Burning Truths (Consume Me #2)

11. Kenna

Chapter Eleven

KENNA

Two Days Later

“That’s it, Killer. Spread those pretty legs for me.”

His voice skates over me, sending a shiver down my spine. The way he touches me makes me feel alive again. I want him so bad my legs tremble with need.

“Please. Please touch me.” I’m begging him for anything.

The way my skin burns for him has my breath catching in the back of my throat. We’re like fire and rain. Climbing in height only to fade into nothing. The smell of rain and cigarettes flood my nose, making me smile. He’s here with me. The weight of his body presses me into the wet ground. It’s not until my eyes open that I realize they are closed. Brown eyes hover over me, corded arms surrounding me, a cobra tattoo staring me in the eyes.

“You’re mine, Killer.”

My lips quiver. Tears spring to my eyes. The rain falls harder. Harder. It’s pouring and now all I can see is brown eyes. I can feel the weight of him over me, but the rain blocks out everything else. The smell of lilies drift through my nose before the burning smell takes over. Someone set the field on fire.

“Look for me.” His words are hollow and empty.

“Please stay.” I beg.

I beg.

Rain falls and soaks my skin. Fire latches onto the ground spreading over the field. My mind tugs at something but the water washes it away.

“Can you see me? Are you looking for me?” he’s calling my name.

“Why are you leaving me?” I cry out.

His weight is pressing me further into the mud and dirt. The flames growing closer. Rain and smoke mix into a deadly vapor.

“Rise little phoenix. Find me in the lilies and rise.”

Brown eyes inch closer and closer until a mouth presses against my lips, jerking me forward.

Sitting up in bed, my chest heaves with the remnants of fear. The weight of a body is still against me, drawing my attention to the side. My body aches from the nightmare, my eyes scanning the dark room, every inch of my body on alert. I can feel myself start to shake, so I begin to sway back and forth trying to calm my thoughts. The green dress is still on my body and a cloud of confusion hangs over my head. Hank sleeps beside me, his arm lying across my waist, the weight I must have felt coming from his hold.

In a panic my hands start to roam my body, taking in the way each inch of my skin feels. When I come up empty of wounds or soreness a sigh leaves me until my fingers reach my throat to find the metal biting into my flesh. My lungs ache to pull in air around the panic of being collared once again.

“I told you I wouldn’t touch you until you begged for it.” Hank says, sleep still in his voice.

“Then why?” I ask.

He doesn’t question what I’m talking about because he knows. Why is the collar back around my neck? Why?

He’s never going to let you go. You belong with him. He’s the only one who wants you.

His thumb tugs at my bottom lip, “It wasn’t planned to go that way, Princessa.”

I nod as if that’s an answer. “Okay.”

Why can’t I fight him?

You know the outcome of that. Be smart.

He shakes his head, “You don’t understand. I didn’t want to have you dolled up and ready for me. I wanted to.” he stops, clenching his jaw. Hank pulls in a deep breath through his nose, “I planned a special night for you, but it was ruined. It’s always ruined by them. They keep trying to ruin this!” he shouts.

Who?

“I don’t understand.” I whisper. Afraid to push him while his eyes are wild and cloaked in darkness.

Rage drips off him like acid and the wild look behind his eyes returns. Whoever ruined his plans just made it dangerous for me to move without permission. The urge to please him and take away his stress washes over me and the fear from that feeling bubbles in my veins. Once again my mind and body are at war, but the words out of my mouth has everything turning to ice.

Ask him.

No. Not yet. I’m not ready.

You crave the relief of pleasing him so do it. Ask him.

My lip trembles so I dig my teeth into my bottom lip while I swallow down the words fighting to break free.

Do it. Show them you’re not weak. Hank holds everything we need.

“Touch me.” I say on an exhale.

I don’t know what I’m asking. I’d never beg for him to enter me. My skin burns with the image of him over me. Those blue eyes leering over my body. Yet, those two words fall from my mouth like a sin. He stills. No one breathes. Neither of us move.

Again.

“Touch me.” I say again, louder.

This time there is no missing my words. He doesn’t wait for me to scream no, or back out, his hands are on me and his body over me before I can blink back the tears. Bile works its way up my throat, yet I lay there and let his hands skate across my skin. My legs lock together for a second before falling open for his touch. The numbness starts at my toes and slowly works its way to my chest. With each pass of his fingers over my underwear I float higher. I’m no longer in my body. Numb and cold cloak my skin. His fingers slip under my thong. I’m hovering over the bed watching the way his wild eyes take in my flush skin.

Finally.

Lilies.

The field flashes in my mind like an old movie. The bed, Hank, his touch. Lilies, fire, smoke.

Flames engulf the field. Lilies and embers combust into ash. Hank pushes a finger inside me. I’m cold, yet hot and nothing all at once. My vision blurs. The tears are falling, but all I see is orange and grey and smoke. The smell of grass burning. Hank and the bed flash back into view. The way he feels inside me makes my skin itch. I want to claw at the flesh covering my bones. I did this. I gave him this. I set the field on fire. I’m searching for the lilies, but they’re nothing but ash and embers now.

“Unravel for me, Princessa.”

Let go.

Acid seeps into my mouth. Disgust cloaks my sweat covered skin. Need courses through me mixing with confusion. His fingers plunge deeper. Over and over. In and out. Curling and twisting. My legs stiffen while my body betrays everything I am. He pulls me deeper and deeper into the abyss.

I want to scream. To beg him to stop. To shove him away, but I asked for this. I gave him what was left of me. This is my doing.

You’ve earned this. We are the monster of their making.

His thumb presses against my clit. My knees bend pressing away from him or climbing closer. I crave the release and the way he uses my body against me and my thoughts clash together in a raging war with my heart.

Yes. Release us from our cage.

Fire and ice fill me. My vision was lost to the tears flowing from my eyes. Blue and brown eyes fight above me.

My body shakes, trembles, vibrating with the climbing flames. Hatred and fire. Numb coldness floods my veins. His breathing mixes with the roar of the fire. Until the only thing left in the field is my soul and the ash of our flowers.

I couldn’t find you. I only found the ruins of who I was.