CHAPTER FOUR
Ember
“He’s the only one she’ll ever break for.”
I shiver as I stare into his eyes. I can’t see anything but lust clouding his vision and the way his chest rises and falls as he breathes me in.
He’s so close his breath tickles my face.
I can smell his cologne and the natural scent of his skin—something earthy with a hint of musk.
Like he was outside digging, sweating, with rich cologne on.
I frown and side step him. The feel of his skin on mine suffocates me, makes me become hot where I shouldn’t be. My thoughts are scattered as I walk over to the other side of the room.
What the hell are we supposed to be doing again?
Red lights are in the four or five lamps that hang on the walls and dark shadows linger in the corners making it hard to see.
A single couch bed is in the middle of the floor along with a table.
A small chair is placed in the corner of the room.
Multiple desks line the walls with papers, old computers, and other random objects—their meaning unknown to me.
Hooks hang from the ceiling as well as chains with cuffs attached.
Everything about this room screams weird.
The wooden floors appear to be wet even though they aren't and the single window beside the chair has steel poles blocking most of the view into the dark night.
I shiver uncomfortably and goosebumps form on my skin. There’s no way I’ll be going to sleep on that bed, it looks gross.
I look up at the large bold numbers above the opposite door we came in, it reads 71:35. I assume it started at 72 hours because I’ve been here for twenty-five minutes.
“If the timer runs out and we don’t solve the room, what happens?” I look at the guy I came in here with.
He’s laid out on the gross looking bed. His arms are behind his head and his legs are sprawled out in front of him.
His shirt has risen up to the point I can see his V-line, tattoos cover the area but are too small for me to read.
He screams danger, something I shouldn’t be looking for but I can’t help but look.
Now that I think about it, I haven’t asked him what his name is.
“We die.” He responds blankly and I blink, confused.
“Huh?” I blush and try to keep eye contact with him to avoid his nether regions.
“You asked what happens if we don’t finish the room, we die.” He shrugs and his eyes trail over my body, stopping every time something pleases him. I place my arms over my chest and roll my eyes.
Wait, did he say we die?
“Wait, what?” I furrow my brows. “They didn’t state that in the rules. I looked over them more than once.”
He begins to laugh. The sound is music to my ears, a soft but rough tune that resonates perfectly against my cochlea.
“This is serious.” I pout like a fucking child. I have no idea how this guy's brain works but this damn sure isn’t funny.
He raises his hands in surrender but continues laughing. His pearly teeth make his cruel behavior forgettable and I giggle too.
His eyes snap open at the sound and he slowly smiles. The look doesn’t seem genuine or real, almost fake. A sadistic look crosses his features and I turn away from him. My laugh dying along with our conversation.
What the hell is wrong with this guy?
The air in the room thickens uncomfortably and I busy myself by picking up a paper off one of the desks. I glance over it and realize it's a riddle for us.
“Hey, I think I found the first clue.” I hold the paper up and turn back to him.
His eyes are blank, no emotion passes through as I walk over to him. He nods and I hold the note out for him. He reaches out and grabs the paper, his fingers are cold as they skim over mine. I pull my hand back and watch as he reads it over aloud.
“Welcome to Hallows Inn—a house of horrors, truths, and pain. I hope your experience is well and you both come out unscathed. These rooms can be dangerous and each clue will only get harder.” He pauses and looks up at my expression before continuing his read.
“Open yourself up to your partner and work together if you want to come out alive. Your first clue will be on the table beside the bed. Your room has 6 different clues. You have three days to complete, goodluck.” My brain goes into overdrive at the amount of questions I have but I don’t say anything as I let it sink in.
Why does everyone keep mentioning death? This is just a game, right?
“You hear that, stop being a dick and actually help me.” I yank the note out of his hand and look down at it.
Before I can read it over once more I’m pulled forward. He grabs my wrist so fast I have no time to balance myself and collapse on top of him.
“What the–.” He switches our positions completely ignoring me.
Once I'm settled on the bed he pushes one leg in between mine and rests his elbow against the silk sheets below us. His face is unbelievably close to mine, his minty breath fans my warm cheeks. I’m so baffled I don’t move.
“If you say one more curse word I’ll shove my cock so deep down your throat you won’t be able to talk for the next three days.” I push against the mattress in an attempt to create space between us but he leans closer.
His nose brushes mine and my breath hitches. Every fiber in my body tells me this is wrong, so fucking wrong but it feels so good. When was the last time a guy gave me attention? When was the last time a guy touched me?
“Get the fuck off of me.” I mumble, barely able to breath underneath his heavy weight and demanding stare.
He grunts and his eyes close for a split second before opening again.
“You’re only digging your grave deeper.” He sneers and nips my neck. His teeth feel razor sharp against the delicate skin and I arch into him.
“If you don’t get off of me, I’ll–” The words get lodged in my throat as he goes lower. His tongue is hot against my breasts and the ache in my pussy intensifies. I tighten my legs around his and he slowly rubs his leg against my center.
“You’ll what, Little Devil?” He muses.
I whimper and push against his arms but it's like pushing a bolder. He doesn’t move only laps at my skin more aggressively. His teeth leave behind bites and marks that turn my body a deep red.
I can’t deny that I’m enjoying this. It feels foreign, nothing like what I’ve experienced before. His aggressive marks only turn me on more and I can imagine him breaking the skin—my blood dripping from his mouth.
I use all my strength to push my knee into his groin but he doesn’t move.
His eyes flicker to mine, hungry and dilated.
He groans in pain, maybe with pleasure, but he lets go of me and steps back.
A depraved smile spreads across his features as he looks down at me.
Lust clouds his eyes, but also destruction.
He wants to carve himself into my skin, dig deep and never let me go.
He wants to ruin me.
I scramble to collect myself, pulling my leathers back into place the best I can.
“Fuck.” He growls, the sound reverberates around the tiny room sounding more animal than human. “You’re a dangerous girl. You have no idea what I want to do to you, so many fucking options just in this room.”
I look around the room not being able to imagine anything related to sex within this scary ass space. I abruptly stand to create space between us. My breathing is labored as I lean against a desk for support. My legs wobble below me, giving away my true feelings.
“Just stay away from me. The faster we finish, the faster we can get away from each other.” I mumble.
I run my hands through my disoriented hair and try to flatten it back down. Knots break my fingers from perfecting it but it's better than before.
“Who said I want to get away from you.” I look up at him, surprised.
His gaze is indifferent as our eyes lock onto one another. Possession swirls through them in waves, pushing against me. My skin still tingles from where he touched me and my mind slightly buzzes with the after effects.
“I want to get away from you. Y–you’re dangerous.” I whisper. “I can't afford danger in my life right now, it's already shit enough.”
He laughs, the sound is booming and sarcastic. “Dangerous? Oh, Little Devil, you haven’t witnessed the real danger yet.”
I frown at his response.
“What is that supposed to mean?” He walks over to the chair and sits down, completely ignoring me.
He slides his mask back on and sprawls out.
He throws his arms over the side of the arm rests.
His legs are wide open and the front of his jeans bulge out.
I look away from him before he sees the blush heating my cheeks.
He’s huge.
“Ok, uh, let's start the game.”
I grab the note on the table in front of me and read it aloud.
“For Ronan.” I look up at him. “Is that your name?”
I can’t tell what he’s looking at or if he’s even paying attention so I continue reading over the note.
“Find the object you used to kill with.” I stop reading and look up at him.
What the hell does that mean? He still doesn’t move to speak so I continue.
“Rewind back to when you were only 12 years old. What sharpened your grin? What made your darkness within? Don’t be afraid to let your partner know that you’re the real danger here. Let the games begin.”
I read over the note until my eyes start to burn. How do they know our names, our secrets? I drop the note on the table and turn to him.
“Ronan? Is that your name? What does this mean?” I hiss. Fear courses through me, deep in my veins as the realization of this game sinks further in.
What the hell had I signed up for? Sophie didn’t mention death, she didn’t mention any of this weird shit.
My brother is here.
My heart sinks at the realization that my twin could be matched with someone just as crazy as the guy in front of me. Tears swell in my eyes but I hold them back, too afraid to break in front of Ronan.
Book made for edfloresauthor@