Chapter 7
CHAPTER SEVEN
Riley
I glance down, realizing I’m wringing the blanket so tightly around my fingers they’re starting to turn white. I release my hold, smoothing the blanket over my lap as the blood rushes back into my fingers.
I’m trying to pay attention to the movie, but I’m having a hard time focusing. Usually, when I’m watching a movie or a television show back home, I’m fiddling away at something for work at the same time.
This is the first time since I started my podcast that I’ve gone this long without doing any work-related tasks. That’s probably not good and something I need to work on, work-life balance and all that.
I have my phone with me, but my laptop is still in my rental car on the side of the road. It’s probably buried beneath a foot of snow by now. Even if I wanted to, there isn’t much I could do.
I take a deep breath, snuggling into the corner of the sectional. This forced hiatus is happening for a reason.
With a heavy exhale, I decide to let work go until the storm passes. After that, I’ll deal with everything, but for now I’m just going to let myself…. be.
“You okay?” Theo asks. There’s a cushion between us, but when he turns to look at me, it feels like he’s much closer.
I shrug and explain what I was thinking.
“It’s good to have a break now and then,” he says.
I chuckle. “It’s like this was all a grand scheme by the universe to get me to chill the fuck out for a few days.”
He smiles. “Maybe.” He runs his tongue over his lip, and I can’t stop myself from tracking the movement. “Are you going to listen to the universe, then?” he asks, his eyes more serious.
“That’s the plan.”
“Good,” he says with a nod. He smiles at me for another beat before turning back to the movie.
“Holy shit,” Finn’s voice booms as he walks into the living room. “This storm’s going to get a whole hell of a lot worse tonight.”
I frantically look out the window. “How does it get worse than this?”
Finn cringes. “They’re saying we could get a few more feet overnight.”
My eyes widen. “A few more feet, not inches. Feet?”
Finn nods. He’s still grimacing, like the storm is somehow his fault.
I bolt upright, the blanket falling to the floor at my feet. “There’s already over a foot of snow out there now. How is there going to be more?” I ask, my hands flailing around frantically.
I’ve been around snow before, but never like this. I’m usually all for new experiences, but this is a little much for me with all the other emotions coursing through me.
“That’s just the expected snow for tonight. There’s more tomorrow…” Finn continues.
My breaths come out in short pants. Fuck. Is it getting hot in here?
“Shut the hell up, Finn,” Theo barks from behind me. Theo’s arms wrap around my waist. He pulls me down, so I’m sitting on his lap. His voice is calm and steady in my ear. “I need you to take a deep breath for me.”
I do my best to drag in a lungful of air.
“That’s it. Good girl.” His fingers stroke over my hips where he’s still gently gripping me. Even through the fabric of his sweatshirt, I feel his touch like it’s directly on my skin. “Just focus on me.”
Like I could focus on anything else right now, he’s consuming my entire being.
“Take another deep breath for me.”
I inhale, filling my lungs with oxygen. Then I let it all out, relaxing into him a little more.
“That’s it. You’re safe here. No matter how bad the weather gets, we will keep you safe. I promise.”
“Mmhmm…”
“Do you trust me?”
I tilt my chin to the side so I can look at him. He isn’t asking if I trust anyone else, only him. I decide to give him the truth with a nod. “Yeah, I do.”
He lets out a shuddering exhale. It was almost like my admission rocked him to his core. “Then just trust that you’re safe, and don’t worry about anything else. Just enjoy these few days as a little vacation.”
“Okay,” I say, letting all the tension in my body go as I lie back against him.
Finn plops down on the opposite side of the couch. “His dom voice got to you, didn’t it?”
What?
“Finn,” Theo warns. “I already told you to shut up.”
Finn’s hands fly up in front of him. “Fine, fine. I’ll be quiet, but you’re the one who just talked her through it.”
Again… what?
“Don’t worry about it,” Theo whispers in my ear. “Just relax.”
His voice is so soothing. I have no choice but to agree. He moves me, so I’m sitting beside him. His arm is still wrapped around me, and I’m pressed against his side.
Finn coughs into his hand, and I swear he mumbles, “Did it again,” but I don’t know for sure. I’m choosing not to care right now.
I must have fallen asleep at some point during the movie because when I blink my eyes open, the screen is black. Theo and Finn are nowhere to be seen, but there’s a blanket tucked around me.
A shiver runs through me, but it isn’t because I’m cold. Theo was able to sense my impending freak-out and was able to calm me down with seemingly no effort at all.
This probably isn’t the right word for it, but it was hot. The way he took control was drool-worthy. It was a side of Theo I had never seen before.
I’ve always been a fan of all the parts of Theo I knew, but this new layer might just be one of my favorites.
The door to the garage bangs closed, and Cole comes marching in with an armful of wood. He doesn’t even glance my way when he enters the living room.
He arranges the pieces on the large rack that’s on the far wall next to the fireplace.
I’m guessing he doesn’t even know I’m in the room, but then his eyes land on me. There’s no surprise there. He knew I was here the whole time and chose not to acknowledge me.
I can’t be mad about it. I did the same thing to him this morning. Aren’t we just the perfect pair?
What the hell? No.
“Are you expecting your furnace to go out?” I ask him.
He shrugs. “Not unless the power goes out.” He must sense the worry in my eyes because he adds. “The fire will keep us plenty warm if it happens.”
I nod, tucking the blanket under my chin.
He walks back into the garage to grab more wood. I try not to watch him as he moves in load after load, but I can’t help myself.
I might not like the guy, but I am a woman with a vagina. I’m all too aware of the way his muscles bulge and bunch as he moves around.
It’s so distracting. I can’t focus on anything else.
“Enjoying the show?” Finn asks, leaning over the back of the couch at my side.
I turn my head, finding him way closer than I thought he was. “I was just watching the TV.”
He rolls his eyes. “Sure you were.”
I push my hand into the side of his beard-covered face, shoving him away. “Theo was right when he kept telling you to shut up.”
He laughs loudly, then rolls over the couch. He’s so big that when he plops down beside me, I’m pulled into his side.
“You’re like a child in a giant’s body.” I laugh.
“There are worse ways to live,” he says, grinning down at me. “I don’t think you mind, either.”
No. No, I really don’t.
Being around Finn makes me happy. It’s that simple.