Page 74 of Kept

His hands move down as if to move my makeshift dressing, and I slap them away feebly, stopping when another wave of pain ripples through my stomach. He stares down at me in horror. “She needs a doctor.”

“I don’t,” I whisper. “I’m sorry about the bedding. I’ll fix it.”

“Zella,” Ryder pushes Enzo out of the way and kneels next to me, putting his hand out and squeezing mine as I avoid his eyes. “This is completely normal, sweetheart.”

I pause. “It is?”

My voice sounds tiny, and he actually smiles as he pushes my hair back. “You didn’t know? Happens every month, right?”

Enzo makes a noise, and I glance at him. He’s still glowering down at the stained bedding, and shame tangles my chest.

“I’m sorry I made a mess,” I apologize quietly. “I can clean it up.”

Ryder strokes my hair back, and it feels so nice I have to close my eyes. “Don’t be silly. We’ll do that.”

They pop back open. “What?” My voice is a yelp. “You can’t!”

Ryder gives me a firm look. “Princess. You think we’re going to just leave you here, in pain and alone, when we can help?”

I manage an embarrassed smile. “See?” I whisper. “There you go again.”

A dull flush stains his cheeks, but he still turns, hissing instructions to Enzo and Maverick that have them moving around me. The pain returns, and Ryder strokes my hair as I curl into myself with a groan. “We’re getting you some painkillers, sweetheart. But… I can help with the pain, if you’re comfortable with that.”

At this point I’m about as embarrassed as I can get, so I nod. But I regret it immediately when he shifts, nudging at my closed knees. “Open.”

“What?” I yelp. I immediately press my legs closed. “No!”

Enzo’s face appears over Ryder’s shoulder. “Do as he says, prey, or we’ll do it for you.”

Ryder’s finger rubs soothing circles on the outside of my bare knees. “You think we’re going to sit around while you’re in pain? Let me help, Zella.”

His voice dips lower. “You wanted me to choose. This is me choosing.”

The bed dips on my other side, and I glance up at Maverick. His jaw is tight, but he gives me a comforting smile as he takes over from Ryder, stroking my hair across my head. “Do as he says. Remember your promise.”

The slight teasing tone makes me half-smile, before another cramp doubles down in my stomach. Ryder seizes my momentary weakness, wedging himself between my thighs and unwrapping the clumsy knot I tied to try and keep the dress around my hips.

My cheeks flush in mortification, and I scrunch my eyes closed as he pulls it away gently. “I promise you, sweetheart. None of this is embarrassing for us. We just want to help.”

“Hurry up about it,” Enzo snaps behind him. “She’s hurting.”

“Painkillers first,” Ryder snaps back over his shoulder. “Maverick lifts a little white button up to my mouth, a glass of water in his hand. “Have you ever taken these, Zella?”

I frown. “I think I did, once. I had a fever.”

He makes me take two, holding the back of my neck as I choke down the cool water. Enzo gives Ryder a cloth, and I moan as he presses the warm material against me right there, moving the cloth over me in firm strokes.

“Does that feel good?” he asks me softly, and I nod. I can’t look, so I bury my face into Maverick’s side instead. He smells amazing, a little musky, and although he stiffens, he keeps stroking my hair as I hide from the fact that they’re looking at me and touching me downthere.

Ryder takes the cloth away, and I inhale as his fingers stroke up and down, barely brushing my slit. “There, now,” he murmurs. “This will help you until the painkillers kick in, princess.”

He pushes my lips apart, spreading me open with one hand as his fingers press down, moving in a circular motion that makes my hips buck. Everything feels more sensitive, my body swollen as he rubs his fingers back and forth, scraping the same place over and over until the agonizing pain in my stomach feels less than the sensation he’s drawing from me.

“Ryder.” I try to say his name but it comes out on a garbled moan, my face still pressed against Maverick’s chest.

“Shhh,” he soothes me, still playing, not letting up for a moment. “Let it happen, Zella.”

My hand reaches down, and I jerk when a hand closes over my wrist. Enzo settles in on my other side, lifting my arm and pinning it in place. My legs are spread, my hands held, and I can’t move, can’t pull myself away as Ryder continues his slow assault that brings a slow licking of flame, the pain muting in the face of something much stronger.

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