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When I opened my eyes, I wasn't expecting a strong stubble jaw and the mouth of a God to be in my line of vision. I definitely wasn't expecting my head to be rested on a hard strong chest. I sure as hell wasn't expecting my leg to be swung across his waist in a tangle of sheets.

And I friggin' wasn't expecting his hand to lazily be gripping my bare thigh.

After a moment, my mind started to register the situation and I groaned. Damn him. Why was he still here? Why am I happy he didn't leave even though I'd told him to?

He shifted under me.

I moved my hand up his chest, past his neck and to his cheek...

Then I slapped. Twice.

He groaned. "Yes?"

Oh, Jesus.

His voice was husky and deep from not being used. It made his chest vibrate. My ear tickled and I sighed. It was too early I was sure...

"I told you to leave when it stopped raining." I mumbled.

He turned sideways so his mesmerizing eyes were at level with mine. He kept my leg draped over his waist with his hand.

"It didn't stop raining."

I tried to get up to look but he stopped me. "Can we go back to sleep now?"

As much as I wanted to, we couldn't. It was daylight now and if he's seen leaving the house on a Sunday, I wouldn't know what people would think. And what if Laura or Damien or Lucas saw him leaving?

"No, we cannot go back to sleep. You were supposed to be gone before everyone woke up."

"Its six-thirty in the morning give me some time, Evangeline. It's too early to argue."

"Arguing is the only thing keeping my mind straight."

He shut his eyes and rested his forehead against mine. He didn't understand what he was doing to me.

"From what?" He wondered.

"A number of things."

"Name a few."

"I'd rather not."

"I'm not moving until you say at least one." His large hand tightened on my leg and I parted my lips.

"That, for example, is distracting."

"What?" His hand slowly grazed up my thigh. "This?"

"Reeves." I sighed out.

My mind wasn't coherent enough to work so early in the morning. Why I even woke up so early, was beyond questionable. 

I glanced at his lips. What I would give to have his lips on mine or his bottom lip between my teeth...

Keep it together, Evie.

"Technically," He started as his fingers crept toward my tank top. "You can make your own decisions. Me being here isn't... Wrong. Is it?"

I nodded not able to form words. My attention was on the hand playing with a loose thread on my top.

He chuckled at my answer and sighed. His eyes turned serious a moment and he said, "Damn, I shouldn't be here."

"Oh, I know." He just contradicted himself but okay. "Do you have classes today?" I asked trying to defuse this ticking time bomb. I grabbed his hand at my top and moved it to his side.

"Hmmm..." His head moved from mine and rested at the crook of my neck. "Nope."

"But..." I swallowed. His breath tickled the side of my neck and I shuddered. "You said Saturday's were your days off."

"Who has class on a Sunday?" His chin grazed my collarbone as he spoke. He rolled over so I was on my back and he was pressed into me. Just my luck, I felt a particular area on him press against me more than the rest of him.

"Why are you so hyper this early in the morning?" I tried not to move a single muscle below my waist otherwise we'd both be in trouble.

"Honestly?"

Oh dear it's that word again. How many times has that word got me in trouble with him? Twice? Three times?

"I'm not usually." I jumped a little when I felt his tongue dart out and touch my neck. "Maybe it's because I'm with you. Otherwise, I'd be happy to sleep until night."

I bit my lip. "I hate what you're doing to me."

He grabbed my leg and propped it up. "You're saying that to put distance between us. You're very evasive."

I scowled. "If anything, I am not evading. I like to tackle things head on." Half true. Most of the time I did like to sort things out head on but otherwise I am sort of evasive.

His mouth drew the skin on my neck into his mouth making me squirm underneath him.

"To be honest," He mumbled. His lips brushing back and forth against my neck. "I should be the one avoiding you."

I tilted my head to the side unconsciously for him to get more access. "You're never clear in what you say."

His whole body froze a moment and he sighed. "It's hard."

"Oh God, I know."

He chuckled and his chest vibrated against mine. "No, Dimples. It's hard for me to be honest with people or be... Real." His head moved from my neck and he beamed down at me. His pupils were slightly dilated but not as much as I'd seen it before. 

"It's been a while since I've been honest with someone. I've known John for a very long time and he's the only thing I've got left of a family. He's who I put my trust and honesty in."

"How did you meet John?"

He watched his fingers skim up and down my leg causing bolts of electricity to tingle around in circles. "It was more like a stumble across each other story. We were... Traveling in the same circle and stuck together. Ever since then he's been like a younger adolescent brother to me."

He really loved John it seemed. The way he spoke about him made me wonder what the whole story was.

"You and John do look very close."

"John wouldn't be happy that I'm here."

I raised a brow. "Why's that?"

"Because he told me to stay away from you." His face told me to listen to him.

"Why?"

"One of many questions I cannot answer."

I laughed. "Figures."

He stared into my eyes and tilted his head to the side like a cute confused puppy. "In just over a month, you've broken down most of my defences. How did you do it?"

"Is that a rhetorical question because I honestly haven't a clue what the answer is."

When he chuckled, it settled right next to my heart...

"Alright, you need to go."

He smiled down at me with the softest expression I'd ever seen on his face.

I smiled. "What?"

His hand stroked my cheek. "You're different." I watched his head lower but then I put my hands on his chest to stop him. "Just one kiss?" He teased with a smirk.

"If you kiss me, it'll be harder for me to kick you out." I watched my hands move to the edge of his white shirt and had the pleasure of catching a glimpse of his rock hard stomach.

"I know." He smirked. "I can't help myself around you. You're so..." His nose brushed against mine and his mouth brought my bottom lip between his teeth. I let out a small moan and slipped my hands into his shirt. His stomach tensed under my touch. "You're so--"

"Can we discuss this later?" I captured his lips.

His tongue immediately massaged mine in a soft slow rhythm. I don't think I'll ever be satisfied. He was too... Addicting. At this moment I couldn't care less if he was here until next week, as long as I'd get to do this every day.

I moved my hands from under his shirt and into his silky, fluffy hair to tug him closer. I loved his bed head. I'd had enough of him being in control. I pulled his head back and smiled at him evilly. He narrowed his eyes at me and I pushed him until he was on his back and followed him.

"What are you doing?"

"I've had enough of you being in control, Michael." I brought my mouth to the side of his neck and sucked the skin into my mouth. He was so soft. "I can't actually be bothered to deny it any longer."

His hands gripped my waist and shifted me so I was fixed against him. He ground his hips just a little bit and I rested my forehead against his with a small moan. "Deny what?" His voice had turned husky and rough, his eyes filled with lust and his jaw unusually clenched.

"This damned attraction I have for you." I put my hands on the pillow either side of his head. The feelings that were slowly developing inside me were scary. Boyfriend's in the past I have had feelings for but never as strong as this. "Don't you think we should stop?" I asked.

He tried to sit up but I held his shoulders down. "Stop?" He asked.

I nodded. "As much as I'd love to carry this on..." I stroked his clenched jaw. "You really... Really need to go."

And as if on cue, there was a knock on my door. All of the blood drained from my face as I stared at the door.

"Evie," Someone croaked in a fatigued voice. "If you're awake let me tell you now, I feel like shit and I might be throwing up all day. I don't get good hangovers. Shower as soon as possible. If you value our friendship don't play loud music at all today, don't slam doors and try not to stomp up and down the stairs. Pass the message on when you see the boys."

I waited a moment and sighed in defeat. "Alright Laura." I half yelled careful not to be too loud.
I heard her groans and then the sound of a door closing across the hall.

Michael sat up with me still straddled on his hips and grabbed my waist for balance. "Maybe leaving is a good idea." He turned his bright green gaze onto me with amusement.

I laughed quietly. "Really?" We stared into each others eyes and I ran my hands up his neck into his hair. "You need to go."

His hands rubbed at my sides and pulled me forward until our chests were pressed together. "How many times have you said that to me?"

"Too many times to count." I pressed my lips to his once, twice and then moved to his jaw.

I felt his sigh so I moved back to look at him. There's that look; his torn, pained look. But this time seemed different to the rest of them. Something inside of me was begging him to choose right; so it involved me. Oh, I really didn't like the way I was thinking.

"What am I going to do?" He mumbled more to himself.

I examined his face a moment before glancing at the door and climbing off his lap. I needed to pop this bubble we were in. "Well I can think of a suggestion: leave." I ran my hands through my disheveled hair and walked to my dresser. I glanced at him to catch him staring at me but he didn't turn or act embarrassed that he had been caught. "What?"

He stood up from the bed. "It's nothing."

He grabbed his wet jacket and gestured for me to lead the way. I took a deep breath, walked to my door and opened it a bit. The bathroom door was closed and I could hear Laura's unfortunate gagging.

I frowned and grabbed Michael's arm to follow me downstairs. There was no worrying about the boys waking up; they never woke up before eleven on Sunday. I let go of his arm as we made it to the ground floor and glanced at the living room. There were a few empty drinks bottles and cans but I'd make them clean it up.

I opened the door and laughed quietly. He was right. It was still raining.

He stepped outside but turned to me in the door way. I leant up against the frame with a small smile. "Don't come back."

He smiled that cute, care free smile of his and crossed his arms across his chest. "I'll try not to." I could see his body tense a little like he was fighting with himself. But then his shoulders relaxed, stepped forward and lifted one of his hands to my face and the other to my waist. Instead of kissing me like I was expecting, he surprisingly pressed his lips lightly to my forehead and whispered the same words as earlier, "What am I going to do."

My heart leapt into my throat and I tried to swallow it.

And before I could try to comment, he let go of me and walked straight into the downpour. I watched the back of him as he walked around the corner and out of sight.

I closed the door and leant my forehead against it with a deep breath. What the hell am I going to do? Last night and this morning was something I thought I could never do with him. He'd always been so reserved, so isolated. I knew nothing about him before last night apart from the fact that he was beyond beautiful and had the smile, lips and body of a God.

Now that I've seen this part of him, I wanted more. Everything about him was addicting. He was... perfect. How many times have I used that word on him?

I turned around in time to see Laura shuffle through the living room and into the kitchen.
My face paled. Did she see?

I followed her into the kitchen and went into the fridge to pull out the milk. Just act like nothing happened. I grabbed the Lucky Charms box and filled up a bowl. I glanced at Laura a few times and noticed her very pale ill face and a sparkle of fresh sweat on her forehead. Poor girl.
After pouring in the milk, I started to sit down only to stop halfway when she broke the silence, "Who was the guy that just left, Evie?"

I remained silent as I sat down unable to think up an appropriate answer. She either saw it was Mr. Reeves and is seeing whether I'll lie, or she truly didn't see who it was and was curious. I watched her swallow two pills and down a glass of water.

Quick say something!

"What guy?"

Stupid, stupid, stupid.

She laughed a tired laugh and sat opposite me. "You look very tousled. And I just about heard a man voice as I was stumbling down the stairs."

Shit.

"Is it someone I know?" She croaked as she lay her head down on the table. "Did he spend the night?"

Think... hard. "Uh... He came last night and only stayed because it was raining. No you don't know him, he's... My cousin!" I half yelled. She covered her ears and groaned. "Sorry."

"You have a cousin in Canada?"

"They live in Seattle," That was true. One of my mother's sisters' lived down in the state of Washington.

"Oh right. That's cool." She lay there as I ate my breakfast and thankfully she didn't ask anymore questions. She probably did want to ask a few but she looked too sick.

I took a huge spoonful and chewed the sweet crunchy cereal.

What would class be like? I'd have to act like nothing happened and so would he. I just hoped he didn't do what he did last time and catch me out in front of the whole class. I'd kick his ass if he did it again.

"Someone was attacked last night you know."

Her statement brought my full attention to her. "What?"

"It was a fair distance away from the party. It was around ten o'clock when it was just getting started and a guy ran in saying his girlfriend had been attacked. Half the party ran out to see a girl dazed and confused staring at her arm. She must have put up a fight because there were like three bite marks."

I stared at Laura mortified and grabbed her arm without thinking. She sat up as I pointed out the faint lines of the scar on her wrist. "Did it look like this, Laura?"

She stared at her arm like it was the first time she'd ever seen it. She traced her finger around the mark and frowned. "I... don't remember."

"Laura you remember getting this right?" I think now was the time to talk about what happened. I'd never asked her what happened that night afraid she would make up a load of bull because she thought it was a scratch. Now that I look at her, she looked like she knew what she was looking at.

She shook her head but then paused and nodded.

"What did this to you? A fox? A wolf? A bear?"

Her face filled with horror as she shook her head briskly. "No... No, not a fox or a wolf or bear... no." She continued to shake her head and I stood up to stand behind her and embrace her.

"Sweetie, we don't have to talk about it if you don't want to. It was scary for me too." I rested my head next to hers and squeezed her shoulders. "We can talk about it when you're ready."

She nodded with a sigh of relief and I frowned.

What the hell is attacking these people?

Earlier, Laura had said she didn't get good hangovers (then again when does anyone get good hangovers?). That night of the attack she had drunk a lot of alcohol and yet she woke up feeling better than ever...

What in the world is going on?

I pecked her head and moved to the sink with my bowl when the doorbell rang. The clock on the wall read half seven...

Oh Christ, has he come back?

I walked to the door, opened it and gasped. "What the hell are you doing here?"

Aaron grinned revealing a small familiar dimple in one of his cheeks. "Mom dropped me off." He put his umbrella down as he pushed past me.

I narrowed my eyes at him as I shut the door. "Why?"

My brother engulfed me in a hug and I smacked him in the stomach. He doubled over and squeaked in his breaking voice, "I love how we greet each other."

I grabbed his AC/DC t-shirt by the neck and pulled him into the living room. He straightened out and I noticed just how tall he was and how he'd unusually muscled out a little. It's been a month; Canada seems to be good for him. He was almost my height now; his brownish red hair had been cut and now hung over his forehead. "I'll be here a few hours mom had an emergency appointment, I was bored at home so she offered to drop me off here. I wasn't expecting you to be awake though. I would have just gone to one of my friends' house." His voice had been breaking for a while now and now it seemed deeper. My little bro is becoming a man.

"I'm going to kill mom." I mumbled. This morning seems to be lasting years. I collapsed onto the couch and buried my head in a pillow. I felt the couch dip and then Aaron lifted my head with the pillow to put on his lap.

He stroked my hair from my face like the loving brother I see every once in a while. "Everything okay?"

I nodded. "Yeah." I sighed. "Everything's great."

"Who was at the door?" Laura groaned as she walked into the living room. "Oh hi, honey. Good to see you again. Hair cut?" Before he could try to answer she said, "It's nice. I have to go throw up now." She zombied her way upstairs and out of sight.

Aaron chuckled. "Hungover is she?"

"Yes she is, and I'm hoping you won't be doing that until you're at least my age."

He slapped my forehead and I jumped up. "Seventeen and you got a deal."

"You're seventeen in June so no. Or I'm telling mom."

"Friggin' tattle." He mumbled.

I wrapped my arms around his neck and squeezed. "That's what big sisters do."

Because it was raining, Aaron and I spent the day in my room either talking about school, play fighting or arguing. But even then I couldn't get that one man out of my head. With my brother helping to distract me, the longest I went without thinking about him was about.... four minutes? He'd said that he came over to talk to me about something which he, by the way, never did. My mind was at a full work out by the time I was driving Aaron home around five. He'd stayed longer than a few hours purely because we were having so much fun. I missed my brother.

As I drove home, the rain started to subside and my mind wandered to none other than Michael. My body told me to devour him seconds. My mind was telling me to stop acting like a horny teenager and grow up. And my heart?

Crap.

My heart was softening to the mere sight or thought of him. Although Reeves and I have had our arguments and disagreements I can't help but love them. And when we have our soft moments and normal conversations I can't help but adore them. Sometimes he could be hot sometimes he could be really, really cold. He's a man filled with secrets and I wanted to rip them out of him.

As I walked into my room, I glanced at the discarded t-shirt he'd left here last night. I picked up the damp t-shirt and put it in my wash