Unwanted Blood

by L. S. Darsic

  “Oh yeah, just turned 26 right? When was your birthday?” Tank asks me while stuffing some more bread in his face, but when he sees me seal my lips shut he turns to Finn with the question.

  “Ah, well she won't tell me. I tried to tickle it out of her earlier but I got...ah...rather distracted when she took off and hid on me in the apartment. Well you know how much I enjoy hunting. Let's just say when I found her I forgot I was trying to get an answer out of her” Finn says as he smirks at me. Damn it, I was totally hoping he forgot. Thanks a lot Tank, I glare at him.

  “Ya know, I could hold her down and you could tickle her if you need some assistance” Tanks says with a pervy look which causes Finn to tighten his arm around me and glare at Tank.

  “No, I think I will be just fine getting an answer out of her” Finn growls.

  “Fine! Jesus, my birthday was five days ago! Now will you leave me alone?” I throw my hands up, hopefully they will buy my lie. Its not that I don't want them to know, its not a big deal really but I don't want to be it to be awkward and feel like they have to do something for me like a normal birthday, so if they don't know then I won't be disappointed. See how my mind works? I try my hardest to make it easier on those around me not to disappoint me.

  “Alex, you are a terrible liar” Finn shakes his head disapproving

  “Yeah, even I would want to play poker with you and I am horrible at it. You have a terrible poker face. Next time you want to lie, try not to grimace after you say it” Tanks laughs at me. Shit, I didn't I know was that bad of a liar. I roll my eyes at them in attempt to get them to buy my lie.

  “Keep it up Alex” Finn threatens “ Why not just tell me?”

  “Why do you want to know so bad?”

  “Why do you want to hide it so bad?” Finn fires back at me

  “Ugh, Fine. My birthday is in about two hours, there happy?!?!” I blurt out after looking at the clock above the bar. Why do they have to bully it out of me? I slump down at the table and pick at my food while the guys stare at me.

  “Why didn't you say anything?” Finn asks quietly

  “Just let it go Finn” I say as I push him out of the booth so I can stand up “going to the bathroom” I mumble with my head down as I pass the table. Great, now they probably think I'm a dramatic chick. I'm beginning to think my family has messed me up in the head. I can't even tell someone when my birthday is without coming close to crying. I walk in the bathroom and shut the door while I slide down to the floor and contemplate my shit life. Another year has gone by and I'm still lonely and sad inside which is just stupid. I just want to go home and lock myself in until the dreaded birthday has passed which is ironic since I was just saying how lonely I am. God I'm pathetic. A soft knocking stops my internal ass kicking.

  “Alex, open the door please” Finn says quietly. I think about it for a minute and pull myself together to let him him.

  “Hey, I was just finishing up” I say as I open the door with a fake smile plastered on my face. Finn says nothing but walks up and gives me a tight hug for about five minutes. During that time I am trying my hardest not to sob on his chest. Finn finally lets me go with a big sigh.

  “Alex, I could just kick your families' asses. Come on, let's go home” Finn says as he takes my hand and leads me back to the table which is now empty.

  “Where did Tank go?” I ask quietly. I hope he didn't leave cause I am a drama queen. God how embarrassing.

  “He got a call and had to take care of some things. He said he will see us again sometime this weekend” Finn explains as he throws some money on the table and pulls me out the door back to the apartment.

  “So, do you want to sit in the hot tub?” Finn asks as we walk into the apartment.

  “Well, I don't have a swimming suit so I guess that won't work” I have shitty luck cause relaxing in the hot tub would be great right about now

  “Actually, my sister has about fifty suits she left here for when she comes to visit. You can use one of those” Finn says happily as if he just solved world hunger. Boys just don't get it.

  “Um, sorry Finn but its sort of gross to me to use another chicks suit. No offense”

  “Alex, they are all brand new with tags still on them. God girls are weird” Finn mumbles as he drags me into the changing room by the pool. Hanging on hooks are a bunch of different colored swimming suits with tags on them. Who knew? I am looking through the suits trying not to gasp at the price on them when Egypt comes trotting over to lean against my leg.

  “Hey baby girl” I coo at her while I scratch her ears “what did you do while we were gone? Sleep? You are so lazy” I tease her which causes her to head bunt my leg in retaliation. “Egypt, I almost fell over” I shoot her a dirty look as I select a suit and head towards the changing room. Could Isabelle buy any skimpier suits? Jeez. I feel so exposed as I walk out with a towel around me and over to the hot tub. Since Finn isn't in there yet, I quickly jump in and hide myself in the water. I lay back, close my eyes and let the jets massage my body. So nice, maybe I should make this my birthday tradition instead of sulking around the house having my pity party of one.

  I hear a loud splash and look over to the pool to see Finn's head pop up from the water. Didn't he say we were going in the hot tub?

  “Egypt! Come in for a swim” Finn calls over to her while patting the water. Oh boy, he is going to get it now. Egypt loves water, she is never going to get out of that pool. I start to laugh as I see Egypt stand up from where she was laying and run full speed to jump into the pool almost on top of Finn who is now sputtering with a face full of water.

  “Finn that was a big mistake! Egypt loves water. She will probably grow gills and live in there now!” I call over to him as he holds on to Egypt while she paddles around in the water, she is like his personal motor boat. Its so cute how they get along so well now that they have gotten past that initial trust issue. Egypt tows Finn to the pool steps as Finn lets go and gets out to walk over to the hot tub.

  “You're like a big kid with her” I smile at Finn as he gets in. Damn he has a nice body. Muscled arms, pecks, abs, strong legs all topped off with a gorgeous face. Its hard not to stare.

  “I love animals but I feel an attachment with Egypt, must be cause of her master is smoking hot” Finn says with a smirk as he gets closer to me to pull me on his lap. One thing I like so much about Finn is that he is is never tentative about what he does. He seems to confident and like its just a natural thing to just pull me into his lap or kiss me and he makes me feel the same way. Like it just is what comes natural to us, which is strange because I'm a shy person and never make the first move.

  “So, how about you tell me why I couldn't know when your birthday was?” Finn asks quietly while playing with my hair that I pulled up into a ponytail earlier.

  “I'm sorry Finn. I didn't mean to be a drama queen.” I sigh

  “Alex, I just want to understand why you couldn't tell me. Do you not trust me?”

  “No, its not that. I just hate my birthday”

  “Why?” Finn persists

  “Let me ask you something, how did your family celebrate birthdays when you were growing up?” I turn the tables on him

  “Well, we still celebrate birthdays. My father says they are important because even though we live a long time we are still growing and learning something new every day, so each year that passes is important to celebrate. As for what we do for our birthday celebrations, it depends on whose birthday it is. For my last birthday I spent the day riding horses with the family and then I challenged Ian to a sword fight. Donna give me that look! His life goal is to best me at swords but he never can so I especially like to do this on my birthdays because it makes the day even more sweater to watch the agony of his defeat” Finn smiles at the memory. “Then we have a nice dinner out somewhere and the last celebration of the day we have my favorite dessert, which is Raspberry Cranacan, along with some shots of whiskey.” Finn finishes happily as if he is remembering every detail of
his last birthday. This is what I was afraid of. What I am afraid to tell him. I don't want to see the pity on his face when he discovers how unloved my family makes me feel. I don't need or want him to feel sorry for me. Finn looks at me expectantly.

  “Well my birthdays have been so different from yours and that is why I didn't want to tell you. Since coming here and seeing how your family is, I am starting to see that my family is far from being like them. I feel like they hate me” I say with a watery smile as I turn my head to look out at the city lights.

  “Alex, your family doesn't hate you. What do they do differently than mine, aside from telling you nothing? I think they kept you in the dark so long because they think they are protecting you” Finn says as he turns my face to look at me

  “Finn, you don't get it. I'm not just saying this. You want examples?” I ask raising my voice because I'm starting to get frustrated “my birthdays from since I can remember is everyone acting like it was just another day. I remember I went home on my 10th birthday from school and I was so excited because I wanted to have my friends over and have balloons and have a big chocolate cake with ice cream like all the kids in school had. So I went to my mother and asked if I could have those things, she told me no. Then I started to cry because I was just a kid and I didn't understand, I was sent to bed without dinner because I was crying. I know there are kids out there who were raised with abuse and neglect so I can't even begin to complain about my birthday being ignored by my family, but when I tell you that I feel unloved and unwanted it is because I truly feel that way” I finish with a sigh and lean my head back to look at the sky full of stars. This room really is perfect. I love it here.

  “What did you do for your birthday last year Alex?” Finn asks quietly

  “I stayed in my house, watched a few movies, ate a ton of ice cream” I say wistfully “Egypt was there with me of course and always has been since I got her so at least I wasn't completely alone” I sigh. Finn says nothing but pulls me back into his lap and holds me tight which causes my emotions to break. How can this man make me open up to him? Maybe I just haven't ever had anyone I could really be open with? I try to compose myself and not ugly cry but its hard, so I just stare out at the night sky and tell myself over and over that I am thankful for everything I have and the life I am living right now.

  I am startled when I hear a loud “BONG, BONG, BONG” coming from outside until I realize its the large clock that is in the middle of the city. Must be midnight.

  “Happy birthday Alex” Finn says as he kisses me soundly

  “Already the best birthday I've ever had” I whisper against his lips. Finn continues his assault on my lips as his fingers trail up and down leisurely on my back. With both of us wearing barely any clothes things start to get quite heated which makes me want to lose control and do what I said I wasn't going to do with Finn.

  Pulling away and looking at my face, Finn says breathlessly “I think we should slow down”

  I can't seem to form a response so I just nod in agreement. As if things could get any shittier now Finn, the man-whore has rejected me? Not that I was going to sleep with him tonight but he doesn't know that. Now he is telling me to slow down? I don't think my self confidence could take anymore hits.

  “Hey, look at me” Finn says as he pulls my face back to his “I am only doing this because I don't want to rush things. You are not just some girl to sleep with, you are more than that to me” Finn says seriously.

  “H-how did you know that is what I was thinking?” I whisper

  “I'm beginning to know you and you wear your emotions on your face which makes it very easy to read” Finn smiles as he holds me to him.

  I spend the rest of the night happily in Finn's hot tub as we talk and joke with each other. Once we are both prunes, we get out and head to bed. I am beginning to be spoiled by sleeping wrapped up in Finn's arms.

  Chapter 18

  “Alllleeeeexxxxx” I wake suddenly to my name being called and a wet nose in my face. What the hell?

  “E, what are you doing?” I mumble as I try to push her fat head away from me

  “She is trying to wake you up just like I've been doing for the last 10 minutes” Finn says as he looks down on me from the edge of the bed.

  “Why on earth are you trying to wake me up? Can't you see I was happily sleeping?” I grumble at him as I throw a pillow over my head and burrow back under the covers, hoping he goes away.

  “How am I supposed to feed you birthday breakfast in bed if you are sleeping? I suppose I could baby bird feed you if you refuse to wake up, can't promise you won't choke though”

  “Finn, are you seriously telling me you want to chew up my food for me and then spit it in my mouth? You are disgusting”

  “Well it seems to be my only option since your food is going to waste, I went through all this trouble to make you something good but you won't even see what it is” Finn pouts, I bet he looks adorable right now with his lip sticking out.

  “Grrrrr, fine. I'm up. I wouldn't want to waste your food, heaven forbid” I grumble as I sit up and look at Finn who is holding a tray of food with a bright smile on his face. Whoa, he went all out, now I sort of feel bad.

  “Happy birthday beautiful” Finn says sweetly as he places the tray in front of me. The tray is loaded with all sorts of food that I don't know the name of but it looks great, right in the middle of the tray is a stack of pancakes with a lit candle stuck in the middle.

  “Finn, this is....the sweetest thing anyone has ever done for me” I turn to him with watery eyes.

  “Blow out your candle birthday girl and then eat up, we have a long day ahead of us” Finn says as he leans down and gives me a lingering kiss as I try to get my emotions under control.

  “What are we doing today?” I ask as I shove some food in my mouth

  “Its a surprise, just wear some jeans and comfortable shirt and shoes” Finn calls over his shoulder as he heads out the door. I quickly eat as much food as I can and jump in the shower to get ready. They have the best showers here, I wish my house wasn't so tiny so I could put in one of these bad ass showers. I finish showering and walk out into the bedroom to pull out some clothes and notice a wrapped box on the bed. No way, could this be for me? I walk up to it as if its a bomb ready to blow up and check the tag “wear me today” it says simply. I am so giddy that I tear the paper off like I'm throwing confetti at a party. I open the box and find a pair of black stylish hiking boots. Well I guess that solves the mystery of what we are doing today, I know I will at least be hiking. I'm so excited that I run in to the office to find Finn in nothing but my towel. Finn is sitting at his desk working on his lap top so I run around the desk and throw myself in his lap and kiss his stunned face all over.

  “Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!” I say after each kiss “just the breakfast in bed made my day, now you give me a gift and we are going somewhere! I'm so excited!” I squeal excitedly

  “You are very welcome Alex but it was just food and boots, you act like I gave you a fortune!” Finn laughs as I continue to hug him and kiss him all over

  “Finn, you don't even know how happy you've just made me!”

  “You haven't ever received a gift before, have you?” Finn asks with a scowl

  “Nope, but I'm so happy you are the one to give me my first gift. Its perfect!” I chirp happily

  “Well if you come sit on my lap in nothing but a towel every time I give you a gift I'm going to be buying you a lot of things” Finn winks as I stand up to finish getting ready. I turn red and march back to the bathroom with a smile. This guy is so hard to resist. First he was so sweet to me last night and now he is making me breakfast and buying me boots. My plan to go home with my heart intact is falling apart rapidly.

  I finish getting ready and head out to the living room where Finn and Egypt are lounging and waiting for me. “I'm ready, where to Captain?” I ask as I plop down next to Finn on the couch.

  “Well, first I have a very ur
gent matter to deal with” Finn says as he pulls me to him and kisses me long and slow.

  “Y-yes that was a very urgent matter, I am glad to help you resolve it” I laugh huskily, damn that boy can kiss!

  “Next, we hop in the car and I'm going to take you sightseeing so you can take some pictures since you didn't get a chance to take many the other day” Finn frowns as he takes my hand and pulls me up from the couch. Yeah, I didn't get to take many since I basically passed out after Cam sucked my blood. Thanks to Anja for remembering my camera, otherwise it would still be at the beach and probably washed away with the tide.

  Finn, Egypt and I head to the Range Rover and start driving through the city as Finn points out buildings and tells me interesting facts about the city. We drive about fifteen minutes to what looks to be a private airstrip which makes me wonder where the heck he is taking me.

  “So...... we're flying?” I ask Finn as we exit the car and start walking towards a hanger