Page 69 of Welcome to Bone Town

“Yes!” I whoop, hopping down to try the door again.

I crack it open, shining the flashlight ahead of me. There are a few scorpions along the walls, but most of them have skittered back down the grates. I just hope my presence doesn’t draw them out again.

Taking a deep breath, I slip into the hall. For a moment, I panic, unsure how to handle the puzzle box. If I take it with me everyone else will be trapped in the vault. I want them to have a way out if something happens to me or if they somehow come out of the haze. But if I leave it on their side of the door, I won’t be able to get back in. Despite wanting to keep the scorpions out, I decide the best option is to leave the door open the tiniest crack, and leave the puzzle box attached to the door on their side.

By now, most of the scorpions have gone backunderground, but I run down the hall, not wanting to take any chances. I move quickly and keep my eyes open, only stopping when I come to the thick stone wall still blocking the path. I should have asked Roman where he found the release before. But it’s too late now. Guess I’ll just have to search.

There’s a scraping behind me, and I jump. The flashlight doesn’t reach far enough down the stairs to see what made the noise. My heart hammers against my ribs. I need to find that damn release. I stick the end of the flashlight in my mouth and run my hands over the wall, searching frantically and praying I don’t set off yet another trap.

“Boo!” A voice says right behind me. I swing my fist.

“Fuck!” Jax jumps back as my knuckles graze his jaw. It’s not a hard punch, but it’s enough to smart.

“How’d you know I like it rough,” he says, all gravelly.

“What are you doing? You scared the shit out of me.” I rub my aching hand. “I didn’t think you knew I left.” The last part is softer, and to my horror, my voice shakes.

“I knew.” He leans into me. “Bear, too. But he’s knot deep in our omega, so he couldn’t really come after you.”

“I tried to get your attention,” I whisper.

“Admittedly, it’s a little hard to focus when an omega is squeezing the life out of your dick, but the second your scent started to dissipate, Bear panicked.” Jax drags his thumb along my jaw. “Why’d you leave on your own? It’s not safe.”

“I didn’t think… I was needed.” The confession surprises me. I don’t know why I’m suddenly spilling my guts to Jax, so I backpedal. “I mean, I wanted to help. The pool’s draining, and we all need water, and if I can get this wall open, maybe you all can sober up long enough to get Cora back upstairs.”

“Shhh.” Jax’s thumb covers my lips. “You might not think you’re needed. But you’re wanted, Archer. Fuck, it’s taking all my willpower not to fuck you right here.”

“Me? Here?”

“Mmhmmm.” His hand skims down my neck to rest at the base, fingers slipping under the collar of my shirt.

“Bear told me to punish you for him.” Jax’s thumb drops to the divot at the base of my throat and strokes slowly up. “Apparently, you promised him you wouldn’t be reckless anymore.”

“It’s not reckless. I just wanted?—”

“To earn your place. Not necessary.” Jax takes the flashlight from me, clicking it off and plunging us into near total darkness. There are still a few glowing scorpions way down the hall, but it’s nearly impossible to see anything.

“W-what are you doing?”

“Don’t want to attract the scorpions, do we?”

My heart races at the feel of his breath on my cheek, his absinthe scent rich in the air. His lips skim my jaw until they reach the corner of my mouth.

“You can try to run and hide all you want,” he whispers, kissing me so gently it makes me shiver. “Believe you’re not good enough, go ahead. But not a single one of us is gonna let you get away with it. Run, and Bear will catch you. Hide, and I’ll fucking find you. Try to pretend that you aren’t the brilliant genius you are, and I knowCora and Roman will set you straight. You’re ours, beta.” His hand cups my throat. “Ours.”

He kisses me, tasting of licorice and lust. Every thought flies out of my mind. His tongue strokes into my mouth as he undoes the button on my jeans, letting them fall in a heap around my ankles. Cold air tickles my skin, sending goosebumps pebbling my thighs. He pulls back from the kiss, and I can’t see or feel him.

“Jax?” It’s so dark, it’s as if he vanished. The uncertainty of what he’ll do next makes my heart pound in my ears.

I don’t realize he’s on his knees until his breath fans my cock. He’s not touching me anywhere, but that hot breath may as well be a caress.

“You’re ours,” he repeats before licking up my shaft.

My head drops back against the cold stone wall. I want to believe him. Fuck, I want to believe him so bad, but years of going unrecognized no matter what I accomplished, of being pushed aside and ignored while my siblings were deemed more significant… that kind of damage isn’t easy to undo.

“Want me to prove it?” Jax blows a cool stream of air up my cock, following the wet trail his tongue left. The whiplash in sensation is nearly enough to have me spilling already, before Jax has even really touched me yet.

“Y-yes,” I pant.

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