Finnhas the exact same coffee maker thatDexdoes.It’sfar fancier than a coffee maker should be.Thereare more buttons here than inside of a high-rise elevator.Butafter more than half a summer navigatingDex’spretentious caffeine machine,I’mable to make a good pot of coffee with my eyes closed.Fourscoops.Thirty-six ounces.Extrabold.
I’mgrabbing a coffee mug from the cab whenIhear the front door open and then m shut.Instinctively,Ipull at the hem ofFinn’sundershirt thatI’mwearing.I’ma full-figured girl and in no way isFinn’sthin, white muscle shirt<i ss="calibre2">draped</i>over me.It’dprobably be much looser and longer on the model type, but between my chest, my hips, and my ass, this shirt is a baby tee on me and whoever is walking through that front door is about to get a show.Ihave no time to dart back to the bedroom.
“Finn!”
I’mrelieved to hearLennox’svoice.
“It’sme,”Icall out. “Andfair warning,I’min my underwear.”
Lennoxturns the corner and sees my flushed, sheepish smile.Icross my right leg over the left in a show of modesty.Shesmirks at me, looking thoroughly pleased. “Youguys really hump like bunnies, don’t you?”
Iblink at her. “Wehad…an<i ss="calibre2">adult</i>sleepover after the photo shoot,”Isay wryly asIcross my arms.
Shebegins tough then her face ttens in concern. “Wait, you mean you guys did the photo shoot and then came back to the main house, right—”
Igive her a guilty, closed-lip smile asFinnturns the corner and answers for me. “Wedefinitely did not.Wechristened the shit out of my studio.We’regoing to need to clean up in there a little.”
Finn’sshirtless, showing off his taut, firm abs.Theylook extra swollen today, like he put them through a hellish workout.Hmm, how much does thrusting work the ab muscles?Ifeel a twinge of guilt asIappreciateFinn’sperfectly defined body knowing what’s firm on him is soft on me.Iam never going to measure up to his level when ites to looks.Ihave no idea what this man sees in me.Maybekindness?Respect?Smarts?Butis that enough to carry a rtionship?Itcertainly wasn’t enough forMasonand me.
“Youhorny assholes.Doyou know how longIworked on staging?”
FinnrufflesLennox’shair as he passes, the way an annoying big brother would. “Youdid a great job.Theset worked beautifully.We’llhave pictures back in a couple weeks or so…not thatIget to see them.”Whenhe gets to me, he wraps his arms around me, letting his hand rest on my half-covered ass.Hekisses me unapologetically as ifLennoxis nowhere in sight.WhenI’mgood and breathless, he pulls his cool lips from mine and tugs on theT-shirtI’mwearing. “Thislooks so sexy on you.Keepit.Iwant to see you in it again tomorrow whenIwake up.”
God,Ilove the attention.
Isthat so wrong to admit?CanIbe a sensible, hard-working, un-shallow woman and still melt into a puddle when thisAdonisof a man looks at me like this?
Finnnces at my empty mug and takes it from me, understandingIhaven’t had a chance to pour a cup yet.
“Yourphone is over there charging.Youmust’ve forgotten it out herest night, soIplugged it in.”Ipoint to the outlet on the kitchen ind. “Itrang like four times this morning.”
“Who’sbeen calling?”Finnasks absentmindedly.Hefetches another cup from the cab to match mine and proceeds to fill both cups.
“Idon’t know.”
“<i ss="calibre2">Youdon’t know</i>?” he parrots in a mumble. “Yousaid you plugged in my phone.”
“Yeah.”
“Soyou didn’t see who was calling?”
“Ididn’t look.Wouldn’tthat be an invasion of privacy?”
Finnspins around and his puzzled eyes meet mine. “Youcan.Ihave nothing to hide.”
Ireturn his befuddled expression. “Ibelieve you.ButIrespect your privacy.”
MaybeIshould’ve gone throughMason’sphone from time to time.Icould’ve gotten a tip-off as to what was going on.It’smore than possible that his adventures on theRumbleapp didn’t start<i ss="calibre2">after</i>we were broken up.Ijust have never been a snoop.Gettingdumped isn’t going to change that.
Finncrosses the room with intention and wraps his forearm around my shoulders, yanking me against his chest.Hesmells earthy and musky, mixed with thest remnants of his cologne and my shampoo.Hesmells like we fucked all night.Becausewe did.Finnnts a firm kiss on the top of my head before releasing me.Hisunspoken outburst of emotion is obvious.Imay be the first woman who’s respectedFinn’sprivacy.
It’sin this moment thatIrealizeI’mnot the only one who was in an unhappy rtionship.Wheremine was nd and monotonous,Finn’swas boldly vtile.Still…we’re both survivors.
“Well,I’mgoing to go assess the damage, you jerks,”Lennoxsays, reminding me we havepany.Finn’sembrace was so desperately emotional, the whole world fell away for a moment. “Buthere,Avery,” she says, setting a paper shopping bag on the kitchen counter next to me. “Istopped by a friend’s boutique store this morning to pick up some stuff for the set that you guys defiled, andImentioned your mermaid costume.Shehad the<i ss="calibre2">perfect</i>one.Ibet it’ll be smokin’ sexy on you.Andit covers all the important bits.”
“Mermaidcostume?”Finnasks.
“ForCass’sparty.”
IthinkLennoxhas assumed we talked about it, but we were a little upiedst night.Imeant to askFinnhow he felt about me going this morning.Iwas going to ask if he wanted me to go asLennox’sfriend or his date.Judgingby the deer-in-headlights look on his face,I’massuming he doesn’t want me within a ten-mile radius ofRuby’s.
“Youspoke toCass?”Finnasks me.
“No,Igot a plus-one,”Lennoxanswers on my behalf.
Finnnarrows his eyes at his cousin. “Andyou invitedAvery?
“Idon’t have to go—”
“Thefuck you don’t!”Lennoxshrieks. “Thiscostume is superior andIalready have a bunch of glittery mermaid shit.<i ss="calibre2">You’regoing</i>.”Shenarrows her eyes back atFinnand points directly at his forehead. “And<i ss="calibre2">you</i>fix your face.You’ring off like an ass.I’llbe back,” she mutters, heading to the door that leads to the basement, grumbling the entire way about us sullying her art.
Theminute we hear the door shut,Finnraises his palms in the air as surrender.ButIspeak before he can.
“Finn,Iwasn’t trying to insert myself—”
“No, it’s not that.You’rewee whereverIam—”
“It’sjust thatLennoxwas trying to be nice, andImentioned my idea for a costume, and she’s excited.”Iinterrupt him right back and continue in a panic because the look on his face seems a whole lot like rejection.Ofcourse.FinnandImake perfect sense in private, butIshould know better than to think he’d want to show up with me at his future gentleman’s club surrounded by a sea of beautiful, slim women—
“CassandIhave sex,” he blurts out. “<i ss="calibre2">Hadsex.</i>Foryears.<i ss="calibre2"></i>Wejust stopped a few months ago.”
Thetimeline doesn’t make sense.Hehad sex withCassfor years?ButIthought he was withNorafor years. “Youcheated onNora?”
“<i ss="calibre2">No.</i>Never.”
“Soyou’d sleep withCasswhen you guys broke up?”
Finnhands me a filled mug, then steps back. “Well, technically that too.”
“Canyou stop being so evasive?”Itake a small sip from the hot coffee.Idon’t flinch when it scalds my tongue.I’mtoo invested in whatever is makingFinnlook like someone is shoving nails through his fingertips. “Justtell me.”
Heblows out a deep breath. “NoraandI<i ss="calibre2">and</i>Casswould sleep together.”
“Huh?”
“Goodgrief,”Finngrunts, rolling his eyes, agitated that he has to further rify. “Athreesome,Avery.Mostof the time,NoraandIwould have threesomes—just withCass.Wetrusted her.Butshe’s only ever been just a friend.Casslikes gratuitous sex, no strings attached.AfterNoraandIbroke up, it was easy to be withCasswhenIwas hurting because it was just physical.”
“Youstopped sleeping with her when you met me?”
Finnshakes his head. “Afew months before that.Idon’t know ifItold you, butIwas abstinent for a while before we met.”
Itry to hide my surprise.Andfail.Ican literally feel how wide my eyes are. “Why?”
“Igot to the point whereIstopped liking sex.Itgot boring and tedious.I’dbe with a woman and wouldn’t feel anything.Eventually,Irealized it wasn’t whatIwanted, soIstopped sleeping around to get a little rity.”
Ipoint to my chest and mouth,<i ss="calibre2">me</i>?
Hechuckles as he nods. “Therewas something about you that made me feel safe.Isthatme for a man to say?”
“Notat all,”Isay soothingly. “Youdeserve to feel safe.”
<i ss="calibre2">Butthen again, so doI.</i>
I’vebeen waiting forFinn’skink.Heseemed to really enjoy the rough sexst night.Iam totally fine with fuzzy handcuffs andIwould be open to more naked photo shoots, but<i ss="calibre2">this…</i>
“Sodo you still like threesomes?”
Heruns his hands through his hair and purses his lips. “HowamIsupposed to answer that?”
“Honestly,”Ireply.
“Obviously,Idid.It’sa lot of, um”—he scratches his head awkwardly—“parts and stimtion when you’re with more than one woman.”Heruns his hand over his face and groans like the words taste bad in his mouth. “ButIwould never expect you to do that.AndIwas only concerned aboutCass’sbirthday becauseIwouldn’t introduce you toNora, soI’mnot sure what to do aboutCass.Shereally is just a friend, but still,Idon’t want to make you ufortable.”
Iknow he’s trying to be considerate, but allIjust heard was that<i ss="calibre2">Finnlikes threesomes</i>and yet he’d<i ss="calibre2">never expect me to do that.</i>
“Whatelse do you like thatIdon’t know about?”I’malmost scared to ask. “Idon’t want you to feel likeIcan’t keep up.”
Hetilts his head to the side and looks at me with pity in his eyes. “Keepup?You’remiles ahead,Queen.I’mhappy.Iam perfectly content with the way we have sex.”
“Perfectly<i ss="calibre2">content</i>?”
“Yeah.”Finngives me a kind smile and taps his nose. “You’reperfect.”
We’requite clearly fixating on different words because he thinks<i ss="calibre2">perfect</i>is apliment, butIknow exactly what<i ss="calibre2">content</i>leads to.It’sboredom, dissatisfaction, and after four years getting proposed to and then immediately dumped while you cry into a messy, crumbled pile of chocte cake.I’llbe damned ifIfall in love again just to start over at thirty-four.
Finngrabs the shopping bagLennoxsets down and takes a peek. “Okay, to be clear, you’re not going anywhere dressed like this unlessI’mwith you.”
Iscowl at him. “SoIlet you push me around the bedroom once and suddenly you think you’re my keeper?”
“You<i ss="calibre2">need</i>a keeper wearing this.”Hepulls out what can barely be considered a bra.It’sessentially two mshells attached to each other with a thin wire.Itwouldn’t support a cotton ball, let alone myrge breasts.
Myjaw drops atLennox’swildly misguided judgment.Finnpeeks back into the bag and smiles at me wickedly.
“DoIeven want to see the bottoms?”
Hissmile is devilish. “There’snot much to see,Queen.”
“Goodgrief.”
Hedrops the mermaid bra back into the bag and pulls my coffee mug from my hand before setting it aside.Hetakes each of my hands and wraps it around his waist. “Myfriend who used to be my friend with benefits is having a birthday party.Iknow we’re in the gray area, but if you’re okay with it,I’dreally love for you to be my official date and show you off in your sexy mermaid costume.Whatdo you say?”
“Okay,”Isay. “Thankyou for inviting me.I’dlove to.”
“Good,” he breathes out. “Noe on.”Hegrabs my wrist in one hand and tugs me behind him, snagging the shopping bag off the counter as he passes by. “Ineed to do a thorough inspection to make sure this fits.”
<i ss="calibre2">Ohboy.</i>Theurge that immediately bubbles up between my thighs is a little stronger than the tender ache.Itwould probably be wise to take a break after fucking for hoursst night, but it’sFinn.Whatcrazy woman would say no?Ijust have to hope and pray his dick falls off soIcan take a break from this man.
Thisis chemistry.Lust.Desire.Obsession.It’snothing in the realm of<i ss="calibre2">content</i>.Nowhow the hell doIkeep it that way?HowdoIavoid the same fate as myst rtionship?
“Isuppose if it doesn’t fit, we can leave it off.”
“That’sthe spirit,Queen.”
Finnsqueezes my hand, causing the mermaids on his forearm to dance.Thereare three of them clustered together on that rock.Istare at them inquiringly.Theirsmiles are so wicked like they have a dirty secret.Itcertainly looks like they’re enjoying themselves.
<i ss="calibre2">Sobe honest,dies.Doyou guys all get busy together, too?AmImissing out?</i>
“Avery?”Finnasks outside of his bedroom door. “Areyou okay?Youlook worried.”
“No, no,”Iassure him asIsqueeze his hand. “I’mfine.”
Totallyfine.Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.
<i ss="calibre2">Perfectlycontent.</i>