Page 50 of Tainted Saints

I wait as the three dots appear.

Aoife

I got you, babe. But in exchange I want all the gory details! Xxx

I have to actively control my breathing as excitement runs through me. A whole weekend to pretend that I’m free, even if it is risky, but I’m only seventeen, why shouldn’t I take risks?

Aspen

Done xxx

I barely register the rest of the journey, excitement thrumming through my veins and making everything around me seem sharper, more vibrant. Once we get back, I don’t even wait for Bobby to open the door, flinging it wide and bounding up the steps, the door to the house opening as I approach.

“Good afternoon, Miss Aspen,” Gerrard greets as I whizz past.

“Good afternoon. I’m staying at my friend, Aoife’s, this weekend, so I’ll be back on Sunday at some point,” I tell him in my rush upstairs, not waiting to hear his reply as I hurry to my room and start to pack a bag.

Apparently, Friday is my day off from training, so Blaine isn’t waiting for me in the gym, but I can’t wait to see his face when I turn up at the pound.

I’m not even aware of what I’m grabbing as I stuff it into my leather overnight bag and then rush back out of the room and down the stairs.

“Have a lovely time, Miss Aspen,” Gerrard calls out as I practically run to the car. I wave over my shoulder, butterflies dancing in my stomach as I get in the still-open door.

I bounce in my seat the whole drive over, then we’re there, pulling up in front of the pound.

“I’ll come and get you on Sunday, Miss Aspen,” Bobby tells me, and I catch his eye in the mirror, giving him a nod, sudden nerves making it impossible to speak.

Exiting the car, I slowly make my way up the metal stairs, my steps quiet and timid. Then I’m in front of the door and raising my trembling fist.

* * *

“Runaway” by AURORA

FOREST

We’re just shooting shit in the living room when a knock on the door sounds. Frowning, we glance at each other, uneasy looks on Lan’s and Blaine’s faces. Bolt sits up and walks over to the door, whining low and scratching at the wood which is not how he’d usually react to an unexpected knock.

“Who the fuck is that?” Lan asks as I get up to get it.

With furrowed brows, I open the door and all the breath leaves my lungs when I see her, standing there with wide, beautiful green eyes and a large bag slung over her shoulder.

“My parents are away until Monday,” she blurts out, her cheeks colouring as I just stand there, drinking her in. “Aoife is saying I’m at hers and I thought…” She swallows, shifting from foot to foot.

“You want to stay with us, here, for the weekend, sugar?” I question, a moment before I’m being pushed to the side and Blaine is dragging her inside and slamming the door closed.

“If that’s okay?” she asks, looking at each of us as we surround her, Blaine still holding her arm.

Fuck, the idea of having her here, all to ourselves, to touch and hold anytime we want to…well, shit. It damn near short-circuits my brain, but luckily, some part of me knows what the fuck to do, and I’m pulling the bag off her shoulder before pulling her away from Blaine and into my arms.

“It’s so much more than okay, Little Lady,” I whisper, wrapping her in my arms and just breathing her in. She smells so fucking good, like everything I’ve been missing in my life.

“You sure it’ll be okay for you?” Lan questions like the dick he is, and I feel her stiffen in my arms.

“As okay as it can be,” she mumbles, her hand gripping the back of my shirt. “I want to be normal, just for a couple of days.”

“Then that’s exactly what will happen,” I tell her, pressing a kiss to the top of her head and giving Lan the stink eye. His jaw works, then I watch him take a breath and visibly relax his shoulders. “What do you want to do first?”

I pull back, just enough so I can look into her beautiful face, and like always, I’m fucking blown away. I don’t care that we barely know each other. That she’s so much higher than me in society’s eyes. She feels right, like she was always meant to be ours, and I will fight anyone who tries to take her away from her.

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