“I’m scared,” Abbie grimaces.
“Don’t be. I’ll guide you.”
She takes a deep breath and nods. “Okay.” She tiptoes toward the edge and wraps her arm around the tree trunk to lean forward and reach the rope.
“Hold it tightly with both hands and step back. When you’re ready, step forward quickly and lift your legs around the rope, like if it were a pole. When I say, let go and drop into the water.”
Abbie grips the rope tightly, her knuckles turning white. Her eyes bug out of her head as she takes a deep breath. Closing her eyes, she does as I instructed and swings over the river, but instead of dropping, she remains holding on.
I chuckle. “Abbie, I said drop.”
“I can’t.” She peeks one eye open, and I bite down my laughter.
“Come on.” I open my arms for her. “Drop in here,” I wink.
Abbie swings again and releases the rope this time, landing a few inches away from me. She bursts through the surface of the water, gasping. “It’s not freezing, it’s more than freezing.” She floats over to me. “I’m such a dork swinging back and forth on that rope.”
I wrap my arms around her and laugh. “Nah, it was cute.” I kiss the tip of her nose.
“Oh, yeah,” She pinches her lips and gives me a yeah right look. Her arms hook around my neck. “I’ve got goosebumps everywhere,” her teeth clatter as she talks.
“You’ll get used to it in a second,” I promise. Our legs rub against each other under the water as we each move them back and forth to stay afloat.
Abbie’s legs tangle with mine as she shivers. “Finn?”
“Yeah?” I raise my eyebrows.
“I’m gonna kiss you.” She announces before her lips descend on mine, slowly at first.
I let her have control, guide the kiss the way she wants. When her tongue slips between her lips and brushes against the seam of mine, it takes everything in me to not devour her. When her tongue pries my lips open, I welcome her in. Our mouths fuse together in a heated kiss that makes the freezing river water boil.
Abbie wraps her legs around my waist, and I’m a goner. Just leave me to drown in this river because I’ve died and gone to heaven. I feel her heat against my dick, and I groan as I get harder.
This woman. My hands roam up and down her back, and I’m so tempted to undo the tie on her bikini, but I’m not risking someone getting here and catching us in the middle of something like that. And, hell if anyone other than me is going to see her body.
A loud whistle startles us, and Abbie stiffens in my arms. I look over her head and curse.
“We were just caught making out, right?” she whispers.
“This is a public place.” I smile apologetically.
“Oh, crap.” Abbie squeezes her eyes shut and drops her legs from my waist, her face hiding against my chest. I chuckle and soothe her.
“It’s okay. It’s only Axel and Lia.”
“This is so embarrassing.” Abbie’s breath fans across my chest. I want her legs back around me and her lips on mine.
“Hey.” I tilt her chin up until her eyes lock on mine. “They’re definitely not going to judge us.” I drop a kiss on her swollen lips and rub my thumb across the red on her cheeks caused by my scruff.
“Hey, guys.” I wave over at them with a grin. Abbie moves away from me, turning around.
“Is the water freezing?” Lia calls out.
I squeeze Abbie’s hip in warning and yell, “No.”
“Finn, you’ve always been a terrible liar.”
“Test it out for yourself and see if I’m lying, then.” Abbie giggles beside me.
Lia inches to the shore and steps in, cursing my name. “Why do I even bother?” She shakes her head.
My laughter booms and gets caught in my throat when Axel flies through the air and drops next to us, splashing water all over us.
“Good job, babe.” Lia claps and laughs. Abbie shakes her head in bewilderment, her bangs sticking to her forehead, and stares at Axel.
“It feels great. Jump in, Lia.”
“You’re insane.” She crosses her arms.
“Watch this,” Axel whispers over to us. “I dare you.” He lifts an eyebrow with confidence.
“You son of a…” Lia glares at him and heads to the rope, swinging and jumping in.
“Much better. You weren’t gonna leave me in here alone with these two, were you?” Axel tilts his head toward us. “By the way, the rest of the gang is coming.” Axel smiles, and Abbie curses under her breath.
I chuckle as I hold her to me, kicking my legs as I bob up and down on the water like a buoy. I’ll work double-time with my legs as long as I can keep Abbie like this.
Right on cue, the crunching of gravel alerts us of the rest of our friends arriving. I kiss Abbie’s temple and wink. We may not have had the place to ourselves for very long, but I’ve got this woman by my side, so I’m calling today a win regardless.
Abbie
I finish writing the names of the people who have messaged me their interest in participating in the Stranger Shoot on small pieces of paper. I put the men in one basket and the women in another.
Promoting the shoot on Photography Day really helped as well, and I got more responses. Now, two days later, I’m excited to see which two people get chosen, but I need to wait for Finn. He made me pinky promise on Wednesday when he came over that I wouldn’t choose the couple without him present.
He surprises me more each day. Finn is funny and carefree. He makes me laugh and yet has a soft side that I never knew existed. He’s gentle when need be, like the other night when he came over to watch a movie. I was more focused on the featherlike caress of his fingers up and down my arms than the movie we were watching.
I smile when a knock sounds against the door. Standing, I stretch my arms and walk over. I swing the door open, and my smile matches Finn’s wide grin. His eyes crinkle in the corners.
“Hey.” I step aside for him to walk in.
Instead, Finn pulls me into him by the waist and drops an opened-mouth kiss on my lips. “I missed you.” His deep voice washes over me.
“You saw me two days ago.” I smile.
“Doesn’t matter.” He shakes his head.
“Come in.” I close the door behind him. “I already wrote all the names on small pieces of paper and folded them. I have two baskets, one for men and one for women. How about we each pick one?” I bounce on my toes.
“You’re really excited about this,” he comments. “It’s adorable.”
“Are you mocking me?” I stop bouncing and cross my arms.
“I’d never.”
“Uh, huh.” I purse my lips and nod. “That’s why when we were watching the movie the other night, you teased me about being all jumpy when it was ‘only an action film’,” I quote him and raise my eyebrows. Finn laughed at how nervous I got, saying action films aren’t scary.
Finn chuckles. “I only did that…” he takes a few steps toward me, “so that you’d be on the edge of your seat, and I could hold you tighter.” He taps the side of his head as if he had the best idea. I won’t lie, I wasn’t arguing about him holding me.
I narrow my eyes. “Nice cover-up.”
Finn tosses his head back on a laugh. “Can’t blame me for wanting you near me.” His hands grip my waist and pull me to him. My hands land on his chest to steady myself, and I tip my head back to look into his eyes. They sear into me, reading my soul before his lips move over mine. A warm tickle travels up and down my body, hardening my nipples when his tongue dances with mine.
My hands trail up his chest and around his neck so I can lean my body into his. The hardness in his jeans presses into my lower belly, and I moan. Actually, I think I growl. Whatever noise I make, Finn swallows it up and lands his hand on the top of my butt, pressing me into him. My core clenches upon feeling him so close.
For a couple of weeks, we’ve been teasing, kissing, touching, but we haven’t gone any further. E
ach time we see each other, it becomes harder to not cross that line. Finn wants to take things slow, and we are. So slow, I’m convinced sap drips down a bark faster.
“We should stop,” Finn murmurs against my lips but then continues to move his lips down my jaw and neck, sucking and nibbling the skin beneath my ear.
Moaning, I tug the strands of hair at the nape of his head and push my chest into him, gathering some friction against him and my erect nipples.
“Babe,” Finn groans, dragging his tongue down to the base of my throat and dropping a kiss. “Come on.” He taps my behind.
I blink my eyes open and look at him, coming to. If that’s the way his mouth feels on my lips and neck, I can just imagine…
I shiver at the thought.
Finn chuckles and takes a small step back, adjusting himself in his jeans. “God, I want you.”
I take a deep breath and do something I’ve never done. Closing my eyes for a beat, I take a step forward and stare into Finn’s dark eyes. I move my hand over his cock, the rough fabric of his jeans creating a barrier. I close my hand softly and move it up and down twice.
“I’m yours,” I whisper, heat creeping up my neck at my boldness, but I stay confident. Finn’s eyes flutter closed, and his breath becomes ragged as I move my hand over him again. I watch in fascination as his face twists, and eyes squeeze tighter with pleasure.
“Abbie,” he growls, his hand landing over mine. When I think he’s going to stop me, he helps me move over him…up and down, up and down. Then, he stops abruptly.
“I want to bend you over that couch and fuck you senseless.” His eyes snap open, the intensity in his stare tells me he wouldn’t be gentle either, and excited anticipation snakes through me.
“I won’t. I want the first time we sleep together to be more than desperation. It will happen soon, I promise.” He touches his lips to mine, and gentle Finn is back.
I take a deep breath, calming myself before I walk to the sofa. When I sit, I turn to see Finn standing in the same position. I lift my brows in question.
“I need a moment.” He rubs a hand down his face and over his scruffy beard before pinching the bridge of his nose.
I giggle and stand. “How about I get us drinks while you…” I wave my hand toward his body.
“You think this is funny?” He locks his eyes with mine.
I bite down my smile and shake my head. I skip to the kitchen and grab two beers, popping the caps.
“If it helps, I have the equivalent… A lady boner?” I furrow my eyes and tilt my head.
Finn hisses. “Not helping, babe.”
I giggle and walk back toward him. “Sorry.” I hand him a cold beer. Maybe that will help. “But I feel the same. If you could feel—”
Finn lifts his hand to silence me while he takes a long pull of his beer.
After he swallows, he says, “If you finish that sentence, I can’t be held responsible for what we do right here, right now. You have no idea how much I want you, and that makes you sexier. So damn sexy.” He cradles my face.
My cheeks flame, and he rubs his thumb across my skin. “You see. You don’t know how amazing you are. I’m not talking only about looks. I’m talking about this.” His hand moves to my heart. “How was I so blind?” he whispers to himself.
A small smile tilts my lips, and I grab his hand on my chest. I lace our fingers. “I was, too. I just thought you were a player and thought you could never be more than that.”
“We both know I’m not innocent, but I want to be for you. Although, I have a feeling you have a wild streak waiting to come out.” Finn winks.
We sit on the sofa with our drinks, each of us taking a moment to gather ourselves despite the crackling tension between us.
“Ready to do this?” Finn breaks the silence.
I nod and grab one of the baskets. “You pick the woman, and I’ll pick the man.” I shake the basket a few times, and Finn shuffles them as well with his hand.
“Here goes.” He closes his eyes and plucks a piece of paper.
“Why’d you close your eyes?” I tilt my head on a laugh.
“I don’t know. It felt like I should, even if the papers are folded, and I don’t know any of these people.” He shrugs.
I chuckle and point to the paper. “Read it.”
Unfolding the paper, Finn reads the name. “Cindy Corzine.”
“Okay, my turn. Then, we’ll look both up on social media to see who they are because I really have no idea,” I laugh.
Finn holds the basket so I can mix up all the papers and finally pick a piece of paper. I open it and read, “Maverick Wright.”
“Maverick?” Finn’s eyebrows shoot up on his forehead. “That’s a cool name.”
“Cindy and Maverick. We could be holding their destiny in our hands,” I say playfully.
“That’s a big responsibility,” Finn says, reaching for his beer on the coffee table.
“This will be fun to do. I don’t expect anything to come from it, although I’ll admit it would be a neat experience.”
“When are you going to contact them?”
“I’ll write to them tonight. I hope we can set a date without any major scheduling issues.”
“I’m sure it’ll work out.” Finn turns and pulls me into his arms, kissing my forehead. “How about we go grab dinner? Want tacos?”
“Mmhmm.” I nod against the crook of his neck, inhaling.
“Did you just smell me?” Humor rings in his voice.
“No,” I breathe out, biting my bottom lip.
“You so did.”
I shake my head against him. Finn pulls me back, his smile teasing, and an eyebrow lifted.
“Fine.” I roll my eyes. I can’t believe I sniffed him. “You always smell so good.” I look away, my knee bouncing.
Finn holds my chin and turns my head to face him. “Don’t be embarrassed.” He shakes his head. “I think it’s cute.” He opens his arms. “Go ahead and get your fill.”
I chuckle and shake my head. “I’m good for now.” I lean forward and kiss him quickly. “Let’s go eat. I’m hungry.” I jump from the sofa and slip on my sandals.
Finn runs a hand through his hair as he smiles at me, moving around the house, grabbing my purse and closing my laptop.
“You’re somethin’ else.”
“Come on.” I grab his hand and drag him toward the door. “Someone promised me tacos.”
Finn keeps his hands on me as I lock the door, while he drives to town, and while we walk into the Tex Mex restaurant. I’m feeling amped up again as we eat, flirting and teasing one another.
“I never asked. How was book club last night?” Finn says as he takes a drink of water.
“Good. I got a major interrogation. Faith couldn’t believe I hadn’t told her and that she was the last to know. It was good, though. It didn’t feel awkward, which I was afraid of.” I take a bite of my taco. “This is really good.” The carne asada has the perfect hint of spice that contrasts with the acidity of the pico de gallo.
“I’m glad it went well.” Finn winks.
I was unsure of how much to say with Averly, in case she’d feel weird that I’m dating her brother. Instead, we all talked and joked like we always do.
“Yeah, Faith complained that she was the only single one left.”
“Maybe she should’ve done the photo experiment.”
“Nah,” I shake my head. “She’s super picky, and besides, she compares everyone to Easton.”
“Still?” Finn’s brows jump up into his hairline.
I nod. “I think she always will one way or another.”
“That was what? Like fifteen years ago, right?”
“Yeah. None of the guys she’s dated have been good enough in her eyes.”
“I’m glad you don’t have an ex to compare me to. Wait, do you?” His eyebrows pinch in an adorable frown. Smiling, I shake my head. “Good.” He reaches for my hand.
“Whenever you do the photo
shoot, can I go with you?” His question surprises me.
“Of course.” I smile, loving that he wants to be a part of the entire process.
“It’ll be sexy to watch you work,” his eyebrows waggle.
I laugh and throw a tortilla chip at him, nipping his chin. Spending time with Finn has opened me up to a new world of emotions, and I feel safe to be myself. He encourages it, making me feel confident. I know we’re supposed to feel that way about ourselves on our own, but we can appreciate when someone guides to a place where we aren’t hiding our true selves from the world.
Finn is allowing me to notice things about myself that I never paid much attention to. I catch myself smiling more, waving at people I see as I walk through town. My parents even mentioned that they figured I had met someone with the way I looked lately when I told them about Finn this past Sunday. A kind of glow, my mom said. I smile to myself as I think about that. Does Finn make me glow? Do I give him the same effect?
I look at him across the table and catch his easy smile, but there’s something different, too —a softness in his eyes when he looks at me.
We walk back to his truck with full bellies. Finn opens the door for me as I step up into the cab. His hands skim down my legs teasingly, igniting the fire in my body and goosebumps to break free on my skin.
“It drives me crazy that you always wear shorts. I’m going to hate winter when it rolls around, and you have to cover up your perfect legs. Gonna have to find a way to keep you indoors and warm enough that you’ll want to be in nothing but underwear.” Finn runs his fingers back and forth on my thigh as he drives.
I always thought my jean shorts and t-shirts were normal and kind of lame, but he makes them feel sexy. He makes everything sexier, more playful, and hotter.
I reach for Finn’s hand and turn it over, making it twitch as I follow the lines on his palm with my finger.
“That tickles,” he chuckles. I ignore him and continue running paths along his strong hand. Lifting it, I drop a kiss on his palm. The smack of my lips against his skin is the only sound in the cab.
“If you keep that up, we’ll barely make it to the house.”
You Make It Easy: A best friend's brother romance (Love in Everton Book 5) Page 12