He doesn’t.
Part of me wishes he would so I could hate him more. So I could make myself seethe when I look at him. So that I wouldn’t feel these twisted feelings I’ve got swirling around in my chest right now. I need to hate him. I need him to remind me why he is such a disgusting human.
But I’m struggling to remember that.
He releases a hand and strokes a wayward piece of hair from my face, and my heart races.
No, Waverly.
No.
He’s a liar. It’s an act. This is what he does. He’s a monster.
He leans down. His lips brush against mine, and my body reacts in ways I wish it wouldn’t. What is wrong with me? What the fuck is wrong with me? This man is a horrible, cruel piece of shit, and I’m letting him kiss me. My body is aching to feel more. Everything inside me is pulling me towards him and not shoving me away.
I let him kiss me. I let him kiss me deep and slow.
Then I force myself to remember Merleigh, and Cova, and Bobbie and Amy. I force myself to think about Magnolia and Briella’s mom, and how their dead bodies were thrown on the club grounds, tossed into the dirt like they were nothing. All those acts were controlled and led by Dax. He’s a monster that has his hand in some disgusting and cruel shit.
These feelings I’m experiencing, getting swept away in the moment—that’s because of the drugs.
I’m falling for his act.
Which is exactly how he has gotten every other girl before me to do what he wants, to get them to trust him and then he sells them to a monster and watches as their hearts break and their worlds are turned upside down.
I pull back, my stomach turns with a sickness I can’t quite understand.
It’s from the drugs. It’s also my actions.
I’m disgusted in myself for considering, even for one second, that this man is anything but evil.
“I really need to shower,” I say, covering my breasts. “I’m not feeling well at all.”
“Do you need me to help you any further?” he asks, his voice low and husky.
“No, thanks.”
He studies me for a second longer, and then turns and walks out of the bathroom. When he’s gone, I let the tears burst forth and run down my cheeks as I get myself into the shower.
Then I stand there and I cry. I cry and cry because goddammit . . . I’m losing my strength.
I’m losing it, and I need to get it back.
If I don’t, I’ll let everybody down.
7WAVERLY
I make it back to my room safely after my shower, which is saying something, because god knows I was worried about running into Dax again. My head seems to be spinning even more now, like I’m drunk and could pass out, yet I don’t. I hate this feeling and I want it to go away. I need it to go away. I lock the door and stumble my way to the big, soft bed I have been thinking about all day.
I reach it and pull my phone out from under my pillow, where I keep it stashed. Not that anyone can get into it, because it’s locked, but I don’t want anyone snooping. I pull it out and unlock it, staring at the screen. My vision is blurring slightly, mostly from my tears, so I can’t read the messages. There are some from Alarick, heaps from Briella, and then one there, from the one person I never thought would check in.
Mykel.
M – Hope you’re okay.
Tears flow further and I find myself hitting the call button without thought. I press the phone to my ear and a few rings later, a sleepy, sexy-as-hell male voice answers.
Goddammit.
Why is Mykel so fucking perfect even when he’s asleep?
And why does he hate me so much?
I just want to know.
I need him to not hate me.
I don’t deserve it.
“Waverly?” he murmurs, and I imagine how waking up next to him and hearing that voice would feel . . . goddammit, I’d attack him the moment he opened his mouth and demand he fuck me until I got it out of my system.
Sweet Jesus, what the hell is happening to my brain?
“You’re right about me,” I sob softly. “I’m not strong enough for this. I’m just weak and pathetic, and I’m going to let the entire club down.”
“What’s goin’ on? What happened?”
“Why do you hate me so much?” I cry a little harder this time. “What is it about me that you can’t stand? I’ve never done anything to you, Mykel, and you hate me.”
“I don’t hate you,” he murmurs. “Waverly, you’re drunk, and god knows what else. Where are you?”
“Dax kissed me again,” I sob. “I let him. That’s how weak I am. I’m not cut out for this. You were right all along.”
He goes silent for a minute, and then growls, “Where. Are. You?”
“At the cabin,” I sniffle.
“Can you get out?”
“Huh?”
“Can you get out undetected?”
I glance at my window and know damn well I can. “Yes.”
“Meet me down at the jetty. Ten minutes. You get there without dyin’?”
“Yes.”
He hangs up and my heart races. That certainly wasn’t what I was expecting him to say.
I get up and walk out of the room, still stumbling a little too much for my liking. I wonder if I’ll be able to get to the jetty. God knows I’m going to make a good effort to.
I find Dax sitting in the living area, and I walk over to him. “I need to get some rest. I don’t feel well.”
He looks up at me, his eyes slowly dragging over my tiny pajamas and slippers. “Are you going to be okay?”
“Yes, I just need sleep. Thank you for helping me out.”
He smiles up at me, his eyes warm. He most certainly feels something for me. That’s terrifying. “Goodnight, Waverly.”
“Goodnight, Dax.”
I turn and walk
