“<span>Ican assure you this isn’t mine,”Isay to the grocery delivery man standing on my doorstep.Helooks agitated likeI’mthest delivery of the day…exceptIdidn’t order any groceries.
“Idon’t know what to tell you, man.Theorder says 297FisherStreet.”Hesteps back and points to the house numbers on my side paneling. “Thisis 297FisherStreet.”Heholds two stic grocery bags out insistently. “Areyou sure you didn’t just forget you ordered something?”
Sighingin exasperation,Itake the bag from his left hand.Ipeek inside and see a blue box of tampons, a small tube of scented sensual lubricant, and a brown eyebrow pencil. “Ilive alone, man.Idon’t have a need for tampons.”
“IguessIcould just take them back, but we don’t do refunds.”
Theeyebrow pencil is a shade nearly identical toAvery’shair. “Justleave them.IthinkIknow where they’re supposed to go.”
Heshrugs and then hands me the other bag.Withoutfurther question, he flees down the driveway, cranks his car, and the ring sound ofLatinrap fills the street.Iclose my front door and head out into the warm evening air toDex’shouse.
Ourhouses are simr in design, exceptDexhas at least an extra fifteen hundred square feet.Ihave paneling.Hehas sto.Hindscaping makes my little rose bushes out front look like a joke.EverythingaboutDex’shouse screams money, but my favorite part about the guy is he’s so down to earth.Dexis a good friend andIwould’ve happily checked in on his fish over the summer.Iwonder why he didn’t just ask me for help.Heprobably assumedIhad more interesting ns than excessive runs in the torturousLasVegasheat.Notto mention there was that one timeIfed his fish cereal, butIstand by it.Therewas no fish food left andIcouldn’t let them starve.
Thenagain,I’mnotining because meetingAverywas a pleasant surprise.Untilshe freaked out and ditched me in the backyardst week,Iwas really enjoying the conversation.It’sbeen a long time sinceI’vefelt at ease around a girl.
Isnort to myself remembering she put on a tank top to get in the hot tub with me.It’sbeen a while since a girl has been that modest around me, too.Iwonder if she’d be put off knowing that her ample tits have popped into my mind a time or two sinceIidentally saw her undress.
Idebated asking her out, but she’s only here for the summer.Shehas fling written all over her and that’s exactly whatI’m<i ss="calibre2">not</i>trying to do with my life right now.Theirony.Thefirst interesting womanI’vemet in months is, of course, not an actual resident ofLasVegas.
Holdingboth stic bags in one hand,IringDex’sdoorbell.Afterwaiting a full minute,Iraise my finger to ring once more, but in perfect timing,Averyrips the door open.
<i ss="calibre2">GoodGod.</i>
Shelooks like a mess.
Avery’shair is in a high sloppy ponytail.HeroversizedT-shirt looks like it was once a dog’s chewing toy.It’salso stained with whatIpray is pizza sauce or something.
“You.”Sherolls her eyes when she sees me and grumbles. “Wouldyou consider showing up unannounced whenI’m<i ss="calibre2">not</i>naked or wildly unpresentable?”
“Wow.”Ican’t help but smile at her unamused pout. “That’sa rude way to greet the man whoes bearing gifts.”Ihold up the grocery bags. “BygiftsImean tampons, of course.”
Shehangs her head. “Theygot delivered to you?”
Inod in response and watch her gaze snap up to mine.
“<i ss="calibre2">Wait.</i>Youwent through my groceries?”She’strying to sound cross, but her cheeks are bunched in that cute smile.
“Ihad to confirm they weren’t my tampons…or lube.”
There’san audible smack when her hands hit her face. “<i ss="calibre2">Killme now</i>,” she mumbles through her fingers asIfall into heaves ofughter. “It’snot what you’re thinking.”
“Ididn’t ask.”Ihold out the bags to her. “Feelslike there’s something cold in here.”
“Icecream,” she admits.
“Youmight want to pop it in the freezer.”
Shetakes the bags. “Thankyou.Imust’ve fat-fingered the delivery address.Sorrythey bothered you.”
Ishrug. “Notat all.Itwas a good excuse toe over and make sure you were okay.”Butis she?NowthatI’monly an arm’s length away from her,Inotice her swollen eyes and the red tip of her nose.It’sa clear sign that she’s been crying. “Areyou…okay?”
“Nope.”Shepeers into one of the stic bags. “Buta little better now that my dinner’s here…which is melting, soIbetter—”Shethrows her head back, gesturing inside.
Ican take a hint, soInod and turn to leave…
Butsomething stops me.<i ss="calibre2">Dammit,Finn.</i>It’snot your business.<i ss="calibre2">Butfuck.</i>Whena woman cries like that,Iusually know the reason.AndifIcan help, shouldn’tI?
“Avery, are you only eating ice cream for dinner?”
Shepurses her lips. “Well, it’s a quart of rocky road, so believe me,I’mhitting the calorie count.”
Isnort. “Dexkeeps a stockpile of grass-fed, organic ribeye steaks in the chest freezer in his garage.Theyare worth like thirty bucks a piece.KnowingDex, he probably told you to help yourself to whatever, right?”
Shenods. “ButIdon’t really know how to cook a steak, so it’s a moot point.”
Imove toward her, stalling halfway through the door. “Well,Ido.Wantsomepany?”
Sheshifts, just slightly.Anglingher shoulders and hips, she allows just enough room for me to squeeze past her intoDex’shouse.
Ihear her soft footsteps behind me asIhead toward the kitchen.
“ButIcan still eat my ice cream, too, right?”
“FinnHarvey, you are a man of many talents.”Averyarches her back, purposely protruding her belly before she pats it. “I’massuming at least.Ihaven’t seen your photographs, but you sure as hell grill a mean steak.”
“Yousure?”Iask from across the couch. “Youbarely touched your food.”
Inod toward the dining table that still holds the remnants of our dinner.Wefound a bag of sd to pair with our steaks.Myte is nearly cleared.Averypoked a few lettuce leaves and took maybe three bites of meat.
Shewidens her eyes at me. “No, it was superb…my appetite is just a little off.”
Pointingto the grocery bag holding the box of tampons still on the kitchen ind,Iraise my brows at her. “Ladystuff?”
Herhead knocks back against the soft couch as sheughs. “No,<i ss="calibre2"dy stuff</i>tends to have the opposite effect,” she says with a smirk. “WhatIhave is a cheating bastard of an ex-boyfriend…<i ss="calibre2">stuff</i>.”
Ireally think she meant it as a joke, but her eyes immediately fill with tears.I’mgetting a feeling she’s a smile-through-the-pain kind of girl.Shenestles deeper into the couch and grabs a square throw pillow.Huggingit tightly to her chest, she draws her knees in, curling herself into a ball, like she’s trying to make herself as tiny as possible.
Hereyes are glued on one ofDex’sbuilt-in aquariums, andIseem to lose her to her thoughts again.Ibreak the silence and try bringing her back. “Doyou want to talk about it?”
Sheanswers with her eyes still fixed on the fish tank. “Ijust found out, the other night when you were over, so the wound is still pretty fresh.Mybest and only friend in the worldnded a lead role on a big dealTVpilot.Itcould be her big break andIdon’t want to distract her right now.Myparents don’t knowMasonandIbroke up, andImoved out here for the summer.Iliterally have no one to talk to.”Sheturns her head, looking at me, andIfinally pinpoint the color of her eyes.Hazy.Light.Alittle more green than blue.Theyare seafoam green. “Sodon’t offer unless you mean it.”
“Hmm,”Isay, rising.
Shelooks immediately horrified, misinterpreting my actions and probably thinkingI’mtrying to excuse myself.Ifeel her eyes on me asIhead to the kitchen and scourDex’sfridge.Pullingout a bottle of white wine,Icheck thebel.PinotGris?Notmy favorite, but it’s not for me.Afterfinding a clean wine ss,Ipour a generous amount forAveryand join her back on the couch.
“Thankyou?” she asks.
Iplop down right beside her. “I’mall ears.Layit on me.”
Shetakes a small sip and makes a face. “I’mmore of a beer kind of girl.”
<i ss="calibre2">Mykind of girl.</i>Itake the ss from her hand and set it on the coffee table.
“AndIdon’t know where to start.”
“Howabout with the fact that thisMasonguy sounds like a little bitch.”
Thatearns me a littleugh. “Hedidn’t use to be.Upuntil about three weeks ago, he was actually a decent guy.Iwanted to marry him.”
Ireach out to pat her knee and then decide against it.Boundaries.Thiswoman is hurting and thest thing she needs is to be led on.EvenifAverydid live here,Isure as hell am not ready for another rtionship at the moment.Istill can’t see straight afterNora.Itried to date in every way possible after we broke up.Ihooked up.Itook women out to nice restaurants.Whenthat led nowhere,Ieven dabbled in a couple of threesomes.Onefoursome.Everythingfelt chaotic.Thingsgot so much better whenItook a little break from it all.ButI’dbe lying ifIsaid breaks weren’t lonely.
“Whathappened?”Iask.
“Onmy thirtieth birthday, he gave me a ring.”Myeyes instinctually search for her left hand, but it’s hidden under the pillow. “Then, after seeing it on my finger, he panicked and told me there was no way he couldmit to our unsatisfying sex life for the rest of his life.”
Myjaw clenches.Ihave a growing urge to break her ex’s nose. “Hesaid that to you?”
“Moreor less.”
“Whata piece of—”ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .
“IthinkIwould’ve gotten through it.Imean, we were together for four years, soIknowIneeded time.Weown a business together, so it’s not like we canpletely sever ties.IthinkIwas okay with eventually being amicable until—”
“Theother night?”Iask.
Shehugs her knees to her chest again. “Hemeant to text another woman but identally texted me.Helet the cat out of the bag that he was screwing someone else…for a while, apparently.”
“Shit,Avery,I’msorry.”<i ss="calibre2">Ah, screw it.</i>Ipat her knee tenderly and she smiles at me.
“Thanks.”
“Wantme to send him a threatening text?”Iask and she giggles. “I’pletely serious,”Isay with augh. “AmIbigger than he is?”
“Yes.”Hereyes immediatelynd on my crotch.Sheflushes and diverts her gaze when she notices me noticing andIcan’t help but howl inughter.
“Imeant”—Igesture to my pecs—“muscles-wise.”
Shesmirks. “Alsoyes.”
<i ss="calibre2">Goddamn, she’s cute.Andfunny.</i>She’sgood at flirting and doesn’t even realize it.It’sso refreshing to talk to a woman without needing to be on guard.<i ss="calibre2">Shit, why not?</i>Maybewe should just sleep together.Lennoxis right.IfIkeep working out my feelings by logging miles on hard pavement,Ireally will break my knees.IrememberMrs.Mattley’sadvice about connecting whenIcan.<i ss="calibre2">Thisfeels like connecting</i>.She’shurting.I’mhurting.Ihave a feeling a night wrapped up in the sheets could be a good stress relief for both of us.Theimage of her full tits and thick, dark nipples fills my mind.
Oh, sue me.Ican’t un-see them.NorwouldIwant to.
“Youknow what the shitty part is?”Averyasks, interrupting my thoughts about her topless. “It’snot likeIwas exactly satisfied myself, butIwould’ve never considered cheating to be a solution.Haveyou ever been cheated on?”
Ishrug. “Notexactly.Butin a way.Ican empathize, though.”
“Howlong have you been single?” she asks.
“Whydo you assumeI’msingle?”
Averyclears her throat and turns toward me, her knee knocking against my thigh. “Becauseyou just had dinner with me, and whileIrealizeI’mnot exactly a threat to another woman, no way your girlfriend would let you out of her sight on aFridaynight.Nota man like you.”
<i ss="calibre2">Nota threat?What?</i>“Whatkind of man amI?”
“Don’tmake me say it out loud,” she mutters before she rises, leaving me behind on the couch.Shegrabs the quart of ice cream from the fridge and returns to me with two spoons. “Youdon’t exactly have a body that screams<i ss="calibre2">Ilove ice cream</i>or anything, butI’mmore than happy to share.”Shegives me a sheepish smile before popping off the lid.Shebnces the container in herp.
“You’remaking a lot of assumptions about me,Avery,”Isay asItake a spoon from her.Istab the cold dessert with the side of my spoon and scoop out a generous bite. “Idon’t appreciate it.”Igive her a knowing look before putting the spoon in my mouth.
“I’msorry.”Sheshrivels in her seat.
Inudge her shoulder with mine, finding any excuse to touch her. “I’mjust teasing you.”
Isqueeze her knee again, and this time leave my hand there to see if she’ll take the bait.Maybeshe knows that making me work for it is the best way to turn me on.Idon’t even mind her raggedy shirt and faded cloth pajama shorts.Ilike her chirpy personality, even when she’s upset.Howeasy it is to talk to her.Thatshe seems to say whatever is on her mind.
“Iam indeed single, though.”
“Ifigured.Youknow, you made quite the impression on my friendPalmer.”
<i ss="calibre2">Huh?</i>Myhand is on her knee andI’mdoing that thing whereIrub little circles against her skin with my thumb.Yetshe wants to talk about her friend? “Theblonde who was in your carst week?”
“Yeah.She’sa spitfire.You’dlike her.She’smore on your level.”
“Mylevel?”Idrag my hand an inch farther up her thigh.Sheshifts in her seat andIseriously can’t tell if she’s ufortable or intrigued.<i ss="calibre2">Maybeone more inch higher will give me answers?</i>
“Yes.She’sa ten.You’rea ten.Actually, you’re a ten and a half.”Shughs.
“Well, thank you, butIdon’t know her.”Bynow my hand is on the inside of her upper thigh, pressed against the carton of ice cream teetering in herp as she squirms.Mybreathing slows into heavy, drawn-out inhales and exhales.Ipull the ice cream off herp and set it on the coffee table.Iwatch her eyes, purposely making my stare as intense and asking as possible.MaybenowIhave her attention.
“She’llbe back to return myJeep, eventually.Icould introduce you two.”
Igrumble in annoyance and grab a handful of her fleshy thigh.Goddamn, that feels good.<i ss="calibre2">Ireally like how she feels.</i>“Avery, no offense, butIdon’t give a fuck about your friend.I’mhitting on<i ss="calibre2">you</i>.AmInot being clear enough?”Irub her thigh whereIsqueezed. “Orare you not interested?”<h3 ss="inline-image-container">Avery
Everysingle cell in my body is on fire.IfI’mying this cool, it’s becauseI’mthe best actress in the world.Clearly,I’mnailing performance under pressure, and by performance,Imean managing not to melt underFinn’stouch.
AmIinterested?<i ss="calibre2">Yes.Ona different.Ina different world.Whereyou don’t look like you, or maybeIdon’t look like me.</i>Icoulde up with a million different excuses to dissuade him.Ilove the feel of his hand on my thigh andI’mmore aroused right now thanI’veever been, but we can’t happen.AndIshould probably be honest about why.
“I’minterested,”Isay clearly.Asatisfied smile spreads across his face.Thekind of smile a man gets right before he knows he’s going to getid.It’sfilled with eagerness and relief and nowIneed to give this man a reality check. “Butplease stop touching me.”
Heimmediatelyplies.Rippinghis hand away from myp, he leans backward. “I’msorry,” he says.
“Don’tbe.Itwas nice.You’renice.Thiswhole evening was really nice.Ineeded it,”Iadmit. “Ihad a really crappy day.”
“Soyou must not hook up.That’sokay.”
Ifurrow my brows. “Isit?Oris this night kind of over now?”
“Ofcourse not,” he says with unconvincing enthusiasm. “Ilike talking to you.Youdon’t have to have sex with me to hang out.Ihave no ns tonight.Let’swatch a movie.Ory a board game,” he says as he watches my nk expression. “Oryou can tell me more about your job.Imade some tweaks to my website.IthinkI’mready for that audit.”
Iswallow the lump in my throat as we sit in silence for a moment.<i ss="calibre2">Oh, shit.Herewe go.</i>I’mabout to embarrass the hell out of myself.Isuck in a deep breath and hold it as long asIcan untilIexhale my confession.
“Finn, ifIhad ten minutes left alive, my dying wish would be for you to fuck me.Nothave sex with me…<i ss="calibre2">fuck me</i>.Butmy boyfriend just dumped me, whomIshare a home and a business with.Don’tyou get it?”
He’swatching my lips. “Getwhat?”Hisbrain must’ve gone fuzzy afterItold himIwanted him to fuck me.Buthe only wants me becauseI’mthe easiest target that’s right in front of him.
“ThemanI’veloved for<i ss="calibre2">four years</i>all but told me that even though we’re great together in every other way, he couldn’t bear the idea of having sex with me for the rest of his life.Iam shattered.Iam humiliated.Myego isn’t wounded, it’spletely gone.Iam never getting naked in front of another man again.Iam<i ss="calibre2">never</i>sharing my body with another man ever again.Especiallynot with a man who looks like he fucks like a porn star.”
Ididn’t expect to be so dramatic.Ididn’t expect the end of my rant toe through in breathy sniffles as tears stream down my face.Icertainly didn’t expectFinnto half pull me into hisp and into an all-epassing hug.
<i ss="calibre2">Forfuck’s sake, he smells amazing.</i>
Itry to wiggle backward so my weight is on the couch and not his legs, but he doesn’t let me go.Hejust hugs me so tightly thatIhave no choice but to calm my hysteria and steady my breath.
“Shh, shh,” he says unnecessarily.I’vealready quieted down. “Isthis your first major breakup?”
Inod into the crook of his neck.
“Yeah…this is how it feels…like death.Likethe world stopped spinning and it’ll never pick up again.Itsucks even worse when you finally get through it, think you’re invincible, and then it happens again.”
“Howmany times for you?”Iask asIpull my face away from the warm nook between his neck and shoulder.
“Threeand counting.Mymost recent rtionship was a fucking mess.It’sprobably the reasonIjust made a move on you onDex’scouch, instead of asking you out like a gentleman should.Avery,I’mworking through my shit andI’mstill not ready for anything serious.ButIdon’t want you to think that has anything to do with you.Ihappen to think you’re incredibly sexy.”
Iscoff. “Let’sjust be honest.”
“Okay?” he asks as his brows furrow with confusion.
“Iknow this isMason’sfault.IknowIdeserve better.Yadayada.”Iroll my eyes. “Butit’s not likeIcan shrug off the insecurities.Thepain and shame have seeped into every pore.I’mterrified for the rest of my life, every timeIlook in the mirror,I’mjust going to hate whatIsee.”
Hewipes the loose hairs away from my forehead and tucks them behind my ear. “Menneed to be more careful with the women they love.”Hetilts his head, his expression full of pity. “Theyhave no idea the damage they can do.”
“Thankyou for listening.”Ipush against his arms and then crawl off hisp.Standingto faceFinn,Irest my hands on my hips. “Andthatpletes tonight’s total humiliation session.I’mgoing to need a five-minute heads-up moving forward every time you n to use the hot tub soIcan hide somewhere.Deal?”
Hughs. “Youhave nothing to be embarrassed about.”
Icover my eyes. “I’mgoing to do the roon thing whereIpretend you can’t see me.Ifyou could just see yourself out.”Ipoint somewhere in the direction of the front door, butI’mnot positive.I’vereallymitted to the eyes closed bitI’mputting on.
“Youneed baby steps,”Finnsays softly.
“What?”Idrop my hands and watch his pointed expression.
“WhenIhave clients who want to be a little more daring in the studio, but they’re so ufortable and embarrassed, we have to work our way up.Westart with just ttering poses in jeans and aT-shirt.Then, we move on to shorts, maybe a tank top.Whenthey’re ready, lingerie.Thenwe take off the bra…sometimes more.Themore they force themselves to step out of theirfort zones, the more natural confidence begins to feel.Butit usually happens in baby steps.”
“Your<i ss="calibre2">actual</i>job is photographing naked women?”
Hepresses his lips in a t line.Hisagitation is briefly apparent before it disappears. “I’mreally good at helping women find their confidence.”Finnextends a hand to me. “Doyou trust me?”
“Who?You?Asin the strangerI’vemet all but three times who watched me undress through the window.”
Henarrows his eyes at me.
“I’mkidding,”Iadd. “Itrust you.”It’sthe truth.Finnsomehow toggles the line between making me feel unnervingly embarrassed and yetfortable at the same time.
Itake his hand and he leads me toward the staircase.Istop in my tracks and snatch back my hand. “Everythingelse aside,I’mactually on my period,Finn.Hencethe need for more tampons.I’mnot having sex with you tonight.”<i ss="calibre2">Ifnothing elseI’vesaid has scared him off, that certainly should do the trick.</i>
Hegrabs my hand demandingly. “Calmdown, we’re not having sex.Comeon.”Hetugs me up the stairs, ignoring my begrudging footsteps. “Areyou staying in the master?”
“Yes.”
Finnknows his way aroundDex’shome.Theymust be closer thanIrealized. “Idon’t know how you sleep with that giant fish tank in your face.”
Dex’sbed and the sitting area in his master are divided by a partition, which is one giant fish tank.It’sone of the most magnificent thingsI’veever seen. “Ifind itforting.Itmakes me feel likeI’mnot alone in the bedroom at night.”
“DearGod, woman, you really do need to getid,” he mutters under his breath.Idebate telling himIheard that, butIdon’t think he was trying to be subtle about it.
Wewaltz right throughDex’sbedroom and into his enormous master closet.It’ssorge it could easily be another bedroom.Asizeable nursery.That’swhatI’ddo with this room ifIcould ever afford a house like this.Butas we weave past the counter in the center of the room, it’s obvious whereFinnis taking me andIcrumble inside.Theceiling-to-floor mirror in the back corner.It’shumongous.Thereare fluorescent lights surrounding the frame.Ithides nothing.It’llspit your insecurities right back in your face.
“Finn, no,”Iprotest.
“Hush,” he says, spinning around to face me.Hedrops my hand and holds five fingers in my face. “Five.Justgive me five minutes.Noarguing, no hesitating, no silly jokes.Forfive minutes, let me talk you through this.”
“Talkme through what?”
“Yourfirst baby step.”
“Towhat?”
Hesighs. “Goodsex,Avery.Yousaid you were never going to share your body with a man ever again.That’sno way to live.Firststep is to let a man see you naked and believe him when he tells you how beautiful you are.”
Ifreeze in ce, the nerves prickling every centimeter of my skin.<i ss="calibre2">See.Me.Naked.Underthis fluorescent lighting?</i>Hellno. “That’snot a baby step, that’s a fucking leap to the moon,Finn.”
Hesnorts. “Ipromise you, you need this.<i ss="calibre2">Trustme.</i>Andif it makes you feel bad,Iwon’t bother you for the rest of the summer.Iwon’t go near the hot tub.We’llnever talk about it again.You’llgo back toCaliforniaand all this will be a distant memory.”
Icringe when he mentions home.Iforgot that my summer hideaway will eventually end.Thepart of me that believedMasonandIwould be back together by fall is long gone.Sowhat amIreally going home to?IfPalmer’spilot gets picked up and this bes a series, she’ll end up inNewMexicopermanently.Allthat’s waiting for me at home is the constant reminder of the withering messy version of myselfInow can’t stand.Ican’t go back to that.
Iwon’t.
Finn’sright.
Ineed to reinvent myself andIhave exactly one summer to do it.
“Fiveminutes.”Myvoice is small, soIblow out a breath and with a little more bravado say, “Nohesitating.”
“Good.”There’sa little glint of excitement in his eyes.Grabbingme by the shoulders,Finnpositions me directly in front of the mirror.Hetakes his ce behind me, watching me through the mirror.Iinstinctively smooth my sloppy hair that’s so unruly it looks more like a messy bun than a ponytail.<i ss="calibre2">Jesus.</i>WhatamIwearing?Whatthe hell is on my shirt?Isthat sauce from the pizza pockets from<i ss="calibre2">yesterday</i>?HowdoIlet myself exist like this?Finn, noticing my squirming, pulls my ponytail holder out.Heruns his hands over my hair from my scalp down my back.
“Youhave the most gorgeous eyesI’veever seen.Ittook me forever to figure out the color.It’scalled seafoam green.Didyou know that?”
“Onlysometimes.Indirect sunlight, they look—”
Reachingaround,Finnpresses his finger against my lips. “Mybad, that was misleading,”Finnsays.He’spurposely changed his tone.Hischeery tenor is gone.He’sall but growling in my ear.
Finn’stalking to me like…
<i ss="calibre2">Stop.It’sridiculous.There’sno way.</i>
Likehe’s hungry for me.
Hisbreath against my neck stuns me.Ifreeze like a deer in the woods after the sound of a twig snapping breaks the eerie silence.<i ss="calibre2">He’stoo close.</i>Thehairs on the back of my neck rise andItry to decide whetherIshould bolt or just sumb to my fate.
Hecontinues, “Itechnically did ask a question, but here’s how the next five minutes are going to go.You’renot going to speak.I’mgoing to talk to you.I’mgoing to strip you down and point out all the thingsIlove about your body.Forfive minutes, you are going to just enjoy a man, who you think fucks like a porn star, worshiping you.How’sthat sound?”
Iopen my mouth, then mp it shut.Idon’t answer his question.Idon’t say anything at all.Ijust nod.
“Okay, good, arms up,”Finnsays as he cups my elbows and guides them upward.It’staking every ounce of strength in me to keep myself steady enough to stand.Thepangs of nerves flood my body, butIhold my breath tobat the trembling.
Iforce myself to follow hismand asIfully extend my arms.Heimmediately reaches for the hem of myT-shirt.
“Thereyou go,” he mutters. “Goodgirl.”