Pulling into my driveway, I park my car in the garage. I get out and drag myself into my home. I’m not even in the mood to shower. I just want to pass out. But I’m covered in blood and need one.
It got messy. Normally I’d be into that, but tonight I wasn’t. I’m just emotionally drained and physically exhausted. This is when I wish I took pills to help me sleep, but I know not to trust myself with them. I’d take an entire bottle and then not wake up. Or worse, take pills to sleep and then need medication to wake up. I refuse to alter my mind and body like that. I spent too many years on them already.
Turning on the living room light, I jump back when I see a man sitting on my couch.
“I’ve been waiting—” He stops when his blue eyes get a good look at me. “What in the fuck happened to you?” Kashton jumps up from the couch.
“Stop.” I place my hands up to keep him back. I’m not in the mood. “Go home. Leave me alone, Kash.” I don’t even bother asking how in the fuck he got in my house again or how long he’s waited for me to show up.
“Everett,” he barks, rushing over to me. “Who fucking did this to you?”
I take a stumbling step back, but my vison blurs for a second and I fall off the side of my heels.
“Whoa.” He grabs my arms to steady me. “Talk to me, Eve. What’s going on?” His pretty blue eyes frantically search my face and body. His hands glide down my arms and over my waist, and all I can think about is him ripping off my jeans, bending me over the couch, and fucking me. “Where are you hurt?” he demands.
Hurt?Am I hurt? Just my pride after I crawled on all fours for him. I literally did everything but bark for him. For fucking dick. I’m the problem. Women like me are why guys like him exist. We give them what they want, and it’s never enough.
“I’m…fine,” I answer, blinking rapidly. “Just need some rest.” I try to push him away, but he doesn’t budge.
“You’re bleeding,” he growls.
“Maybe.” I shrug.
“What?” Kashton snaps.
Is he talking to me? “Hmm?” I ask, looking up at him. He’s got two heads. Both of them floating around like you see in a cartoon. There’s even a ringing in my ears that might or might not be birds chirping. Whatever the fuck it is, it’s annoying. I pull on my ears, thinking that will help. “Make it stop,” I mumble.
He places his hands on either side of my face, holding it in place, and I shuffle from foot to foot on my heels. My feet hurt. “Look at me,” he orders.
I try to sayI am, but nothing comes out.
“Everett,” he barks, and I feel his hands leave my face. One wraps around my neck, and I moan at the way his fingers tighten.
Is he going to fuck me? Choke me out? That sounds nice. At least I’ll get a good night’s sleep. I faintly hear his voice in the distance, but I can’t make out what he’s saying, so I just close my eyes. Maybe I’ll get lucky and he’ll let me come this time.
TWENTY-FIVE
KASHTON
“Eve? Angel, talk to me. What hurts?” I frantically roam my hands over her body. One is on her neck, checking her pulse, and it’s thready. The other is yanking her shirt up to see if she’s been stabbed or shot.
She’s covered in blood, but I can’t tell if it’s hers or not.
I run my hands over her thighs and ass, looking to see if her jeans have any holes or cuts.
“Eve—” Her heavy eyes roll into the back of her head as her knees give out. “Fuck.” I catch her before she falls and pick her up, cradling her in my arms.
I carry her down the hall and kick open her bedroom door, placing her on her bed as I pull out my cell phone. I immediately call Gavin and rattle off her address, letting him know I need him now.
Then I grab her phone from her back pocket and dial Adam’s number. He’ll answer her call before he’ll take mine.
“Hey, how’d it go?” he asks in greeting.
“Adam,” I growl, ripping her shirt off her chest and using it to try and clean her neck and arms free of the blood.
“Why the fuck are you calling me from Eve’s phone, Kash?” he demands, immediately on the defensive.
“Because she just passed out in my arms.” I look over her chest and stomach, searching for some kind of entrance wound. When I don’t see anything, my hands go to her hair, feeling around for bumps or lacerations.
