The One Awakened: Book 1 in The One Trilogy (24 page)

“Poor Niall - That would be awful for him if things didn’t go his way.”
 

We giggle together cattily as only best girlfriends can when discussing their ex’s. Niall was nothing if not spoiled.

“After Niall had gone Seb & I bathed Finn.” I continued but Abs interrupts me again, clicking her fingers.

“Ooh very domesticated. That’s my girl.”

I laugh at her. “Stop it naughty. He wanted to talk but I needed to get Finn to bed, so two birds, one stone blah blah.”

“Two balls, one rock and drag him to bed, Flintstone style and just get on with it.” She mutters saucily and I belly laugh. This is why I needed to be with her today. She was a star and much more spontaneous than I’ve ever been.

“Get your mind out of the gutter… I finally got Finn to sleep and we started to talk. Something we’ve always had no problem doing. One thing lead to another and we were bloody kissing… again!”

“Did he make the first move or you?”
 

I look at her face, intently focused on me and ponder her question, remembering back to last night, his hands on my body, electric currents fizzing along every nerve.

“
He
did.”
I didn’t put up much resistance though, I think inwardly.

She just nods and encourages me to continue.

“There were loads of mixed signals. He said it was
me,
and
him,
and that he was never here, made lots of excuses for the
fuck-up
that had been last weekend but at the same time kissed the socks off me. I was so turned on I made a move to take his t-shirt off, thinking
sod it,
we’re grown-ups
,
we’ve agreed to
service one-another
and he stopped me…
again!
”

Her big liquid brown eyes mirrored my own confused expression and I wince.

“I know right? All the men in my life want to do is
talk
to me… and all I want to do with him is
touch
. Now I’m getting flowers like it’s my birthday and
Missing You
messages and the latest in a long line of fuck buddy rules… look!”
 

I thrust the handwritten note in front of her face and calmly she retracts it from my clutch and thoroughly examines the evidence.

“Woah! - Rule number 4 - how many will there be?” she hands it back to me before adding. “All very illicit though - I like his train of thought. This should be done properly or not at all and you definitely need to go with the flow, if you go down this route; he’s the expert after all!” Her wink makes me grin and I chew my lip in thought.

“Do you want my honest opinion though?”

“Of course.”

“Sebastian and you have unfinished business. There’s obviously something there; we know that, probably always has been. But… and I know you don’t want to hear this, you’ve been out of the game a while, he
is
and always has been a player and I don’t want you to get hurt. I’m proud of you for putting yourself out there and moving on from that dick Niall but I’m worried that you won’t be able to stop at
a brief affair
?”

I nod mutely, it’s my one niggling fear too but I can’t just
not do something
for fear of getting hurt, and I repeat this to Abby, who agrees wholeheartedly.
 

“OK. So you’re decided you
are
going to do this, go into it with
open eyes
and
open legs
Missy.” Her deep sexy laugh is contagious and I join in before she holds a hand up and adds,

“Hey, what about Leo? Aren’t you supposed to be taking him on Saturday night?”

Crap I’d forgotten all about him. “Yep.”
 

“Well give him a chance, as date experience and worst case scenario you can use him to make Sebastian jealous. You’ll only be following rule number 4: Forget your history and act like strangers, to enhance the plea…suurreee.”

Giggling as she puts on her sexy voice, I consider her words. “You’re a wise old bird Hun but what about all these FBR’s? No.1: He decides where and when, No.2: Not just one night but more, No.3: I need to trust him and be open to anything… blah blah blah.” I catch the glint of humour in her eyes.

“What?”

“You just don’t like the fact that he’s more in control than you are babe. Don’t drop everything for another man though. Your thong maybe but don’t let him have it
all
his way… unless you’re up for a bit of submission?”

I shake my head at her excessively.
I’d never really got all that Yes Sir. No Sir. Three bags full sir, bollocks.

“Don’t quaff at it unless you tried it Hun; not so bad,” she raises her brows saucily at me.

“Seriously too much information. What about you and Na?”
 

“Oh God I’ve so much on with work, I didn’t think I had time for anything remotely related to a love life, then Nathan came along and boom - I’m a goner!” Her face shines with radiant excitement. “… and enough with the old!”

“Talk about delayed-reaction!”

We laugh together and start to gather up our things. It was unfortunately time to get back to our respective offices.

“You know me Lu, caution is not my strong suit. He sent me a text asking me to go to S & G’s with him and I literally danced Gangnam style around my computer, I was so ecstatic. Hardly playing it cool - hey? Behind every frog…” she smiles coyly at our favourite analogy of finding a good man, amongst the many crappy ones and we shout in unison, “… is a horny toad!” and collapse, giggling like silly teenagers.

“Seriously though, Nathan is most definitely
not
a frog. If it runs in the family I don’t think there’ll be anything cold-blooded about him. Rather so hot you’ll sizzle!”
I correct her teasingly and feel for my best friend. She had it as bad as I did. These brothers had cast a spell over us both and within a week we were bobbing around in a wave of quick silver, clawing at any scrap they threw our way - disgustingly desperate and it worried the hell out of me.

“I’m seriously going to have to be careful with this guy Lu.” Her face crumples at the inevitability of what is undoubtedly to come. “One kiss and I’m ready to let him delve in and fondle my fortune cookie!”
 

It’s my turn to cough up the last remnants of my drink in shock but she continues,

“Honestly! – It’s desperate to have its path crossed with silver.” Her dirty laugh fills the room. Eyes twinkling, aware of her bluntness and open mouthed with innocence she shrugs. “I can’t help it Chick. My cookie has turned into a monster!”
 

We collapse in laughter until putting our jackets on Abs stops in her tracks, a familiar look upon her face. I knew that face; she was forming a plan.
 

“Forget the bloody men - you and me Friday night - drinks at Rehab. I won’t take no for an answer.”
 

Her perfectly threaded arches dare me to decline and I sigh.

“It
is
Niall’s weekend. Although he’s bringing Finn back Saturday morning and then taking him again in the afternoon, complete pain for Finn and I.”

“God that man’s rubbish - I swear he does it on purpose! You know, so its impossible for you to have a man stay overnight?” I think she’s hit the nail on the head with her opinion; I’ve often thought the same thing myself.

“But… I was going to chill, as we’re out for Suzie’s party the night after. Maybe give myself a mani-pedi.”
Get myself prepared for seeing Seb tomorrow night.

I feel her swat me on the arm. “You need to get out there babe - forget Mr. Silver and have some fun Abby-style.” Her wiggle tips me over the edge and I grin.

As we make our way to the till, arguing over who’s shout it is, I reluctantly concede and allow Abby to pay our tab. “Thanks for being there Abs. Not sure I’m any further forward but certainly feel better for getting things off my chest.”

“Well a problem shared and halved and all that.” She drops a tip in the bowl for the drippy little waitress we’d scared off with our sex talk.

“Or in our case - brothers - at least they’re not twins, that would be way too weird!”

Laughing cheerfully we hug each other goodbye and set off in opposite directions to settle back to the business of design. I head off feeling much lighter and brighter, turning back as I near the end of the cobbled street to wave happily at my Bezzi. Life was unsettled at present but I could always count on this best friend to boost me.
 

I run like I’m being chased, by a serial killer; my feet pounding on the ground, sweat pouring from body, pushing my muscles to their limits. Continuing on the path, up past the local pub
‘The Babes in Arms’
, through the snicket that takes me over the local farmers field and up a hill for another half a mile until I reach the reservoir. My music pumps from my earphones, Right here, right now by Fatboy Slim blasts out - fantastic tune! Each bloody song brings me back to Lu.
 

It had taken every ounce of willpower I had to walk away the other night and only two things were keeping me sane right now - relentless exercise and cold showers! I wince as I’m haunted by memories of her beautiful hot body pressed up against mine, her tongue darting in and out temptingly, eyes shining with lust. I could have taken her right there on that God damned kitchen top but
oh no
- I had to be the knight in fucking shining Silver armour, all decent and respectable. I’m seriously regretting my offer of a special night of pleasure rather than just getting our freak on, on the floor - puts far too much pressure on us both now.
 

I stop at the sty, to catch my breath and readjust my ever awakening cock - my stonking hard-on was making things rather comfortable - then head off to finish the final leg of my run.

God she was stubborn!
 

I thought I was stubborn but she was beyond the mule - I liked that she was independent and knew her own mind but together we were a pair of recalcitrant teenagers. Our arguments will not be pretty - I’ve already had a taste of that. At least she’d been agreeable to my offer of when and where and more than one night. If we were to venture down this untravelled path, we had to have some time to explore and now that we would be working on The Ashton together, I’d be able to fix things, so that was
plentiful!
One month of enjoying Lucia’s temptingly curvaceous form - my smile widens at the notion.

As I reach the top of the hill, cows gently mooing at my right, greenery abundant I take a deep breath and enjoy the Yorkshire Dales, rolling in the distance, transferring my view over the resplendent reservoir. Tranquility at its best. Here things were simple.
 

My thoughts drift back to Niall.
What was his game?
Lu’s so bloody innocent she can’t see how men look at her but I did; I saw his eyes and the territorial gleam there, when I grabbed her arse. He’d been seriously pissed that I was fucking things up for him.
Well tough - you had your chance mate, now sling your hook!

It’d been odd seeing him after all this time and sad really that I still held such contempt for him. Finn was such a little star, I’d winced was he’d launched himself at me, rather than his Dad but then again you get back what you put into relationships. Niall had, and always would do the bare minimum with any relationship. I feel myself chuckling as I’m reminded of Finn calling Niall
‘Lion’
and growling expressively and then the memory of the look of disdain on his father’s face stops my smile in its tracks.
Arse!
 

I take one last look at the lake, the sky mirrored within it and ripples, mesmerising as they form across the surface. I’d have to bring Lu up here with me for a run and maybe a picnic.

The woods were dark and secretive and there’d be no chance of being seen within them - just the thought of ramming into her, outside, amongst nature, naked -
Jesus Seb you’re not helping yourself here mate
, an inner voice reminds me as I readjust my cock again.
 

A quick stretch against an old tree trunk and I head back in the direction I’d come. My music switches to Roger Sanchez, I never knew and again I’m reminded of Lulu; the words are seriously spooky.