Wren

"None of your fucking business." I seethe as I try to push past him. He chuckles a little, a low grumbling sound that sets my body on fire.

Backstabbing body.

"Someone's fiesty tonight." He says, humor lacing his tone. I go to push past him again, but he grabs my arm and I yank it away as if his touch burned me.

"Don't you dare fucking touch me, Huxley." I seethe. He pulls his hand back quickly and his eyes widen in shock before they soften into something that looks like sadness.

"I'm sorry. Can we just... can we talk, Wren?" He asks quietly and my stomach flutters at his sweet tone, but the fury from the last four years burns that away.

"There's nothing to talk about." I say firmly, squaring my shoulders and hardening my eyes. He sighs and runs his fingers through his dark brown hair and my fingers itch to do the same.

But I'd bite them off before I'd do it.

"I want to explain things to you. You deserve to know. " He says and I scoff, rolling my eyes. I don't say anything, just wait for him to move. He takes a step closer to me, the warmth from his body sorrounding me like a soft blanket. I take a deep breath and his scent assaults me. Warm, musky, manly. Everything I remember. Everything that represented safety, love. But then he turned it ugly.

"You don't owe me any explanations." I say, and it's true. We never made each other any promises. He never told me he would give me more than one night. But it didn't stop the sting of betrayal when he vanished. What he left me to deal with.

"That's bullshit and you know it." He says and he reaches out to tuck my hair behind my ear. He intakes a sharp breath at the touch, his pupils dilating as his eyes travel my body hungrily and I realize that I still affect him the way he does me. A devious plan burrows in the back of my mind and I smile at him, catching him by surprise.

"Fine, Huxley. I'll give you this one chance to talk. To explain things. But that's it." I say and he lets out a sigh of relief before he nods.

"Come with me." He says and he grips my hand. My whole arm lights up in tingles from his touch, my body reacting to him in a way it hasn't to any other man in my life. I thread my fingers with his and he looks at me with a hopeful expression and I decide my plan may just work.

Give him a taste of his own treatment.

He pushes through the door that seperates the bar from the kitchen and leads me up the staircase to the second, then third floor. The noise from the bar dissipates and all I can hear is the rapid thumping of my heart in my chest. He opens a door at the end of the hall and leads me into a small apartment. It's clean and comfortable, but doesn't really feel like a home. I look around, a confused look on my face.

"You're staying here?" I ask and he nods, turning to look at me and taking a step towards me. He shuts the door behind me before his eyes lock on mine. He runs his fingers down my face, his eyes searching mine as if he's trying to believe I'm real.

"Old man Jesse lets me stay here." He murmurs, his warm breath skating across my skin as he leans down to peck a kiss to my cheek. I nearly groan at the touch, leaning in closer to him.

"I need to tell you things, Wren. Things I've wanted to tell you for a long time." He says quietly and I shake my head, tears threatening my eyes but I push them back. I don't have the time for them.

"I don't care where you've been or what you've been doing, Hux. All I care about is that you're here now." I murmur, throwing my arms around his neck. I feel him stiffen for a moment before his shoulders relax and he wraps his arms around me, pulling me in flush to his chest. This feels different from being held by Jace.

This feels perfect.

I push that thought away, nuzzling my face against his chest like I always used to do. He lets out a little hum of pleasure at the movement, dipping down to kiss the top of my head. He heaves out a shuddered breath, tightening his arms around me.

"Please, little bird. Let me explain." He practically begs. I pull away to look up into his gorgeous eyes. The light is better up here than in the bar. I can see every detail of his perfect face. Strong cheek bones, plump pink lips, until a new scar just above his left eye catches my interest. The realization firms my resolve. He's been through things since I've seen him last. Things I'm not privy to. Things he cut me out from. He's missed out on the things that I went through. The things I needed him for. My thoughts harden my heart against his gentle pleas.

"Not right now, Hux." I purr, pushing myself closer to him. "I want you. It's been too long." I whine, reaching out to cup his cheek, running the pad of my thumb along his lips, studying him. Relearning him.

I watch as his eyes widen in shock, before he shakes his head gently and takes a step back.

"I don't think that's a good idea, Wren." He says, stepping just outside my grasp.

"Why? You don't want me, Hux?" I ask, wrapping my arms around my middle, suddenly feeling cold without him close. I let a frown take over my face as I look up at him with wide, hopeful eyes. He sighs, his hands clenching into a fist before he comes towards me again.

"Of course I want you. It's all I've fucking thought about for the last four years. But I don't want to rush this, baby." He murmurs, his hand coming up to cup my cheek. I move closer to him, resting my open palms on his broad chest as I look up into his eyes. He seems taller somehow, his large frame towering over me like a cage, making me feel like a literal little bird. I can feel his heart pumping hard under my hand, his breathing coming in quick pants.

"We can worry about the rest of it later. I just want to be close to you again. To feel whole." I whisper and as much as I want to pretend I'm playing a part for my revenge, deep down I know there's a truth to my words. Huxley's arms wrap around me and he sighs again, closing his eyes as if to fight off the temptation.

"You with Jace?" He asks, his voice going hard and his mouth forming a firm, unpleased line. I shake my head and snuggle into his embrace, resting my face against his chest.

"I'm not with anyone." I say quietly and he lets out a low rumble of approval, his arms tightening possesively around me.

"If we do this, Wren, if I take you, then you're mine. There's no coming back from that." He murmurs in my ear making goosebumps pebble along my skin. My heart hitches at his words, my body traitorously warming to his declaration. But I can deal with the emotional fallout later.

I slip my hands under the soft fabric of his t-shirt, nearly groaning at the feel of taut muscles along his warm skin. My fingertips stay featherlight as they trace him, familiarizing myself with his body. It's changed so much from the young man I knew years ago. I look up at him, my eyes pleading.

"You sure?" He asks.

I nod, twirling my fingers in the belt loops of his jeans, pulling him closer. I can feel his hardened length pressing into me and I do groan this time, my eyes slipping closed as memories pour over me, some sweet, but all of them unwanted in this moment. I open my eyes to look up at him and I know they are glistening with tears.

"Please?" I beg, my voice barely above a whisper. His eyes turn soft as they take me in. He steps impossibly closer, my body now flush with his. His hands slip up my body, threading into my hair as he holds me steady. His thumbs brush up and down my cheeks as if I'm the most precious thing in the world to him.

"Oh, sweet girl. You never have to ask. I'll give you anything you want. I'll burn the world down for you. So long as you're mine." He murmurs.

He gives me one last long look before he uses the grip on my head to smash his lips against mine.