I stop in front ofFinnon the couch and smile at him like a lunatic with a bowl of buffalo chicken dip in my hand.
“What?” he asks with a concerned smirk.Hisface is lit up with the slight glow ofDex’saquarium behind me.
“Nothing.I’mhappy.”
“Areyou sure?Youcan cry some more if you need to.Youwon’t scare me off.”
“No…I’mokay today.”I’mcried out, honestly.Ies in waves.Idon’t missMason, butIdo missPalmer.It’sbizarre.Losingyour best friend is like taking off a security nket and feeling a chill.Atfirst, it’s ufortable, but soon after, you realize you were burning up the entire time.Thecold bes wee.
Iset the dip down and crawl on top of hisp, resting my thighs on his, letting myself befortable in his powerful embrace. “Damn, you smell nice, baby,”Finnmumbles.
Isnort. “BecauseIsmell like your favorite dip.”
Hechuckles into my neck and says, “No, it’s your perfume.”Hebreathes me in and then tucks my long hair away from my shoulder. “Youlook really nice tonight.”
IthinkI’mlearning my bnce.Thetruth isIdon’t want to be prancing around in revealing lingerie and mermaid glitter…<i ss="calibre2">at least not in public.</i>Finnhas insisted we keep my mermaid costume for role-ying night.Iagreed, but only if he gets an eye patch and he wraps his hand around my throat.Butfor every day,I’vedecided,Ilike beingfortable, but with a little effort.Sofor tonight,I’mwearing the cute flowy bohemian shortsLennoxfound for me with a form-fitting, white, babyT-shirt that hugs the bulge of my chest and the slight dip in my waist.Myhair is down in natural waves andIhave a hint of makeup—a soft blush, a little lip tint, and a touch of mascara.
Thisis nice.<i ss="calibre2">This</i>,Ilike.Thisfeels like me.
“It’sour first official date,”Isay before pressing my lips against his.
“What?I’vetaken you out before.”
“True, but tonight,Ihave no questions about how you feel about me, where we’re headed, or what you think about me.”
Irun my hands all over his gray workout shirt, which is the same silky smooth material as his ck athletic pants.Helooks like such a jock tonight.<i ss="calibre2">Ha!Me…with a jock.</i>IinvitedFinnto our first official date night.Imade all his favorite dips.Ihave every intention of making it up to him tonight because all we’ve done for the past few nights is cuddle.
Sexisn’t going anywhere.Afterthe most dramatic twenty-four hours of my life,Ineeded to recuperate and feelfort in a different way.SoFinnpals around and cuddles me.He’spatient through my sporadic little meltdowns.WhenIthink ofPalmer,Icry.Icry even harder whenIthink about the fact that she hasn’t bothered to call and beg me for forgiveness.Itold her not to contact me, but a part of me wished she would have at least tried.Hercowardly behavior only solidifies whatIknow in my heart; this friendship isn’t just over, it’s been over for a long time.
It’sokay to mourn.It’sokay for my heart to hurt.Andit does…Immensely.Butit also feels like relief.Likethe shadow that’s been chasing me my entire life finally stepped into the light, and the monster…it was just a mouse.Themonster of my insecurity was just a teeny, tiny, sad mouse.
Finnis letting me process patiently.Heeven cuddled mest night on the couch asIfell asleep watching<i ss="calibre2">FindingNemo</i>in his arms, my personal memorial toCherry.Icried as we watched it and he didn’t ask me if it was aboutPalmerorCherry.Hejust stroked my hair and let me quietly sob.Ina weird way,Finnlikes my tears.Hesays my tears, unlikeNora’s, are honest.<i ss="calibre2">Andhe wants honesty.</i>
Icouldn’t have dreamed up a better man.
“Whatdo you thinkIthink about you?”Finnasks.There’sa sultry smile on his face, andIfeel a swell growing whereI’mrubbing against his crotch.Heshifts his hips to subtly adjust himself with ease likeI’mweightless on top of him.Ilove how strong he is.It’showIknowIcan<i ss="calibre2">really</i>lean on him.
“Ithink you think—”
<i ss="calibre2">Ring, ring.</i>
Myphone sounds from the kitchen counter, the loud ringtone carrying fromDex’sopen-concept main floor with the tall ceilings.I’mactually going to miss this ce when he returns in a couple of weeks.But, then again,I’monly moving next door.IbetIcan pop by to visit.
Thephone grows quiet for a brief moment before it picks right back up.
“Goddammit.Let<i ss="calibre2">me</i>talk to that fucker.I’lllet him know he’s lost the privilege of speaking to my girlfriend ever again.Andif he has a hard time understanding,Ican pay him a visit and say it to his face.”
“It’sreally hot when you get all protective,”Isay with a seductive smile, cing my hands on his cheeks.Irub my thumbs against his stubble. “Saythat again, but kind of growl it.”Itry to snarl at him, but he’s not returning my yfulness. “<i ss="calibre2">What,Finn?</i>Don’tbe upset.YouknowI’mnot answering his calls.”
Masonpanicked when he found outIblew off theLegacyResortsdeal.
Hespiraled whenPalmermust’ve told himIknew everything about their affair.That’swhen he started blowing up my phone—messages and voicemails toggling between begging, exining, and then demandingItalk to him.
Hedamn near had a heart attack when he was copied on the emailIsent to all of our clients, letting them know thatArrowConsultingwas splitting ways and thatIwould be offering long-term services as a brand strategist and marketing consultant under a new boutique name:QueenConsulting, which would be based out ofLasVegas.Iasked my clients to reach out if they were interested in receiving more information whenIreturned to work in a few weeks<i ss="calibre2">after</i>my summer vacation concluded.
Theresponse was overwhelming.Masoncan keepArrowand all its assets.It’snothing but an empty shell now.
Mymore vindictive side has enjoyed watching him spiral asIkeep his messages on read and let the phone line ring.In on giving it a few more days beforeIblock his numberpletely.
“I’mnot upset if you talk to him.Iam just so angry for you.Butyou’ve got an edge, baby.Maybeyou should rip him to fucking pieces whileIlisten on speakerphone.”
NotthatI’dsay this toFinn, butI’meternally grateful forMason.Itwas a tough lesson to learn, butIneeded him to string me along for four years.Ineeded him to make me doubt myself soIfelt low enough to ask forFinn’shelp.Iwas desperate enough to approach a man whoInever would’ve unlessIhad absolutely nothing to lose.
“Idon’t need to.Idid whatIneeded to do, and nowI’mnot going to dwell on this any longer.Ideserve better andMasondeserves…<i ss="calibre2">Palmer</i>.There’sno greater punishment than that.”ugh to myself. “AndIdon’t need to tellMasonwhat a huge mistake he made.Hisconsequence is not getting to experience the best version of me.”IkissFinn’sforehead. “I’msaving all that for you, babe.”
“You’rea queen,”Finnsays, guiding my lips to his. “Sucha fucking queen.”<i ss="calibre2"></i>Ourkiss deepens, and this time he reaches between us to adjust his erection, which has grown to mammoth proportions.Hegroans against my ear. “Areyou feeling better?Canwe fuck—”
“Wait.”
Heexhales. “Sure, why not,” he grumbles bitterly. “That’sallI’vebeen doing.I’mgetting really good at it.”
“Areyou actually pouting?”Iburst out in a chuckle. “Ijust want to show you something, then you can fuck me like a madman, right on this couch.”
Idart to the kitchen and return to the living room with my box of photographs.
“Yousaw them?”Finnasks.
Ishake my head. “Nope, not yet,”Isay asIbreak the sticker seal on the box. “Iwant to look together.”
I’mnervous, but not for the reasonIthoughtIwould be.There’sone thingIdesperately needed to get out of the summer and it lies within these pictures.Itwas never aboutFinnliking these…
It’sabout me.
Iopen the box and dare myself to love whatIsee.
Thepictures are stacked strategically so they tell a story.Isee the studio first, ck roses, scattered on the ground.Isee the disturbed sheets and just my hand gripping them tightly likeI’min the throes of passion.Andthe first timeIsee my body—my legs, covered in the ck stockings that rose a few inches over my knees,Igasp.
Ihand the picture over toFinn, my eyes wide asIsoak in picture after picture of my naked body, my most intimate parts, half covered by my hands, my hair, a rose.Thelook on my face in every picture is hauntingly erotic.Finncaptured somethingI’venever seen in myself.
<i ss="calibre2">Confidence.</i>
“Finn…”Itrail off asIhand him image after image afterIlook at them.Mycheeks are burning, and my heart is thumping angrily. “Isthis what you see when you look at me?”
Hewatches my eyes carefully as his brows furrow. “Yes.Avery, these are—”
“Amazing.”Ifinish for him.Iwant to be the one to say it.ugh in joy and relief, proving myself to the one person who matters. “Ilook really,<i ss="calibre2">really</i>good.”
Finnnods, examining the picture. “Youlook beautiful.Sosexy.”This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org.
Inod in agreement. “Thankyou.”
Hesets the picturesIhanded him on a neat stack on the coffee table. “Comeon,I’veseen enough.Wecan finish looking at theseter.”
<i ss="calibre2">Actually,Iwant to keep going.</i>Thefeeling of loving myself and appreciating the wayIlook is exhrating.It’smy new addiction.ButItake his hand and let him drag me up the stairs, knowing what these images have stirred up in him—a primal, lusty urge.Thisfeels just as good…being the wanted girl.
“Closet?”Iask as we head to the master bedroom. “Thebig mirror?”
Iwatch his head shake from behind.Hewordlessly pulls me through the bedroom,<i ss="calibre2">through</i>the master closet, and intoDex’sbathroom.Helets go of my hand, opens the shower door, and turns on the water.
Theenergy between us is electrically charged.It’slike lightning struck and lingered.Istay still and revel in his masculine angst as he strips me down likeI’ma doll to y with.Heyanks down my shorts and panties in one pull.Istep out of my bottoms obediently as he maneuvers his hands underneath my form-fitting shirt and unhooks my bra.Hepulls the straps free of my arms and slides my bra out under my top but leaves it on.Thenhe drags me under the stream of the shower head, letting it soak me from head to toe.
Hewatches my shirt glue to my body, my breastspletely on disy through my drenched white shirt.Hepeels off his shirt and tosses it on the bathroom floor, shutting the ss door behind him so we’re boxed into a different kind of wet dream.
Hecups my chest delicately. “BeforeImet you,IswearIwas an ass man.Butthese have converted me.”Hepinches my nipples one by one before he spins me around, bends me over, and secures my hands on the built-in bench.Hesmacks my ass, hard.Thesound is exaggerated by the echo of the shower.
“Thenagain,” he growls as he rubs his palm over the spot he swatted, “this gets me just as hard.”Igroan when he slinks his thickest finger into my crease. “Ibet this pussy missed me.”
“Yes,”Imumble.
Finnbends over me, his chest lining my back as his free hand wraps around my throat.Hislips tickle my earlobe and he speaks right into my ear soIcan hear him over the shower. “I’mgoing to fuck you likeIown you, first.ThenI’mgoing to pull you into the bedroom and make love to you.How’sthat sound?”
“Mmm, good.<i ss="calibre2">Yes.</i>”
Heslowly pumps his finger in and out, andIspread my legs a little wider, inviting him to get deeper.
“Buttomorrow, when you wake up in my arms andIkiss you good morning,I’mgoing to enjoy that just as much.”
“Metoo,”Imumble.
Hecurls his finger inside of me, as he tugs on my earlobe with his teeth. “WhydidIbring you into the shower,Queen?Whatdo you thinkIwant you do to for me?”
“Come,”Iwhimper. “Youwant me toe.”
Hepulls his fingers out and rapidly flicks against my clit before he plunges back in, with two fingers this time. “No, baby.That’snot enough.Idon’t want you to juste for me.Iwant you to explode for me.”Mybody goes weak and my legs start to shake as he drives his fingers into me furiously and the familiar pressure brews from the forbidden spot thatIrarely allow him to touch.
“OhmyGod,”Icry out as the pressure blows past the point of tolerance.pletely let go and burst asFinnroars in appreciation.
“That’sit, baby.<i ss="calibre2">Goodgirl.</i>Ifucking love how you can do that.”Hespins me around, pulls his fingers out, and yanks his soaked shorts down, his erection springing free and bouncing in ce.Mybreath is still ragged from my orgasm, and the tension in my chest only tightens asIstudy the perfection that is his dick.
“Finn,Iwant it to always feel like this.Wheneverwe’re together, whether we’re fucking or cuddling,Iwant to feel like you want me<i ss="calibre2">this much</i>every single day.”
Hisdemeanor changes.Hepauses to kiss me sweetly, pulling me against him so his dick is sandwiched between our bodies, stirring an ache from deep inside of me. “Itwill andIdo.Justtell me what you need andI’lltake such good care of you.Ipromise…Ilove you,Avery.”
Inod. “Ilove you too,FinnHarvey.Andthanks to you,IthinkIlove me too.”
Apart of me wants to stop here.Iwant to spend the rest of this evening under the warm rain from the shower withFinn’sburly arms wrapped around me, making me feel safe.Buthis erection is twitching on my stomach, and nowIneed to take care of my man.
Ismirk into his chest. “Nowpull my hair and tell me to get on my knees and swallow the whole load.Bossme around.Pirate-style.”
Helets out a shortugh. “Dirtygirl with a dirty mouth.”
Obediently, he weaves his hand in my hair and clenches his fist.I’mat his mercy as he guides me to my knees and the tip of his dick nudges against my lips.
“Lookup at me,”Finnsays.
Heshoots me a yful wink before he wipes the smile from his face, getting fully into character.
“Openyour mouth…<i ss="calibre2">wider</i>…good girl.”Hegroans in delight. “Justlike that,<i ss="calibre2">Queen</i>.”
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