Page 31 of Wallflower

All of this could’ve been avoided if Rose had just left Brad to be eaten alive. I don’t know what she was thinking. We could have easily overpowered Sam, or manipulated him since he’s so sickly head over heels for her. Despite what she said, I’d still risk it. I’ll gladly gamble my life on an escape and live forever running. Anything is better than willingly walking into this torturous death sentence. I don’t know why she would think any different. I’m a fighter. I always have been. But even I can recognize when the cards are stacked against me. First in the cabin room, and now. It's why I’m a non-threatening, malleable, meek bitch. Even though I detest it. My impulsivity would only get us killed on the spot or punished. I believed Brad when he told us what Max would do if he found us. But when I escape, alone or with Rose, I don’t intend to be found again.

Lost in my thoughts, I trip over a root. “Pay attention,” Karson growls.

Oh, fuck this guy.

“Do you have a problem with me?” I snap.

An angry huff shoots out through his nose. He turns my back to the nearest tree, pressing me into it. “Hurry up,” he grumbles.

“No chance of privacy?”

“Privacy is a privilege not extended to new toys.” He recites the words like they’ve been plucked straight from the kidnappers handbook he had to memorize to get this job.

“Well, I have stage fright,” I lash out, kissing any chance of sympathy from this dickhead goodbye.

Karson’s sea-glass eyes lock with mine, crinkling with mirth. “Better get over that, sweetheart. Lots of clients have a piss kink.”

My jaw drops involuntarily, and he chuckles quietly. “You’re disgusting.”

“Maybe, but it’s not because I favour a warm golden shower.”

There it is, my opening into an actual conversation. “And what is it youfavour?”

Karson steps closer, closing me in against the tree. He looks me up and down before leaning in near enough to smell the enticing cologne clinging to his skin. “Doesn’t matter, I won’t be coming to you to fulfill my fantasies.”

“And why’s that?” I query before thinking better of it.

“Because when you look like me, you don’t have to pay for sex.” He beams down upon me, that light in his eyes burning ever brighter. It’s then I realize thatthisis what does it for him. Karson doesn’t pay for sex, because by the time he’s done degrading the women he’s surrounded by, he’s damn near ready to cum in his pants. Better yet, he hates it. It’s why he avoided eye contact with me until we were alone.

“Is that because they pay you to stop?”

His award-winning smile falters for a moment before he says, “No, sweetheart, they’d pay me to keep going.”

“And you can’t? What a shame. I’m sure there’s a pill you can get with all that money to increase your stamina. The women would probably appreciate it.”

His nostrils flare as I clench my teeth to keep from breaking into a raucous laugh.

“That’s some great advice, maybe I’ll give it a go. I’m sure bossman would love to have you broken in by someone asdisgustingas me, backed by pharmaceutically enhanced stamina.”

Fuck.

Doesn’t matter, keep him talking.

“Oh? Now you want me to fulfill your fantasies? Make up your mind.” He opens his mouth, a reply on the tip of his tongue, but I get there first, cutting him off. “Tell me, Karson. Do you like to do the degrading, or would you prefer I take the lead? I guarantee you’ll break before me, and enjoy it.”

“Think you got me all figured out, huh?”

“Pretty much.”

Karson leans impossibly closer, nestling his hardness between my thighs in an attempt to unnerve me. After what Brad did, this is nothing. “Hope you like knives, sweetheart, or you’ll be the one crumbling for me.”

Pulling back, he observes me. I let the smile I’ve been holding back split across my face. “I prefer a scalpel, but I’m sure any blade will do.”

His hypnotizing eyes widen, lips parting like he’s about to speak but no words are forming.

Karson launches himself away from me without warning. “Hurry the fuck up,” he snarls, pulling a concealed gun from behind him.

I’m momentarily stunned until I hear the approaching footsteps, followed by the same sharp whistle Maximus made earlier.