Page 61 of Only Ever Yours
I tried not to think of Finn being close by as I reached the peak. “I know, but…I’m almost there…”
He bent forward over me, placing a palm over my mouth. For a second, I almost panicked, but the distraction from wanting to cry out was almost a relief. My body shook as the orgasm took over, hips arching as Jase buried himself in me for a final time. Our gazes were locked, each of us teetering on the precipice, and right in that moment, I knew we now would be connected after all the times of shared glances and stolen moments. Forever.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Jase
It started out like any other Sunday night. Hollis and I were snuggled up at one end of the sofa, Finn sitting in the armchair. We were watching a film—some romcom Hollis had chosen; however, I wasn’t really paying attention to the television, simply enjoying the closeness between us. A loud, insistent knock on the front door startled us.
“Who’s that at this time of night?” Finn grumbled.
“Ignore it,” suggested Hollis. “It’s probably someone selling stuff.”
“At quarter to nine on a Sunday night? They’re keen,” I observed. “Maybe someone’s in trouble,” said Hollis, sitting up straighter as the knocking got louder like someone smacking a fist against the wood.
“I’ll go,” Finn said on a sigh.
Hollis reached for the remote and paused the film while Finn went into the hallway. We could hear raised voices, and for a moment, I wondered whether I should go out, too. Instead, someone burst into the living room. My jaw dropped.
Gil. Hollis’s ex.
We obviously hadn’t seen him since the day Hollis had picked up her stuff from their flat in London, and I had never expected to see him in Maplebrook. Clearly, neither did Hollis, given the way she shrank into my chest, pressing herself against me.
Finn hovered in the doorway, shaking his head. “I’m sorry, he pushed past me before I could do anything.”
I shook my head, indicating it wasn’t his fault. “What are you doing here?” I snapped.
Gil stood in the centre of the room, his eyes glassy like he’d either drunk a lot or taken something. “I came to get what’s mine.” His gaze was fixed firmly on Hollis.
“Don’t know if you remember,buddy,but Hollis has never been your possession, and you two were over long ago.” I wrapped my arms around her, protecting her from the crazy that stood in front of us.
He let out a stark laugh. “So, she gave up a life with me for a meathead like you? I never thought she was dumb.”
“Why did you come here? I’ve never given you any indication that I wanted to get back together with you.” Hollis hadn’t said a word until now. Her voice wavered slightly as she spoke.
“Why do you think? We were good together; you can’t deny that.” He gave a manic smile. “Come on, Hollis. I know you miss me.”
The guy is clearly unhinged.
I could feel Hollis shaking in my arms, almost like the last time we’d seen him although I couldn’t be sure whether she was scared or angry. Rage roiled in my stomach at him making her feel like that. I tightened my grip on her, trying to reassure her through touch, but she shook me off. She got up and stalked across the living room to where he stood.
“I miss you?” She spat. “You think I miss you notbeing outside my workplace?” She poked a finger into his chest. “You think I miss you not being there when I’m on a night out with friends? You think I miss youstalkingme? Tracking me with an app? You said you loved me, and then you did all of those shitty things. And now, you’re still doing them? Who does that to someone they claim to love? I haven’t given you a second thought since I walked out, Gil. Your behaviour wasn’t healthy then, and it isn’t healthy now.” Her chest heaved as she got the words out.
Gil stared at her, taking everything she’d thrown at him.
“You didn’t tell me that.” Finn’s voice came from the doorway. “You said he’d been possessive; I didn’t realise how much. How could you do that to my sister?” His tone was low, threatening.
Every ounce of my being wanted to get up and punch seven shades out of this guy, and I saw it reflected in Finn’s face, too.
Gil reached out and grabbed Hollis’s arm, pulling her towards him. “Come on, you know you’re better off with me.”
She wrenched herself away at the same moment I jumped up. I couldn’t help myself as I launched at him, fists flying, getting in a hit wherever I could. It was messy and badly thought out, but I wanted to protect Hollis at all costs.
“Jase, stop!”
“Fuck’s sake, leave him, mate.”
Voices went unheard as I carried on blindly swinging until I heard a crash and a female scream, which brought me to an abrupt halt. I saw Gil cowering in front of me, blood coming from his nose. Then I turned to see Hollis crumpled on the floor next to the coffee table, and I froze, Finn going over to herinstead.
