The Arrangement

Brian helped me up and went to the door.
“Yeah,” he called.
“It’s James,” My dad called from the other end.
“What can I do for you, James.” Brian half opened the door, and used his body to block me from view.
“I wanted to talk to my daughter before the night begins, why are you half naked,” James looked over Brian’s shoulder.
“Not tonight man, sorry. Were actually running a bit late so,” Brian pulled the door closer to his body.
“Seriously, I’ve known you since you were 10 years old Syn,” James argued.
“Elizabeth, do you want to talk to James” Brian turned to face me.
“I’m a bit underdressed,” I pulled the hem of the robe down a bit realizing that a lot of leg was showing.
“You’re my fucking daughter, trust me I’m not looking to catch a peep at your lady bits.”
“Fine, however as soon as Brian say’s you have to leave you go” I explained as Brian pushed the door open.
“I just wanted to tell you that I spoke to your mom, she is proud of you and sends all her love.” James walked all the way in.
“Thank you,” I shrugged robbing Brian’s ring with my thumb.
“I’m going to run bath, if you need anything,” he pointed towards the bathroom. Before he walked off he grabbed the jacket he wore to the wedding and wrapped it around my shoulders “seriously anything okay.”
“Thank you, Brian,” I smiled as he walked off.
“Looks like you two are well acquainted,” James pushed his hands in his pockets.
“Why didn’t you ever call or tell me about all this?” I asked.
“When you were like 3 years old, you watched this movie where two people got married. You were on my lap and you looked up at me with these big eyes and said, ‘daddy I want to marry you’ I didn’t know what to say so I just smiled. That moment plays in my head every day.” He moved some of my hair behind my shoulder.
“Maybe you should have thought of that when you left us in poverty,” I got up and pushed passed him to Brian.
“You think it didn’t hurt me to leave? You were hanging off my leg,” he tried to reason.
“Brian,” I cried as James grabbed my arm.
“You would never have understood this world, Elizabeth,” he yelled.
“Get the fuck out,” Brian growled as he pulled me behind him, “and if you ever lay a hand on her like that again I will end you,” he finished.
“Get over yourself kid” James shrugged him off.
“Brian just punched him without a warning, James hit him back and they began to fight. Brian Kept moving me behind him as they moved around. I was scared and didn’t know what to do so I ran out to the hall and yelled for the only other person I knew.
“Matthew,” I called franticly.
“Elizabeth, what’s wrong” he asked stepping out of a room in just his black slacks.
“James and Brian are fighting in the room there’s blood everywhere,” I wrapped my arms around his stomach. I noticed that he also had heaps of tattoos maybe even more than Brian. and those tattoos covered his well-built chest and muscular arms.
“Hey, eye’s up here, save that for later. Val, stay with Elizabeth.” He pulled away from me and walked in to the room.
“Back off” he yelled as James was pushed out of the room.
“Matt, he was hurting her,” Brian yelled. As matt walked out of the room.
“He’s her fucking father Syn” Matthew yelled back.
“I don’t Fucking care” he growled angerly.
“Guy’s” called Val “get a grip.”
“Shut the fuck up Val” Brian glared just before Matthew punched him so hard he fell back.
“Matt get off him,” Val ran over trying to pull Matthew off Brian.
Brian rolled on top of Matthew and began to hit him. I ran my thumb over the skull ring afraid that something bad would happen. Before I knew it, Val was rolling around the floor with them also yelling.
“Brian,” I yelled unsure of what I could do. I had no experience in fighting, so I would be of no use to either party.
All-right kids break it off” James walked over and pulled them all apart, “Syn Go in to the room and cool off. Matt take Val back to your room, now.”
For some reason they did as they were told. Matthew stopped in front of me still fuming, his eyes were bloodshot, and his forehead was furrowed.
“Thank you, Matthew.” I awkwardly reached for his hand.
He didn’t respond so I looked down, his hand had some blood on it. I wasn’t sure who’s blood it was though.
“I’m sorry,” I mumbled letting go of his hand.
“It’s fine, I’m fine,” he slowly said.
“Is there anything I can do,” I felt responsible.
“There is one thing,” he slightly smirked and leaned in to me, his lips quickly met mine and began to move.
His hands just as fast moved to hold my neck in place as he lightly bit my bottom lip. Instinctively my hands guarded against future harm and laid over his. I closed my eyes as the feelings deepened, and our movements grew sloppier. I dragged my hands down his wrist and over his forearms and rested them over muscular arms. I felt safe enough to move closer to him, so I did, I moved so close his legs toughed mine. The tingling sensation resurfaced down my spine and back in to my stomach, only it didn’t stop there it traveled lower in to the deep recesses of my feminine nature. Just as I was beginning to let the feelings take over he pulled away and walked off, I was to stunned to see where he had gone so much so that James had to bring me back from reality.
“Elizabeth, go back in the room. Be careful kid these guys aren’t as easy to read as you think.”
“Yeah, thanks, dad.” I walked off dazed.

Notes

Number Nine!