Unsettled (Chosen #1) by Alisa Mullen Page A

Cleveland Circle and took the next available train to Downtown Crossing. As I walked down the beautiful and old pebbled sidewalks, I no longer had apprehension about my tryst with Teagan and the summer to come. After Conner screamed at me, I decided to make some changes. I left a long note to my parents, with Teagan’s number, assuring them of my safety. I felt a sense of relief. I didn’t want to be at home. I didn’t want to be under scrutiny. I didn’t want people that I loved questioning my every move. That’s why I left for Oregon in the first place. But now, I was given the opportunity to do it in the city I adored and with people I hardly knew. Frankly, Wellesley and every other place fell away and I was on my own again. I smiled outwardly because I felt free. I was independent and there was no one to answer to.
    The intense feelings for Teagan grew stronger as I stepped into The Littlest Bar. I was taken aback. Teagan wasn’t kidding when he said it was little. It doubled in size to Teagan’s walk in closet and had at least eighty people crammed into it. Gaelic music pounded through a sound system, drowning out the multiple shouts for more beers and loud conversation. There were no televisions and no seats. That place was the equivalent of a cluster fuck. Holy hell.
    I like to pride myself in enjoying a good party but this crampe d space was overwhelming and I felt an anxiety attack coming on. I lifted my hand to my heart and realized I was being pushed in by people trying to get to the small bar. I stood on my tiptoes, trying to find at least one familiar face. When Teagan looked up to the door in anticipation, his eyes found mine and he gave me the downright sexiest smile ever. I stood still while a shutter passed down into my stomach. He plowed his way through the crowd and handed me a bottled beer. Because it was so loud in the bar, we just looked at each other. The nonverbal conversation was once again intact. We spoke so many words with just our eyes and expressions that I couldn’t wrap my head around them. In that moment, I believed in fate and he was mine. People shoved me from all sides and he noticed. He quickly drew me in front of him, guarding me from the people assaulting me. He threw his head down and yelled, “I’m glad you made it.” I smiled up to him and nodded. His whole demeanor changed in that bar. His first glance at me, when we saw each other, although intense and happy, became something else. I was in his home.  He was at peace in this chaos, holding onto my waist. I squeezed his hand that was on my waist and took a long draw of my beer.
    “Have I told you that you ’re so sexy when you drink like that?” he asked. “And, Jesus, you look amazing. I want to strip you down and lick you everywhere.”
    Although I heard him, I couldn’t speak. The last thing I ever expected from a guy was to say my drinking was sexy, and the way my panties just got wet from his words was crazy. I was stunned. I couldn’t look at him. I couldn’t move. Again, my heart twisted and I felt like this complete stranger knew exactly who I was and accepted me unconditionally. Had I ever craved that kind of praise? Had I ever felt so turned on and so in lust by someone I hardly knew? I shook my head from the thoughts and turned to focus on the ever growing crowd.
    Teagan, never loosening his grip on my waist, started laughing and shouting at people around him. I noticed I was only one of five girls in th e packed space and quickly understood his wrap on me. He was letting people know I was his. Men were looking at me and Freddie, at the bar, glanced in my direction several times. Once our eyes met, I smiled and he nodded slowly. He glanced down at Teagan’s hands around my waist then went back to talking to the bartender, an older, gray-haired Irishman behind the bar. Thick accents enveloped me as I felt myself being swept away in this foreign place only steps away from the familiar city I knew so well.