Page 28 of Hysteria Rises
Her slow study has me under additional strain, never having experienced anything like it before. My cock stiffens, and I exhale.
“This is going to get interesting,” Cross mutters so low, I doubt she can hear him over the water. But I did. I give a brief nod, then join her in the shower stall.
Not one to waste time, I get the bar of soap wet, then, when she steps away from me, I grab hold of her by the elbow. “Turn around,” I grunt, my jaw going rigid as she forces me to make her. The deep rumble of my voice ricochets throughout the bathroom.
I glance downward, noting how she’s staringstraight ahead at my chest, possibly studying my tattoos. My lips twitch into a smile as I manipulate the soap until I have plenty of suds coating my hand, then set it on a small inset shelf.
Blood pounds in my ears like the beat of a drum. I steal a look at Cross. The bastard seems content enough to observe for now, his eyes skimming over every bit of her flesh they can. I’d tell him to get the fuck out, only she’s less likely to cause trouble with both of us in here.
I take a deep breath, my soapy hand experimentally running along her shoulders and down the rather delicate curve of her spine while my eyes follow. A groan reverberates inside my chest, and I cup her ass cheek, liking having the rounded globe in my hand. Fuuuck. I need to touch hereverywhere. I squeeze, grunting softly.
“Don’t. Fucking. Touch. Me.” She shifts, turning to look up at me from under her spiky-wet lashes. Then, without warning, she attempts to yank her arm out of my grasp, which only makes me clamp my hand more tightly around her.
My lip curls. “I’ll do what needs to be done. And nothing more.” It’s a slight exaggeration. None of the Collective would probably have risked this, but I could be wrong. Actually, come to think of it… my own father?—
Shutting down that line of thought, I lean in. “I’m going to let your arm go so I can finish up. Don’t try anything.” Only a few moments later, I pull herback to my chest, filling my hands with her breasts. I give her nipples a brief flick with my thumbs just to see what they feel like. And because I can.
Cross gives me an approving smirk as I spin her around to face me, then readjusts himself.
Bending at the waist, I quickly soap her calves, running my hands up her legs, behind her knees. “Stay still.” I give her a slight shake of my head. I could swear she was getting ready to kick me. “I wouldn’t.” I jut my chin toward Cross. “But if you want me to bring him over to help me hold you, we can.”
At the quick shake of her head, I grasp a thigh with each hand and knead her soft flesh. Eyeing her, my lips twist as I ever so slowly drag my fingers through the sensitive skin at the apex of her thighs.
She yelps, yanking away furiously as she attempts to take a step backward.
“Stop,” I command roughly. “You’re only going to wear yourself out.” When she ignores me and keeps right on trying to tug away, I wrap my arms around her. She lets out a gasping breath when I haul her from her feet and catch her against my chest, feet dangling. With her arms pinned, she’s completely helpless. Despite the fact that I’m far stronger than she is, she does everything in her power to make me drop her. She thrashes like a fucking maniac, twisting and squirming. Her efforts are futile, and only serve to make my blood run hot.
Her skin is warm in comparison to the water cascading over us, and the feel of her naked bodypressed up against mine is like—well, like nothing I’ve ever experienced before. Tipping her head back, she glares. I’m certain she thinks this is somehow effective in relaying her feelings. But it doesn’t matter what she thinks about me. And also, there’s something about it that makes my heart thrum a little faster.
I’m still pondering why that is when out of nowhere, she pinches my sides.Hard.
“Fuck,” I growl, giving her a shake. “Stop.”
Cross comes closer, circling behind her and meeting my gaze. My jaw twitches. “If it’ll help, I’ll wash her hair real quick while you’ve got her somewhat… subdued.” I could swear he’s laughing about the whole situation.
“Do it quickly,” I bite out. “We need to finish with her.”
“No shit,” Cross huffs.Yep. Fucker’s amused. “If this is how she reacts to a shower, she’s not going to like the next part.”
At his revelation, she shudders. And the thing is, she has no idea the task that was assigned to me because my father is nowhere to be fucking found. But there’s no denying she’s going to hate it.
SIXTEEN
DELILAH
I don’t knowwhat to make of what’s happening. My eyes flick to the collar on the floor of the bathroom, but neither Hayze nor Cross has made any move to put it back on me. My fingers curl around the towel where it’s gathered between my breasts.
“If you don’t give us trouble, you can hang onto that for now.” Cross shoots me an obnoxious wink. Funny, but if this were another life and a boy had winked at me like that, I’d have thought he was flirting. But this is not a fucking appropriate time for it. I doubt they even know what flirtingis. There’s no evidence of them understanding that their behavior is bizarre. The depravity of this place is unmatched by anything I’ve experienced before. And that’s saying a lot.
My free hand fists, and I seriously consider punching this cocky ass in the nose and finding out what he makes of that. It wouldn’t be the first time.
The only thing that holds me back is my desire to keep the towel. I’m unnerved that these men seem to think it’s okay to treat me like this. But at the same time, I have an overwhelming sense that this might be somewhat new for these two. The way they stare at me makes me want to run far, far away from this place and never look back.
If only that were an option, I’d be outta here in my next breath.
With one of them on either side of me, they usher me into the room we’d come through earlier. For now, they keep their hands to themselves. I still can’t help but flip back and forth between whether they’re going to take me back down to the cell or do god knows what else to me. If I don’t cooperate, it could go either way. I don’t know what the hell my best move is.
So, much like I had in the exam room, I catalog every bit of this place. Maybe something I notice will be of future use to me. I have no idea how, but I have to keep looking ahead to any chance I might have to get myself out of this mess.
