Page 12 of Only Ever Yours

Chapter Eleven

Jase

Rain lashed down around me, and I wished I had remembered to put my jacket on. I didn’t think I’d be gone too long, but I couldn’t remember where I’d parked the van and went around the car park trying to find the damn thing. Once I did, I fumbled with the keys and dropped them in a puddle.

“Shit!” Scrabbling on the ground, I found them again and picked them up.

Opening the back doors, I spotted the box Hollis wanted straight away.

Tucking it under my arm, I locked up the van again and headed into the services to pick up the things she wanted.

Wandering around the all-purpose convenience store, I added deodorant and shower gel to the basket with the toothpaste and toothbrushes.

I doubted the hotel provided either of those things.

The burger and fries had barely touched the sides earlier, and I was hungry again.

Picking up a tube of Pringles and a few chocolate bars, I tossed them in, too.

As I went to pay, I got sidetracked by the beer and wine aisle.

Clearly, neither of us would be driving tonight, and it wouldn’t hurt to have a drink.

Four cans of lager and a bottle of rosé wine completed my haul.

I paid and made the short dash back to the hotel.

“It’s only me,” I called as I opened the door.

Hollis sat on the edge of the bed, her phone in her hand, head bowed.

“Are you okay?” I placed the box on the desk and went to stand in front of her, realising I was so wet that I was dripping all over the carpet.

She seemingly shook herself back to the present and looked up at me, her gorgeous blue-green eyes glassy with tears. “Yes. Just tired. And you’re soaking.”

I didn’t believe her, and I also didn’t want to ruin things by pressing her into talking about something she clearly didn’t want to, so I changed the subject. “Did I get the right box?”

Hollis jumped up from the bed and went over to check it out. Opening the box, she took out a lacy negligee.

Fuck, I hope she isn’t going to wear that tonight.

“It is. Thank you.” She stuffed the garment back in and instead pulled out a matching long-sleeved T-shirt and shorts combo far more suited to our sleepover, no matter what any other part of my body wanted to think. “I’m going to get a shower, then go to bed.”

Gesturing to the bag I’d also put on the side, I said, “Toothbrushes and toothpaste as requested. Plus a few other things to help.”

“That’s really sweet, Jase. Thank you.” She took the toiletries and headed into the bathroom.

When I heard the shower going, I stripped off my jumper and T-shirt, hanging them up in the wardrobe and hoping they’d dry out in time for our trip home.

Then I kicked off my boots and socks before taking down my jeans and draping them over the back of the chair.

While I waited for my turn in the shower, I settled down on the bed again, in just my boxers, checking my phone.

Finn

Where are you? I thought you’d be back by now.

Me too. But there was shitty traffic coming out of London, then an accident on the motorway. Practically at a standstill for a couple of hours. Thought Hollis might have let you know as I was driving.

Finn

Nope. I haven’t heard from her. Where are you now? I’m guessing you’ve stopped for a bit.

Yeah, we decided to stay at a hotel in the services.

Finn

Separate rooms?

I laughed. Finn’s protectiveness towards his sister hadn’t lessened over the years.

No, just one.

Finn

You lay a finger on her…

Calm the fuck down. She’s had a hard day. We bumped into her ex, and he seems like a right charmer. She didn’t want to be on her own. And you know full well I won’t go there.

Although the more time I spend with Hollis, I can’t know how sure I am of that statement any longer.

Hollis chose that moment to come out of the bathroom.

She was dressed in her sleepwear: the top had a deep V which emphasised the fact she wasn’t wearing a bra, and the shorts were cut high on her legs, revealing a glorious amount of skin.

Her hair was pulled up into a messy bun, exposing her creamy neck.

I would absolutely fucking go there.

Turning my attention back to my phone and trying to ignore the effect Hollis had on me, I messaged Finn.

We’ll be back in the morning. Keep you posted.

“Can I get a shower now?”

Hollis swallowed as her gaze raked over my chest, stopping short of my crotch before abruptly returning to my face. “Sure. I left the shower gel in there for you.”

I got up and brushed past her, breathing in the lemony scent.

“Thanks.” I swore I caught her checking out my arse as I walked to the bathroom.

The shower helped to warm me up, and I tamped down all thoughts of Hollis in her pyjamas, which came with an urge to jerk off.

Knowing she was on the other side of the door and could potentially hear everything I did stopped me.

Once I finished, I debated whether to brush my teeth, then remembered I had beers.

Slipping my boxers back on, I tried to remember whether there had been a bathrobe in the wardrobe.

Then I realised we were at a cheap hotel in the motorway services, and I doubted they had such luxuries.

Going back into the main room, I saw Hollis had already got under the covers and was reading something on her phone.

There was a T-shirt on my side of the bed.

“What’s that?” I pointed to it unnecessarily, grabbing a can of beer from the bag on the desk .

Hollis looked up, her cheeks colouring slightly. “It’s, um, for you to wear. I thought you might be cold.”

Picking it up, I realised it was one of mine. A forest-green Hollis ter one.

A memory from years ago hit me squarely in the gut.

The holiday in Princelake when Neil Bradley messed around with Hollis, incurring Finn’s wrath and the mandate that any of his friends were never to go near his sister. She’d run away from the beach, didn’t have any clean clothes, and I gave her one of my T-shirts.

This one.

Fuck.

“You kept it all this time?” My voice was low as I slipped it over my head.

It had to be at least eight years old and was snugger than it would have been when I was younger since I’d discovered the gym.

While I wasn’t a complete muscleman, I had toned my body.

“And you took it when you moved to London?”

She lifted a shoulder, sucking in her bottom lip, and avoided looking directly at me. “I guess I wanted something to remind me of home.”

I turned my back for a moment to grab a beer, unsure of what to make of her admission. It certainly wasn’t helping the thoughts I’d been having about her recently. “I bought you a bottle of wine,” I said, changing the subject.

“Kind of wish I hadn’t brushed my teeth already then.”

Taking one of the mugs from the tea tray, I unscrewed the cap of the wine bottle and sloshed a healthy amount into it.

Although, given what Hollis had told me, I wasn’t sure alcohol was a good idea.

After I passed it to her, I took my beer and carefully settled next to her on the bed, on top of the duvet .

I held my beer can up and moved it towards her. “It’s been a day, right?”

She clinked her mug with my beer can. “Yeah. I’m sorry you had to do it. I should have waited for Finn to be available.”

“Reckon you’d have been waiting a long time. I hear those personal trainer interviews are very tricky to nail down.” I still hadn’t quite forgiven Finn for setting me up.

I put the television on as a distraction.

Flicking through the channels, I found an episode of Friends , one I’d seen many times before, and I knew Hollis had, too.

She started to watch, as well, sipping her wine and giggling every so often.

I couldn’t quite believe this set-up, sitting together in bed, practically naked and not being together.

After a couple more episodes, I noticed Hollis had already closed her eyes and seemed to be sleeping.

I turned off the TV and the bedside lights, then carefully got under the duvet, making sure I kept a decent distance away from Hollis.

“Thanks for today, Jase. You don’t know how much I appreciate it.” Clearly, she wasn’t asleep yet.

“No problem. It’s sort of been fun.” I smiled to myself in the semi-darkness.

“I’m glad you were there when Gil came.”

I recalled how on edge she’d been while he was there.

“Hollis, what happened between you and Gil?”

For a long while, she didn’t reply, and I thought she’d fallen asleep again.

“It’s hard to talk about.” Her voice was low, and I had to strain to hear her. “He was pretty possessive and controlling at times. I had to get out of there.”

Hearing her say the words made me want to roll over and wrap her in my arms. To tell her everything was going to be okay and he wasn’t going to hurt her anymore. Loyalty to Finn stopped me from doing it. For now, at least. I closed my eyes and tried to sleep.

“He tracked my phone, Jase.” Hollis sat bolt upright in bed and switched the bedside light on, flooding the room with brightness and making me blink. “Who does that to someone they love?”

I groaned, rolling onto my back, and flinging an arm across my eyes. “I’m sure your brother has at some point.”

“It’s different,” she grumbled.

“It’s definitely a shitty thing to do.” I pushed myself up onto my elbows. “I didn’t think you wanted to talk about it.”

“I don’t.” Hollis crossed her arms over her chest, probably not realising how good the action made her tits look.

Tearing my gaze away from her rack, I challenged her. “You’ve just switched on the light and asked me why he’d do such a thing. Why me, though? Why not your brother or Ella?”

She huffed out a breath. “Finn would go batshit crazy if he knew the whole story.”

“What makes you think I won’t be the same?” If not more so because I hate the idea of anyone hurting you.

“Because you wouldn’t go into a situation without considering my feelings.”

She had a point. Much as I didn’t like the way Gil had acted around Hollis earlier, I wouldn’t go in all guns blazing unless she wanted me to.

I sat up, meaning I could be on the same level as her.

“Did he ever hurt you?” I had to know. She’d been way too nervous around him for that not to have happened.

“No.” Hollis shook her head vigorously. “At least not physically. Coming after me on a night out and screaming in my face is the closest he got.” She let out a sigh, and I knew she had to be reliving the memory .

Against my better judgement, I pulled her towards me and held her close. “We’ll get your mobile number changed so he can’t track you any longer. And I presume you’ve blocked him on all your social media accounts?”

Hollis sagged into my chest. “Thank you, and yes. Seeing him today brought everything back, and now I know for sure he tracked me, it all makes sense.”

Breathing in the citrus scent of the shower gel I’d bought and having her snuggled against me had me responding with all sorts of inappropriate reactions. “You’ve got nothing to worry about, Hollis. You’re safe with me.”

Although as my dick hardened at the feel of her soft body close to mine, I couldn’t be sure how true those words were.

She turned her face up to look at me, and I stared into her green pools.

I didn’t mistake the longing in her eyes, but knew I shouldn’t act on it, no matter how much I wanted to.

I reached over and tucked her hair behind her ear.

Every fibre of my body screamed out that I should kiss her, comfort her, tell her everything was going to be okay.

Her breath hitched at my touch. It would be so easy to lean down, press my lips to hers, reassure her.

“Jase.” Her voice was barely above a whisper.

Screwing up my nose in frustration, I let out a long exhale.

“I think we should get some sleep. It’s been a long day.

‘Night, Hollis.” Placing the most platonic kiss I could muster on her forehead, I withdrew from her embrace, turned my back on her, and snuggled down under the covers, wrestling with my feelings.

After a moment, I saw the light go off and some shuffling next to me as Hollis settled. “’Night, Jase. Thank you for today. It means a lot.”

For me, too, Princess.