Page 84 of Trusting Skulls

Lexie

Ithrow myself over the top of Ash as Graham kicks at him. His boot connects with my ribs, and I cry out.

“Stop. Please stop!”

He grabs me by the back of my hair, rearing my head back, and then spits in my face. “It was you.”

“No. Graham, please. It wasn’t me.”

He narrows his eyes on Ash. “Is this the boyfriend you were talking about?”

“No.”

His spit hits me in the eye. “You really are a little whore, you know that?”

I know that more than anyone.

“You both better get some sleep. You’re going to need it,” he sneers, giving Ash another disgusted look. “Fuck!” he yells before slamming the door on his way out.

It echoes in my mind long after he leaves.

Ash is still beneath me as I struggle to calm myself. When I’m composed, I sit up and immediately begin to scour his body, looking for injuries. I roll him to his side and find his backside is tore up. Graham must have dragged him over the forest floor to get him inside. He’s also got a big lump at the base of his skull.

“Ash,” I beg.

He groans but doesn’t open his eyes.

“Ash, please wake up.”

When he doesn’t, I lie down beside him and pull his arm over me. “I’m so sorry. This is all my fault,” I say quietly.

“I’ve got the shot,” he whispers back.

He’s awake! I sit up, smacking him on the face again.

His arm snaps out, and before I know what’s happening, I’m flipped around, my back pressed to his front. I stare at the ceiling as his arm cuts across my throat, depleting me of oxygen.

I claw at his arms, bucking against him, but he’s so strong. He doesn’t know it’s me!

Darkness pulls at the edge of my vision until the world goes dark.

Chapter Thirty-Four

Ash

Hair tickles my nose. It smells just like a bag of Skittles. Nothing in this fucking desert has ever smelled so good. I try to blink the sand out of my eyes. Wait. I’m not outside.

No. Oh fuck no.

Instantly I release her and shove her off of me.

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

I lean over her face to see if she’s breathing. I’ll never forgive myself if I hurt her.

She gasps and then coughs. I slouch over her in relief.

“I’m so fucking sorry, Lex,” I repeat over and over again, cradling her head in my arms. I scan the room, looking for an exit.

---