When I start to walk with him, he says, “I’ll close the door on the way out.”
“Great, see you later.”
Only when we hear the front door shut, does Finlay say, “Please tell me he’s the scary brother and Eli is the nice one.”
I pull a face and shake my head. “Eli is the older brother,” I say. “Don’t worry, they’re very nice once you get to know them.”
I help Finlay unpack and when we’re done, we hear the front door open.
“That must be Eli. Come, I’ll introduce you.”
She hesitates and I grab her hand. I pull her behind me, and as we come down the stairs, Eli shoves a hand through his hair. He looks worried.
Finlay yanks at my hand and before she can run, I say, “Hi, I didn’t expect you back so early. This is Finlay.” I pull her closer.
“Hi, Finlay. Welcome,” he says, and he reaches his hand out to her. I instantly notice the bandage.
“What happened to your hand?” I ask as I take hold of it. I lightly brush my fingers over it and look up at him.
“I hurt it while working,” he says.
He won’t look at me and it makes me frown.
“I’m going to go shower,” he says and he pushes by me.
Finlay’s eyes are huge as she stares at me. “I’m going to go sleep. Maybe they won’t look as intimidating once I’ve had some sleep.”
I walk to the kitchen to get some water and whisper, “Wait until you meet Mr. Jackson.”
I look from Finlay to Ethan. Both have been really quiet.
“So, Finlay,” Eli says. “Quinn tells me you’re the same age.”
“Yes, She’s a week older than me.”
“Will you be here for your birthday?” he asks.
She nods. “I was hoping to visit a while.”
Eli smiles at her. “You’re more than welcome.”
I smile at him, grateful that he’s trying with her.
“I’m going into town tomorrow to look for a job, if you want to come along and see if you can find a part-time position somewhere.”
Finlay looks at me. “Yeah, that’s a good idea.”
“You should try at the gym,” Ethan says, before he takes a bite of his pizza.
“Oh, are there positions open there?”
He swallows and says, “They’re looking for someone at the reception. There might be something in admin as well. I can ask tomorrow.”
“That would be great. Thank you, Ethan.”
“Don’t mention it.”
Ethan only stays a while longer before he gets up. “I have an early class tomorrow, so I better get going. Thanks for dinner, guys.”
Eli walks him to the door and Finlay gets up. She looks jittery and it makes me ask, “Are you okay?”
She nods. “Yeah, I just didn’t expect the men. I thought it would be just the two of us.”
Before she can walk away, I take hold of her hand. “Finlay, what’s wrong? You’re not yourself at all.”
She shakes her head and her bottom lip starts to quiver.
“Quinn.” A tear rolls over her cheek and I quickly place an arm around her.
Just then, Ethan walks back into the living room. Finlay quickly turns her back to him, but not before he sees her tears. His eyes dart from her back to me. I quickly shake my head.
“I forgot my keys,” he says. He grabs them off the table and as he walks by me, he gives my arm a quick squeeze.
I wait for him to leave before I push Finlay towards the stairs. “Let’s go to your room before Eli comes back inside.”
When we’re in her room, I close the door behind us. I turn to her as worry gnaws at my insides.
“What’s wrong, Finlay.”
“I’ll be okay,” she whispers.
I take her hand and pull her over to the bed. We sit down and I hold her hand as I say, “Maybe I can help.”
She shakes her head and whispers, “It’s already done. No one can help.”
“What do you mean? What’s done?”
I start to worry that she might have done something bad, but then she says, “I can’t prove it, Quinn. It’s no use talking about it.”
“Finlay, you’re scaring me. What can’t you prove?”
She turns her face away from me and her voice is broken when she whispers, “I can’t prove that he drugged me.”
My lips part and I suck in a harsh breath. “What do you mean? Who drugged you?”
Her shoulders slump and right now my cousin looks so fragile that I pull her into my arms. She breaks down and starts to cry. Once she’s calmed down a little, she pulls her phone from her pocket. I frown as she searches something online.
When she hands the phone to me, I’m confused. I look down at the screen and all the blood drains from my face.
I can’t see her face, but I know it’s Finlay. She has the same birthmark on her arm.
She’s lying on a bed, and she’s naked. I feel sick as a guy crawls over her. I have to cover my mouth to keep from crying out as I watch her getting raped. My eyes dart to the time on the recording and I see that it’s almost an hour long. What makes it so much worse, is that she’s not fighting back. She’s just lying still while he does what he wants.
I switch the phone off when I can’t bear to watch any more of it.
“He works at the local grocery store. I’ve seen him pack bags before. He must’ve followed me home at some point. I came home from work and he was waiting for me inside the house. He forced me to drink something and after that.” She points to the phone. “I couldn’t move, Quinn. I knew what was happening but I couldn’t make myself move. I have no proof it was forced. Besides, it’s not like I want to tell the cops that it’s me on that video. I wish I could get it taken down.”
“When did this happen?”
“Last week. I’m scared he’ll go back to the house.”
“Finlay, you stay as long as you want.”
“I brought everything I have, Quinn. I don’t want to go back there. When is your dad coming home? Maybe he’ll let me rent a room from him?”
“Dad won’t take your money, you know that. He should be back in a couple of weeks, we can talk to him then.”
She nods and looks at me pleadingly. “Please, don’t tell anyone.”
“I won’t.” I get up and pull her covers back. “You need to sleep. You look exhausted.”
“I am.” She gets up and kicks off her shoes. “I’m sorry for being weird around the guys. It’s just hard.”
“You don’t have to apologize. I understand. Get some rest.”
She crawls under the covers and I tuck her in. I lean over her and press a kiss to her forehead. “You’re safe now. I won’t let anything happen to you.”
“Thanks, Quinn,” she whispers.
“If you wake up –” I clear my throat as tears push to my throat, “If you have a nightmare, my room is right next to yours.”
She nods, and I wish there were more I could do for her.
I close her door softly behind me and take a moment to just breathe. I close my eyes, wishing I could erase what I saw.
CHAPTER 13
Quinn
“Quinn?” Eli walks toward me. I rush forward, grab his hand and pull him to his room.
I close his door behind me and try to think of how I can tell him without telling him.
“What’s wrong?” he asks and this time his voice is laced with worry.
“It’s Finlay. Something happened to her. I promised her I wouldn’t tell.”
I walk deeper into his room and cover my face with my hands as my tears start to fall. My heart is broken for her. How could he do that to her? Finlay is the sweetest person I know.
Eli’s hand rests on my shoulder, and I let my hands drop to my sides. I look up at him, and his face turns to stone.
“Is she in danger?” he asks.
“I don’t know. I don’t know who he is. She says he works at the local grocery store. I don’t know if she
even knows what his name is.”
“Do you think there’s a way for him to find her?”
I shake my head. “She didn’t know where you lived. Maybe my dad’s address, but definitely not yours.”
“Can you try to find out more from her? What his name is?”
“If she starts to talk about it, I can try. I’m not going to bring it up first.”
“I know you promised her, but if she’s in danger, I need to know, Quinn. If he follows her here, it could put you in danger.”
“I told her I wouldn’t tell, Eli.”
“Then don’t tell me, just nod if I’m right, okay?”
I wrestle with my conscience for a minute before I say, “Okay.” I feel torn in two. I want to do right by Finlay, but I also want to do the right thing and tell someone.
“I’m guessing the guy forced himself on her?”
I nod as more tears start to flow. Eli pulls me into his arms and he holds me as I cry for my cousin.
“Why do bad things happen to good people?”
“I don’t know, babe.” He wipes the tears from my cheeks and says, “We’ll keep her safe. Try to get his name so we know what we’re dealing with.”
“I’ll try.”
I slide my hand down his arm and take hold of his bandaged hand.
“How does your hand feel?” I ask, hating that he got hurt.
“It’s nothing.”
He brings his left hand to my face and brushes his fingers over my cheek. For a moment, he just looks at me as if I’m the beginning and end of his world.
The air around us shifts as if it’s pressing us together.
It’s been an awful day, and I want to be with Eli. I just want to get lost in him until I find my balance again.
I reach down and grab hold of the hem of my shirt, and pull it over my head.
Eli’s eyes follow the shirt as I drop it on the floor. His eyes come back to me, and they start at my feet, slowly caressing their way up my body.
He takes a step closer to me, then another, until my back is against the door. I lean against it and look up at him, waiting to see what he’ll do next. My muscles tense in delicious anticipation.
He brings his hand to my shoulder, and his fingers trace over the bra strap, but he doesn’t do anything to remove it.
He drops his hand away from me, and just before I can start doubting myself, he whispers, “Take it off.”
I suck in some air, trying to keep from getting nervous. This is our second time after all. I know what to expect now. None of the thoughts help, because it feels like the first time all over again.
He leans closer to me and places his right arm on the door next to my head. His face is inches from mine and if I just lean forward, I’ll be able to kiss him.
I reach behind my back, unclasping the bra, and I’m not nearly as fast as he was the night before. I keep my eyes on his as I drop the bra to the floor.
Eli’s eyes drop to my breasts, and he stares at me until my breathing starts to speed up. He raises his left hand, and the back of his knuckles brush lightly over the sensitive stretch of skin from my stomach to my ribs.
I’m going to go up in a puff of smoke if he doesn’t do something real soon. I suppress the urge to grab his hand and to place it where I want it, but him being in control is too much of a turn on.
With two fingers he traces up the valley between my breasts, and follows the swell until he offers my nipple the barest of touches. My skin feels over sensitive, like it might burst into flames.
I reach for the hem of his shirt, and he rewards me by yanking it over his head. When he drops it to the floor, he leans back over me, and places his hands on either side of my head.
I have an amazing view of his chest. His skin is a perfect shade of bronze, accentuating the rippling cords of muscle that leads down to a perfect V.
Eli should just stop wearing clothes. At least, when he’s around me.
I press my fingers to his chest and slowly trail them over his skin until I reach the waistband of his jeans. I slip my fingers in and trace them from one side of his hip to the other.
He makes a sound in the back of his throat before his mouth slams into mine. It’s not like the slow and passionate kisses of the night before. This time the kiss is wild and fast.
It’s filled with an insatiable hunger.
He moves his hands down until they cover my butt and he lifts me up to his body. As our skin touches, sparks ignite between us. I wrap my legs around his waist and my arms around his neck. My hands get lost in his hair.
Holding me, he turns around and walks over to his bed. He leans forward, laying me down on it. He places a kiss on the side of my neck, then on my collarbone, and then finally sucks my nipple into his mouth.
I let out a groan of pleasure and push my back up to give him better access.
CHAPTER 14
Eli
She looks fucking perfect spread out on my bed.
I hook my fingers in the waistband of her shorts and pull them down, this time leaving her panties behind. As I crawl over her, she places her hand on my chest and pushes until I’m on my back.
She unbuttons my jeans and pulls them off. When she crawls over me, I grow impossibly hard. She doesn’t crawl all the way up but stops when her face is level with my cock, and it makes the air rush from me. She traces a finger from my hip to my cock, and I have to grab hold of the covers to not lose my self-control.
Her fingers wrap around my cock and my eyes jump between the look of wonder on her face, and her hand moving slowly up and down the length of me.
My breathing stops as she parts her lips and sucks the head into her mouth. The sudden heat makes the air rush from my lungs, and I fight to keep my eyes open. I don’t want to miss a second of this.
“Quinn,” I groan as she shows me the meaning of heaven.
I can’t keep from touching her and my hands get lost in her silky blonde strands. I grip fistfuls and the feel of her head moving under my hands, almost makes me come.
I pull her away, not wanting it to be over so quickly. I drag her up my body and roll her onto her back. I pull her panties off and settle my body over her, and finally, our hips align.
I push my right knee against her thigh, making her spread her legs wider, as I position myself at her entrance. The head of my cock sinks into her heat and my balls tighten from how good she already feels. I close my eyes as I push into her, unable to take it slow like before. She fits me like a glove, and it tears a groan from me.
When I open my eyes, and I’m seated to the hilt inside of her, she’s trembling and her breaths are racing over her lips. Her eyes are the perfect shade of green as lust swirls in them. Fuck, she’s beautiful.
I start to move slowly, wanting to memorize the way it feels as I sink deep inside of her. I take hold of her left leg, just beneath her knee and I pull it up until she wraps her leg over my ass. I bring my right leg up and it makes me sink in even deeper. Her breathing hitches and her lips part.
I don’t pull out all the way, only an inch, before I slam back inside of her. It draws a breathless moan from her and wanting to hear it again, I keep a steady rhythm of short thrusts.
Each time I drive into her, her groan grows louder.
The next thrust makes tingles sizzle down my spine.
Her legs tighten around my hips, and she grabs hold of my shoulders, her nails digging into my skin.
Her body starts to quiver beneath mine and she groans. Her eyes meet mine, and they shine like the sun on a summer day.
If I knew how to paint, it would be of her like this. Her eyes alight with love. With her breaths racing over her lips, as she whimpers my name. Her body quivering as I make her come.
I press my forehead against hers, and as her breaths fan over my lips, I give in and let the orgasm take me.
I kiss her slowly and deep. I can’t think past the smell of her hair, and the feel of her body beneath mine.
I don’t want to.
It’s been a week since Steve was arrested. I need to tell Quinn before his trial starts, but I keep putting it off. We’re finally in a good place, and I don’t want to lose it.
The women started working at the gym yesterday. Ethan helped them get the work. I owe my brother so much.
I keep my distance from Finlay. She’s always jumpy, and when I’m around, it’s as if it gets worse. Quinn hasn’t been able to find out who the guy is so there’s nothing I can do to help.
I rub tiredly over my face. If it’s not one thing, it’s another.
When I walk into the house, I hear someone singing. I walk through the kitchen, and when I get to the back door, I see Finlay where she’s sitting outside on the grass.
“You took a part of me that wasn’t meant for you.
You’ve left me feeling black and blue.
Not from blows. There are no scars to show, that you left me black and blue”.
Her tone is soft, nothing but a broken whisper. The cords of the guitar sound lonely, and they quiver as if they’re scared.
I’ve never seen or heard something so devastating in my life, and my heart breaks for her. No one should have to feel that kind of pain.
I turn around and go look for Quinn. I find her in my bedroom where she’s staring out the window at Finlay.
“She has a beautiful voice,” I say as I stand next to her.
“She does. Music has always been her thing.”
I look at Quinn, and my heart starts to beat faster. I have to tell her now. The longer I leave it, the worse it will get.
“I need to talk to you,” I say, and I can hear the fear in my voice.
Quinn turns to me, and her eyes scan my face. “What’s wrong?” The worry darkens her eyes and they are the color of grass just after a storm.
I hold my hand up and take the bandage off. I’ve kept it on to hide the fading marks. Quinn takes hold of my hand, and with her thumb, she brushes over my knuckles.
“Steve has been arrested,” I say the words I’ve been dreading all week long.
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