Page 85 of UNAwere

When the wound is clean, he nods, letting out a satisfied grunt.

‘Good girl.’

Like a match thrown onto gasoline, my face catches fire.

‘There should be a suturing kit in there somewhere,’ he murmurs, oblivious to my tomato-shade skin.

I go through the first-aid kit until I find it – a little separate packet full of everything I need.

‘I’ve never done this before,’ I confess.

‘You’ll be fine, sweetheart,’ he murmurs.

I glance at his face, breathing hard. ‘A-are you sure?’

‘I’ll talk you through it.’ His eyes go to my mouth when I lick my lips.

I get started, listening to his instructions as he teaches me how to load the needle driver and where to make the first stitch. My hands are shaking, and I blink, feeling extremely uncoordinated.

‘That’s it,’ he murmurs. ‘Now, reload the needle driver, enter the needle on the other side, opposite to where you started, twist the thread over the loader twice…’ I’m sure I’m stuffing this up, but he says nothing as I go. ‘Good. Now cross your hands and tie it off.’ I do it. ‘Now twist under once.’ I do as he says. ‘Then once more over the loader and pull tight.’

‘This is a lot different to crocheting,’ I mutter, tying off the first suture.

He laughs and then groans in pain. ‘Oh, fuck…’

‘You okay?’ I look at him worriedly.

He nods. ‘I’m fine, sweetheart. You’re doing so fucking well.’

‘Thanks.’ I glance back down at my work. Who knows how much money he owes me now. ‘Do I just keep doing that over and over until it’s closed?’

‘That’s it.’

‘Okay…’ I keep going, getting him to remind me at points where the nerves make me forget what I’ve just done.

When the wound’s closed, I cut off the excess and then place a bandage patch over it, under his instruction. He’s breathing hard when I’m done, staring at me, but I don’t meet his eye and instead busy myself cleaning up.

I’m washing my hands in the sink when I startle, seeing a figure in the mirror behind me. I spin and watch as Jude steps into the bathroom, moving towards me until his body is against mine. I stare at him, holding my breath, as he lifts his hand and clutches the side of my face, his thumb stroking my cheekbone.

His eyes are hooded, and he looks half-dead, but he’s looking at me like he wants to eat me, and I’m terrified at the fact that I’d let him.

I’d let him devour me.

He tilts my head, fingers sinking into my hair, and I moan, closing my eyes, leaning into his touch. It feels so good, I can’t help myself, and I’m becoming the version of Sybbie that I become around Jude – unhinged, full of need.

I clutch his hips, sighing as he twists them against mine, and tilt my chin up. His mouth lands against it, teeth scraping, lips skimming up my jaw. My eyes roll back as my entire body quakes, and I let out a small mewl.

He captures that sound with his mouth, his lips falling over mine, his breath becoming my own. And I sink against him. I melt as his mouth claims me.

The kiss doesn’t start off tentative or gentle. He goes into it knowing exactly what he wants. Exactly what I want. Exactly what we both need. His tongue glides along mine, lips sucking, and a groan rumbles in his chest, vibrating against my breasts.

I return his sound with my own and slip my hands under his shirt, my nails raking up his back. He lets out a growl of approval, licking my mouth, capturing my bottom lip and sucking it hard, his fingers clenching against my scalp.

He groans my name past my lips. I think this is the best kiss I’ve ever been given.

My body is aflame. I can feel the slickness between my legs, soaking through my panties. And I know he can smell me, because he’s working his hips over that area, his hard cock rubbing against the groove. He reaches down and pulls my dress up my thighs, his hands roaming over my skin, higher and higher until they’re gripping the soft flesh of my backside.

I’m lost in him. And I’m realising I’d let him do whatever he wants to me. Anything.