Page 58 of Juniper Unraveling

In the seconds that follow, I contemplate the choice, if it’s a choice, at all. Abel flashes behind my shuttered lids, and the hopelessness from before settles into my skin again.

I do as I’m told.

I lift the shirt of my uniform over my head, exposing my small but budding breasts.

His brows pinch to a frown, still holding the gun to me. Prodding the barrel, he urges me to remove my pants.

Growls echo in the room, and the thud of movement tells me the boys in the chairs have taken notice. Their chasing cries of pain make me cringe.

I push my pants to the floor, and straighten, crossing my arms to cover my breasts. Tears stream down my cheeks as his eyes wander my exposed body.

“Well, what the fuck have we here? It’s a girl.”

Cold and bare, I shiver, as he circles me, and flinch at the first touch against my arm.

“This is a pleasant surprise, indeed. Don’t see any girls in this place.” Coming to a stop in front of me, he pushes away one of my arms, tipping his head as he brushes a finger over my sensitive flesh beneath. “You’re a clever one, yeah?”

I don’t answer, dropping my gaze while I let him fondle me.

“Do you know what they’d do to you here, if anyone found out?”

“Please.” I shake my head and another round of tears fall down my cheeks. But my plea is weak. I don’t care if he kills me. As long as he kills me.

The screams from behind heighten, seeming to grow more intense, and I clamp my eyes shut to tune out the sounds of suffering that crystalize my spine, leaving me paralyzed and terrified.

“Do you hear them? Do you know why they’re in pain? They want to mate you. Their instincts tell them to impregnate you. I’ve heard the docs chatting about it. Rounding up young girls like yourself to produce third generation subjects. But I can help you.” His lips are at my ear, his hot breath fanning my skin. “I can keep a secret, if you can.” His fingertip drifts down my arm, raising the hairs on my skin. “Can you keep a secret, Danny girl?”

I flinch at the sound of my name and nod in response.

Chapter 17

Wren

The creaking sound that echoes through the room draws me out of sleep, and I smile, rolling onto my back as Six slides into the bed beside me.

Earlier in the evening, Papa trimmed his hair and shaved the bit that’d begun to flourish across his face, leaving Six’s skin smooth. I think he’s grown on Papa, who seems to include him in everything now, except sleeping in the house.

There’s still a small part of him that doesn’t trust him, I guess.

I snuggle into Six, breathing in the delicious masculine scent of cedar wood and metal, under notes of mint soap.

Hooking a finger beneath my chin, he tips my face to his, staring down at my lips.

“You want to kiss?”

He gives a nod, dipping his head and pressing his soft, pouty lips to mine. I dare say he enjoys kissing more than target practice with the sling.

His hand slides down my shirt to the hem, slipping beneath the fabric. Warm skin brushes over my belly and higher, to the small peaks that stand erect at his touch. The tickle of his hand massaging my breast and him rolling my nipple sends a shiver down my spine, and I tip my head back into the pillow, dizzy with want.

“I love when you touch me, Six.”

His lips find my jaw, teeth grazing across the bone, and he moves to my throat.

Sensations collide inside of me. I arch into his touch and let out a soft moan that seems to excite him, shown in the growl that rumbles into my collarbone. My hips grind against the mattress, and I capture my bottom lip between my teeth.

“My birthday is tomorrow,” I whisper.

He nods in the crook of my neck.