It’s cold… Why is it cold? I pull the covers around my neck and roll over. My eyes fly open.
Whoa, shit!
I grip onto the edge of the bed, stopping me from rolling off.
I inspect my surroundings. I’m not in my double bed… Why am I not in my double bed?
I sit up and look around, the sun beaming through the window. I don’t get sunlight in my bedroom. That’s one thing I miss about living in my little dungeon.
I smile as I remember lying in Fin's arms until I fell asleep, my head resting on his chest. I look around again and realise I’m missing one fundamental thing in Fin’s room... Fin.
Why am I alone? I hope and pray Brad hasn’t been back. Explaining why I’m in here would be a hard task.
I throw the covers off and stand, looking down at the green shirt I’m wearing. A huge grin crosses my lips. Fin is never getting this shirt back. I start searching for my phone, seeing it on the floor near the dresser. I frown.
It’s resting on top of a neat pile of what looks like my clothes, but not the ones I wore last night. Okay, how did they get here? I bend down and look at them. Did Fin do this? If so, how? However he did it, I am grateful.
Clothes in hand, I start to make my way to the bathroom. Something resting on top of the dresser catches my eye. I put my clothes down on the end of Fin's bed and move toward what looks like the book I caught Fin reading Monday night. My heart pounding, I pick it up, running my hand over the brown cover. This is so unlike me, but I want to know what Finnely would read. I am not a nosy person, but for some reason, I start to flip through the pages, seeing handwritten words.
Oh, my god. These are his lyrics!
I walk backwards until the back of my knees hit the bed and I sit down. Each page has a different song on it. Some bits are crossed out, some are corrected in someone else’s handwriting. My eyes fill with tears as I read, the anger behind the words now making sense after our conversation last night.
This is about the guys, his new family. They mean so much to him. It’s such an amazing connection, and now I know why it’s so strong. I flick through a few more, stopping at another random page.
This one is definitely about his birth parents. I keep reading, coming to the lyrics he has tattooed on his arm. Tears spill out of the corners of my eyes.
I keep flicking through. Most of the lyrics are either about his birth parents or his adoptive parents.
I know I shouldn’t be reading this right now because it’s like reading a diary. I don’t know how he'd feel if he saw me, or that I’m crying.
I keep flicking through the pages. There are still so many blank pages at the end, which I know he'll eventually fill...once I’m out of his life.
I look at the last page with writing on it. I stare at the title of the song at the top of the page.
I hear my heart in my head as my fingers trace over it.
Wait… Is this about me?
The words have been crossed out and rewritten a few times. I slam the book shut. I don’t want to read the rest... I can’t.
“Electricity,” I whisper. That is the exact word I’d use for this weird connection I feel to Fin. He feels the exact same thing I do?
How did I let myself get in so deep with a guy who’s only in my life for a little over a week? I’m not sure, but I’m glad I did. In one week, Fin has managed to get my dream moving more than I have in years. I owe him a lot for that.
I place the book back, trying to leave it exactly as I found it, before I go in search of Fin.
As I sneak down the stairs, I pause, just able to make out a song. “Judy in Disguise”? At this time of the morning, the only music from that era should be coming from the rooms as my aunt and Alistair clean, but it’s not.
I follow the music into the lounge. All the tables are clean, the little decorative vase with a single white Tulip sitting in the centre of each. The music is louder in here. When the song changes to “Yesterday Man”, I hear my aunt's laugh coming from the kitchen. My stomach grumbles at the smell of breakfast still hanging in the air. I peer into the kitchen. I can’t quite understand what I’m seeing.
“Bet you boys don’t play anything like this, do you?” my aunt says, resting her hand on Fin's shoulder.
His back is to me as he stands at the stove wearing dark blue jeans, a long-sleeve black t-shirt…and my pink apron. I bite my lip to keep myself from grinning. This is too cute. Neither of them notices I’m standing here. The scene fills me with so much happiness. The guy I’m completely falling for interacting with my aunt… I love it.
“No, we don’t. They don’t make them like this anymore,” Fin says, stirring something on the stove.
Jill pats his shoulder. “You’ve got that right.” She smiles at him.
As bizarre as this scene is, I think my heart might explode at how cute it is, as well. I let out a giggle, giving away my location. Fin turns and sees me, a smile spreading across his face.
“Morning, Sleeping Beauty,” he says.
“I’ll leave you two alone,” Jill says, squeezing my shoulder as she walks past.
I look him up and down. “My pink apron suits you. It, um…brings out your eyes.”
He laughs, holding his arms out and slowly turning around. “You like? I know you’re not meant to steal things from hotels, but I think this might be coming home with me.”
I walk over to the stove. “What’s going on?”
He reaches behind him to undo the strings of the apron. “I wanted to cook you breakfast. I mean, you’ve cooked mine nearly every day since we got here. Since you slept in, I came down to have a word with Jill to see if she'd let me cook for you. I was shocked when she agreed, then offered to get you those.” He gestured to my clothes.
I slide my arms around his waist.
“She cares about you so much, Alex.” He looks down at me. “We both do.” He kisses my cheek.
I step back. I don’t want to hear how he cares for me because I know that’s going to make Tuesday morning so much harder.
“Come on. I have a table set for us,” he announces as Otis Redding starts singing about these “Arms of Mine”.
I follow Fin to the one table made up with cutlery, sauces, and jams that I totally missed when I walked through. He pulls my seat out for me, then pushes my chair back in.
“Would you like tea or coffee?” he asks, just like he has been asked every day this week.
I smirk. “Coffee, please.”
When he walks back into the kitchen, I laugh. This whole situation is so sweet, yet crazy. Fin soon returns with one of the little coffee pots and places it in front of me.
“Will it be a full English breakfast this morning, Miss Duke?” he asks, grinning.
“Yeah, I guess. Just—”
“No tomatoes. Jill told me.” He walks off into the kitchen.
So this is what it feels like to be a guest here. I like it. The thing I enjoy most is definitely the waiter.
Moments later, Fin returns with two plates. He puts one in front of me and one on the other side of the table, then takes a seat.
“Lovely service here, isn’t it?” I point out.
He grins. “It always is.”
“I think the waiter’s a little bit dishy, don’t you?” I ask, picking up the ketchup.
He laughs, shaking his head. “Really? You think so? I think he needs to shave.” I laugh as he pours our coffee.
* * *
When we finish breakfast, I feel the need to ask.
“So, have you seen Cole this morning?”
Fin tenses up. I’m egger to get these two back on speaking terms because I feel like this argument is all my fault.
“Yeah, I did.” His voice is clipped. I know Fin blames Cole for me getting drunk last night. He seems to think if Cole had told me about them staying a few more days, I wouldn’t have felt the need to drink so much. I had told him it wouldn’t have made a difference, but he didn’t believe me. Hell, I didn’t believe myself, either.
“Please tell me you guys made up.” I sip my coffee.
“Um… Not really. We don’t do the thing girls do where they talk it out until they feel better. Guys tend to hold it in until one of us punches the other.” I glare at him. He reaches for my hand. “Alex, I’m joking… Well, partly.”
“It’s not funny now that I know you did actually hit him once.”
“Like I’ve said, Cole and I had issues before we even got here.”
“True, but this one is all on me, Fin.”
He sips his coffee, then shakes his head. “Not at all, Alex. He’s known about this gig since Thursday, but kept it to himself and smugly sat back to watch what happened.” He shakes his head. “That’s not right as a friend or manager.”
“Why, though? Why would he want to hurt you like that?”
“Honestly, I think he fell for my sister. He resents me for stopping the relationship.”
I nod, wondering what Lisa is like. Does she look like Fin? Have his golden eyes?
“Does she know you?” I ask, then think maybe it’s not the best question on such a lovely morning.
“She knows my name’s Fin and that I’m friends with Cole, but that’s it. After I found out about her, and had a few pints, I went back and knocked on my parents’ door, demanding to know why her and not me. I didn’t get my answer. Instead, they begged me not to tell her I’m her brother.” He shakes his head. “And, for some reason I can’t fathom, I’m still keeping that secret.”
I frown. I hate that these people have hurt him so deeply, but still expect favours from him.
“You’re such a strong person, Finnley.” I shake my head and finish my coffee. He laughs at me. “I mean it.” I squeeze his hand.
“I know you do. I’m laughing because you’re stronger than I am, but you don’t see it.” He scoots his chair out and stands, picking up our dirty plates.
“No, Fin. I’ll do that.” I stand. He moves the plates to one side, just out of my reach.
“You go and get ready.”
I narrow my eyes. “For?”
“Whatever you want to do today… That is, if you want to spend the day with me.” He smirks.
“Of course I do.”
“Then go shower and do whatever girls do.” He walks off.
“What about you?”
He turns and grins at me. “I showered while you were sleeping.” He walks into the kitchen.
He was in the shower while I was metres away in his bed? Stupid sleep!
* * *
Seeing as Fin missed out on the Freeport and Fleetwood trip with the guys, I decided today would be a great day to show him what he missed, along with some other places I know the guys wouldn’t have gone to because, well…because they are tourists.
As we walk out of Fleetwood market, the sun shining down on us, Fin raises my hand to kiss it. “Let me take you out tonight, Alex.”
“What?” I laugh as he starts to swing our joined hands. I think the nice weather has put us both in a good mood.
He grins. “You heard me. Let’s get dressed up and go out. Date night.”
I look into his eyes. I would love that. I’m not one who likes to dress up, but a night out with Fin would be perfect.
“Trust me when I say I’d love nothing more, but I’m working tonight.” I see his smile falter, but he tries to keep it in place. “I promised to hold down the fort for my aunt. She and Alistair are going out and asked me to cover.” He shrugs, grinning at me once more. “How about you stay in with me instead?”
“Takeaway?”
I smile at him. “That sounds perfect.” We walk back to his car.
* * *
“Okay, okay. I got it. I have done this before, you know. It’s almost like it’s my day job.” I laugh. Jill looks at me, her hands on her hips. Alistair’s standing in the doorway, trying to lead her out the door.
“That’s not what I meant. Now, their paperwork is on the bar. They said they would be here around six,” she informs me for the fifth time. “Where’s the boy? I thought he'd be with you?” she adds as Alistair grabs her hand and pulls her toward the door. He’s already tried this once, but she remembered there was something else to tell me. I know she means Fin, but she’d rather not use a nickname.
“Don’t worry about anything. Please.” I wave as Alistair pulls her to the taxi.
I shut the door and smirk to myself, walking into the lounge. I grab the paperwork for the family of three and look it over. I glance at the stairs, hoping Fin and Cole are making up right now.
* * *
I look down at my bare feet hanging out of the bottom of my jeans. I smile to myself. I have gotten so close to Fin in a week…but still not close enough for him to see me in my pink fluffy slippers! I glance at the door to the lounge yet again. Nothing. Fin and Cole have been upstairs talking for the better part of two hours. I’ve got to admit, I’m a little worried. What if they ended up fighting?
I check my phone quickly. Nothing. I sigh and heave myself up out of the little pine chair I’ve been sitting in and walk back into the lobby. Nothing. I walk into the lounge and turn, ready to sit back in my seat.
I squeal, putting a hand on my chest when I see Fin standing in the doorway.
He smiles. “I’m sorry I took so long. Did everything go okay with the guests?”
I know he doesn’t care about the guests I had to check in. He just doesn’t want me to ask about whatever just happened upstairs. And I won’t ask…yet.
“I need to show you something.” I walk up to him and hold my hand out. He slowly takes it, his eyes on mine as I start pulling him along.
I open the door to the living quarters and lead Fin down the stairs, pausing at my bedroom door. I have never shown a guest our living quarters.
“Alex… This is where you live.” He sounds scared. Maybe he thinks I’m going to get in trouble. Honestly, maybe I am.
“Yup. And this…” I pause with my hand on the brass handle to my room, “is my room.”
I open the door and walk in, dragging him behind me. Once inside, I let go of Fin’s hand and close the door. I stand there and watch him run his hand across the top of my dresser, looking at the mirror surrounded by the fairy lights. I walk around and turn on all the different switches, making all the lights come to life. Fin looks around, taking everything in. After last night, after all he shared with me, I wanted to share something with him. My room is the only thing I haven’t yet, so I figured it was time. He looks at the shelf above my computer, spotting a photo in a blue frame.
He nods at it. “Mr. and Mrs. Duke.” He smiles, studying the photo of them holding me outside The Driftwood. I was around three. That photo was taken moments before I fell up the stairs and got my famous nose bleed.
Fin carries on exploring, not once looking at me. He stops at the photos of me and Bee as teenagers. It’s a little embarrassing for him to see the thick highlights I had back then, but I guess there’s not much I can do about that now. The next photo is one of me, Jill, and Uncle Bert from one Christmas.
I sit on the bed, and get comfy. At the rate he’s going, this is going to take a while. He looks at everything, trying to learn a little about me. I can’t believe he cares about me enough to study my things, just like I studied his car to try to learn about him. He runs his fingers over the keys of my computer, as if it might speak and tell him something about me. He looks at my perfume bottle, picking it up and smelling it. He smiles and turns to me.
He makes his way to the bed sitting on it. He politely takes his shoes and socks off before lying next to me. He turns his head to the side to look at me. I scoot over and rest my head and hand on his chest, the same way we spent last night. His arms encircle me.
“Why did you decide to show me your room?”
“Well, you've shared so much with me the past few days, this is the only thing I had left to share with you.” I prop my chin up on my hand as I look up at him.
“Well, thank you.” He smiles, running his hand up and down my back.
“Did you talk to Cole?” I finally ask.
He nods and puts his other arm under his head. “Yeah. I think we’re okay now. We did the ‘girl thing’ and got our feelings out in the open, then hugged,” he jokes.
I place my head on his chest again and listen to his heart. “So you’re friends again?”
“Yeah. I think you'll see a difference in the way he treats you now, too.”
“Well, I know you didn’t want to talk to him, but thank you for doing that for me, Finnley.” I close my eyes and sigh, still listening to his heart…which has suddenly gotten faster.
“Mitchell,” he whispers.
I freeze. I don’t even breathe for a second. What did he just say? I close my eyes for a moment, my own heart starting to race. I know what I thought I heard him say, but that can’t be right, can it?
I slowly lift my head and frown, looking at him. “Pardon?” I ask softly.
His eyes are closed. “My first name… It's Mitchell.” He opens his eyes to look at me. I think I just fell for him that final little bit.
“Wow…,” I breathe out. It’s all I can say right now.
“I hate it. It’s the one thing my birth parents gave me. When they gave me up, they insisted my name be Mitchell. God knows why it mattered to them.” I watch him, letting him get it all out. “Finnley is my adoptive last name. I use it out of respect for them.”
“I like it.” I am still in shock. I can’t believe he just told me his name. He said nothing would ever make him reveal it. I can’t help but wonder what’s changed. Maybe I already know and don’t want to accept it.
Mitchell Finnley. I think it’s perfect for him, but I can understand why he doesn’t like it. His parents have hurt him so much, I know why he wouldn’t want anything to do with the name they gave him. However, his name is a part of him. I don’t like the fact he hides it.
“Mitchell Finnley.” I test it out. I smile and trace patterns on his chest over his black t-shirt.
“I’ve hated it for years, but when you say it…” He gives me that crooked, sideways smile.
“Mitch,” I say, as if seeing if it fits. “I like it. Mitch is a sexy drummer in a rock band who writes his own lyrics.” I nod, and he laughs. “I'm serious. I think your name’s sexy.”
“I know you’re serious. That’s why I’m laughing. I don’t think Mitchell is sexy at all.”
“Yes, it is, although I do think I’d find any name sexy when it’s attached to you.” I bite my lip.
“Well, thank you, Alex.” He smiles.
“No. Thank you, Mitch.”
He closes his eyes briefly. I have never wanted a man more in my life.
Slowly, I climb on top of him, straddling him. His eyes shoot open, staring into mine, as I lower myself over his body and touch my lips to his. His hands slide up my back as he groans into my mouth, sending my pulse soaring.
I slide my hands down his chest to the top of his jeans. When I start undoing them, his hands quickly grab my wrists. He pulls away, staring into my eyes. I’m frozen on the spot. More than anything, I want him to let go before I talk myself out of anything…or before he can talk me out of anything.
“Alex… We have rules.” His voice is full of authority, which just makes me want him more. I can see the battle he's fighting with himself right now, too, but his hands still hold onto my wrists.
“I know, Mitch. They’re my rules. I made them. I can choose to break them.” I look at my hands, trying to break free of his grasp. I can’t. I look back up at his face. His expression is so serious right now.
“I don’t want you to do anything you'll regret, Alex. You already mean too much to me.” He closes his eyes for a second and takes a deep breath. “I’d hate for you to look back on our time together and regret one single second of it.” He slowly releases my hands, as if to let me decide for myself.
“I thought tomorrow morning was going to be the last time I’d ever see you. Now…” I sigh, tossing my hair back over my shoulder, looking into his golden eyes. “Now I think I’d regret not doing this with you. I’d hate to let you slip out of my life and wonder what it would have been like to be with you.”
He sighs a little, a hint of a smile on his lips.
I reach for the bottom of my top and pull it over my head, throwing it onto the floor somewhere. Fin sucks in a breath as he grasps my waist. I lean back down touching his lips with mine again. He groans softly. My skin feels so sensitive with his hands exploring it, like I wish they had been all week. Each touch sends my temperature higher. My hands travel to the top of his jeans again. This time, he lets me start undoing them. My heart does flips in my chest when I realise this is going to happen. The more he touches my skin, the less I could actually stop him, even if I wanted to.
He pulls away from my lips and suddenly flips me over. I’m now flat on my back, looking up at him. He kneels over me, pulling his black t-shirt over his head.
Holy shit!
My breath catches as I take in every detail of his body. The few dark hairs littering his broad chest and travelling down to his navel match his lovely chestnut hair I’ve been admiring all week. I reach out to touch his body, running my hands from his waist up his chest, like I’ve been dying to do since I saw him topless last night.
He closes his eyes and leans down, my hands gliding over the soft skin of his back. I feel all his muscles tense as he trails soft kisses along my jawline and down my chest.
My eyes close, my heart stuttering in my chest every time those full, gorgeous lips graze over my skin. When I feel his hands on the button of my jeans, my breathing stops. My eyes fly open as he lifts his lips off my skin. His eyes meet mine when he grasps the waistband of my jeans. I lift my hips off the bed so he can slowly slide them down. He pulls them off, throwing them…somewhere. He stops and studies me.
“God, Alex. You’re so beautiful.” His eyes trail over my body as he studies me in my little blue underwear set. I’m so glad I chose to wear matching today!
He tilts his head to the side as his fingertips gently graze the inside of my thigh. He bites his lip and watches me practically panting.
He crawls back up my body. His lips crash to mine, like he can’t live another second without them. I moan, my fingers gripping his back when his tongue starts to massage mine. I want him so badly! My hands glide down his back, stopping at the waistband of his jeans. His lips smile against mine as I do my best to push them down, but can’t. He lifts his weight off me and wiggles out of them, kicking them off the end of the bed.
He turns back to me. He leans down to kiss me, but I push him up until he’s kneeling over me. He rests back on his heels, watching me with a frown. I reach around to my bra clasp. Fin smiles a little as he leans toward me until I can feel the heat of his body on mine. I look up at him, forgetting what I am doing. His arms slide around me, moving my hands out of the way. I stare into his eyes as he slowly undoes my bra.
He gently pulls the straps down my arms, his lips gently grazing my left shoulder. His lips are so gentle, goosebumps break out over my skin. I close my eyes. He is so intoxicating. His right hand glides up my back to my neck and tangles in my hair, pulling it back so his lips can move down my neck. Each kiss makes me gasp a little until his lips move over my jawline and finally back to my mouth. I moan as he crawls over me, making me lie back down on the bed. His hands rest on either side of my head.
He stares into my eyes for a long moment, running his thumb over my cheek. It’s like he knows whatever he’s about to do is crossing a line we can’t come back from and is asking permission…or challenging me to stop him. I can’t stop him… I don’t want to stop him. With my arms around him, I hold him to me tightly. His smiles slightly, then places his lips on my chin, down my neck, down my chest…
Oh god…
His lips move over my right breast. My breath starts to come in short bursts as he takes my nipple in his mouth. His tongue gently caresses it as his other hand squeezes my left breast. My body arches toward him. All I feel is his tongue over my now swollen nipple. When his teeth graze it, I gasp.
“Shit!”
My fingernails dig into his shoulders. His lips can drive me crazy at the best of times, but right now, they are almost unbearable. He gently bites again, making my body arch off the bed.
When he stops, I let out a frustrated moan. I don’t want him to stop. My whole body arches toward his lips, like every inch of me craves them. His mouth trails over my collarbone, back up my neck to meet mine. I push my hand through his hair.
He pulls away and kneels over me again. He reaches for the waistband of my underwear. He pauses to look at me, his face serious and sexy. The corners of his lips twitch as he watches my body’s reaction, as if making sure I haven’t changed my mind. He slowly pulls my underwear over my thighs, then drops them to the floor.
His eyes rake over me, as if adding this image to his memory. To be honest, that is exactly what I’m doing right now as I stare at him. The curve of his waist, the mysterious V leading down into his boxers, those amazing arms that I have felt so safe in.
I can’t quite believe this is happening. I’ve broken both my rules in one night.
He slips one hand between my knees, forcing them apart, then crawls between them. I slide my hands over his skin, feeling that amazing electricity again. I keep my eyes on his as I run my hands over his back to the top of his boxers. I tuck my fingers into the waistband, watching as he closes his eyes. I slowly push them down as far as I can, then he shuffles them the rest of the way off. They soon join the growing pile of clothes on my bedroom floor.
He smiles at me softly. My heart pounds throughout my body. I think I can hear it. I think even he can hear it. He goes to kiss me once more, but stops.
“Shit…,” he breathes out, then chuckles as he drops his forehead to my chest.
I bite my lip, trying not to laugh. “Top drawer.”
He lifts his head and sighs, looking at the bedside table. He shifts to the side, opening the drawer. I hear him rummaging around, then cringe when I remember where they are.
“Inside the birthday card.”
Embarrassed, I squeeze my eyes shut. I don’t want to see his questioning gaze as he pulls the condoms from inside a birthday card Bailey bought me earlier in the year. Right now, I’m thankful she did; otherwise, this might not be happening at all.
I hear the sound of a foil wrapper and open my eyes, seeing him positioning himself on top of me again. His face is an inch from mine and all I can see is the gold colour of his eyes. It’s almost as if he’s looking into me. His hands on either side of my head cage me in. He gently touches my cheek, moving a stray blonde hair off my face. He kisses me, but this one feels different. It’s not urgent or rushed. It’s soft and full of compassion, full of…feeling.
He pulls away, his bottom lip lingering on mine. My hand drifts up into the back of his hair, my other hand wrapped around his back.
“Alex…,” he whispers, shaking his head slightly, like he’s at a loss for words. He plants a soft kiss next to my mouth, then my chin, before looking into my eyes once more.
When I nod, his lips meet mine again. Every inch of my body tingles, like it’s alive for the first time. I feel him adjust as his lips fall to the curve in my neck.
I gasp as I feel him slide into me, my hands gripping his hair. He pulls back and stares into my eyes. We stay still for a second. Whatever the electricity is between us when we kiss, it’s nothing compared to the way he feels inside me. I’m pretty sure he's just wrecked me for any guy who’s going to want to date me after he's gone.
He starts to move his hips slowly, almost teasingly. Our bodies seem to fit perfectly together. His lips skim over my skin soft down my neck to my shoulder, making me groan. His teeth gently graze my shoulder as he moves his hips harder, faster.
“God, Fin,” I moan into his ear. His takes hold of my cheek and closes his eyes for a second.
“Jesus, Alexis.”
I know I’ve broken rule one. I’ve completely fallen for him, and I love the feeling.
Seriously, who am I kidding? I fell for him long before tonight. Feeling him inside me just made it so much easier to admit.
My hands grip onto the hot, perspiring skin of his back. I moan his name just as his lips move down my collarbone and his hips move even faster.
“Jesus, Fin!” I push my mouth into his shoulder to quiet my cries. He moans as I gently bite his skin, his movements never faltering.
He rests his forehead on mine. My hands cling to his back, as if I can’t get enough of him. I want even more of him.
“Alexis…”
My back arches off the bed at the sexy sound. I love how he says my name, but hearing him moan it while he’s enjoying my body is just incredible.
He pants as he roughly kisses down my neck, his teeth grazing my shoulder. I squeeze my legs around him, the feelings in my body building and building. I can hardly breathe from the sensations.
His head on mine, his eyes stare into mine briefly before he closes them.
“Fuck!” he curses loudly.
He opens his eyes, studying my face as I grip his back tighter and tighter, nails scratching his skin. He groans loudly, panting as he pounds harder and harder.
“Fuck, Alex.” He shifts his weight to one side, sliding a hand down my body, stopping between my legs. His finger moves in slow, sensual circles over my clit, making my whole body tighten.
“Shit!”
He starts moving faster. My eyes close when I feel the tension building. He slams harder inside me, making me tumble over the edge, loud moans tumbling from my lips.
Oh…my…god!
I feel every single muscle in his body tense and contract as my body shakes under his touch. “Mitch…”
“Shit, Alex,” he breathes out.
I feel him swell inside me, the tension leaving his body as he groans and shakes. He collapses on top of me, neither of us moving.
This moment is perfect… He's perfect. His head rests in the curve of my shoulder, his breath coming in gasps, feeling warm against the skin of my neck. I feel soft gentle kisses grazing my neck, making me smile.
“God, you’re amazing,” he whispers into my ear, sending shivers through me, then lifts his head up to smile at me. He kisses my lips once more and rolls off me and onto his back. I roll onto my side to rest my head on his hot chest.
“Are you okay?” he asks in a soft voice, his arm wrapping around me.
I smile. “Mitch, I’m more than okay.”
“You called me Mitch.” He moves a piece of hair behind my ear.
“Yes, I did.” I bite my lip, worried he might not like that.
“I mean during sex… You called me Mitch.”
“I know I did.” I freeze. Okay, I’m starting to panic a little. I know I probably shouldn’t have called him Mitch, but I couldn’t help it. I think it suits him. “I’m sorry,” I whisper.
He laughs. “Don’t be sorry, Alex. It was sexy as hell.” He pulls my face up to kiss me.
I pull back. “I thought you might hate me for it.”
He smiles. “Definitely not.”
I move out of his reach to sit on the edge of the bed. I see the disappointment on his face, but I should probably shower.
“Well, I bet no other girl has ever called you Mitch in bed before.” I smirk at him as he rolls onto his side to watch me search for my clothes, which are scattered across the floor.
“True, but that’s because no other girl has ever known my name before, Alex.”
I stare at him over my shoulder. He has never told anyone else his name before? I’m trying not to read too much into it, but I can’t help it.
“I’ll be back in a minute.” I slide off the bed and walk to the bathroom. I shut the door behind me and lean on it, replaying every glorious second of what just happened. A goofy grin forms on my lips.
My eyes fill with tears as the grin slides from my lips. I have completely fallen for somebody who’s leaving! If I would have stuck to my rules and not had sex with him, maybe it wouldn’t hurt so much.
Even as I think it, I know it’s total crap! It would have still hurt. Maybe more because I would have regretted not sleeping with him. I wouldn’t change what just happened. It was amazing. I never knew sex could feel like that.
I turn the shower on. It’s not long before hot steam fills the room.
I step into the tub and place my head under the hot spray. It feels so good. I bite my lip and replay everything once again. I record it all to memory—every word, every move, every kiss, every sexy groan, the look on Mitch’s face.
God, I already want him again. This is crazy!
I put my right hand against the wall, needing the support. To be honest, I don’t know how I managed to walk to the bathroom on my shaky legs.
I know I’ve been standing here too long. I just needed a moment to savour every single second of our time together. Right from when he told me his first name to when I stepped into this shower, every second of it will stay with me long aft—
What was that?!
I lift my head from under the stream of water just in time to see the shower curtain twitch. I feel a pair of hands slide around my waist, making me shiver. I bite my lip as I look at the arms now holding me.
“Mitch…” I smile and turn to face him.
“I thought we could save time and water and shower together.” He smiles, stepping closer until he’s under the water. I know I’m not going to get any sleep tonight at all. I look at him as he forces me back against the cold tiles. I watch the water trickle down that chest, those arms. He tilts his head back so it runs down his face, then looks at me again, water dripping off those amazing lips. Yep, I’m definitely not getting much sleep tonight. I really couldn’t care less! I’m sure I could go without sleep right now, but I’m not sure I could go without him.
* * *
I still feel like this is all a dream. How could it be anything else? I check myself in the mirror. My hair’s damp and I have a tiny bit of makeup on. Yep, I’m good to go.
I open the bathroom door and freeze. Mitch is standing in front of the photo of my parents. He's obviously been up to his room to grab some clothes. Now in a pair of yellow shorts and a black vest top as I stand and watch Mitch. He's wearing black jogging bottoms and nothing else. His hands are in his pockets as he studies the photo. He looks so calm, so peaceful.
He turns and sees me in the doorway. He gives me a small smile and holds his hand out to me.
“Come here, Lexi.”
I frown as I walk over to him. “Lexi?”
“Well, I figured if you’re calling me Mitch now, you need your own name too. Lexi.”
“Lexi...” I pause to think it over. “I like it.”
“My Lexi.”
I slide my hand into his and he turns me, wrapping his arms around me. I rest my hands on his arms and lean my head back onto his shoulder. He plants a kiss in my damp hair as he holds me to him. We stand looking at my parents for a moment.
“I think your dad and I would have gotten along great,” he says, his words muffled in my hair.
“I think so, but why do you think that?” I ask, frowning.
“While cooking your breakfast this morning, Jill told me about your parents.”
My chest tightens. “Why were you talking about my parents?” I feel the familiar ache in my stomach.
“Well, when I walked in and greeted your mom’s photo, Jill just started telling me about them.”
“You talked to my mom’s photo in front of my aunt?” I ask, still looking at the photo.
“Of course. I have to be respectful of them, especially now that I’ve just taken advantage of their daughter.” He kisses my head. I try to turn around to face him, but he holds me tightly.
“Wait, Mitch. Advantage? That so not the right—”
He shushes me. It’s hard to think there was a time I thought that was all this was between us. Him trying to take advantage of me. Now I don’t believe that to be true at all.
“I know. I know.” His thumb strokes my shoulder tenderly. I rest my head against him again.
We silently study the photo. I can’t concentrate. His bare chest on my back is warm and inviting. I can feel his heart beating through my thin top.
“Jill said your dad was a huge fan of The Shadows. I could just see us talking about his vinyl collection.” I hear the smile in his voice.
My eyes fill with tears. My dad had a huge vinyl collection! How had I forgotten that? Every Sunday, my mom would cook dinner and my dad would play his records. I used to sit with him for hours as he read the paper and listened to them.
I remember one Sunday. Seeing my dad stood with his hands in his pockets, looking out the front window, tapping his foot to the music and telling me how you “won’t ever find better music anywhere”.
I remember Mom letting me wash the dishes. When you’re seven, washing up is fun. It means you get to play in bubbles and have a tiny little bit of responsibility.
“Hey, are you okay?” Fin turns me to face him. I hadn’t realised I was crying, my tears landing on his bare arms.
“Yeah, sorry. I...” My voice cracks as I quickly try and swipe away the tears from my eyes.
“I shouldn’t have said anything.” His eyes fill with sadness.
“No, Mitch. I’m glad you did. You just bought back a memory I’d forgotten.”
I laugh a little at the confusion on his face.
“Memories of my parents are starting to fade. Some of them have completely gone. You have no idea how much it scares me that, one day, I won’t remember them at all. But you just bought back a memory I’d lost, which feels...amazing.” I sniff, trying to keep my tears under control.
“Come here.” He pulls me to the bed and we sit on the edge. “You feel like sharing it with me?” He rubs my back.
I turn and look at him. God knows what it is that makes me feel like I can trust him in such a short amount of time, but it’s almost like I’ve known him my whole life.
“On Sundays, my dad used to play his records while mom cooked dinner. Instead of learning to cook and be domestic, I was in the living room with Dad as he tried to teach me the titles of each song. Back then, I remembered them all, but I’m probably a little rusty now.” I wipe the tears away.
“That sounds perfect. That’s the sort of memory you should cherish.” He kisses my forehead. I feel bad talking about happy memories with my parents when the memories of his are so awful.
“Sorry. I shouldn’t talk about them with you,” I say in a soft voice.
He shakes his head. “Actually, I like hearing about your parents. I wish I could have met them.”
Needing to change the subject, I clear my throat. “What about your adoptive parents? What are they like?”
He sighs and removes his arm from around my shoulders. “They are…perfect. They loved me unconditionally, just as parents should.”
“Loved?”
He cringes. “Yeah. When I started looking for my birth parents, it caused a huge rift between us.” He shrugs, like it’s not a big deal. I can see it is, though. “I think I broke their hearts the day I left, but I was too stupid and selfish to see it back then. I still get a phone call from them on my birthday and Christmas, but that’s about it.”
He looks down at his lap. “I went from having two sets of parents to having none. That’s why the guys are like my family. I’d follow them to the ends of the earth.”
I nod. I can understand that. That’s why I cling to Jill. “I’m glad you have them.”
He smiles at me, then kisses my forehead. “You must be starving.”
On cue, my stomach rumbles. I have been so preoccupied, I haven’t even thought about food.
“Pizza?” I ask.
He grins. “Perfect.”