Drawn to you (7 page)

“Morning, flasher,” Finlay’s voice says from beside me in the bed.

“What are you doing?” I screech, slipping further down the bed to put some space between us.

“Trying to sleep. This is my bed, after all. Your cell has been vibrating. It’s annoying.” He hands me my phone.

Three texts from Brad light up the screen.

3:02am

P.S You look beautiful with your hair down x B

9:04am

Morning gorgeous x B

Wow! He’s keen.
Stalker alert.
I send a quick text back.

Mornin. A

I leap from the bed and pull on my jeans and a sweater from the pile on the desk before going in to the bathroom, completely ignoring the fact that Finlay hasn’t taken his eyes off me. I brush my teeth, and apply my cover up. Coming back through to the bedroom I find Finlay glaring at me with my cell in his hand.

“You need to tell him you can’t go out with him and to stop texting you soppy shit.”

“Excuse me?”

“You heard me, Antonia.”

Who the hell does he think he is? His not my Brother or boyfriend, I don’t know what he is right now.

“Screw you, Finlay. Don’t tell me what to do. I’m not Gaby.”

He jumps out of bed, the covers falling from him. He’s completely naked. He pulls me by the arms and tosses me onto the bed like I weigh nothing.

It’s not so much aggressive as showing his dominance.

His warm, hard body covers mine like a blanket.

He grips my wrists and holds my arms above my head with one hand, and unbuttons my jeans with the other, pushing his hand inside my panties.

He doesn’t do anything else, just keeps his hand there, cupping me.

His eyes assess mine and I know he’s reading pure lust. His naked body emanates so much heat I break out in a mist of sweat.

“I don’t share with my friends.”

My breath hitches and heavy pants make my chest rise and fall, brushing against his with every intake of air.

I want to punch him in the dick for his comment but my vagina is enjoying having his touch to much to react.
Slut.

In this moment I should be scared of the way he’s holding me.

Finlay being so forceful should send me screaming but it doesn’t.

Everyone treated me like glass back home. James wouldn’t touch me after the attack, and distance became everyone else’s go-to response.

I lost a part of myself the day of the attack, and in the days and weeks that followed, I lost everyone else.

Finlay being this way with me makes me feel protected and turned on more than it should, even if I’m confused by his actions.

He lowers himself on to me further, his lips hovering at my neck, his arousal evident as it pushes against my thigh, making me throb where his hand still lies.

“I can feel you want me, Antonia. You’re coating my hand in your desire. So wet, so sweet. Just ask and I’ll give you what you need,” he whispers, his hot breath dispersing over my neck and sending chills racing through my veins. I’m going to combust into a horny ball of mush if he doesn’t do something to calm the raging ache building inside me soon. I can’t bear it. I want to rip my clothes off, attach myself to him and never leave this room.

You’re going to beg him like a wanton hussy.

I am. I’m just about to beg him to touch me when my phone buzzes on the bed next to us. He removes his hand from my panties and I whimper at the loss. He lifts himself away from me and I want to growl at him to come back.

“Decide, Antonia. Tell him to back off.”

He leaves me, panting, staring at the bathroom door that closes behind his naked ass;
a very full, toned naked ass that I want to bite.
Sucking in air to my lungs I pull myself together and pick up my cell to read the message. It’s not even from Brad, it’s from Mom.

Hey, sweetie. Gaby says you’re sleeping so call Daddy when you wake up to discuss the apartment. He’s not happy it’s taking so long.

Love you, sweetheart

Mom x

I’m grateful for my mom’s distraction and I know it would have taken her at least ten minutes and two hands to type that text out on her phone. Mom has always been technology challenged, and just plain challenged since everything that happened. She struggles to cope and I know the strain on my parents’ marriage has taken its toll, but if I worry too much about them I’ll never be able to breathe.

My eyes flick back to the bathroom door when I hear the shower turn on. Finlay Hayes holds a power over me, turning me into a horny, whimpering mess at his will. I need some distance from him.

No, you don’t. You need to go slither all up on his wet, hard body.

I curse my inner slut for wanting to do just that, but instead I go for the coffee I’ve been craving, and to make the phone call to Daddy.

The line dials out and after three rings, he answers.

“Hey, Daddy.”

“Hey, sweetheart. How’s things at Gaby’s?”

“Fine. She’s great. We’re enjoying living together.”

“That’s good, sweetheart. I’ve spoken to the contractors about the delays, and it’s only a minor problem so it shouldn’t be too much longer now.”

“Daddy, it’s fine. Stop worrying.”

“It’s my job to worry, sweetheart. I’ve wired you some extra money. I thought you and Gaby could go shopping and treat yourselves. I have a meeting now, darling, so I have to go.”

Just hearing his voice brings a smile to my face, and he’s giving me the means to forget about the sexual explosion waiting to happen in my panties.

“Gab, grab your bag! We’re going out,” I call.

Gaby and I decide to use the extra money on a pamper day, and we get manicures and pedicures. We stop for a spot of lunch at a place called Romeo’s where they serve posh sandwiches, if there is such a thing, but more importantly, they offer great coffee.

I coax Gaby to open up and talk about her thing with Mike. She bites her lip and shrugs her shoulder, there’s hesitation but she also has a pink glow to her cheeks when she tells me how he’s admitted he’s falling for her.

“He said he always liked me but struggled because he’s my brother’s friend, so when he stayed back one night after Finlay and the others left, I took a chance and jumped him,” she gushes, unashamed.

She talks enough for the both of us and doesn’t stop to take a breath. It must be a relief for her to tell someone. I’m happy to let Gaby talk; I need to keep my mind busy from the thoughts of Finlay, which isn’t easy. When she brings up his name, all I can think about is him, and my date with Brad is fast approaching too. I feel awkward about that now and after everything with Finlay I can’t see myself dating Brad or anyone for that matter. I didn’t like the way Finlay was acting when it came to Brad or the fact he thought it was ok to read my messages but the addiction to him just kept growing in strength . . .
why was that?

I’M WOKEN BY THE
sound of men shouting and a kid crying . . . no that’s not a kid it’s
Gaby.
I leap from the bed and walking groggily towards the sounds.

“Move and I’ll fucking kill you!”

I freeze in place. It feels like all the air is being pulled from my lungs; my chest thuds almost painfully and phantom aches burn the scar on my neck. I can’t breathe; the world closes in all around me, and my legs weaken and give way from under me. Then everything turns black.

“Antonia! Antonia!”

Voices hum in a fuzzy void all around me, cold moisture dampens my forehead, and Gaby’s voice telling Finlay to give me space becomes clear as my eyes flicker open and closed.

“Breathe, Antonia. Just breathe,” she whispers.

“What’s wrong with her?” Mike’s voice clears my mind. My eyes flutter open, taking in Finlay’s worried face hovering a few inches from mine. His dark green eyes are vivid and warm, making my heart seize. Gaby holds a wet flannel to my head. Her face is blotchy and tears leak freely from her eyes.

“Hey, what happened?” Finlay asks, trying to nudge Gaby out of the way to get closer to me. His tone is soft. Mike paces the floor, tearing his hands through his hair.
They were fighting, Finlay and Mike

“Take her to the couch. I’ll ring a doctor,” Gaby says.

“No, don’t. Please,” I manage to squeak out, hating that I sound so weak. “I’m fine. I just need a drink and my bag. I’m fine, honestly. Gaby, please.”

Finlay lifts me from the floor with ease. The throb at the side of my head tells me I must have banged it on impact with the floor.

He places me on the couch and Gaby hands me my bag. Her face is blotchy from where she’s been crying.

I’m so embarrassed for falling apart in front of them. Their eyes are burning a hole in my composure and I want to cry and beg them not to treat me differently.
Everyone does once they know.
I still the tremor in my hand and swallow down the lump forming in my throat. Rummaging around in my bag and grabbing my pills, I pop the lid and slide one into my mouth, not taking my eyes from Finlay who is watching me like a hawk.

His jaw tightens and his eyes narrow. “What are those, Antonia? You should have told us if you’re ill.”

“Shut up, Finlay,” Gaby yells.

“I’m taking off if everything is okay here,” Mike mumbles.

“Fuck you, Mike. This isn’t over,” Finlay warns him, the tension building.

“Fin, back off right now you can’t control who I date!” Gaby spits,

“I wouldn’t call what I walked in on dating Gaby.” He spits back and she makes a weird noise in her throat akin to a growl before walking Mike out.

Finlay is still glaring at me. He snatches the pill bottle from my hand and reads the label. “You scared the hell out of me, Antonia! What
was
that? Why do you take these?”

“That’s my business.” I grab the bottle from him and shove it back into my bag.

“Not when you’re staying here and passing out on my floor.”

I glare at him, anger flaring up inside me and whipping out with the lash of my tongue.

“Well, I’m sorry to be an inconvenience to you and your floor. I’ll try and keep my attacks in check until I move out, which will be soon, very soon. Until then, you can go to hell.”

I drag myself to my feet and march into Gaby’s room with more gusto then I feel, my body working on livid energy. I want to throw all my clothes into a bag and hit the nearest hotel but as I slam Gaby’s door closed I find her sitting on her bed, sobbing. My legs carry me over to her and I collapse next to her, pulling her into my side and letting her cry.

“Mike said it’s over. He won’t fall out with Fin over me. That’s what he actually said, the jackass. So much for falling for me, huh?”

“I’m sorry, Gabs.” I tug her tighter into me and stroke down her arm. She looks up at me like a lost puppy, tugging at my heartstrings. Tears streak her face
.

“How are you? What happened out there?” she asks between sniffles. I let my tears fall.

Move and I’ll fucking kill you!

“It was the words. The words were exactly the same words he used when . . .” I paused. “I just froze. I can’t control the triggers. I’m sorry.”

“Don’t you say that. You don’t ever have to be sorry.”

Taking my hand in hers she shifts the focus back to her and I’m grateful.

“Fin walked in on me and Mike making out. They argued a little then he pushed Mike hard against the wall. I thought he was going to hit him when Mike tried to get clear and that’s when you came out.” More tears drip down her cheeks. My tears mirror hers and we both cry, cuddled together on her bed for what feels like hours.

Once our tears subside we decide to get out the house to put some space between Finlay and Gaby . . .
and me

We decide on going to catch a movie but we both end up staring at the screen but not watching anything that’s happening.

We fail at conversation on the way home, us both still lost in thought. When we enter the apartment Finlay’s in the kitchen, cooking.

Steam pours from a pot on the stove and he’s stirring whatever’s inside.

“I made tacos.”

Looking at us, his expression is unreadable but the amount of food he’s made tells me he expects us both to stay around. He pours the contents from the pan into a serving dish and brings it over to the table, then sits down and says, “Sit.”