Total pages in book: 59
Estimated words: 54852 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 274(@200wpm)___ 219(@250wpm)___ 183(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 54852 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 274(@200wpm)___ 219(@250wpm)___ 183(@300wpm)
“I was concerned.”
“And we love you for it,” Finn echoed my tease to Mom, light and easy, but my stomach still did a silly wiggle.
Love. That was the last thing I needed, and the thing I could least promise to give, but I couldn’t stop the sudden rush of want. My brain might still be insisting this was a casual fling between friends, but my body insisted on going all eager puppy at the least affection from Finn.
Can’t go there. I forced my attention onto my menu. “Tell me what’s good here?” I asked Finn.
He raised an eyebrow. “You’re ordering something other than leafy greens?”
“I did get him to eat some cheese on New Year’s,” Mom said archly, joining in on the teasing.
Groaning, I shook my head at both of them. “You both make me sound so boring.”
“Well…” My mother drew the word out while Finn was still busy chuckling.
“Let me order for you?” Finn closed my menu for me. “I promise it’ll still be relatively healthy. Your arteries are safe on my watch.”
The need to be sensible warred with my sudden desire to be surprised. And for once, I didn’t let practical win. “All right. I trust you.”
And I did. He was a more than competent cook, and everything he’d fed me had been delicious. I gave him a considering glance. I was beginning to trust him with so many things—my desire to relinquish control in bed, my thoughts on “guilty pleasure” books, my secret worries over my health. And, perhaps most dangerously, I was perilously close to trusting him with my heart.
Our food arrived on steaming platters. For me, Finn had ordered a mushroom and butternut squash risotto finished with a truffle honey. It was not something I would’ve picked, but, true to his promise, it was decadent but exactly to my taste. And not quite as much of a cardiac crisis as his entrée—pulled pork macaroni and cheese. My mother had a polenta dish with lots of grilled corn and cotijo cheese. The conversation flowed easily between the three of us, and I enjoyed every indulgent mouthful of the creamy rice, the salty and sweet notes perfectly complemented by the earthy mushrooms.
“You were right. That was delicious. And fun,” I said to him as we were finishing up. Mom had excused herself to the restroom, leaving us to good-naturedly argue over who was getting the bill and up our flirting game.
“See? I have all sorts of good ideas.” Finn gave me a look even steamier than the molten chocolate cake he’d talked us into sharing.
“Yeah?” I held his gaze as I tapped his boot with my foot. “Do you have time to show me a few others?”
“Is that you inviting me up to your place?” His wolfish grin had me smiling right back.
I smiled so much when he was around, and the feeling was as fresh and promising as early summer in Vermont. Finn was like the month of June personified, sunshine and warmth that made flavors more intense, moments more meaningful, and the whole world sunny and bright.
“It is.” I rubbed my calf against his.
“Good.” Finn waggled his eyebrows as he continued to match my little foot bumps. “Trust me, I’ve got no shortage of ideas for what I want to do with you.”
“That’s what I was hoping.” It was all I could do to not rub my hands in anticipation. Finn was the perfect end to a nearly perfect day, and I couldn’t wait to see what he had in store.
Chapter Sixteen
Finn
Something about Harrison made me feel seventeen again, counting down until we could be free of parental oversight. We’d used Harrison’s car to run his mother home, flirting shamelessly as soon as she was gone, and then, after returning downtown, racing across Church Street from the parking garage, laughing and breathless by the time we arrived back at the bookstore.
“I’m not asking for the tour,” I said as I followed Harrison up the dim stairs to the apartments over the store.
“You’re not?” He turned to peer at me, adorably befuddled in his hipster glasses and slightly askew bow tie. I’d snuck some kisses from him in the parking garage.
“I’ve waited all damn day for a door that locks.” I moved in closer as he opened the door, ushering us into a darkened room.
“Me too.” Harrison fumbled for the light switch right as I closed the door and pulled him to me. “Just let me find the light—oh.”
He melted into me as I claimed his mouth in a kiss. I didn’t need light to find him and take exactly what I’d been craving. The fast taste in the parking garage hadn’t been nearly enough. This time I kissed him until he was clinging to my shoulders, our hard cocks rubbing through our pants, our bodies surging together.