by Isla Drake
I pass by Finn’s door. It’s open for the first time this morning, but Finn’s not in there. I tell myself not to look disappointed as I walk to my own office. Before I make it to my desk, I hear a knock behind me. I stop in the middle of my office and turn around. Finn stands in the doorway looking mouthwatering, as usual. Now though, I know that he tastes as good as he looks and that is incredibly distracting.
“Can I come in?”
I nod. He glances down the hall before walking in and quickly closing the door behind him. Before I can speak, he pulls me to him and takes my mouth in a searing kiss that takes my breath away. I grip the front of his shirt and kiss him back, a small moan escaping me. His arms wrap around me, one hand drifting down to cup my ass. A dozen hot, dirty thoughts run through my mind. When the kiss ends, we’re both breathing heavy and I can see the longing in his eyes.
“I’ve been waiting all day to do that,” he says. “I kept telling myself to play it cool.” Another kiss. “Not to invent some excuse to drag you into my office.” Another kiss.
“It’s 9:30 in the morning. Hardly all day.” But I smile. “What about rule 1?”
He pulls me against him again, letting me feel his arousal. “We said no sex. Not no kissing.” His mouth goes to my neck and I tilt my head to give him better access.
“You’re not making this easy,” I whisper.
“Nothing good is ever easy,” he whispers into my ear before pulling away, leaving me breathless and wanting more.
He steps back just enough so our bodies are no longer touching.
“I’ve missed you.”
I raise a brow. “I’m down the hall.”
He smiles. “That’s too far away. And you’re wearing too many clothes.”
I laugh. “I could say the same about you.” I hook a finger into one of his beltloops and pull his hips closer to mine. Rule 1 is dangerously close to being bent. Possibly broken.
Finn shakes his head but bends to kiss me.
“What about the rules?”
“Rules are stupid,” I say kissing him again. “Who needs them?”
His eyes close and he presses his forehead to mine. “I hate myself for saying it,” he says. “But we shouldn’t do this.”
“Shh,” I whisper. “I didn’t hear that.”
He laughs and pulls back slightly. He looks at me for a long moment before speaking.
“Have dinner with me tonight. You and Liam. I’ll cook.”
My heart falters for a moment before kicking into overdrive. This is a big step. I open my mouth to speak, but he must see something in my expression that worries him.
“We don’t have to,” he says. “It’s too soon, right?” He moves back another step, putting more distance between us. This isn’t what I want.
“Wait,” I say, stepping toward him. “Just…give me a second.” Finn doesn’t move, allowing me to close the distance between us.
I can see a hint of nerves in his eyes, like he’s not quite sure what I’m going to say. I realize this is just as new for him. I think for a moment, trying to get my words in order before saying them.
“I like you. A lot.” That seems like an understatement, but it’s all I can give right now. “I think maybe I might like you too much.”
Finn grins. “That doesn’t sound like a bad thing.”
I sigh, but I’m smiling too. “It could be. If things don’t work out between us, you might just break my heart. I don’t want Liam’s heart to get broken too.”
This conversation feels dangerous. Talking about hearts implies that mine might be involved and it’s way too early for that talk. I wonder if Finn will try to make a joke or some flirty remark to dispel the tension. He surprises me though. His eyes turn serious.
“Something you should know about me,” he says. “I don’t do casual relationships. I’m not built that way. I like you.” His mouth quirks up in a half-smile. “Probably too much. I can’t guarantee what will happen between us. And I know I have less at stake than you. I don’t have a kid at home to think about. But for what it’s worth, I want to find out. I think it’s worth the risk.”
For some reason, his words bring a lump to my throat. I swallow it away and meet his gaze again.
“Are you sure?” I ask. “Because we’re a package deal.”
Finn’s eyes turn hard and he looks almost angry.
“Hannah, what kind of guy do you think I am? What do you the other night was? I’ve known Liam for almost his entire life. It’s not like you sprung him on me after our third date or something. I knew when I sent those flowers what I was signing on for. That night wouldn’t have happened if I didn’t think I could handle that.”
I’ve offended him. Worse, I think I hurt him. I reach out and put a hand on his arm. He doesn’t pull away, but the playful flirty Finn from earlier has vanished.
“I’m sorry,” I say. “I know you’re not that guy. I just—this is all new for me. I’ve never had to think about bringing a guy home to meet Liam. Not that the two of you are strangers, but it’s different now.”
“Things might be different between us,” Finn says. “But not where Liam is concerned. Nothing needs to change with him and me. We’re still buddies, like always.”
I smile. “He asked me about that when I talked to him yesterday.”
“You talked to him about me?”
I nod. “I told him you and I might be spending more time together. As more than friends.” I feel my face go hot. “He asked if you were my boyfriend.”
“What did you say?” Finn seems terribly interested in the answer.
“I might have dodged the question,” I say, looking down at my feet.
Finn reaches up and tips my chin up so I’m looking at him. “Hannah?”
“Yeah?”
He grins and the playful Finn I love is back. “Will you be my girlfriend?”
I laugh, feeling my face heat again.
“I mean,” Finn says, leaning toward me. “I can write you a note.” He kisses the corner of my mouth. “Slip it in your locker between classes?” His lips brush mine again. “Check yes or no?”
I twine my arms around his neck. “I don’t need a note,” I whisper. “I just need you to kiss me.”
He does.
Chapter Twenty-three
Hannah
In the end, I decide to talk to Liam before inviting Finn over for dinner. He’d said he wasn’t bothered by the idea of me spending more time with Finn, but I still want to talk to him first. Driving home from the school, I decide to bring it up.
“Hey bud. What do you think of Finn coming over for dinner tonight?”
“Sounds fun,” he says without hesitation.
“Are you sure?”
“Uh huh. Mr. Finn’s nice. I like him.”
I can’t see him to gage his reaction, but there’d been no hesitation in his answer, and I can’t hear anything in his voice that makes me think he might be bothered by the idea. I decide to take Liam at his word. When we get home, I text Finn to let him know. He shows up a half hour later with all the ingredients to make tacos. This scores him points with both Liam and me since tacos rank right up there with the food of the Gods, in our opinions. Finn insists that I sit and relax while he cooks.
I watch him as he moves around my kitchen searching for things in unfamiliar surroundings. He won’t let me point out where anything is kept though, preferring to find it himself. It’s adorable and kind of sexy to watch him as he cooks a meal for me. Plus, it’s just nice not to have to worry about dinner for once.
He catches me looking at him as he dices tomatoes and smiles.
“What?”
I shake my head. “Nothing.”
He stops dicing and looks at me with narrowed eyes. “You’re staring at me.”
I smile. “I’m enjoying the show. It’s not every day I have a handsome man prepare me dinner while I sit back and do nothing.”
Finn goes back to dicing tomato. “I don’t want you to ge
t your hopes up too high. I really only know how to make like, three dishes.”
“You made a mistake starting with the tacos then,” I say. “It’s a favorite in this house. You’re setting the bar too high.”
“Damn,” Finn says, wincing. “I knew I should have started out with my grilled cheese skills.”
“It’s too late now. Liam already heard you say tacos. You’re committed to this path.”
Finn stirs ground beef where it’s simmering on the stove and peers over at me.
“Next time, I’ll just have to find a way to top this.”
“Yes, you will.”
I’d worried that dinner with Liam and Finn might be awkward. I’ve never had a man over and I wasn’t sure how things would go with Liam. He’d told me that he was okay with Finn hanging around more, but I still worried. It turns out my worries were unfounded, because Finn and Liam get along great. Finn seems to have infinite patience with Liam and Liam seems completely fascinated by Finn. I’m afraid to read too much into it after one meal together, but I feel more optimistic as the evening goes on. Dinner is delicious. Finn seems pleased that Liam and I go back for seconds.
After dinner, Liam goes to take a shower, leaving the two of us alone in the kitchen. Finn gets up to do the dishes, but I stop him.
“Nope. You cooked. I’ll clean.”
He shakes his head. “Absolutely not. I made the mess, so I’ll clean it up.”
I sigh. “How about we work together?”
His eyes narrow slightly as though he’s considering. “Deal.”
He leans down and kisses me. It’s a quick peck that surprises me with its sweetness. I smile up at him.
“Are you guys kissing?”
Liam’s voice comes from the doorway startling both of us. We move apart quickly and I turn to face Liam. He’s wearing an expression that looks like it’s equal parts confused and grossed out. I smile at him. Before I can speak, Finn beats me to it.
“Is it okay with you if I kiss your mom sometimes? She’s really pretty.”
Liam still looks confused, but he shrugs. “I guess so, but I don’t know why grownups like kissing so much.”
I force myself not to laugh. “When you’re a grownup, you might like kissing too.”
He gives a shudder and makes a face. “Ew. I don’t think so.”
Finn puts an arm around my shoulder, and I look at Liam to see if this casual affection bothers him. He looks at the two of us and I can tell his mind is working. I wait for him to say something, but he just shrugs again.
“Can I have chocolate milk?”
“Just a half a glass,” I say, moving to grab him a cup from the cabinet.
After I pour his chocolate milk, Liam sits at the counter and drinks it while Finn and I work together to clean up the mess in the kitchen. Finn might be a decent cook, but he hasn’t learned the art of cleaning up after himself as he cooks. It makes the task take longer than it might have otherwise. But I don’t mind. It means more time with Finn. Liam finishes his milk and heads into the living room to play his video game, leaving the two of us alone in the kitchen again. We work in companionable silence for several minutes, him stacking dishes into the dishwasher and me wiping down counters. When we finish, Finn peeks toward the living room where Liam sits on the couch with his handheld game in his hand.
Finn grins at me and takes my face in his hands, kissing me. He lingers for only a few seconds, but it has the same effect on me as always. I want to lean into him, pull him to me and kiss him until we’re both senseless. But I know I can’t. Not tonight. I gaze up at him. His hands still cup my face, his thumbs lightly stroking my cheeks.
“I should go,” he says. I hate that he’s right.
I sigh and nod. “Thank you for dinner. It was nice to have someone else take care of things for once.”
Finn smiles. “I’m glad. Because I plan to make a habit of it.”
Reluctantly, he releases me and takes a step back. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Goodnight.”
Finn says his goodbye to Liam on his way to the front door. Before he leaves, he turns back to me and winks, making me smile. When the door closes behind Finn, I take in a deep breath and blow it out. I already miss having him in my house and that feels dangerous. I look over at Liam where he sits on the couch with his game.
“Time’s up,” I say, brightly. “Time to pick a book and brush your teeth, kiddo.”
Liam sighs loudly but doesn’t argue. He turns the game off and sets it on the coffee table before heading down the hall to the bathroom. Once his teeth are brushed and he picks a bedtime book, we both pile into his bed and I read to him for a while until he starts to doze off. It’s a routine we’ve tried to stick with for the last few years and it’s one we both love.
After I leave Liam’s room, I move through the house turning off lights before making my way to my own room. I fill the tub and pile my hair on top of my head in a messy bun. I add some lavender bath salts to the water in the hopes that it will help me relax enough for sleep. As I slide into the hot water, my mind goes over the events of the day. I remember the way Finn kissed me in my office this morning. It had been hot, possessive and so sexy. I feel a thrill of arousal course through me followed by a pang of disappointment that he’s not here to satisfy this aching need. As if my thoughts summoned him, my phone chirps with a text message from Finn. I smile as I read it.
Finn: Miss you already.
I type back, Miss you.
Finn: I like your bed better.
My smile widens.
I like you in my bed.
Finn: Say the word and I’m there.
I sigh and type back, It’s tempting, but we both know we wouldn’t get any sleep.
Finn: Sleep is for the weak and people who aren’t lucky enough to have such amazing sex.
I laugh. You can’t know how much I want to say yes. But Liam…
Finn: Say no more. I won’t pressure you.
Much as I want to say yes, I don’t think it’s a good idea tonight. I’m glad that Finn seems to understand that. I type, Thank you.
Finn: So…what are you wearing?
I laugh again, trailing my free hand through the water. Some playful part of me takes over and I decide to be completely honest.
Feeling bold, I type out my response: A few strategically placed bubbles and a smile.
Two seconds later, my phone rings. It’s Finn, attempting a video chat. I chew my bottom lip, undecided as my finger hovers over the button to answer the call. I’ve never taken a naked picture of myself or made a lewd video. This feels daring, risky. It also feels erotic as hell. Finn’s already seen my naked and it’s not like I’m recording a video. Screw it. I answer the phone.
Finn’s face pops into view on my phone screen. I see a tiny image of myself in the bottom corner. It’s just my face and a couple inches of my upper chest, but the camera angle is high enough so that my breasts aren’t visible.
Finn grins. “I had to see for myself.”
I smile. “Did you think I was lying?”
“I hoped you weren’t.”
It looks like Finn is sitting up in his bed, his back against the headboard. He’s wearing a white t-shirt, but I can’t tell what else. Feeling mischievous, I decide to ask him the same question.
“What are you wearing, Mr. King?”
Finn’s grin turns less boyish. He moves the phone slowly, panning the camera down the rest of his body. I get a glimpse of sweatpants and a distinct bulge before he brings the camera back to his face.
“Not nearly as sexy as your bubbles,” he says.
“Oh, I don’t know,” I say. “Maybe you’re just wearing too many clothes.”
“Is that so?”
I nod. “That’s my expert opinion.”
His eyes narrow. “And what exactly is it you’re supposed to be an expert on, Miss Travis?”
I roll my eyes. “Your body, obviously.”
His smile widens. “T
hat, I won’t argue.” Then he shrugs. “If you insist.” The phone moves and I get a view of the ceiling. I hear Finn moving around, but I can’t see him. After a minute, the phone moves again and Finn’s face comes into view. This time I see several inches of bare skin where the white t-shirt had been.
I raise one eyebrow appreciatively. “That’s much better.”
He smiles. “I aim to please.”
My mind fills with a dozen dirty images of ways I’d like for him to please me. My thoughts must show on my face because Finn’s eyes grow dark.
“What are you thinking right now?”
Again, I decide on total honesty. “I’m thinking of all the dirty things we could do if you were here right now.”
Finn’s face takes on that dark, possessive, sexy look I love. “Just because I can’t be there doesn’t mean we can’t do dirty things.” His voice is low and reminds me of all the times he’s said my name while he was buried deep inside me. My hand trails through the water and I let my fingers brush against my nipple, feeling it tighten.
Finn tips his chin up. “Where’s your other hand?” he asks.
“Touching my nipple,” I say, not taking my eyes off his.
Finn’s voice is a growl now. “Show me.”
I sit up higher in the tub so my breasts are out of the water before I stretch my hand out, letting more of my naked body fill the phone screen. My other hand is still on my breast, lightly teasing my nipple.
“I wish you were here right now,” I say, rolling my nipple between my thumb and finger, tugging lightly until it’s hard and pebbled against my hand. I turn my attention to the other breast, giving it the same treatment.
“If I were there right now,” Finn says, “I’d have that sweet nipple in my mouth, sucking it until you let out that little gasp that I love.” His words are painting pictures in my head and I feel myself growing slick with need. But Finn is still talking.