Page 345 of Primal

No, don’t—

Kade flips me like I’m nothing more than a doll for him to rearrange.

A trickle of warmth slides down, pools beneath me. Don’t know if it’s him or me or both.

It’s filthy. Perfect. Ours.

A tear leaks out, and I hate that he sees it when I can only stare at his mask. Those empty eyeholes.

But I knew. I know he’s just as wrecked.

He swipes his thumb across my cheek.

Don’t.

I keep my head flat on the marble. The ceiling stretches forever. No escape. Just the blur of Derek’s Ghostface looming over me. Josh’s ragged breathing. Amanda’s boots clicking closer.

And Kade—

Still between my thighs. Still inside me in all the ways that matter. His shame. His rage. The way his hands shook when he touched me.

“What do you think, Dollface?” Derek asks. “Did Thirteen and Thirty-one pass their test?” His gun nudges my knees apart.

Amanda’s mask tilts. I can feel her stupid eyes crawling over my bare thighs, the mess between them.

Just as I hope she’ll say yes and call it done, that she’ll find her fucking soul, her gloved finger taps my hipbone. Once. As if she’s testing ripeness.

I want to rip that bitch-hog apart. I want—

“Think they need a little more motivation.” She sounds like a GPS from hell.

The barrel rests against the inside of my left thigh.

A sickening wave cuts through me.

Kade sucks in a breath—ready to make a move. If he takes my place, then what? My turn would come next. Or soon.

I stay still. Waiting for it—for the searing jolt I can almost feel burning into my skin. The end of everything.

“You leave her alone,” Kade grits out.

Amanda steps in beside him, her taser crackling near his ribs.

“Or what, Thirteen?” Derek croons. “Think you can save her?”

I choke down a whimper. My breath is shallow. Maybe if I don’t get enough air, I’ll pass out before—

Derek’s mask fills my vision. “Won’t hurt that much. I promise.”

“Fuck you,” Kade growls.

Derek laughs. “That’s right. That’s what she’s thinking.”

The muzzle grinds in.

I clench, tears welling.

“Nah.” Derek pulls back. “Too easy.”