Beautifully Destroyed (Beautifully Broken)

The need to feel safe overwhelms me, and I dart forward, slamming into his chest. His arms wrap tightly around me, and an intense tremble of relief rocks through me.

Ethan places a hand behind my head, and then it feels like he’s trying to fold himself around me, a solid wall of protection.

Tears burn the back of my eyes, and I pinch them shut, my hands clinging to his back.

Besides Dad, I’ve never had another man hold me like this… like I’m precious, and he’ll do anything to protect me.

A dry sob flutters up my chest, and I press my face harder against his sweater to smother the sound.

I feel Ethan’s breath fan over my hair. His scent and arms envelop me. His muscled body a force standing between me and danger.

Just hold me like this until my dad comes back.

We don’t move, and slowly the panic and fear fade away until my heart races for a whole different reason.

Ethan’s palm starts to brush up and down my back, my stomach flutters, and I become highly aware of the man holding me. It’s been happening more and more, these moments where the attraction would become overwhelmingly strong, to the point where I start wondering what it would be like to be intimate with Ethan.

He presses a kiss to my hair, and it makes my heart skip a beat before it thunders so hard I’m sure he can feel it.

The corners of my lips curve up as, once again, I realize I’m not entirely destroyed.

I think I can have a normal, healthy relationship with Ethan.

ETHAN

Getting to hold Finlay… God, there are no words to describe how perfectly she fits against my body.

Something deep in my heart stirs, unfurling, growing stronger until it spreads through me, filling every inch of me with possessiveness and the need to never let go of this girl.

I’m falling in love with Finlay. Christ, I want her more than I’ve ever wanted anything in my life.

I feel her relax against my chest, and it has warmth rushing through my veins. I press my mouth to her hair and take a deep breath of her unique scent. It washes through my lungs like the sweetest air, and I’ve become addicted to it.

Finlay turns her head, resting her cheek beneath my heart, then she whispers, “Thank you.”

“Any time,” I murmur, my voice hoarse from the overwhelming emotions I’m feeling for her.

Slowly and totally against my will, we pull apart. My arms instantly feel empty, my chest missing her warmth.

She turns to the counter and continues to make the hot chocolate, and I can’t bring myself to step back. I just want to stay close to her, ready to beg for any scrap of attention she’s willing to give me.

When she hands me a cup, there’s a smile tugging at her lips, and the urge to kiss her senseless almost overwhelms me.

I’ve been good so far, keeping firm control over my needs and always putting Finlay first.

Clearing my throat, I quickly walk around the table until it’s between us because I’m sure if I kissed her now, I’d lose control, and that’s the last thing I want.

I follow Finlay to the living room, and when she takes a seat on the piano bench, I sink down on the couch, hating the small distance between us but figuring it’s for the best.

She’s vulnerable, and it’s feeding my possessiveness like crazy.

I move her phone to the coffee table, then take a sip of the beverage because I have no idea what to say.

Christ, she’s got me hooked.

Two weeks. That’s all it took.

Finlay glances at the piano. “It used to be my mother’s.”

“Yeah?” I clear my throat again. “Did she teach you how to play?”

She nods, a nostalgic smile on her beautiful face. “It’s my earliest memory of her. Me sitting on her lap with my hands resting on the back of hers.”

My lips curve up.

“We spent hours in front of this piano,” she says before taking a sip of her hot chocolate.

I could spend hours just staring at her. Any amount of time with Finlay isn’t enough. I’ll always want more.

I drink the beverage as slow as possible, the last half already cold, but I can’t give two shits. My eyes remain locked on the girl I’m falling for.

The smile still playing around her perfect lips draws my eyes like magnets.

Stop, Ethan!

I lean forward, resting my forearms on my thighs while forcing my desire for her deep down.

Our eyes lock, and I swear something passes in the air between us. A current so intense it can probably power the whole town.

Don’t even think about it. Keep your hands off her.

I’ve let Finlay set the pace, and it’s been slow, as I expected. She mostly seems happy just being around me.

I don’t want to go, but our cups are cold, and it’s getting late. Finlay already said she’s tired, and I’m keeping her up.