Page 107 of The Rowdy Ones
My stomach bottoms out.
“Did he, uh, sexually assault you?” I croak out, pain clutching at my throat.
“No,” Rowdy says firmly. “But he wanted to. Even if it meant doing it after I was dead.”
I gag and I can’t tell if it’s from the idea of Rowdy dying or someone raping his corpse after. Either way, I’m disgusted and horrified.
“Clean his wounds,” Aunt Eve barks again, dropping something into my lap. “Now, Destiny.”
Jolting once more from her sudden nearness, I nod and get to work. The supplies she handed me feel pretty straightforward. I use an alcohol pad to clean the cut on his hand and the graze site, apply some antibiotic ointment, and then cover with a bandage. It really was a slight graze. Just enough to make him bleed but not require stitches.
He’s incredibly lucky.
And I’m grateful for his luck.
The thing with luck, though, is it only holds out for so long, which is why they need to capture Alex before it runs out.
It’s hours before the cops finally leave. I’m exhausted but want to sneak into the RV to be with Rowdy. Being away from him after the hellish night we’ve endured makes me antsy and stressed. I just need to be close to him.
I wait until the house goes quiet, all the normal people sleeping, and sneak out. My partner in crime, eager to see Rowdy, sneaks out with me. It’s doubtful Alex would come back, but I still race as fast as I’m able to over to the RV. I don’t breathe easy until I’m inside. Wild is already passed out, snoring logs. Me and Scout make our way to Rowdy’s room, both of us attempting to be quiet.
After stripping out of my clothes, I crawl into bed with my brother. Scout takes his spot on the other side of the bed and I take mine in Rowdy’s arms.
“You shouldn’t have come over here by yourself,” Rowdy says softly, with no anger in his voice.
“I had Scout. I was safe.”
He pulls my naked body to his. I’m thankful he’s warm now. Earlier, when his skin was so cold, it terrified me.
“I’ve been thinking,” I whisper as I run my fingers along his arm. I note scarring in the crook of it, wondering if they’re the track marks Wild mentioned. “About us.”
His hand cups my cheek. “Should I be worried?”
I smile at him. “Nope.”
“Good.” His thumb strokes my bottom lip and I playfully bite at it. “What about us?”
“I came up with a plan for how we can be together.”
“Tell me,” he murmurs. “I feel lost and without answers most days. Gwen’s clinic is good for you. I want you to have that, but I also want you.”
Dipping down, I bring my lips to his. My nipples brush over his smooth, hard skin, making us both shiver. He kisses me so reverently it brings tears to my eyes.
The love I feel for him consumes my every thought.
“You’re distracting me,” he complains between kisses.
I giggle. “Sorry. I like kissing you.” Then I bite on his bottom lip. “And when your cock is inside me.”
He groans as if in pain. This sends me into another fit of laughter I desperately try to keep quiet. Wild knows about us, but it doesn’t mean we should rub it in his face.
“We can get an RV like this one and our own truck,” I tell him finally. “Find a place we can park it at. Maybe between here and home. Remote, so we can have our privacy, but still close enough we can go to town often.”
“That sounds like a good idea. I’ll have to find a job, though. We don’t exactly have tons of money lying around.”
“Dad will give us what we need,” I assure him, even though the idea of telling Dad about us is terrifying. He didn’t kill our siblings, so maybe we’ll be safe. Or that could be wishful thinking. “I have a plan for money, though, going forward.”
He chuckles. “You really have it all figured out, don’t you? Who knew sweet Dez could be so ambitious?”
