Page 52 of Infinity Chronicles 1
“Have you noticed when you’re not with us you might be more tired than usual, feel a little run down?” Dante runs his hand over one of the yellow squares on the quilt, flipping the nap of the fabric. I draw in a small breath, earlier tonight I felt exactly that. I thought I started feeling better after getting some food in my belly, but could it be more? Ollie and Milo did show up around the same time. Could what he’s saying be the real reason I haven’t been feeling great?
I lick my lips, afraid to admit it out loud so I nod instead. “So, you guys experience that too?”
It’s Milo who answers, “We didn’t, not until you came along.” He sounds bitter. I can hardly blame him.
Nineteen
“Don’t make it sound like that Milo,” Ollie scolds. Turning to me he adds, “We started talking about this yesterday.” He nods checking to see if I recall, which I do. “Now that we’ve connected, the Infinity is doing what it’s supposed to do. Bind us together.”
“So, were not like… bound together now?” My voice is small, unsure.
“Not fully, no,” Ares intones.
Ollie lifts his arm and wraps it around my shoulder. “So, there’s still time to like, break it off if someone wanted to?” I glance over at Milo, and while I might secretly like the idea of being needed by not one person but several, he seems to hate the notion of me being part of his pairing.
“No.” Ares sighs looking away from me.
“That doesn’t seem right. If someone isn’t happy they shouldn’t be forced to be bound, or whatever.”
“You don’t want to be part of our Infinity?” Dante’s voice is quiet, sad even.
I meet his eyes. “It’s not me. I’m not completely convinced you guys aren’t all taking a walk in crazy town, but in case you hadn’t noticed, I don’t have much else going for me.”
“Why ask then?” Milo shoots back. My head goes back, is he serious?
“I asked because it’s pretty damn clear you can’t stand to be around me. You think I enjoy you treating me like I’m some step-sister who you don’t want around?” Milo’s face goes bright red and he pinches his lips together.
“You think I enjoy watching Ollie hang all over you?” He shoves his hand in my direction, feeling the weight of Ollie’s arm on the back of my neck. My body goes rigid.
“I thought he wasn’t your boyfriend?” I raise my voice, not liking the way he’s calling me out.
“He’s not,” Milo grinds out through clenched teeth.
“Then why the hell do you care?”
“Because I—”
“Hey, hey let’s not do this,” Ares interrupts when Milo stands up. Ollie drops his head on his shoulder, so our faces are close together. Milo bares his teeth in a sneer but doesn’t finish what he was about to say.
“Why don’t you let him finish, then I’ll know why I’m pissing him off.”
“It’s not you Laura,” Ollie whispers softly, his voice is almost sleepy. I look over at him and sure enough his eyes are closed, he looks completely content.
I wave my hand in Ollie’s direction. “Is he narcoleptic? I mean how can he be falling asleep right now?” I ask the others, wide-eyed.
Dante rubs his fingers over his bottom lip. “It’s you. When he’s touching you, he feels… good?” he offers with a shrug. He turns away, looking over at Milo. “It might help if he wasn’t so touchy yet, or if… if maybe he would share.”
My mouth pops open. “Share what exactly?”
“You,” Ares answers, leaning his back against the wall. He’s watching us from across the room from under his brow. I let my eyes roam over his features, his dark hair is pushed away from his face showing off the chiseled line of his jaw. The distance between us obscures the color of his eyes, making me wonder would I be able to see the burnished brown if I was close enough, or would they be dark as night? His lips are ever so slightly parted, hollowing out his cheeks. I watch as his tongue darts out, wetting his bottom lip. As I’m watching him his head leans back against the wall, opening his body up more for my perusal.
“Laura,” Dante calls my name, pulling my attention from the darkly handsome man across from me. I blink several times, having been completely derailed from my earlier question and Ares’s confusing answer.
“Sorry, what?” The quilt barely budges as I tug it up, trying to cover more of my body. I feel a flush of embarrassment that I got caught staring at Ares. All four of them have me totally disarmed. Dante lifts his weight off the bed, allowing me the barrier before settling again.
“I think it’s important to understand we all need to be close to you at some point.” Dante looks around at the other guys, making sure they agree with what he’s saying. “While we all agreed to let you have some time to grow used to the idea of… us. It seems Oliver is much further along in the bonding process than the rest of us.” Dante lifts his hand and motions to his friend. Ollie’s head is cradled on his shoulder, but it’s leaning toward me, so much so his face is inches from the top of my chest.
Leaning forward so his arm slides down my back, his body goes with it. Falling into the space behind me. “Is he okay?” I turn so I can see him fully. Ollie curls in on himself, until his forehead meets my hip, wrapping himself around my back before falling still again.
