Hate So Good: A High School Bully Romance (The Hate Series Book 2) Nina Lincoln (latest novels to read TXT) 📖

“Fuck,” he mutters, exhaling deeply.

Chapter Seven

The next few days pass quietly as I slowly come out of my drug-induced haze and join the living. Colt somehow arranges to be at home with me, meaning he’s not in school, and I think this makes Maggie feel better about leaving me home alone, but we both know this can't go on forever.

Eventually, we will have to move on with our lives, whether we find Ben and my fan or not - this doesn't exactly give me the warm fuzzies, to say the least.

Colt’s sitting in front of me, working on his homework, while I watch mindless television. At some point, I’ll have to catch up on my own work, but I’m not interested now. Besides, I don't think any of my teachers want me to complete the work while I’m drooling from pain meds.

Glancing at Colt, I smile, marveling at where we are, here together, and sensing my gaze, he turns from where he’s seated, giving me a soft smile.

My heart lurches at that smile, adoration, and dare I say it, love cascading through me. We’ve come so far, and I still reel under the changes in our relationship. I only wish it didn't have to be under circumstances such as these.

“What do you need, Princess?” he asks, rising and pecking me on the lips.

I open under him, and he moans, running his tongue along my lower lip before pulling back abruptly. “Fuck Finn, don’t tempt me. You need to rest.”

“I don't want to rest,” I pout, looking at him from beneath my lashes.

A tortured expression crosses his features before he says roughly, “What if I just made you feel good, Baby?”

“You’d do that for me?” I ask breathlessly, my body heating in all the right places as my core pulses with awareness.

He groans at my look, his pupils dilating, and I smile brightly, the greedy part of me gratified I can make him need just as much as I.

And when his eyes light up at my smile, shining with desire and something else, affection, maybe I don't know, it makes my heart sing. Gone are the days of my broody Colt, and in its place, this soft man who can deny me nothing.

“Oh, Finn, I’d do anything for you,” he breathes.

Sighing, I smile and lean back against the cushions. “Well, I don't want to do it if I can't do it with you.”

He smiles, his mouth curling into the devilish smirk I’ve come to love. “All in good time, Princess.”

Collapsing back to the couch, I hum under my breath, anticipating that time sooner rather than later.

“I have a bone to pick with you,” he says, his smile fading slightly.

Uh-oh. With a sinking sensation in my stomach, I ask, “What?”

“Why didn’t you tell me it was your birthday?” he chides, sitting down beside me and pulling my chin toward him.

“You didn’t tell me it was yours,'' I say mulishly.

He rears back with surprise before laughing. “I guess I didn’t, it's not important to me, but yours is.”

“Why?”

“Why? Finn, you’re important to me. The day is special for you, and it’s special for me. I understand you wanted to visit your mom. Maybe some time you can take me with you?”

It’s a sweet gesture, and I’m grateful he would want to go, but I’m not sure I can go back there anytime soon, which fills me with bitter rage. Ben has ruined my solace, the only place I can go to be with my mother. Fucker.

“Hey, Baby,” he says softly, “it's okay. We’ll go together. I promise you that fucker will never get a chance to come near you again.”

A shiver rolls through me at the ice-cold hate lighting up his eyes - he means it, and I pity Ben if Colt gets to him before the cops do.

“Here, let me show you something,” he says, standing from the couch. “It's your gift, you know, for the girl who has everything,” he teases.

I smile, although I’m aching to tell him that before him, I had nothing. Maybe now, though I do have everything.

Slowly he lifts his shirt, and I chuckle, “I thought you were making me wait?”

“Oh, Finn,” he says, licking his bottom lip, “I’m ready to take care of your ache. You just tell me when.”

Pouting, I watch him pull his shirt up and over his torso, running his hand slowly over his achingly beautiful chest. I feel the heat of that caress all the way to my core and bow a little off the couch, moaning when he smirks at me sexily.

Slowly my eyes focus on his tattoo, a fist in shades of black and grey, clenching a bright red rose, with drops of blood bleeding through the fingers from the thorns. To him, it was a warning never to get attached. To me, it's a reminder of all I’m fighting for with this lost boy.

“Wait,” I breathe, leaning forward.

Is that-? Yes, it is. Around the curve of the fist, written in beautiful cursive, is my name - Finley. But that’s not all, around the rose, clutched in the fingers - it says Princess in the same writing.

“You tattooed my name on your body?” I ask dumbfounded.

He smiles, but I can see the vulnerability behind his eyes. “I can't change my past, Finn. I can't change how I felt before, but I can add to it, I can add you into the picture, and now it's so much sweeter.”

“I don't understand,” I whisper, glancing between him and my name tattooed on his fucking chest.

“It’s a tattoo, I can't make it go away, but I can change its meaning. Now, Finn, now you’re there, and no matter what, I’m here with you. Maybe I was, am afraid to care, but it’s too late, I do. And I’m not willing to let this feeling go, for anything in the world. Ever.”

“So, you…”

“I love you, Finn Hart,” he says fervently, his bright eyes staring fiercely into mine.

I can