Harry.
I didn't know how many times I needed to tell myself I was royally fucked until I got it through my head, but apparently every two minutes wasn't enough because my thoughts kept falling back to the woman in my bed.
It was 6AM. Six fucking AM and I had gotten less than four hours of asleep. My brain had been going a million miles an hour, too caught up on the thoughts of Annabeth Taylor in my lap, ass up to allow myself to sleep.
My fist collided with the punching bag again, a low grunt falling from my lips as I did. It did nothing to change the direction of my thoughts, but it was the best distraction. I couldn't sleep with Anna next to me. Her smell was wrapped around me like a snake, suffocating me until I felt too winded to even breath.
I hated it.
I needed my control back, I needed to remember my job, my role in her life. As much as I wanted to watch her drop to her knees in front of me, I knew it would result in one of the biggest distractions of my career.
I was both frustrated and intrigued about my attraction to little Miss Annabeth Taylor. I had watched her over the years, grown accustomed to the stories I heard - though never did I think I'd fall victim to her deadly smirk and pretty pouty lips. She was going to get me into trouble if I wasn't careful, and yet, staying away didn't feel like an option.
A Taylor was good at keeping a secret, that I knew for sure, but now thinking about it, I wasn't sure if I wanted one with her. I don't know how I would react if I had a taste of her pretty lips on mine, and then saw her with someone else.
Something predatory was already alighting in me at the very thought. I slammed my fist back into the punching bag, watching it swing back with force from the hit.
What had happened in the late hours of last night was brought down to lapse judgment. My mind was pounding through adrenaline because what had happened at the club, and I wasn't thinking straight. It didn't happen often, but I was finding that every time I was with Anna, half of my brain decided it didn't want to function anymore.
"Damn, what did that punching back do to you?"
I didn't even glance at the door. I rolled my eyes, hitting it one more time. "Fuck off."
"Ease up," Niall laughed, walking into the room. He purposely put himself in my line of vision. He was dressed in a matching black jumper and sweats, a smirk plastered on his face despite the tiredness of his eyes.
I made a show of staring at him as my fists collided over and over again with the bag, sending the dull ache up my arms. "Did you want something?"
Niall shrugged, glancing around the bare room. "Thought I'd check up on you. Saw Richy Rich in your bed and knew you'd be out here."
I froze, mid-hit. Anna had gone to bed practically naked. My glare shot up to him as he laughed. "You went in my room?"
"Oh, pipe down you barbarian. She had the covers pulled up to her chin, didn't get a glimpse of anything." He grinned wider. "Unfortunately."
"Have some respect or I'll knock some into you."
Niall rolled his eyes at me but said nothing. I could feel his eyes drag down my body, and I could feel the judgment.
"Say it or get out," I told him, stretching my back. I bounced on my feet for a moment, regaining my focus.
"I didn't even open my mouth."
"I can hear your thoughts from here, Niall."
He huffed. "I'm just wondering what the fuck you're doing."
I bit the inside of my cheek, staring across the room at the mirror. Sweat drenched my shirt, my chest rising and falling as I stared. I guess I asked for that.
"I don't know what you mean," I murmured, and went back to what I was doing. Distracting myself.
"You either have some hefty death wish, or the hormones you had as a teenager are returning. Either way, I think medical attention is needed."
"You're dramatic," I muttered, with a shake of my head.
Nialls head appeared around the punching bag as I threw another hit. His arms wrapped around it just in time, stopping it from smacking him straight in the face. Shame.
"Nice face," he said, his eyes falling onto what I could only assume was a bruise now forming on my face from where Quinn decided to leave a mark. "What happened? Not like you to let anyone that close."
My jaw tightened. He was right, and I hated it. "I was distracted."
Niall furrowed his eyebrows. "Also not like you."
I didn't say anything, I let the reason for my distraction hang in the silence. We both knew the reason for my distraction, but I refused to say it aloud. I refused to admit that Annabeth Taylor was turning into too much of a distraction for me.
"You think you're going to be alright with this new position?"
"And why wouldn't I be?" I snapped, already getting irritated. "I can do my job just fine."
"I don't know about that," he said, his eyes darting to my bruise again. Instead of being worried, he smirked at me.
I glanced behind me, ready to knock his smile off his face. I took a breath, trying to find some fucking calmness within myself. "Where's Liam?"
"Cleaning up," he said with a shrug. "He took a beating."
I frowned. "Again? What's with him lately?"
"Distractions. Seems to be common around here."
"You're a prick, you know that?"
"Of course I do," he hummed. As if to prove a point, he shoved the punching bag forward, knocking it into my shoulder. "Maybe this little crush will make you nicer to me. You're awfully bitter."
I bit down on my tongue, ripping off the gloves as I did. "Friends or not, I'll break your hands if you keep this up."
Niall's only response was to laugh. "You don't scare me. You look like a rapid dog baring your teeth like that."
In typical Niall nature, his cold fingers came closer until he tapped my cheek with his palm. "Down puppy."
I wish I didn't love him like a brother. If I didn't, he would be six feet under with no fingers attached to his palm. I shoved him away, turning my back as I peeled off the sweat covered shirt.
"Where's the money?" I asked over my shoulder when I knew my anger wouldn't be tested again.
Cool, calm and collected. I needed to remind myself of that. "Liam," he answered coolly, his own fingers tapping on the punching bag. "His bringing it up."
I glanced at the door, hearing nothing but the silence of a quiet apartment. "Message him. Tell him to be careful, and not to let Annabeth see him."
Niall rose an eyebrow. "You don't have a phone?"
God, I could snap his neck. I shot him a glare, shoving his shoulder as I walked passed him. "Don't be a prick. Just do it. I have to take a shower."
Niall was a lot of things, but I knew I could always count on him. He knew how little Anna knew about what dark secrets her brothers hid from her, and he wouldn't to be the reason why she found out. It was dangerous enough having her in this house, where too many secrets could be uncovered, it would be even worse if she saw Liam carrying up a duffel bag full of money. Her questions would be endless until the answers were given.
Despite his grumbled profanities, Niall did what he was told, and I couldn't help but smirk a little at that.
Walking into my room, it was almost as if the hours I stood pounding my frustrations into the punching bag were non-existent. I felt the fire rise in my chest at the sight of Annabeth wrapped in caccoon of blankets. There was nothing sexual about her position, though she still looked deliriously inviting.
I swallowed thickly as I stared at the beautiful woman, hating how much she truely looked like royalty. I don't know why my chest felt tight as I thought of how true the hierarchy of this world was and how we were on different ends of it.
I shook my head, trying to rid the very thought. I was thankful that in that moment, my phone decided to vibrate against my leg, forcing me to dig it out of my pocket.
I frowned as I read the message, though tucked it away with a quick response.
Reluctantly, I made my way to the sleeping beauty that was sprawled across my bed, looking more comfortable than I'd rather admit.
"Wake up, Princess," I muttered as I gently shook her shoulder. The word wasn't one of endearment, Princess was the way I mocked her. Mocked her status. Mocked her wealth.
Sleepy eyes slowly came too, and I found myself staring into the honey of them. "Family meeting," I murmured just as she opened her mouth. "Get up, and get ready. We can't be late."
And with that, I was out the door, practically bulldozing Niall over in the process as I made my way to the shower. I didn't know how much longer I could be around her without dropping to my knees and offering her everything I had.
AN:
Happy update!!!!
Small update to get back into the groove of writing, can't wait for everyone to read what's going to happen!!!