22. Chapter Twenty One

Chapter Twenty One

Skyla

A sher immediately called the calvary in. In a matter of an hour, all four of them plus Wesley were here, prior responsibilities abandoned. They all started screaming at each other, Ronan actually putting hands on Asher when Wesley pulled him away. Ronan blames Asher because he assured everyone the house is well equipped with security, and it is, at least I thought it was.

Liam hasn't left my side; some part of him knowing that I need him. While Vincent, Asher, Ronan, and Wesley have some kind of blame-game pissing match. Maggie slipped out quietly when the chaos began, can't blame her. I wouldn't want to be here either.

"How you doing, babygirl?" Liam asks, with a squeeze against my thigh.

I look over to him numbly, he's hard to see through my watery eyes.

"I'm scared," I say, though my voice lacks any real emotion. I sound more like a robot than anything.

He frowns, wrapping his arm around my shoulders tightly, as he kisses the side of my head.

"I know. We all are. Why do you think they are tearing each other's heads off? They all are scared for you, even Wesley. I think he has a little crush on you," Liam teases, in a way that tells me he's trying to get a reaction out of me. It doesn't work, though.

Wesley looks over to us like he heard Liam before those concerned blue eyes land on me. He doesn't come closer, and he doesn't say anything, but there are so many emotions playing across his face it damn near hits me square in the chest.

Turning back to the guys, his demeanor changes, and one word has everyone quieting.

"Enough!"

Everyone in the room stares at him, and he takes his time collecting his thoughts before he speaks again.

"It doesn't matter whose fault it is or how the guy got in. What matters is we prevent it from happening again. Ronan and I will sweep this place top to bottom, installing new security measures that will turn this place into an extravagant bunker. Anyone who wants to help is welcome."

Without another word, he stalks off to his car, Asher and Vincent hot on his heels as Ronan hangs back. He comes over to me, sitting beside me on the couch as he cups my knee.

"What can I do, baby?"

I shake my head. "I just want to feel safe. I'm tired of this. Every time we start to let our guard down, he shows back up again. He's getting more violent. What if he tries to hurt me or one of you or—"

"He won't get the opportunity. He's been relatively quiet because he hasn't had the same access that he did to you at school. I don't know how he managed to get inside this time, but I can promise you it was a mistake that will not be repeated."

I nod.

"This is what Wesley specializes in; there is no one with better access to tech apart from maybe the Hutchinson's."

"That's good," I say, doing my best to sound enthusiastic but knowing that it all just sounds flat.

Ronan fakes a smile as he nods. "It is. We're gonna keep you safe, baby. Okay?"

I nod again, and he gives me another smile that looks a lot less convincing than before as he stands up, following Wesley and the guys. Liam squeezes me once, forcing me to look at him.

"Will you eat something for me? If I have something delivered or I make something?"

My stomach revolts at the idea of food, but I can tell this is his way of trying to help. He knows that there is nothing he can actually do to put me at ease, but he's trying. So, I lie. I give him my most convincing smile that I can muster and nod.

He practically leaps to his feet with relief as he pulls out his phone.

"What are you in the mood for? Pizza? Burgers? Thai? Indian?"

I shrug. "Variety?"

We do have six people at the house currently, wouldn't hurt to have a little bit of everything. Liam nods as his fingers begin flying across the screen. Unfortunately, my phone begins ringing and when I look down to see who it is, I know I have to answer.

Steph and I planned a call the other night and I missed it. She tried to call me again shortly after we found the bed upstairs, so I obviously missed that one. She's just going to worry if I don't answer.

Maybe she should.

Begrudgingly I answer the phone, doing my best to sound as normal as possible.

"Hey!"

"What's wrong?" Steph counters.

Well, I tried.

"Nothing, sorry I missed you. I was shopping with Maggie."

"Uh huh, and why does your voice sound like that?" she asks.

"Like what?"

"Like you're one second away from crying."

I could play this a hundred different ways, but I figure the safest and easiest is to blame my father.

"Just got in a fight with dad about school stuff. I'm fine."

"What's his problem? You're doing great in all your classes."

"I don't know," I say, with a heavy sigh that isn't all that forced.

Aunt Steph lets out an irritated grumble.

"I'm sorry, sweetheart. How is that asshole fiancé of yours? Still the worst?"

My eyes come to Asher's, a small smile spreading across his face when he looks at me.

"No, he's actually pretty great."

"What?" Steph practically gasps.

"Just a few weeks ago, you were telling me how horrible he treats you."

I shrug, staring at my nails.

"I don't know. Things have changed. We've spent some time together, gotten to know each other. He's good to me now."

She's silent for several seconds before she speaks.

"Just be careful, sweetheart. The Putnam men are…complicated."

I do my best to hold back my derisive snort. Yeah, no shit.

We stay on the phone for a little longer, catching up and promising to talk soon when Wesley walks in, installing a camera in the corner of the living room. His large arms reach above his head, the drill in one hand and camera in the other as he secures it. I can't help but admire the way the muscles of his shoulders bunch up, flexing beneath his grey t-shirt.

My eyes roam down the smooth surface, the shirt hugging him like a second skin as it wraps around his tapered waistline before stopping where his jeans pick up. His ass is full and round, not in an over-the-top way, but in a way that he should definitely be getting some endorsement deals because, my god, that is a biteable ass.

He must feel my eyes on him, or maybe I said that out loud because he turns around, eyes locking onto mine before smirking. Clearly caught ogling, I watch as his eyes begin roaming over me from head to toe before settling back on my face. Wesley shakes his head, looking back to the wall in a way that has me curious.

I stand to my feet as I cock my head to the side.

"What?"

He doesn't turn around, just shakes his head.

"Nothing."

Furrowing my brows, I cross the room coming to stand beside him. He towers over me, but that doesn't stop me from forcing him to make eye contact with me.

"Tell me."

He blows out a short breath before looking down at me. His blue eyes are sharp, more intense than usual, for sure. I watch as his shoulders square off, like he's standing a little taller.

"I was thinking that you shouldn't look at me like that."

A pang of embarrassment runs through me as I shake my head.

"I wasn't looking at you like anything."

He raises a disbelieving eyebrow but doesn't say anything.

"I wasn't!" I defend.

Wesley just continues to stare at me before shaking his head.

"Whatever you say, little one."

He gets back to what he was doing, and for some reason, my mouth moves before my brain can tell it to shut the hell up.

"Why? For argument's sake, why shouldn't I be looking at you?"

"You can look at me," Wesley answers, before his eyes drop down to mine. He takes a half a step closer, until our chests brush against each other as he angles his head down to me.

"But if I catch you looking at me like you want to know what I taste like again, I will satisfy that curiosity without an ounce of hesitation."

His bold words take me surprise, but then again, so do my own when I reply.

"How?"

A sexy smirk lifts his mouth as his thumb reaches up, running over my lips. He does it slowly but with enough pressure that he's able to pull my lower lip down.

"By stuffing this pretty little mouth with my cock," he says simply, releasing my lip with his final word.

My eyes widen as all the air in the room is suddenly sucked straight out. I can't breathe, or maybe I'm breathing too much. The tension is so fucking thick I'm practically suffocating, but fuck me, I can't find it in me to move from my spot.

"I don't think the guys would like that very much," I defend weakly.

"Probably not, but I think you would."

Holy fucking shit. He has never been flirty with me like this. We don't banter. He drives me around. We make small talk. That's it. I thought Liam was just teasing me before. Now, I have a feeling he was trying to give me a heads-up.

"You act like it wouldn't be the best day of your life," I scoff, trying desperately to get the attention off of me because what the hell is going on?

That same smirk is still in place as he nods.

"I won't deny that at all. I've spent way too much time…fantasizing," he says, his eyes running down my body before coming back up again.

"About what?" I practically whisper.

Wesley tilts his head to the side curiously, a single brow risen in surprise, as he sets down the drill and adjusts his stance. I have no choice but to bump against the wall, and before I can move, he cages me in with his palms pressed against the wall above my head.

"You sure you want to know, little one?"

I hesitate for a moment before nodding.

His tongue pokes out, running along his lower lip as he inches his face towards mine until our noses brush against one another.

"An answer like that will cost you, you willing to pay?"

I don't speak, mainly because I don't remember how to. All I can do is intake oxygen, output carbon dioxide, and stare into those dark blue eyes.

"What's going on?" Ronan asks, forcing me to physically jump before my head whips over to him.

Wesley drops his head like he's disappointed for a second. His mouth bumping against my neck in what I think is an accident before he stands up fully. He pushes away from the wall before bending down and picking up the drill.

"Not much, got that one hung. Gonna go throw a couple in the garage and laundry room."

Ronan's eyes narrow, but he doesn't say anything as Wesley leaves the room. As soon as he's out of sight, Ronan begins casually strolling over to me, a curious tilt to his head.

"Baby?" he asks softly.

"Yeah?" I rasp, clearing my throat as I look up to him.

"Am I going to have to stop introducing you to other men? I know I said I'd share you with as many as it took, but you know you don't have to make it a ‘how many boyfriends can I collect' game, right?"

Well, if I wasn't already feeling bad about my reaction to Wesley, I feel fucking terrible now. I push away from the wall, moving to walk past him, when Ronan catches my arm easily, a chuckle escaping him as he shakes his head.

"Hey, now. Don't be like that. I'm just teasing you. What am I supposed to do when I find my girl all hot and heavy with my bond brother?"

"It wasn't like that," I say weakly.

Ronan's brows rise. "So, now we're lying to each other?"

I blow out a breath and shake my head as I look away.

"I think he's attractive. He called me out for staring too long. That was it."

"I don't know," Ronan says as his hand comes to cup my jaw, tilting it up so that I can face him. "Looked like it could have been more to me."

I shrug my shoulders, not knowing what to say, as Ronan leans towards my neck, his mouth grazing against the same spot that Wesley's did.

"What have you done to me? I've always been a jealous fucking bastard, but the idea of sharing you, it's so fucking hot."

"It is? I thought Liam was the only one into it."

He shakes his head against my neck before looking at me, his grip on me firm.

"We're all into it, baby, because it's you. You're the sexiest fucking woman on the planet, and watching you be worshipped by the others is like my own tailor fitted porn."

"I like that," I say softly. "I like that you're into it, not that you just put up with it."

Ronan shakes his head again.

"Wesley would be into it too, if that's something you ever wanted to explore."

My mouth opens, but I don't know how to respond. Thankfully, I don't have to because Liam walks in with arms filled with bags of food. I take the very graciously gifted out to move away from Ronan, helping Liam with the bags before unpacking all the food. I still feel Ronan's eyes trained on me, but I do my best to ignore it, smiling up at Liam as if everything is fine when, in fact, there is very little in my life that could be described as fine.