When they touch me (Shelagh Milano)



ARTEMISIA

By the time we arrive, I can't wait to go to my room and fall into my bed.

Lisa and I had been excited about this trip, and we were looking forward to our private sleepover. This feeling didn't even diminish as Cayden made Daisy tag along as she was getting too anxious about me skipping my meals.

As if something like that would ever happen.

After Fynn told me about him not liking Lisa scurrying around me, we didn't talk any further.

Not even one word.

The silence for the last two-hour drive was nearly killing me.

I fought hard to keep my mouth shut, not wanting to disrupt the awkward silence by saying something even more awkward.

I could bet that Fynn was feeling my inner struggle as I was constantly flooded by the feeling of amusement.

He had promised to tell me everything before the ball, and I could only hope that I could get him to tell me before we got back home.

My questions were just piling up, and I hoped the moment would come sooner rather than later.

As we get out of the car, I pull at the seam of my shorts to adjust them with a big sigh.

While Daisy is already going into the cosy-looking hostel to get our room, Lisa sits down on a bench next to a pond and starts reading a magazine.

I help Celeste and Astrid with the pups, and we let them assemble in front of the entrance to have them go directly to their rooms and Astrid goes in to announce our arrival together with Daisy.

Crossing my arms, I try to distract myself from Fynn stepping up to stand next to me. He puts down our luggage, and stretches, making me look away swiftly to not drool over his flexing muscles.

He is about to say something to tease me again as he gets interrupted by Celeste handing him a bottle of water. "Here you go."

"Is this for me?" he asks confused, making me lift a brow. Only as she nods does he take it from her hesitantly, and she turns towards me to pass me mine. "And for you, Missy."

"Thank you, Celeste," I say happily, hitting Fynn with my elbow, getting him to murmur a 'thank you' as well.

Astrid comes back out again, and I am a bit concerned by the sad look on Daisy's face as she appears behind her. "Okay, everyone. It's getting dark and we are all tired. So let's go to bed."

She claps her hands before she opens them towards me with a smile. “Missy has organised a little supper in our rooms, so feel free to spend the evening as you want while Celeste and I will bring the pups to bed."

"You know what this means, children." Celeste chimes in with her happy sing-song.

"Bednight stories," the children answer in unison, making me smile.

Instinctively, I turn my head to look at Fynn who, with a swift movement, tears his eyes away from me just in time for me to still catch him watching

me.

This is bad.

Walking up to the entrance, Astrid stops me from entering the place. She lifts a key with a heart-shaped key pendant, flashing me her biggest smile. "This is yours."

"Oh, thank you,” I say, my eyes widening as she tells me that I have to take a little path to get to our separate pool house.

"I beg your pardon?" I ask, still trying to process the shock, and she waves dismissively at me.

"Well, you are here with your mate. I couldn't possibly have you sharing bunk beds with us, could I?" She says with a light laughter, making a lump form in my throat.

No, no, no!

Turning around, I hope for Fynn to barge in by saying something stupid about how he would rather eat glass than spend the night locked in a little pool house with me.

But instead of being his usual jerk self, he just grins stupidly. My skin is already covered in goosebumps as he takes the key with a smug expression.

"Oh, Astrid That is very thoughtful of

you," his warrior friends chuckle

lowly, probably seeing through his

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act like I do, while Fynn gloats down

at me. "Something the matter,

mate?"

"Of course not, darling," I retort, sneering the pet name with a false smile. "Thank you so much, Astrid."

I start walking up the narrow path, passing the romantic flowery beds without even registering those as my blood keeps whooshing through my ears increasingly louder.

I can sense Fynn following close behind me as I stomp up the stairs to the pool house with my arms crossed.

Halting in front of the cute door, I can't even look up at him as he opens the door with the key. "You'll need this, sweetheart."

I can't even glare up at him as he mocks me, because I feel like I'd lose all my confidence.

"After you, my lady," he chuckles as he gestures for me to enter before him theatrically.

"Thank you," I groan, stepping into the air-conditioned space.

The interior of the small house reminds me of a romantic cottage as it has predominantly wooden elements. It consists of one floor, which is designed as an open space. A little kitchen with an island on the right, a set of stairs to reacha cosy-looking living room with a fireplace on the left, and a bedroom

screaming at me right in the middle.

With only one fucking bed.

You have to be fucking kidding me.

As I practically freeze after having stepped in, Fynn closes the door behind us and goes to put down the bags on the chest standing at the feet of the bed.

“So... Are you going to take the couch?" I ask, and he laughs out loud.

Turning around with a grin, he shakes his head. "Nope."

"Oh, come on," I groan, getting out of the strap of my purse. "You surely don't want to share a bed with me."

He chuckles his smug expression prominently on his face. "I don't care who is in my bed as long she has a great pair of boobs."

"You are such a jerk," I scrunch up my nose, setting down my purse on the small table standing next to the entrance. "But thank you for the compliment, I guess."

Sighing, I watch him as he starts

unpacking his bags and suddenly, a

feeling of sadness streams through

me, triggering me into doing something that I should know by now, I shouldn't do.

Provoking him.

"Well, I guess it is fine for me as well... As long as you don't touch me."

My heart doesn't even get the time to skip a beat as he moves and reaches me in a blink.