* * *
Dread curled in Finn’s stomach as he rummaged through the pantry, looking for something to bring to his parents’ house. His mother used to make comments to her father if a guest came to lunch or dinner without a hostess gift—like it was some egregious sin. He didn’t know if he was considered a guest now or if he still qualified as family, but he wasn’t going to take any chances.
He grabbed a dusty bottle of tequila that he found tucked in the back of the pantry. He frowned down at it. For a dinner with friends this would probably work, but he doubted his parents were planning a margarita lunch. That left him with canned corn or a sleeve of Ritz crackers. Neither was going to pass muster. He pulled his phone out of his pocket and checked the time. His mom used to love the macaroons from one of the local bakeries. It wasn’t exactly on the way, but he could leave enough time before lunch to swing by and pick up some. If that failed, there was a wine store next door to the bakery. At least wine had the added bonus of taking the edge off the awkward meeting.
He set his tequila down, resisting the urge to take a swig of it to prepare him for this visit. Part of him wanted to text and say he’d gotten a flat tire and couldn’t make it, but knowing his family, they’d just send someone to pick him up.
He shook his head. “Get it together, man.”
He’d faced down criminals who wouldn’t hesitate to cut his throat and ask questions later, but one family get-together and he was ready to bolt. What was the worst they could do? Make him feel guilty for not being around? That was a given. Comment on how he’d let the family business down by not following in his father’s footsteps? No doubt.
He could survive all of that. If he wanted to get back on the job, this was part of the assignment. Billings wanted him to visit his family. Plus, Liv had made a good point. His parents were getting older and wouldn’t always be around. He also had sisters he missed. This was the only family he had. He needed to do this, even though he didn’t feel like he belonged in their world anymore.
With that internal pep talk complete, he grabbed his keys and headed toward the front door. But when he swung it open and saw someone standing there, he jumped back and cocked his fist, ready to use it as a weapon.
Liv lifted her palms in defense, her eyes wide. “Don’t hit me!”
All the air rushed out of his lungs as he lowered his arm. “Shit, Liv. You scared the hell out of me.”
She winced. “Sorry. I was about to knock, but you beat me to it. Um…surprise?”
The hopeful look and head tilt she gave him made him laugh despite his pounding heartbeat. “I’d say so. What are you doing here?”
She spread her arms out at her sides, revealing her flowered sundress, just enough cleavage to make his mouth water, and a smile. “If you’re still looking for a sidekick for the parental gauntlet, I’m here to provide my services.”
His lips parted. “Really?”
She shrugged and smoothed her hair behind her ears. “Yeah, if you still want me to go and if I’m not too late.”
If he still wanted her to go? Like she wasn’t doing him a huge, uncomfortable favor. Like she wasn’t the best damn surprise he could imagine. He wanted to sweep her up and squeeze her, he was so happy to see her standing there. “Of course I do, and you’re early, actually. But are you sure you want to volunteer as tribute? I’m still not sure I want to volunteer.”
She laughed and stepped into his space to give him a quick peck on the lips. “Yes. And tribute? You’ve been Netflix-ing.”
He tossed his keys on the table by the door and gave in to the temptation to touch her. He wrapped his arms around her, the tension in his shoulders easing at the feel of her, at the grapefruit scent of her shampoo, at just…her, being there. After a week of radio silence, he’d been convinced he’d screwed the whole thing up, scared her off. He’d half expected her to never come back to the lake house. Seeing her standing there was like a potent drug injected straight into his veins. “Of course I’m Netflix-ing. I am properly recluse-ing and getting over being dumped by this girl who used me for my body.”
She touched her forehead to his chest. “I’m sorry I didn’t call. I didn’t dump you, though.”
“Just used me for my body then?”
She looked up with a sly smile and slid her hand up his chest, those gentle fingers sending hot awareness straight downward. “Yes. It is quite a body.”
God, this woman. Even the simplest touch had him aching for her. He bent his head and kissed her, a little more than a peck this time. “I got the better end of the deal. And feel free to use me anytime. Right now, in fact. I’m very easy. Super-loose morals.”
She grinned. “Ooh, I love a man with loose morals. It’s at the top of my checklist. Too bad we have a lunch to go to.”
He ran his finger under the thin strap of her sundress and watched with fascination as goose bumps appeared along her skin and her nipples hardened beneath the cotton fabric. So sensitive. Sexy. “We have a little while until I’m supposed to be there. I was just leaving early to pick up dessert.” He dragged the strap down, revealing the top curve of her breast, and leaned down to kiss the smooth, tawny skin. “Maybe we should just have dessert here.”
Liv tipped her head back as he trailed kisses up her neck. She braced a hand on the doorframe, her body shuddering underneath his lips and his cock hardening in his pants. She let out a soft sigh. “I’m supposed to tell you no right now. That we’ll be late, and that will be bad. And that I’ll have after-sex hair, and that will be worse. But…”
“But?” he asked, sliding his hand into all that dark hair and cupping her neck.
“But…what was I saying again?”
He laughed softly and pulled her inside, shutting the door and then crowding her up against it. She didn’t hesitate or resist. Instead, she reached for him and pulled him in for a kiss, one arm looping around his neck and her other hand sliding between them to stroke him through his jeans. His knees tried to give out at the feel of her hand on him, but he managed to keep them both upright, kissing her back with a frenzied need he couldn’t staunch.
A throaty moan rumbled through her, like touching him was so damn satisfying, and his body went all systems go. He loved how responsive Liv was. No games. No pretending she wasn’t interested. Bold and brazen and hot as fuck.
It made his normal filters fall away. Flipped all his dirty switches.
“You want my cock, baby?” he said, moving her hand away and dragging her leg up to press his erection at the apex of her thighs. “You missed having me inside you?”
She groaned and rocked against him, sending jolts of pleasure up his spine.
He rutted against her slowly, torturing them both, and brushed his lips against her ear. “You should’ve called. I would’ve kept you company during those late work nights. Would’ve told you in filthy detail exactly what I was going to do to you when I saw you again, would’ve made you tuck your hand beneath your desk and stroke yourself between those pretty thighs while you came and no one else was the wiser.”
A hard shudder rumbled through her. “Shit. Finn.”
It was a plea. He reached beneath her dress and shoved her panties to the side. When he slipped his fingers inside, he found her slick and pulsing with heat. His erection pushed painfully against his zipper. “Christ, you’re sexy. You need to come, Livvy?”
She tapped her head back against the door. “Please.”
He released her leg and tugged her panties down and off. “Lift your dress for me, but don’t take it off. Show me where you want me.”
Her eyes blinked open, but her gaze was hooded, her cheeks flushed. Without hesitation, she grabbed the hem of her dress and slowly raised the skirt, joining in the dirty game. His heart pounded harder with each sweet inch she revealed. Long spread legs, high heels still on, and then all that pretty feminine flesh on display. His tongue pres
sed to the roof of his mouth, and he had to remind himself to breathe.
He dropped to his knees in front of her, gripped her thigh, and ran his tongue over her while sliding two fingers deep. She moaned, and her head hit the door again as she lifted up on her toes, offering everything she had to give.
He could spend hours there, worshiping at that particular altar. There was nothing more erotic to him than Liv Arias, dressed up like she’d just left a church luncheon but naked and spread for him from the waist down.
He kissed and licked and touched her, mapping her hot spots and committing them to memory because he planned to spend a lot of time this summer making Liv writhe and moan like this. Billings wanted him to take up a hobby. This was going to be it.
But when Liv started to gasp with the first throes of orgasm, his own body protested, screaming with arousal. She called out his name and rocked against his mouth, taking exactly what she craved and driving him wild with need. Blindly, he reached down and undid his jeans, freeing his erection and giving himself a stroke for relief as he continued to work her with his tongue.
Liv wasn’t shy with the noises she made, and she pushed him away gently when she couldn’t take anymore. He shifted to give her space, but when she opened her eyes and saw his hand working, she shook her head.
“Don’t,” she whispered.
“What?”
She slid down to her knees, her skin glistening with a fine sheen of sweat. She grabbed his wrist and moved it away. “I didn’t get a turn last time.”
“Liv—”
But she was having none of that. She crawled over him, leading him down onto his back, and then she lowered her head. He knew what was about to happen, but he was completely unprepared for the feel of her hot, soft mouth sliding over his cock. His neck arched, and he said some sort of gibberish word that had only vowels.
She murmured something in reply, but the vibration of her mouth on him only served to blend his brain further. His hands went to her hair, gripping for dear life, and she swirled her tongue around the head. Goddamn, he’d forgotten what a blow job felt like. Or maybe he’d never had one like this. Maybe Liv had some magical skill at making a man want to explode into a million blissed-out pieces because…damn.
She worked him slowly but in a way that said she wasn’t just marking time. Women who didn’t like giving head didn’t do the things she was doing, didn’t run their cheek over his shaft, didn’t nuzzle and lick and kiss every bit of him, didn’t run their finger along…
Oh. Oh.
He’d planned to warn her, but it was too late. With that last move, his verbal functioning shut down and every ounce of energy in his body zeroed in on the point of contact. His shoulders lifted up off the floor, and his hands gripped her head as he came in a hard rush.
He expected her to pull away, to back off, but she continued to pleasure him, making noises of her own and softening the pressure as he rode the wave down.
When he was done, his head sank back to the floor, and his belly rose and fell with ragged breaths.
The air shifted and her dress brushed him as she leaned over him. He opened his eyes to find her smiling down at him with red lips and after-sex hair haloing her face. “You okay, Batman?”
He grinned back up at her. “No, you’ve killed me. I’m now speaking to you from the great beyond.”
She laughed. “Is it nice there?”
“So nice.”
“Are there unicorns?”
He reached out and brushed his thumb along her lips. “You’re weird, Arias.”
“I know. You can be Oddly Hot. I’ll be Weirdly Sexy. We’ll be a crime-fighting duo.”
“Excellent. And sorry I didn’t give you fair warning before I came.”
“None needed.” She leaned down to kiss him, letting him taste himself on her lips and her flavor still lingering on his. He could get used to that combination. She eased back, straddling his stomach. “I like seeing you lose it like that. It’s a power trip.”
He chuckled. “Feel free to assert your authority anytime then.”
She fixed the strap on her sundress. “How much time do we have before we’re late? I’m going to need a quick shower.”
“You look perfect. Well-laid.”
She rolled her eyes. “Smelling like sex is not the first impression I want to give your parents. Shower is nonnegotiable.”
“Details, details. Fine. I will allow a shower.” He rolled her off him, and they both got to their feet, righting their clothes. But before she could escape him, he lifted her up and hauled her over his shoulder.
She yelped and slapped his back. “What are you doing?”
“I need a rinse, too. And if I’m going to pick up something to bring on the way there, we only have time for one shower. We’re going to have to share it,” he said, his tone gravely serious. “I’m being a responsible adult. Behave.”
She snorted. “Somehow, I don’t think this plan is going to work out.”
He smiled. “Don’t worry. All I’m going to do is make sure you’re very, very clean.”
“Good luck with that one.”
He laughed and carried her upstairs. “That’s okay. I like you dirty, Livvy.”
“Yeah?”
“Definitely.”
He liked her dirty. He liked her sweet. He liked when she got bossy and when she gave in. And he liked the way she’d made him feel when he’d opened up his door and realized she’d come back to him. He hadn’t quite understood what that feeling was when it’d first hit him, but as they showered and she flicked shampoo bubbles at him, he knew exactly what that feeling was.
Happy.
chapter
TWENTY
Liv stared out the window, watching the scenery change, her mind busy but strangely content. Two orgasms could do that to a girl. No, Finn Dorsey could do that to a girl. It was a welcome change after her sleepless night.
Finn laced his fingers with hers and squeezed. “Maybe we should change plans. I feel a fever coming on.”
She looked over at him. “Oh really?”
He nodded and gave her a serious look. “Yes. I think I need to call and tell them I’ll be in bed for a week. It’s bad. Want to play nurse?”
She pulled her hand free and pinched his arm. “Stop. There’s no going back now. We’re doing this. Plus, you’re going to be fine. I’m here to run interference. They’ll be much more likely to take jabs at me than you.”
His expression darkened. “I’m not going to let them insult you, Liv. That’s a deal breaker.”
She waved a dismissive hand. “Let ’em. After the week I had, I can deal with whatever they throw at me.”
He lowered the radio. “You do seem oddly calm about all this. You remember my dad, right?”
“Vividly.”
“So is it just the sex relaxing you or something else?” He sent her a look of mock concern. “Have you been drinking? Eating mushrooms? Dropping acid?”
“Not exactly.” She took a breath and looked forward. “Worse.”
“Worse than dropping acid? I’m not even sure what that would be. Meth? Toad licking?”
She grimaced. “Ew, gross. Not as bad as licking toads.”
“Well, that’s a relief. We did just kiss.”
“I quit my job.”
“You—” The car jerked to a halt, the tires screeching as he almost missed a stop sign. “What?”
She bit her lip and glanced his way. “Yes. That look on your face. That’s basically what I’ve been feeling inside since I walked out of work last night.”
He stared at her, green eyes searching. “You’re just telling me this now? Liv…”
She shrugged. “I was going to lead with that, but then you had to go and be all hot and seductive. I just quit my job is kind of a mood killer. Plus, I’m…okay abou
t it.”
He eased onto the gas, checking what was in front of them, but then looking her way again. “Yeah? You seemed pretty freaked out last weekend at the thought of losing your job.”
She smoothed her dress and frowned. “Believe me, acceptance wasn’t my first reaction. I didn’t sleep. Pretty much was in full freak-out mode all night, strategizing ways to undo it. But then this morning, I typed up an email to apologize to my boss, to beg for my job back, for him to chalk my behavior up to temporary insanity, and…”
“And?”
She let out a breath and leaned back in the seat. “I couldn’t send it. Beyond the fact that the reasons I quit were legit and the thought of crawling back and saying they weren’t made me want to vomit, I realized that this job has been another version of a drug for me.” She turned her head toward him. “You were right.”
“I never said it was a drug.”
“No, but last Monday you said I was looking for an excuse to run, and you were right. This—you, being back in Long Acre, the photography, all of it—scares the living hell out of me,” she admitted. “At work, I don’t have to think about the what-ifs or unfulfilled plans or friends I cut out of my life. I don’t have to deal with the anxiety of any of that. I don’t have to do anything hard or scary. That also means I don’t get to do anything interesting.”
He reached for her hand again, and she let him take it. “So you really did it? Just walked out.”
She took a deep breath, one that lifted her shoulders and made her heart beat in her ears. “Yeah. I did.” She wet her lips. “I said in my letter that I wanted to live a life that scared me. My job was my safety bunker, and I just burned it down. So…now I’m feeling kind of terrified.” She turned her gaze to his and swallowed hard. “But at least I’m feeling something. You make me feel something.”
Finn’s expression flashed with something raw. Affection. Pride. Something else.
His undisguised reaction hit her in the chest and twisted, making it hard to breathe for a second. She’d seen glimpses of the boy she used to know, but for the first time since finding him again, she felt that tenderness from him.