10. Unconventional
Chapter ten
Unconventional
Charlie
She scared the shit out of all of us. After her emergency surgery, she was unconscious for almost six days. She’s doing well, still recovering from the bullet wound to her abdomen, and will be for a while. She’s even better knowing that her ex is behind bars, and will be for a long time.
Things changed pretty quickly between myself and Owen the night Millie was shot. He was everything I needed and more at the hospital. He told me about the conversation with Jack, why he said he couldn’t make it, that he’d tried to get Jack alone before the ball, but it never happened. That’s when he messaged me. He didn’t want me any more involved than I already was. He said if it wasn’t for Leon, Jack would have punched him. He didn’t want me to see that. Owen understands that he should have been honest with me about it all. He was easy to forgive. There’s also something he’s not telling me. I have no idea what it is. I just know he’s keeping something from me. He’s a little more reserved when I ask him about work, especially about Millie and the case against her ex. I’m sure he’ll tell me when he’s ready.
I’m used to noise in the week. I’ve been rudely awoken every morning since the builders started on Monday. I gave them a key to let themselves in. Biggest mistake I ever made. I now have no warning before they arrive. And it’s just noise. For at least eight hours of my day.
Owen’s had to stop me going downstairs on a number of occasions in my underwear, to tell them to shut up. I don’t like being woken up. I’m not a morning person. It takes me at least two coffees to realise what planet I’m on.
Today's Saturday, there should be no noise, there should be silence. Only silence.
“What’s that noise?” I groan, feeling the bed for Owen, but I come up empty-handed. What the hell? My Saturday is going from bad to worse. Since last weekend we’ve not left each other’s beds. He stays here mostly because the hours he works are utterly mental.
Sitting up, listening carefully, I can’t hear anyone talking, just the sound of a drill being used. And the chime of a bell? Slipping my feet into my flip flops, I make my way through the kitchen, descending the stairs in just my bright pink knickers and one of Owen's shirts.
Searching around the shop for the offending noise, I find Owen, crouched down, looking ready to eat. He’s dressed in dark jeans and a tight black t-shirt—his signature look.
“Owen, what are you doing making noise on a weekend?” I ask, surprised by what I’m seeing. He stops what he’s doing and his eyes drift over to me. He laughs before groaning when he notices I’ve not buttoned up the shirt.
Kicking the front door to the shop he was drilling closed, he steps closer, tugging me into his chest in one quick movement. Ignoring his now roaming hands, I want to know why he has disturbed my sleep.
“Answer my question. Why do I hear noise?” I ask, pouting like a teenager.
“I’m fitting your new entry bell for the shop. You’re always working upstairs or in one of the back rooms. You have no idea who’s coming and going. At least this way you’ll know when someone comes in and you can pop your beautiful head out and see who it is.” He kisses my nose and I have no idea how to respond to that.
“Wow, I don’t know what to say. You may have a slight hero complex,” I tease softly.
“You don’t have to say anything. I’ve also replaced the lock on the back door, so people have to buzz to get in.”
“Oh, well, er, thanks.” I like that he cares. We're not official, we’ve not told anyone about us. It’s unconventional what we have. It’s what we both want. It suits us. We do our own thing, then we come together and blow each other’s minds.
There are the occasional moments when we act like an actual couple, like having lunch together… and dinner… and breakfast every day. Huh , I guess we're more like a normal couple than I thought.
“You’re welcome. Now about this outfit you keep coming downstairs in.” Taking a quick look down, I smile. The shirt smells of him. Clutching it, he lifts it just enough to get his hand on my arse.
“What about it?” My body reacts to his touch with a shiver that goes straight to my core.
“It looks better on you than it does me. I have a distinct feeling it’s also why the builders keep coming early. Builders don’t come in early. Ever.” He’s as serious as Owen gets, his tone laced with a hint of jealousy.
“Oh, well, if it gets them working a little harder in the day for me, I’m okay with it.” Spinning out of his grasp, I make my way back upstairs, Owen following close behind. Flicking on the coffee machine when we make it to the kitchen, Owen grabs two cups from the cupboard and hands them to me.
It’s a very domestic scene, one I’m not sure about, it feels too comfortable, but it feels right to have him here with me. Watching as the machine lights up, I grab the cream and sugar, while Owen places our cups under the machine, the smell of coffee filling the room.
“I know this is not how you planned your Saturday morning to go, but I have a job I need to be on today, and I wanted to fit the bell before I left.” It's sweet. I like this side of Owen; the side that wants to take care of me. “I was planning on coming back to bed to wake up very slowly before I left,” he adds, brushing the hair from my shoulder, his lips pressing to the pulse point on my neck.
“I guess you missed out this morning, then.” I fucking love tormenting him. It sparks the fire in his eyes, turning them a deeper green. I reach for the coffee capsules beside him and his hand wraps around my wrist, bringing my hand to his hot mouth where he sucks on the tip of my fingers.
“You think I’m going to miss out?” I know what’s coming, the anticipation that’s building in my lower belly sparks to life.
“Yes, I do.” We both know he’s not going to be missing out. This is the best sort of foreplay. This side of Owen is my favourite. He’s a god in bed, demanding my body to bend to his will. I fucking love it. I’ll submit to him. Any fucking day of the week. I love the power play. Teasing him only makes him worse. It brings out the possessiveness I crave from him.
Getting bolder with my words, I say, “I think you’ll have to wait.” His eyes turn darker, a playful smirk turning up the corner of his lips a fraction, suggesting otherwise. We stand in silence for a few moments, our gazes locked as the anticipation builds like a heavy weight in the room.
His tone is so low, I barely catch it. “I hope you’re ready, Angel.” The thrill that sweeps through me makes my nipples harden until they’re painful.
“I’m ready…but I have places to be today too. I need to get myself ready to visit Millie.” He freezes for the briefest of moments and covers it quickly.
“Visiting starts in an hour and I don’t want to miss my time with her.” Before I can move away, he captures my mouth with his in a kiss so dominating it sends me weak at the knees.
“You will pay for that, Angel. I’m going to be hard all day. Just wait until I slide into bed later. I’ll have you on your knees, fucking you so hard you’ll be begging me to make you come.” Holy fucking hell, this man. He’s creeping in, burning down walls one at a time.
I don’t have any words. I just let out a breath while his smirk widens to a full-blown smile.
Fucker.
“Looking forward to it, OG.” He looks puzzled. I’ve not told him what I have saved him as in my phone.
“What does OG mean?”
“That’s a secret I may keep for just a little while longer,” I tease, as he taps my arse before picking up his coffee.
“Right,” he says, frowning. “I’m sure I’ll be able to get it out of you later.”
Laughing, I have no doubt he will get an orgasm out of me later. I add, “I’m sure you will.” I move to get dressed.
“Hey, you,” I say as quietly as I can. Millie was asleep when I got here.
“I told Jack to head home and rest.” Rolling her eyes, she nods towards the window leading to the hall. Jack’s like a guard dog that never leaves.
“He’s still outside, isn’t he?” I ask.
She sighs. “Yep.”
“You caught yourself one of the best there, Millie. I don’t think you could have designed a better man for yourself.”
“I know. I have to tell you something.” Sitting in the seat beside her, I place some chocolate cake on her table. Watching her eyes light up, she takes it and gets stuck in. If it wasn’t for the chef at The Manor, I’m not sure she would never eat an actual meal. She could live off coffee and chocolate cake if you let her.
“What did you need to tell me?”
Putting down the fork and swallowing the huge bite she took, she pauses for a moment before she shouts, “I’m engaged!”
“Oh my god, Millie, that’s so fucking amazing,” I cry, jumping from the chair. I want to hug her so hard and I almost do, but then remember she’s in a hospital bed and sit back down. Instead, I take her hand and kiss it.
“I know. Look.” She shows me the ring.
“Shitting hell, that’s huge,” I say as I pull it towards me to take a closer look. It's stunning.
“I know. Isn’t it beautiful?” Her cheeks turn a deep shade of red.
“It’s perfect Millie.” Tears well in my eyes when we look at each other.
“Take a wild guess how he proposed?”
“Oh shit, was it bad?”
“No, it was perfect. Just very Jack style of doing things.”
“Go on, tell me.”
“I woke up with it on my finger.”
“What?” I ask, confused.
“When I came round, it was already on my finger. He put it on me while I was unconscious. He said he wanted to know how it looked, but then he fell asleep and forgot about it. It was only when I said he had some explaining to do and showed him that he remembered doing it. I told him to ask me, and he did.” Happiness is written all over her face.
“I can’t tell you how happy this makes me, Millie. I promise I will be there for you through anything from this moment forward.”
“Is that your proposal?”
“Fuck off.” I laugh.
“Two proposals in one week. I’m a lucky woman. I’m going to have to turn you down though.” She giggles and winces. “You see, I’ve met this man, six five, blue eyes, blond, and I think he really loves me for who I am.”
“If I have to give you up for anyone, I guess it could be Jack.” Jack opens the door, coming straight to Millie's side when he notices she’s crying, wiping the tears away with his fingers.
“Why are you crying?” His concern for her is cute.
“I just told Charlie we’re getting married.”
“And it made you cry?” he questions. His face is priceless, eyebrows almost reaching his man bun, but I can see the small smile he’s giving her.
“Happy crying. I had to turn down my other proposal today though.” Fuck me, Jack's face turns to thunder and I have to bite the inside of my cheek to stop myself from laughing.
“Who?” It’s one word. He’s restraining himself. “Was it one of the doctors? A nurse?”
We both burst out laughing. We only tell him what she’s talking about after a few minutes when he starts asking who he needs to fire.
It’s good to be here with Millie. I know I’ve made the right decision to move down here. It’s going to be good.