was strong, but I tried to end my life twice,” he admitted, refusing to look at me.
“If I had the means in my cell, I would have,” I said, not bothering to sugar-coat it. “I begged whatever god would listen to end it for me so many times.”
He winced. “I’m glad you’re here, Audrey. That we got to meet.”
“I’m glad you’re here, too, my sweet boy,” I said, resting a hand on his cheek. “You deserve to be happy. One day we’ll be out of here and if you want me, I’ll be by your side forever.”
He didn’t say a word as he leaned over, his lips finding mine. I shifted higher, hands wrapping around his neck as I clung tohim, our mouths mending our hearts back together a little piece at a time.
He tasted like salt and something citrusy, sweet. Delicious.
His cock hardened under me but he made no move to take this further. Not here. But god I wanted him, too.
When he pulled back, he rested his forehead on me as he breathed.
“How can you look at me with anything but disgust? I’m soft and small, not masculine enough. My scent is too strong… too sweet.”
He didn’t see himself like I did.
“You’re sexy as hell, Ansel. You have me wet from just your kisses. And your scent is nothing like they say. To me it’s a perfect blend of sweet, tart, and masculine. Just like you. I don’t need you to be super strong or built like a brick house. We have Rydell for that. I need you like this, sweet, soft, and so expressive for me. You give me control I’ve never had, and let me reclaim parts of me I thought were long dead.”
"Audrey.” My name was plea. It gave me the courage to look around and check for cameras or staff. We’d been alone this long and the way I needed him was too strong to ignore.
“Can I have you, Ansel. All of you?”
“Only if I can keep you,” he whispered, vulnerability and hope winding through each syllable.
“Yes,” I breathed out. “The same way I’m going to keep you.”
I shifted, kicking off my pants and dropping them on the couch beside us before straddling his lap. He’d shimmied his pants down so his cock was jutting up. Still perfect like I remembered.
He guided me over him, letting me line myself up before I sank down. We both let out quiet sighs as we fit together, resting there, connected in a way neither of us had experienced.
“You’re my first,” he admitted. “That alpha was too frenzied to take this part of me. It’s yours and only yours, Audrey.”
“This is the only time I’ve ever chosen someone. The only time I felt like I was in control,” I whispered back.
“Claim me, Audrey,” he begged as his hands rested on my hips, trying to guide me to move.
