Page 69 of Crush
Whether it’s through pleasure or pain.
Zeke’s weight falls against me, and I stumble into the opposite wall, Zeke’s body pressing up against mine. “Zeke!”
I’m thrown into the memory of Thorne trapping me against the bookshelf and stroking between my legs, but this isn’t him. And the hot Cheetos breath on my face isn’t his bittersweet call.
“I’m a very convincing actor, aren’t I?” Zeke says, too close to my mouth. “Did the plan work? Were you able to get into daddy dearest’s office and find anything?”
“Um. Sure.” I use both hands to push against his shoulders, but Zeke doesn’t budge. “Can we talk about this when we get out of here? This tunnel gives me the creeps.”
And so are you. But I don’t voice it.
“I did everything the way we plotted, though I figured you’d find me a lot sooner. What took you so long? We were supposed to meet in the tunnels fifteen minutes ago.”
“I was almost caught,” I hedge. “And had to talk myself out of it without looking suspicious.”
The phone’s flashlight falls to my side. I’m thankful for the darkness disguising my heated cheeks.
“I took a beating for you, darling.” Zeke lowers his head until his nose brushes against mine. “I was hoping you’d thank me in kind.”
This time, I push against Zeke’s stomach. He yelps and stumbles back. I figured. Thorne must’ve gotten in a few good punches.
But Zeke did help out tonight by serving as a distraction, and he’s not frightening so much as pathetic. “Now’s not the right time. Let’s keep walking.”
The air is stale without the aid of any wind. Being underground, it’s colder than the manor, and goose bumps pimple my flesh the longer we linger. I pull my wrinkled blazer tighter around me.
“But you owe me, yeah?”
Sighing, I nod, if only to keep him moving. “I owe you a favor, sure. Thank you for helping out.”
“Why do you smell like him?”
I stiffen but keep walking as if his comment has no effect. “I was snooping around his home. I probably picked up a different scent than normal.”
Something shoves from behind, between my legs. Zeke’s hand. Screaming, I scamper to the side, using the wall so I don’t fall. “What the hell?”
“Knew I saw something shiny down there.” Zeke’s grim voice comes from the shadows. A smacking noise comes from his direction, like he’s tasting his fingers. I hold my breath at the realization. What does he think he’s tasting? Me or Thorne? “You fooled around with that fucker, didn’t you?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Lame, but I’m getting a little scared. Pushing off the wall, I keep going until Zeke drags me back.
“To think, I give you my phone, go along with your whole I stole your V-card story, allow you to use my body as a punching bag, and you thank me by fucking the very dude who deserves to rot in hell? You’re a fucking trip, Ember. And not a good one at that. Give me my phone.” He pushes me away, swiping his phone from my hand as I stumble.
“Don’t get all high and mighty on me.” I right myself, blinking rapidly against the fading light as Zeke strolls ahead. “You hate him, too. You wanted to do this as much as I did.”
“Yet I didn’t fuck him after.”
“Neither did I!” I cry to his receding back.
“Which is it, darling?” Zeke spins to face me. “Do you want him ruined, or do you want to ruin yourself for him? Because I refuse to help you with the latter. Now that you have him all over you … his salt and his semen…”
In a flash of movement, Zeke slams me against the rocky wall, jagged edges digging through my blazer and thin dress underneath. I fight as much as I’m able while he holds me still by the arms, aiming my knee at his dick, but he dodges it expertly.
“Stay still, dammit.” Zeke decides against using my arms as anchors and pins me by the throat instead. He feigns a pained expression. “Ouch, that must hurt. Don’t think I didn’t notice the fresh marks on this swan-like neck of yours.”
“Stop—what are you doing?” Now that my hands are free, I claw at his costume, his face, anything I can reach.
He dives between my legs again, reaching my bared pussy and stroking the outside. Mewling, I fight harder.
Until he reaches up and puts two fingers in his mouth, sucking. “Hmm. He’s delicious, isn’t he? I always wanted to know what he’d taste like, and he’s still dripping out of you.” Zeke puts his index finger in his mouth, then releases it with a pop. “Fuck, I’ve lost all respect for you.”