Page 69 of Bliss: Part 1
“You okay, Lissy?” Dash’s voice was soft, careful, like he already knew I wasn’t. And I hated that he could see through me so easily.
I hated that he was probably already regretting this whole thing. That maybe he was thinking he’d never touch me again. That I wasn’t cut out for this kind of intimacy, for this kind of closeness.
“I’m fine,” I croaked out, my throat raw, not just from the emotions, but from everything else, too.
“You sure?” Tripp stepped toward me and reached out, hand gently brushing my elbow like he was ready to help me up.
“I said I’m fine,” I snapped, sharper than I meant, yanking my arm away as I stood up on my own.
The cum was still dripping, some of it sliding slowly down my stomach, while other streaks had already started to dry and tighten on my skin. I felt sticky. Gross. I needed a shower more than I needed anything else.
“Bliss, wait—” Tripp’s hand reached for mine again, trying to keep me from walking off.
“Tell me what’s wrong.”
“Nothing’s wrong,” I hissed back, frowning hard as I looked him in the eye. I wasn’t even mad at them. I was furious with myself. I was the one who misjudged the situation. I was the one who didn’t know her own limits. “I just want to take a shower.”
Tripp studied me closely, concern written all over his face, and Dash moved in behind me, resting a hand on my lower back. The second his skin touched mine, I flinched. I couldn’t take it. Not right now. If they kept trying to touch me, I was going to completely lose it.
“You’re having an anxiety attack, Lissy,” Dash said calmly, and it struck me hard because he wasn’t wrong.
My hands were shaking. My fingers were tingling. My chest was rising and falling way too fast, and it hit me that I wasn’t breathing right. My lungs felt tight. My throat was closing up. I couldn’t think straight.
“Get her a blanket,” Rhys said, his voice sounding concerned. “Have her sit down.”
“We’re trying,” Tripp murmured, still trying to guide me somewhere safer. “Come on, Lissy. Come sit with us.”
“No.” My vision flickered, went fuzzy, and the edges were fading out. “I want to take a shower.”
“I’ll help you,” Dash offered. And I knew he meant it in the kindest way. He’d been there before, so many times when I spiraled. But this time felt different. This time, I didn’t think anyone could help me.
“I can do it alone.”
“Lissy—”
“Stop! Leave me alone!” I shoved my arms out to get them off me, accidentally hitting both Dash and Tripp in the process. “Let me go!”
“Let her,” Rhys cut in, voice grim. “Shit, she needs a moment to herself.”
“She needs someone,” Dash argued, his voice tight with worry. “She’s having a panic attack.”
I knew he wanted to help. I wanted to let him. But the thought of one more touch, one more hand on me, made my skin crawl.
Before I could hurt anyone else, I bolted. I ran upstairs, not even thinking about the fact that I was still naked, still covered. That Dad or Odin could’ve walked out at any second and seen me like that. I didn’t care. I just needed to get to the bathroom.
I made it and slammed the door, then locked it.
I turned on the water without even checking the temperature and stood there in the middle of the room, panting like I’d run miles. My hands braced on the counter. Tears ran down my cheeks faster than I could stop them. I clenched my teeth to keep the sobs in, but the pressure in my throat just got worse. The lump was unbearable. I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t get air in, no matter how hard I tried.
“Lissy.” Dash’s voice came from the other side of the door. “Please, open up. You don’t have to go through this alone. Let me hold you.”
His voice broke through the fog just enough to ease the ache. But the panic clung to me like wet clothes. It wasn’t leaving. Not yet. Not unless I let him in. But I couldn’t.
I felt disgusting.
I couldn’t let him see me like this.
“Lissy, please,” he said again. “We don’t have to talk about what happened. Just let me hold you.”
