Chapter 7
Adeline
The piercing sun burns through my eyes in the early morning light. My head pounds and my face throbs. I roll onto my side and come in contact with a massive fur ball. Forcing my eyes open the first thing I see is Max’s huge body pressed up against me.
“Max?” his name comes out in a question. It takes a minute to remember how I came to be here. “Jesus fuck almighty.” I rub my forehead to try to relieve the pressure, but it does nothing to placate the constant throbbing.
“We have to stop meeting like this.” A deep voice pierces the silent room causing me to jump out of my skin.
“Jesus Christ Gideon you scared me to death.” I place my hand over my chest and try to reign in my accelerating heartbeat. A small chuckle leaves his lips and is replaced with a smile.
“What happened last night?” I take in Gideon’s large form stuffed in what looks to be a small chair by the end of the bed. A tight black shirt stretches across his chest, paired with dark wash jeans that hang just below the V of his waist. The stubble on his sharp jaw makes him seem that much more attractive, if that’s even possible.
“What do you mean?” I try to play dumb. I watch as he stands up from his chair and comes to sit right on the edge of the bed right beside me.
“This.” his thumb comes up to trace the angry bruise on my cheek. My eyes close at the feel of his touch. “Who did this? Was it the redhead, or his sidekick?” my eyes snap open and are replaced with annoyance.
“No! Tim and Jake would never, they…saved me.” the last part comes out in a whisper as the memory of that jerks hands comes to the forefront of my mind. I throw my head in my hands and try to hide the tears that escape like the traitors they are.
“Hey,” his large hand comes up to my shoulder. “It’s alright, come here.” He pulls my small frame into his chest while his strong arms wrap around my shoulders. I lean into his embrace and my hands grip the fabric on his chest. They tears flow freely from my eyes now. There’s no holding back. I climb into this strangers lap like I used to do with Jaimie. My arms wrap around him while his rub up and down my back.
“I’m sorry.” I pull away and let out a nervous laugh. “I don’t know what came over me.” I try to move off of his lap but his hands keep me in place.
“It’s alright.” Our eyes connect. My baby blues against his dark and dreamy ones. One day they’re brown, one day there black it’s hard to see what color they are in this very second considering his emotions are running crazy like a wild fire. I lean in until we’re mere inches apart. His breath skirts over my cheeks the closer we get. We’re about a hairs breath apart, my chest rubbing against his. His hands placed on my hips. My heart races in my chest as my breathing picks up and my eye lids flutter closed.
I feel his lips hover over mine. Just as we’re about to finally connect Max chooses that exact moment let out a large yelp. I swear to god he did it on purpose. The damn dog practically has a smirk on his face when he sees Gideon regain control over himself and pull away from me. The hands placed on my hips manage to set me back on the bed beside him and my body instantly floods with coldness. As much as I don’t want to, my body feels rejected. As wrong as it seems I wanted Gideon to kiss me. I wanted him to consume me, make me feel something again. I don’t care that he’s a whole ten years older than me. I don’t care that he’s been hexed by the whole town. I want him in a primal way. In a way I’ve never wanted anyone before.
“I’m going to go make some breakfast.” He stands on his feet and storms away to the door. “And Adeline, you’re staying this time. Come on Max.” He pats his leg and the dog besides me jumps off the bed and follows his master out the door and to the kitchen. It takes me a while to regain control of my thoughts and feelings before I’m finally able to get off of the worlds comfiest bed. The dress I wore at the party last night is nowhere to be found and in its place is a large black T-shirt that smells exactly like Gideon. I rummage through his dresser drawers until I find another T-shirt and a clean pair of boxers and make my way into the bathroom. I need a shower like yesterday. I feel dirty and grimy and my breath probably smells like dog shit.
I take my time in the shower, using Gideon’s body wash and shampoo makes me smell just like him. Great I’ve met this man a whole three times and I’m already acting like a goddamn psycho. When I finally get out I put on his clothes and tie my hair up into a top knot. The T-shirt and boxers hang off me and I rejoice in the feeling of being comfy and warm. My face in the mirror has a little more color to it after the warm water washed some of my stress away. My stomach still aches, my knees are still scraped, and my cheeks still throb. Not even a shower could take care of that mess. Eventually I make my way down the hall and to the kitchen. When Gideon’s eyes fall on me he has a coughing fit.
“I hope you don’t mind,” I pull on the hem of the boxer shorts and continue. “I just needed something clean to change into…”
“No, no that’s fine.” He clears his throat when he’s finally able to speak.
“And… I also used your toothbrush.” I let out a small smile when is eyes widen in response.
“You’re hair looks so… tamed.” He decides to ignore my earlier statement; I can’t help but laugh at his words.
“Tamed?” We both laugh awkwardly.
“Yeah, uh here, sit down. Let me get you a plate.” I sit at the table and wait while he loads a plate up with what looks to be eggs and bacon. We eat in comfortable silence as I wolf down my food in a matter of seconds. The greasy food fills my empty belly and I’m thankful for a morning not filled with milk and cereal.
“You want some more?” Gideon finishes with his plate and grabs for mine.
“Um no thanks.” I’m still starving by a long shot, but not wanting Gideon to go out of his way has me keeping my mouth shut. As if knowing my inner turmoil Gideon sets a heaping plate full of food down in front of me again and I smile in thanks. He watches as I load spoonful’s of eggs into my mouth, practically swallowing the food whole. I didn’t realize how hungry I was until real food was placed down in front of me.
“So… once you’re finished with that I’ll bring you home.” I grimace in response as he gets up and goes to the refrigerator. Out comes a jug of orange juice and he pours us both a glass. Breakfast of champions, literally.
“I’m just gonna go back to Tim’s.” this time it’s his turn to grimace.
“You’re not going back there.” He dead pans. Who the heck does he think he is telling me what to do? What the hell?
“What do you mean? Of course I’m going back over there. I’m staying there for a couple weeks.” I pick my plate up and set it in the sink. When I turn around I’m chest to chest with Gideon. His closeness has my body on fire.
“What do you mean? Why are you staying over there?” his eyes bore into mine trying to get the answers he knows I won’t say out loud.
“I don’t know, it’s summer and besides his parents are in Europe for the next few weeks, and Tim said I could stay with him.” The lies flow out of me.
“What about your mom?” he asks like my mother actually has some sort of say in my life.
“What about her?” I feel his body slowly start to back me into the sink and the painful memory of last night begins to play over in my head. “Matter of fact why do you even care about any of this? It’s not like I asked you to come to my rescue, I could have managed by myself.” Now I just sound like an ungrateful brat. Obviously I couldn’t have made it another day without him.
“I care Adeline, hell if I fucking know. All I know is every time you throw yourself to the wolves and end up black out fucking drunk on my front lawn, I care.” He’s so close. He’s practically leaning over me. The line of personal space has definitely been crossed.
“That doesn’t make any sense.” Why would this stranger care when practically everyone else in my life doesn’t. His face seems to be getting closer now. The stubble on his cheeks gently brushes against mine as he whispers into my ear.
“It doesn’t have to make any sense for it to be true.” I choose that moment to follow my instinct. My arms wrap around his neck and I bring my lips up to his. He’s hesitant at first, but slowly and surly his mouth begins to move against mine. The kiss is unlike any kiss I’ve ever had. It resonates all the way deep down into my bones. It vibrates through my chest and all the way to my toes. Once his tongue follows along the seam of my lips I gladly open for him. I swear to god the minute our tongues touch fireworks start to explode in the background. I will admit I’m just a little disappointed when his hands stay pinned on my hips, while mine take the opportunity to explore every inch of his broad chest.
“Fuck.” Gideon pulls away abruptly leaving me momentarily stunned and out of breath. His chest heaves up and down in front of me. His lips are slightly swollen and his eyes are raging with lust. I bring my fingers up to my swollen lips and his eyes light up with flames.
“We can’t be doing that.” His voice is horse but his words hit me directly where it hurts. I’m at a loss for words as I stare back at the only person who’s seemed to spark some sort of feeling inside me in a long time. “You’re just a kid for god sakes.” His hand runs through his hair angrily. His words are aimed towards me but I have a gut feeling there directed more for him. I watch him stalk out of the kitchen leaving me alone, well almost.
“Is he always like this?” I whisper to Max’s sleeping body lying on the cool tiled floor. I hop off the counter when Gideon’s brooding body comes stomping back into the kitchen. He grabs a set of keys hanging on the wall and makes his way to the door.
“I’ll be nineteen in a few months, I am not a kid.” I huff, crossing my arms against my chest.
“You needed a place to stay right?” my eyes snap to his in confusion.
“Yeah?” it comes out more like a question then a statement. It’s sort of not true. I had a place to stay at Tim’s but that was before the cops showed up. No way was I going back there half-drunk off my ass with pigs crawling around.
“Well Max needs to bed fed three times a day, just let him out whenever you see him at the door.” the door swings open and he begins to walk away. What the hell?
“Wait, where the hell are you going?” I yell after him. Max comes to stand by my side.
“I have business I have to take care of in Boston.” He swings a small duffle bag into the bed of the truck leaving me almost stunned in place.
“You can’t just leave me here, you don’t even know me!” who in their right mind would let someone they barley know stay in their house completely alone? He’s known me less than a month. This is insane. Jesus fucking Christ I feel like I’ve been stuck in the twilight zone lately.
“You needed a place to crash, I needed a dog sitter.” He shrugs his shoulders like it makes all the sense in the world. “Oh, and Adeline?”
“Yeah?”
“Try not to throw any parties when I’m gone Max hates strangers.” A smirk falls on his lips as he climbs into the driver side of his black pickup.
“What am I supposed to do? I can’t stay here, you barely know me!” I seriously can’t believe this guy.
“You’re the exception. You’ll be fine Snow.” And with that he backs down the driveway leaving me staring after him with my jaw practically on the ground.
“Seriously Max, I feel like I just got mind fucked.” I call the huge dog inside and numbly walk through the kitchen, down the hall and to the bedroom. What the hell am I supposed to do now? Just then my phone vibrates on the night stand beside the bed. When I pick it up Gideon’s name is flashing across the screen.
Gideon: You’ll be fine Snow; I’ll be back in a few days.
Adeline: When the heck did you put your number in my phone?
Gideon: No house guests, and please just feed Max you don’t want to know what he’s like when he’s hungry.
Adeline: Ugh! Whatever. Stop texting and driving!
Gideon: Calm down its just Bluetooth Snow.
Adeline: Stop calling me Snow!
Gideon: Not a chance ;)
Adeline: Fine whatever…
Gideon doesn’t respond to my last text so I leave it at that. I eye the giant dog sitting by my feet. His eye brows lift and he lets out a whimper as he jumps all the way up and onto the bed. I don’t even know what to do with myself right now. I’m alone in Gideon Wellfleet’s house with nothing but his dog for good measure.
I smile thinking about the way he kissed me. The anticipation was agonizing. I thought for sure he wouldn’t go through with it. It felt as if his lips fit perfectly against mine. The way they collided against one another was as if they were always meant to be that way.
Not going to lie I snooped through just about every inch of his house, his bedroom, bathroom and living room. His secrets are just about as boring as mine. There are a few unpaid bills here and there and one hell of a hefty liquor cabinet. Max has been following me around with every step I take. I didn’t miss the unapprovingly look he gave me as I took a swig from the neck of a pretty bottle of whiskey.
“Oh stop judging!” I mock him as I walk to the living room couch planning to drown out my sorrows with a bottle of jack and some late evening news. It doesn’t take long before my eyes slip close and sleep invades my exhausted body.