Page 108 of Wallflower

“Samuel,” Maximus directs sternly, “that’s quite enough.”

Finally complicit, Brad slackens his hold on my neck, and I heave in a breath as lights dance in my already-hazy vision.

Sam slips his finger from my flesh. Raising his dripping hand, he extends his tongue. Leisurely, he licks and sucks my blood from his skin, smearing it across his mouth.

“So fucking delectable, Rosie,” he murmurs, crimson staining his teeth. “Sweeter than anything that’s touched my tongue before this.”

My head falls back against Brad’s shoulder, and he chuckles. “Don’t pass out on me now, I’m nowhere near done with you.”

Shivers crash through me, the last few remaining drops of water dripping from my long, matted hair onto my battered body. The sponge bath I was given as a way to prepare my skin for the doctor, was surely just another form of torture as the water was colder than a penguin’s asshole.

The heavy metal lock disengages, the sound resonating through the cell. Hopefully, that’s the doctor they keep telling me got ‘held up’.

Maybe they’ll have mercy and administer a lethal dose instead of just enough to sedate.

The excitement is almost too much to contend with as I navigate the weaving driveway to Bleakcrest. Scarlet roses sit on the passenger seat, reminiscent of the colour Rose’s hair used to be. Petals fluttering in the tropical breeze flowing through the open windows.

The realization that I actually miss her plowed into me half way through my flight. The feeling wasn’t new, I’d felt it every time we’d been apart since I laid my eyes on her. However, I was blind to it then, or dismissive, ignoring the tightness winding in my chest at her absence.

I round the bend, pulling toward my usual parking spot. Reid makes his way to me before the vehicle is stopped. He looksworried, sweaty, bouncing on the balls of his feet like he’s prairie dogging and doesn’t have anyone to relieve him.

“About fucking time,” he whisper-snaps. “What the fuck took so long? Your flight got in almost two hours ago?”

God forbid I want to shower before I have Rose on her knees, lips wrapped around my dick. It’s all I’ve been able to think about since last night.

Wait…

“What? How the fuck do you know that?”

Reid ignores me, walking hastily back to the mansion. Impatiently, he waits for me at the open door. The fucker may as well tap his finger on the face of his watch obnoxiously.

I’m thoroughly fucking unsettled. Every hair on my body stands on end as I debate whether to enter or not. I could be walking into a trap. Does Maximus know who I am? Will I ever see the light of day again? Is my team safe? Or has Maximus derived cum-worthy joy extinguishing every one of them?

Fuck.

I steel my nerves, pulling up that emotionless persona I need to get the job done. I owe it to the women and men on my team who put their life on the line for this plan to ensure their safety or demise.

“Could you walk any slower, Rip?”

I freeze in my tracks, lifting my eyes to him.

He knows.

I retreat a step, then another. About to make a break for the shitty rental to retrieve my gun.

“He will kill her,” Reid hisses, “if he hasn’t already.” Waving me back toward him quickly, irritation contorts his usually impassive features.

My stoic mask falls, fear gripping me tight. “Rose?” I breathe, and he slowly nods. “Where?” I don’t think, just act. Ready to take off in any direction he tells me. All logic and sense offorethought shooting out the fucking window at the thought of her in pain because of me—dead because of me.

If Reid knows, that must mean Maximus knows.

I’m walking into certain death.

From beneath his suit jacket, Reid retrieves the two guns holstered at his ribs. Handing them to me, his eyes are sad. “If Max gets free, come back for me. I don’t want to be captured.”

“Reid…”

Without another word, he turns. I follow, without being beckoned this time. Tucking the two pistols into my pants, I hide them beneath another billowy dinosaur button-up. I’d hoped the shirt would earn me one of those genuine laughs from Rose, the ones that are more rare than the most sacred and cherished jewels of the world.