That’s if there’s anything left over of the person once Idris is done with them.
Letting out a sigh, I try to clear my mind, but I fail miserably the second Jai steps out of the restroom. My eyes sweep over her body that I know feels a hell of a lot more womanly than it looks.
Her skin is softer than silk, and she smells like berries.
Every time I had to help her, and her body was pressed to mine, I battled the fucking hard-on threatening to tear through my jeans.
Yeah, I’m not going to lie. The attraction is there. It’s not surprising, though.
My eyes flick to Ethan, and I watch as he stares at Jai.
I’ve had time to get used to the urges, but it’s still new to him. In the ecocity with its strict laws, it’s easier to suppress your needs, but out here, where it’s a free for all, things are different.
Basic need takes over until the urge to satisfy the desire to take what you want becomes so fucking overwhelming you either become a rapist or get used to masturbating.
At the main ward, you can fight for the chance to sink your cock into a warm pussy. There’s a handful of women who allow the victors to warm their beds.
That’s how I lost my virginity, and I’ll fight so Ethan can experience a woman as well.
But come hell or high water, that woman won’t be Jai.
Chapter 11
Jai
I stare at the worn mats scattered all over the floor.
People actually sleep on them?
I notice Ethan and Aaron are already lying on two, with two more mats placed close to theirs. There are dirty blankets with holes torn in them, which I won’t be using.
I glance around the platform, wondering if there’s a more private space for me to sleep.
“Lie down, Jai,” Chance orders. “It’s only for one night.”
One night too many.
Slowly, I walk to where Ethan and Aaron are lying, and with the threat from Chance to stay away from his brother still fresh in my mind, I leave a mat open, so I’m not next to him.
Anxiety claws its way up my spine as I drop down to my knees without looking at any of the men. I crawl across the hard surface and try to comfort myself with the thought that at least I won’t be sleeping on the cold floor or outside. It’s not working much.
All I can think of is the three men that will be lying next to me. I lie down and tuck my arm beneath my head.
I can do this. I have to.
Staring at the empty mats, I flinch when I hear Chance’s footsteps. He lies down behind me, so he’s positioned between Ethan and me.
“Drink some water,” Chance orders.
I sit up and take the bottle from him. When the first drop hits my tongue, I can’t control my need and swallow half the water with greedy gulps.
So good.
“When the rebels come to bed, pretend you’re asleep,” Chance mutters as he takes the bottle from me.
“Thank you,” I whisper, and inching away from him, I lie down on the edge of my mat. I tuck my face into the crook of my arm and try to forget where I am.
The sooner you fall asleep, the sooner this will be over.
I watch the light flicker against the wall. It’s only then I remember the stars.
“Why can I see the stars on this side but not under the ecocity’s dome?” The question is out before I can stop it.
“The hermetic dome is designed to keep you inside and the deviants out.”
At first, I don’t think Chance is going to tell me anything else, but then I hear the mat squeak beneath his weight. His voice sounds closer when he continues. “There’s a lot they keep from you, and most of what you’ve been taught are lies.”
I turn onto my back and look at Chance. He’s lying on his side, facing me, and the close proximity feels way more intimate than when we were in the restroom together.
“Like what?” I ask to keep the conversation going. I need to hide how weird I feel around this man.
The corner of his mouth tugs up, and it makes him look very attractive and not as rough around the edges. I can’t keep myself from staring at Chance. I’ve never seen a man like him. In the ecocity, all the men are just as white as I am, with not a hair out of place. None of them are muscled like Chance.
“It rains,” Chance says, drawing my attention back to the conversation. “Not the frozen sheet once a year that freezes everything in sight. It rains often, and you can walk in it.”
Wow.
Like a dry sponge, I absorb everything he’s telling me.
The corner of his mouth lifts a little higher. “The sun doesn’t burn either. It warms your skin.”