When they touch me (Shelagh Milano)



ARTEMISIA

My heartbeat picks up as Fynn turns into the gravelled path leading to our home.

Even before we near the mansion, he takes his hand away from me, making me sigh sadly.

He chuckles, his eyes dancing to me shortly before he concentrates back on the road. "Don't worry, babe. I'll see to sneak into your bedroom tonight."

I shift in my seat, my skin buzzing in pleasant anticipation. "I can't wait."

As he parks the car, we stay seated, watching his brothers and a few Omegas stepping out of the main door to welcome us back home.

He sighs deeply, sparks erupting on my skin as he grabs my chin to turn my face, forcing me to look at him.

"Don't forget what we talked about," he warns lowly.

I close my eyes, pushing out a tired breath. "Don't act too affectionate towards you. Act disgusted and annoyed... Bla bla bla. Isn't that just too much? Why do we have to continue this theatre even at home?"

"I told you that something is strange. I don't want the person who is responsible for all that to lower his guard," he chuckles as he lets his thumb graze my bottom lip. "And please start acting bitchy against these stupid supplements. I will talk to Cayden, asking him to make Daisy stop because of some arrogant excuse."

I roll my eyes, failing to move out of his grip simply because I enjoy his touch. "Do you never get tired of playing the asshole?"

"No," he grins at me slyly, before he moves his eyes to the people still standing in front of the building patiently. Seemingly in thought, he adds, "Maybe I will tell him that it makes you taste strange."

י

"You are impossible," I laugh, shaking my head and he tilts his head with a grin.

"I would love to kiss you, you know."

"Why don't you?" I ask, my voice getting lower.

His grin widens as he inhales deeply once again, "Because now you have to get out of the car, slam the door and walk up to the house as if I said something highly inappropriate."

"You are kidding, right," my eyes widen, as he mocks me with a chuckle.

"Give it your best, babe."

Leaning closer, he lets his lips grace over mine teasingly, before pushing me back. Turning in my seat, I open the door with a strong push and hop out of the car.

I halt in my tracks as he calls my name, making me freeze as I'm just about to slam the door close. "Say hello to Matty first, he had an awful time lately."

My heart flutters happily, but instead, I widen my eyes theatrically, gasping loudly.

"Well... Then... Then... Ah, fuck you, Fynn!" I shout, slamming the door close as he laughs.

Crossing my arms over my chest, I walk up to the house, resisting the urge to grin.

Omegas run past me, wanting to reach the car to unload our suitcases and bags.

I am already climbing the stairs with fast steps as I hear the car's motor roar back to life again.

My eyes are set on Matthew who is standing at the edge of the top step, watching me worriedly.

"Are you alright?" he asks, making me nod.

Without saying anything more, I run up the remaining steps, hugging him. He seems to be frozen to the spot, confused about how he should react.

After clinging onto him for another heartbeat, I finally sense him move and wrap his arms around me. He breathes me in, releasing a deep sigh before hugging me closer. "I missed you, my love."

"I missed you too," I say, my voice muffled as I press my face into his shirt.

"Did everything go as planned?" Cayden asks, making me break the hug with Matthew slightly, to turn my head at him.

I nod, smiling at him shyly. I must be already blushing as I remember that this is the first conversation we are having after his confession. "Yes, everything alright."

Trying to force up a saddened

expression, I grimace slightly, triggering Logan, who is watching the Omegas bring our luggage into the house. "What were you arguing about just now?"

"Nothing," I clear my throat, feeling uncomfortable at the act that Fynn forces me to pull. "Nothing of any importance."

My heart squeezes as he crosses his arms over his chest, grimacing. "I don't like that he talks to you like this. Don't be his plaything." Wiggling out of Matthew's arms, I chuckle awkwardly. "I told you that it was nothing. Don't worry about things that don't concern you."

He takes a step forward, causing me to take one backwards instinctively. "What do you mean by 'that doesn't concern you'? You are my mate. Everything about you concerns me!"

His growl makes me gulp, and my eyes jump back and forth between his, observing his irides changing colour into a silver-blue swirl. "I just wanted you to stop worrying."

Grabbing my arm, he pulls me close, causing even Matthew to intervene. "Logan, don't freak out. It's not her fault."

What is not my fault?

My brain screams at me to talk, but I force my lips to stay clamped shut.

"Logan..." Cayden warns, staying in close proximity.

I keep my eyes on Logan as he clenches and unclenches his jaw.

“Logan. You are hurting me," I whisper, failing to get him to loosen his grip. "Would you please let me go now?"

He tilts his head, opening his mouth angered as a big bang resounds next to us, making us jump.

I get to stare at the shattered lounge furniture just for a second, the men getting into a fighting stance as I'm twirled around.

Gasping, I feel myself getting ripped out of Logan's hold as I'm pulled against a firm body.

My breathing regulates slowly as my senses get inebriated by Fynn's scent and I watch Logan, Matthew and Cayden relax with an annoyed expression.

“Ah, ah, ah,” Fynn mocks his brother, who looks at him infuriated, his fists balled at his sides. "Be careful when managing my doll."

I can sense the stupid grin in Fynn's voice, and I close my eyes, remembering to act disgusted by his proximity.

"I don't like them scratched," Fynn provokes further, making Logan growl.

"This is enough," Cayden says, before turning to get into the house. I look after him sadly as Fynn increases his grip around me.

Matthew looks between us worried while Logan's eyes darken. "Don't fucking push your luck, Fynn."

"Or what?" He laughs, and I feel him press his lips into my hair, breathing me in.

I flinch, clawing onto his arms, my heart breaking as I act like I wanted to escape his grip.

'I'm sorry. I know it is hard. But it will be over soon,' his voice resounds in my head, making me whimper.

Turning my head to look into his

cold expression over my shoulders, I don't even notice Logan charging at Fynn. As Fynn is too worried about letting go of me in time to not get me kurt, he enables his brother to knock him off his feet.