Resuscitate (Annihilate #1)

by S. Morayla

  “Mate, you can’t let her get to you,” Harrison says after me.

  My blood instantly boils. I turn to him in a rage, my words coming out through clenched teeth. “Really, Harrison? The way you don’t let Leslie get to you?”’ He flinches and the pain in his eyes instantly makes me feel like an arse. “I’m sorry. That wasn’t fair,” I offer.

  Nodding, he walks away toward the toilets. Damn it, what the hell is wrong with me? I don’t snap at my mates—ever. Especially over a girl—a girl I’m not even with. That makes it worse.

  Up All Night

  “Adriana?” My voice is small and unsure. Fuck, I hate that it sounds that way.

  She turns toward me with a smile. “What’s up?”

  “Did I…did I do something wrong? I don’t understand why Zayne is upset.” She remains quiet for a few moments, drumming her fingers on the table before blowing out a breath.

  “No, it’s just…well, none of the guys care for Chris or the frat guys. After everything they have done to Harrison...”

  Comprehension.

  Understanding.

  “I’m sorry. I should have remembered. I’m just not used to all of this.” Frowning, I look down at my nails.

  “It’s cool. You can talk to whomever you want. I think there is more to why Zayne is upset.”

  “Like?” She shakes her head and looks sideways at Amaris.

  “Chris talking to you, touching you, kissing you.” Adriana raises her brows at me like I should know this already.

  What the hell?

  “Why would that upset him? He doesn’t even know me.”

  “I know you don’t know these guys, Nat, but we have known them since they came to the U.S. Trust us, that got to him. When you helped them out when they were taken to the police station, you kind of cemented your friendship with them. Not too many people would do that for others. Trust me, these guys don’t just let anyone into their world, so it’s a big deal,” Adriana says, and the finality in her voice makes me gasp.

  How can that be if I just met them?

  Mystified.

  I sit back in shock. I appreciate the way they all stick together. But what I did, calling my uncle, was not so that I could impress.

  Friendship and hurt.

  That was my motivation. When I first met them, their protectiveness for one another astounded me. So fierce and unrelenting.

  Amaris reaches over and grabs my hand. “It's a good thing, trust me. Lennon was the same way with me. He just kind of bumped into me and is now a permanent fixture. It’s a bit intense, but they all are the sweetest guys. They have big hearts. Zayne just doesn’t want Chris to hurt you is all. We all know what a weasel he is.”

  I bite my lip and nod, absorbing what she’s said, feeling like I’ve just been adopted into a secret society of hot British guys.

  * * *

  “The boys are up. I can’t wait for you to hear them,” Ana squeals with delight. Amaris and Ana cheer as the announcer comes to the mic. Their giddiness rubs off and I find myself letting the excitement seep in.

  “Hey, everybody, I hope you’re all having a good time.” The lounge erupts in claps and whistles. “I love you, Jeff.” Someone randomly yells out. The announcer laughs into the mic. “I love you, too. Now, let's give it up for Chains of Menace.” He motions to the band packing up their equipment behind him and the yelling grows a few decibels. “Next up, we have five lads from across the pond. We know them as The Awaken.”

  The guys come out and as soon as they hit the stage, their faces light up. Leif looks at Adriana and winks, but my eyes are instantly drawn to Zayne. Black leather jacket, black skinny jeans, a white shirt, and black Doc Martens—who knew such a plain outfit could look so good?

  His eyes glow with excitement and he turns, looking straight at me. A smirk dawns on his delectable lips. My face heats up instantly knowing I got caught checking him out.

  I’ve been to plenty of open mic nights, but never have I seen women flocking to the dance floor in droves like right now. With their “oh my God’s” and screaming all their name—it’s insane.

  Jeff continues. “They have a new song on the set list and we’re sure it will be fire, just like all the rest of their songs.” He shakes their hands and walks off stage left.

  “We are all glad to see you tonight. We hope you have a great time,” Leif booms into the mic.

  The melody starts to play, instantly absorbing me. Simple and melodic. Leif starts to sing and I look to Ana, nodding my head in approval. Color me impressed. These guys are really good. Their voices harmonize so well, and Harrison can sing the hell out of a note.

  Leif sings again, and I notice him looking at Ana. I glance to Adriana, who is beaming. She blows Leif a kiss, pride radiating off her in waves.

  Zayne starts singing and my heart stops. I have heard many sounds in my life, but nothing as glorious as this. He hits high notes in perfect pitch. Goose bumps spread throughout my body, causing my nipples to harden. I thought Harrison was good, but damn—Zayne just made my knees weak. The song comes to an end and I find myself giddy. I cheer right along with Amaris, Ana, and all the other chicks in here.

  “Alright, people, make some noise. I want to see your hands up,” Nick yells into the mic, then he starts the guitar riff, and the crowd becomes louder. I scan the crowd, my ears absorbing the hoots and hollers. I watch as women swing their hips, dancing to the beat. Some jump around, singing the lyrics with their friends. Even the bartenders are nodding their heads in tempo. It’s surreal. With the other two acts before them, people were into it, but not like this—this is more like a mini concert.

  “Is it always this crazy when they get on stage?” I lean into Ana so she can hear me over the noise.

  “Yeah, this is pretty tame. The chicks love them. I think it's the accents.” She laughs

  Mesmerizing.

  I watch in awe, as they draw in the crowd.

  Charismatic.

  Their stage presence is enigmatic.

  Hypnotic.

  Their voices and music have pulled me into a trance. I love how much fun they have, making silly faces at one another, bumping into each other and laughing. The hook is very catchy, I find myself singing it. Sometime during the song, we get up from the booth and start dancing around.

  I can’t remember the last time I felt this...free.

  Nothing weighing me down.

  Giggling and soaking up the excitement in the air. The pulsing of adrenaline in my veins has me elated.

  The last song the guys sing is amusing, with Harrison making me laugh as he sings about people getting it on while thrusting his hips toward the women in the crowd, causing them to scream louder.

  Ana and I can’t help but laugh at their shenanigans. During the chorus, the boys all act silly, jumping around the stage. Amaris, Ana, and I copy them, and Harrison points to us. All the guys look, trying to hold back their laughs. Zayne takes the mic and sings about a girl he’s seeing, how he hopes she’ll want to kiss him back. He looks over and throws me a wink.

  Putty.

  I’m squishy, melty putty in his hands.

  Smiling, feeling shy, I look away from him.

  The women go wild, chanting all their names.

  Surreal is the only way I can describe this experience...like I’m an interloper, watching history in the making. Call it a sixth sense or premonition, but mark my words, these guys are the real deal.

  Forty-five minutes later, the guys finish their set. The DJ plays a few songs while the next band sets up. When the guys finally emerge from backstage, women run to them to get a hug or a picture. I can’t help but laugh with great enjoyment as the guys ward off unwanted advances.

  Understanding floods my veins. This moment is why Dad pushed so hard for me to live outside my walls. This is what kids my age do. For the first time in a long time, I don’t want to hide. I’m so glad I came tonight.

  Jeff is back on stage, trying to calm the crowd. “So, what did Chris
want anyway?” Adriana asks.

  I clear my throat, choosing my words carefully. “He apologized to me for last Friday night. Wanted to know if we could be friends.” Adriana glances at Amaris, her lips in a sneer before she rolls her eyes.

  “Just be careful, Natalee. As your friend, I don’t want him to hurt you.” I know she isn’t trying to be a bitch, and I know there’s bad blood between Chris and the guys. I’m not stupid and I appreciate her concern, but I’m a big girl, and he’s never done anything to me personally. I should keep an open mind, as Dr. Winchester says.

  “Well, I just want to know why he kissed you? I mean, if we were French, I’d get it,” Amaris cuts in with a smile. I’m thankful for her right now. I hate that the atmosphere went from fun and cheerful to downcast.

  “Kinda shocked me, too. No guy has ever done that before.” I shrug.

  “He has a half-chub for you I think,” Amaris says through her laughter. Adriana shakes her head, trying not to smile, but it pokes through.

  Lennon comes up behind Amaris and twirls her around. “How was that, love?” he asks as he sets her down. She grins, turning to him. “Brilliant, baby.”

  When Lennon turns to me, his electric blue eyes shine with excitement. “Did you enjoy the show?” By this point, all the guys have gathered around, finally getting away from the hordes of women throwing themselves at them.

  “Yeah, you guys kicked ass. That was awesome.”

  “YES!” he yells, giving me a high five. All of them are sweaty, but there is no denying the joy radiating off their faces. Hairs on the back of my neck rise as Zayne’s breath and voice hit my ear.

  “Glad you enjoyed that, Shorty.” I shudder, smiling at the ground. I turn to face him. “You have a great voice,” I say

  “Thank you,” Zayne responds. Slowly, he bends down and kisses my cheek in the same spot Chris had kissed earlier, as if trying to brand it with his signature. I laugh at how ridiculous that sounds.

  “Are you laughing at me?” His face is close to my own, his amber eyes dancing with amusement.

  “No, it’s just…never mind, it’s embarrassing,” I say, closing my eyes, wishing Scotty would beam me out of here.

  “Tell me, I want to know.” I peel my eyes open to find Zayne waiting for an answer with one eyebrow cocked and his arms folded across his chest. I almost burst out laughing at the ridiculousness of it all. Shaking my head, I push him back a bit. He just rocks on his heels with a huge grin. “Seriously, I can’t.”

  He bites his lip and slowly releases it. “One day, I will get it out of you.”

  “Is that so?” I challenge

  “You doubt me?”

  I cock my head to the side and shrug one shoulder, trying to understand how he makes me feel things that have been dead for so long. I try to rein in my feelings, but it’s like my body is compelled to him.

  “Guess we’ll have to wait and see, Shorty.”

  As the night wears on, I talk with the guys, getting a feel for each of their personalities.

  “If you have to drink the piss poor beer here in America, the only acceptable one is Guinness. When you visit Ireland, I will take you to my favorite pub and have you drink a real pint.” Nick’s blue eyes implore my own.

  “When am I going to Ireland?” Internally, I’m smiling. I love the fact that he’s including me in weird things like this. Outwardly, I’m trying to keep a straight face.

  He looks at me for a bit and his blue eyes glaze over with an emotion I can’t quite grasp. “I’ll buy you a ticket to watch our first show in Dublin.”

  I raise my eyebrows to my hairline. “Oh, I didn’t know you were doing a show in Ireland,” I quip

  “It’s quite alright, love.” He eases back into the booth, putting his arm on the back of it. “We’re going to be as big U2 one day. And when we have a show in Dublin, I’ll send you tickets and we’ll drink real pints.”

  “Wow, you’re really sure about your band, aren’t you? I mean, you’re...eh…alright.” I move my hand side to side. Of course, I’m lying, but I like messing with him.

  “Did you not see all the women screaming my name? That takes talent.” He smirks as his eyes look out to the women in the bar. None of them are paying him any mind.

  “I heard like one girl. Everyone else was screaming for the other guys. Tough break, man.” I pat his shoulder, looking at him sympathetically. The entire table erupts into fits of laughter, and I join them, my act wearing thin.

  “Heeeyyy!” Nick yells, pointing a finger at me once he realizes I’m just playing with him.

  “I think you’re going to fit in perfectly, Natalee,” Lennon says, tucking Amaris closer into his side. The smile I have stays plastered on my lips as the guys crack jokes.

  Leif is the sensible one, making sure they make their shows on time. Harrison…well, I haven’t figured him out yet. Yesterday, he was being funny and carefree, but tonight, he is withdrawn. He laughs at jokes, but every few minutes, he checks his watch and surveys the club, almost as if he’s waiting for someone to arrive.

  Nick would be the guy you call on to have a fun time. He has many stories about dates, the lads—as he calls them—and life in general, but one thing I learned: don’t get him started on beer. Lennon is the jokester. He loves to mess with Harrison and Leif.

  Zayne is the quieter one of the group—mysterious and self-assured—but when his boys start in on him, he is quick with the comebacks. As weird as it sounds, they are making me feel at home.

  Rock Me

  For the first time tonight, I’m able to relax. Having Shorty next to me feels right. For the last half hour, I have watched all her little nervous movements. She nibbles on her lower lip with her eyes wide when anyone tells her an intense story. Or how her she picks at her nail polish with her head down when she is uncomfortable. Right now, Shorty is all smiles.

  Unfortunately, her eyes also hold hurt—a wound so severe, it causes my heart to ache.

  Tonight, she’s shed that sadness, even if it was only for a bit. I have made it my mission to keep that smile on her face. God, her laugh is infectious. What trips me up the most is the ease in which this girl has infiltrated our circle. It scares me a bit, if I’m being honest. I mean, we aren’t mean blokes, but we keep a certain distance from people. It’s not an easy feat to come to a new country to live out your dreams. There are a lot of jealous fucks in the world. We don’t open ourselves to just anybody. Shorty isn’t just anybody, though.

  When I was on stage, my eyes would find hers from time to time and I would have to look away or risk her web sweeping me in while the rest of the world faded around me. I haven’t stopped thinking about her caramel hair and the way it flows down her shoulders. I’ve fantasized about kissing her plush lips. Shorty’s eyes are the most intriguing—almond-shaped and the color of milk chocolate. Gold flecks surround her inner eye, making them appear lit by a fire from within. I don’t know what it is about her that makes me feel like a pussy. I never look at girls this way. I want to save her from her pain. I want to hold her and chase the shadows away.

  I’m not a feckwit, I don’t use girls, but I enjoy shagging. After my last relationship, I swore I would never allow another slag to hurt me. With Natalee, though, it’s odd. I don’t want just to bang her, I want to get to know her. Be with her. I want to hold her and erase her sadness, but at the same time, I want her beneath me, writhing in pleasure, making her come harder than she ever has. I need her screaming my name in unadulterated pleasure.

  Fuck! I need to stop these thoughts. My dick thickens, pressing against my zipper. When she throws her head back in laughter, her whole face illuminates, and her tits pop up. I lick my lips just thinking about the ways I could have her doing that in my bed.

  I don’t believe in love at first sight or other bullocks, but Shorty has thrown me for a loop. The lads have given me shite since I met her, but I can’t get this damn loopy grin off my face when someone brings up her name.

  She didn’t h
ave to call her uncle to have him send a lawyer down to the station for us, but the fact that she did shows her heart. That one small move did big things within me. Like I said, she has me pussified, and I haven’t even gotten a taste of her yet. Believe me, though, I will have her. She will be mine.

  Emily

  A weird zap hits my stomach. I look over to see Zayne’s ravenous eyes on me. My heart begins racing, my breathing becomes labored, and there is a sensation in my belly that erupts like a fiery volcano. Fuck, how can one look wreak so much havoc on my body? Swallowing, I smile tightly, knowing if I don’t turn my head and pay attention to Amaris, I will become lost in his gaze.

  “Lennon was so mad, but I couldn’t stop laughing. Can you imagine?” Amaris’ fits of laughter ring out. I’ve missed part of the story, so I have no idea what Lennon was upset about, but I let out a giggle anyway. Shit! It’s no use. I’m trying so hard to ignore him, but my damn body doesn’t get the message. Bouncing my knee up and down, I try to distract myself from the river of lust raging through me, but I lose any footing I gain when his fingers move a stray hair away from my ear.

  “Stop fidgeting, Shorty.” I bite my lip to keep the moan from escaping. I cross my legs tightly to help the throbbing in my core. Zayne wraps one of his arms around my waist and brings me closer to him. I gasp, turning my head to him.

  Inches.

  His beautiful face is mere inches from mine. The air around me is too thick, making it hard to breathe.

  Time.

  I have no concept of it or those around me.

  Wrapped in his hypnotic blanket of lust, I want to lean forward. I want to know what the scruff on his face feels like between my palms. I want to know if he could make me feel so good, I moan in gratification.

  “Yeah, that was a good one,” Zayne says, his eyes still fixed on mine. When he turns to Leif, I take in a deep breath and try to scoot a few inches away from him, but the ass still has his arm around my waist, keeping me in close proximity.