Dropping the rubber weights onto the blue mat at my feet, I twist to throw an elbow into his ribs. An oomph of shock leaves his lips as I wheel around, slamming my palms into his chest to put some distance between us. A black tank top hugs his muscles like a second skin, his biceps falling loosely either side and baggy shorts hanging to his knees. Tearing my eyes away before I do something stupid, like lunge at him for a whole different reason, I turn to leave. His hand suddenly fists into my hair as he pulls me back into him with a yelp of surprise, his lips brushing against my ear.
“Isn’t this what you wanted? To hurt me?” His voice is gravelled, as if he’s drowning in anguish, he has no right to feel. He made his bed, and I’m gonna make sure he stays in it. Stomping like a spoilt brat, Dax releases a bark of pain as my boot slams onto his bare toes. Jerking forward, I manage to escape his hold, ducking across the room to retie my hair high onto my head. His piercing blue eyes are locked on mine while we slowly prowl around each other.
The air around us stills, the tension begging to be broken. Quickly rushing forward with a battle cry, I leap into the air to lock my legs around his middle, tugging on his Afro in the bitch move he used on me. I’m thrown onto my back with his weight crashing on top, causing the air to whoosh from my lungs sharply. I wriggle, not letting him grab my wrists like he’s trying to and throw punches into his side in quick secession. Somehow managing to shift my knees into between the cage of our bodies, I push him aside and roll away quickly. Scrambling up to my feet, his hand catches my ankle and drags me back down.
Throwing my free foot backwards, it connects with his face and I still. Glancing over my shoulder, Dax is smirking around his busted lips like a crazed lunatic. Its then the truth hits me. He wants me to hurt him, wants to be punished. And knowing I’m playing right into his hand ruins the appeal to me. “Let go,” I huff, shifting to sit on the mat and glare at him irritably.
“You can’t just decide to quit when Perelli’s men are after you,” he growls, tightening his grip on my ankle. Dragging me closer, Dax shifts to crawl up my body until his heaving chest is brushing mine. “You can never stop fighting, even if you feel like there’s nothing left to fight for.” My eyebrows remain dipped, a scowl cemented into my features for him. I attempt to swiftly jerk my knee upwards to catch him in the balls, only to find my thighs are pinned beneath his. Pushing at his chest, he catches my hands and lifts them above my head, leaving me open and vulnerable. He grinds the bulge in his pants against my core and I hate myself for the flood of heat that pools there.
“If it comes to being me or Meg, I won’t fight at all.” I breathe, failing to keep my eyes away from his lips. Those lips that promised to protect me, begged me to be his. They press into a hard line, his frustration clear but I simply shrug. “I’m just a means to an end. I’ve been telling you this whole time; my life has no worth.”
“To me it does! I couldn’t protect my mom from my dad before she died, so I won’t let you throw your life away.” He grits through his teeth, pushing himself upright with a slight shove at my restrained hands. I lie still, watching him stalk from the room with his posture more rigid than a metal rod. Sighing, I shift my hands beneath my head as stare at the sun-kissed skylight above until I’m seeing spots. Dax will learn soon enough; not matter what he says I’ll never value myself. That vague level of self-appreciation most people should have was stamped out of me and I’ve been ready to leave this world for a long time. He’ll move on, eventually.
A tabby cat pads across the glass above me, the pink pads of its paws leaving dirty marks across the windowpanes. I chuckle to myself, following the animal until plops itself down and proceeds to lick itself. I bloody love cats. They don’t give a shit about anything other than eating good food and staying dry, knowing humans are inferior to their constant whining. A sparrow flies overhead, drawing the feline’s full attention until it takes chase. Running on agile white feet, the cat leaps high into the air off the edge of the building and falls out of sight. “Oh shit- “
“Don’t worry about Comet, he’s fucking invincible.” A familiar voice I’ve missed draws my attention to the doorway. Axel is leaning against Garrett, their arms draped over one another like they can’t get close enough. Shadows of hair growth are starting to show in certain spots across his head, emphasising how much of a shit job we did, and I stifle a laugh behind my hand. His amber eyes are twinkling, his smirk soothing a slither of my stress.
“Comet?” I snigger, pushing myself upright. The urge to run into his arms is overwhelming but the dressing strapped across his abdomen stops me. His torso is bare and black lounge
