Page 18 of Satan's Naughty List
A hand smacks my face roughly, and I sputter, looking at the ceiling around me. Two hulking guys are hovering over me, both of their features are scrunched with concern.
“What…” Pausing, my head pounds harshly, my eyes have their own heartbeat.
“We’re so fucking sorry,” Techy sniffles, wiping at his eyes. “I didn’t know or else I’d never-”
“It’s fine,” I scold, stopping him from going too far. It’s not fucking fine that I apparently passed out. I wouldn’t be staring at the ceiling if I didn’t collapse.
“I called Doc, she’s on her way.” Techy looks seconds away from sobbing. Reaching up, I cup his cheek lightly. “You were right, it was too much too soon.” He glances over at Nomad, sadness enveloping his features.
Blood rushes to my head as I try to sit up. Nomad pulls me toward him, putting my back to his chest and caging me in while Techy props my feet on his lap. The pressure in my brain hasn’t subsided and I’ve not acquired the overwhelming urge to vomit. Doc’s done everything she can to help sway the nightmares and day-mares away without using medications.
“What happened?” Doc barks, hustling toward us. Techy looks embarrassed while Nomad just looks indifferent.
“I wanted to try exposure therapy,” I pipe up, deciding to take the blame. Both men swivel their heads to look at me, and I shake mine. “It’s hard to constantly feel like I’m not good enough. I thought…”
“If you could get over it, you’d be fine,” Doc huffs, frustration clear in her tone. “That’s not how it works, Aspen.” She kneels next to me, adjusting my left leg and looking at the fixator.
“We caught her before she could fall or hurt it,” Techy says, rubbing his hands on my arms.
“For what it's worth, your progress is a lot faster than other survivors I’ve dealt with.”
Scrunching up my face, I voice my distaste. “Please don’t call me a survivor. It’s not something I’m going to get through, and it’s a label I’d like to avoid.”
“But you are one,” Techy quips, lacing his fingers with mine. “You’re actively going through it and surviving day by day.”
“Don’t label me,” I snap. Taking a clarifying breath like Doc taught me, I center myself. “It’s like saying a woman is hot. We’re not a temperature. I’m not a survivor. We all exist with demons, everyone is a survivor.”
“Okay.” Doc puts a stop to everything else. “Let’s get you back to the clinic. I’d love to have you journal what you remember.”
Even with my continued protests, the guys hoist me up and onto my feet, making sure I stay steady. Looping my arm through Doc’s she guides me out of the club while yelling at the guys to give us some time.
The guys speak quietly, and as we take the steps one at a time, their voices fade until I can only hear my own labored breathing.
After several spotty points of thinking I’m going to pass out, we finally make it to the clinic. She helps me prop on the table and gets my leg situated in the sling thing. It’s a stupid contraption, but the biggest priority is making sure I didn’t hurt it.
She tells me to hang out for a few minutes as she leaves to go grab something. I stare at the tiles on the ceiling, counting them, losing track, then starting again. I recount to thirty before I wonder if I’ve double counted before starting over. After I’ve counted to thirty about ten times, I decide I’m done waiting.
That’s whenhewalks in. And I swear I need the world to swallow me whole.
“No…”
Chapter Fourteen
ShewalksawaywithDoc, and my heart rips out of my chest. The hurt and pain that I caused her…I didn’t think this through.Fuck.
“Hey,” Nomad says, throwing his arm over my shoulder. He brings me into his chest, and I can’t help but inhale his musky scent. The pinewood is all-consuming as I let the tears finally fall. I’m not a little bitch by any means. I feel like a fucking prick for doing that to her.
“I’m such an idiot,” I cry, wrapping my arms around his waist.
“It’s not totally your fault. If she didn’t want to come down here, she wouldn’t have. Don’t take the blame for something that was an accident. We all wanted this for her, including her.” He shushes me and keeps me confined to his chest.
His fingers pinch my chin and force me to look up at him. Strong features look back at me, his eyes stern as he passes between my two.
“You know better,” he mutters, pressing his lips to mine. Taking his time, he licks my bottom lip and pushes his tongue inside. His cock is already hard as he grinds against me, rubbing himself over my growing erection. “I want you to take back everything you said.”
“No,” I retort, pushing into him. He rears back, brows furrowing downward.
“What did you just say to me?” He growls, hand wrapping around my throat. I gasp, my semi-hard cock immediately stiffening as he manhandles me.
