Chapter 5
Finley
At eight pm sharp the next night, Levi’s outside my apartment yelling for me. He texted me all throughout the day today and as soon as I got home from work he texted to meet him out here. The smile on my face refuses to fade as I walk out to him, clothed in my N*Sync shirt and baggy sweatpants. If he’s going to be insistent on making me leave the house after the sun goes down, I’m going comfy.
“Wow,” he laughs, that smile doing things to my lady bits that makes me wish I didn’t have on this frumpy outfit. His eyes travel my attire and he throws his hands to the top of his head, smiling wide. “This tops last night’s outfit, Squirt. By far.”
“Thanks.” I wink at him. “Justin Timberlake on my tits is exactly where I need him.” I stroke my boobs and Levi lets out a noise and shakes his head.
“Keep touching your tits like that and you can wear whatever the hell you want.” His eyes are trained on my fingertips and I trail them around my nipple. The hardened peaks are so sensitive that each stroke makes my pussy tingle with need. The tension between us right now makes it ten times worse and I have half a mind to pull him back upstairs to my apartment. Dammit, this man makes me crave sex.
A couple walking by interrupts us and I drop my hands, my cheeks heating with embarrassment. Levi smirks at me as they pass.
“I’m not sure what I liked more. Watching your fingers tease your nipples or watching the color rise on your cheeks when you realized you were caught.” He bites his lip and steps closer to me, pushing his hand to the back of my head and pulling me towards him. “I missed you.”
“You saw me last night,” I whisper, giggling when he dips his lips to mine.
“It’s not enough, Squirt.” He deepens the kiss, letting his hands roam to my ass and his tongue slides past mine, tasting me and sending me into a spiral of need. I push harder against him, forgetting that we’re outside where everyone can see us. “It’ll probably never be enough at this rate,” he whispers then pulls away and curses. “We need to start walking or I can’t promise what I’m going to end up doing to you, Finley.”
As much as I like that threat, I bite my lip and step away from him, heading down the beach. I really want to get to know him. I think I like the man a hell of a lot more than I signed on for. He takes my hand as we walk, twisting his fingers in mine.
This feels right.
“What’s your favorite color?” I blurt, kicking up sand as I walk.
“Blue.” He looks over at me, locking onto my eyes. “With some gold flecks added in.”
“Stop,” I say. “I’m serious, Levi. You can stop trying to impress me. I want honest answers. I want to get to know you better than just how much I like your dick.”
“Well that’ll never happen.” He laughs then stops and looks out over the water. “And I wasn’t joking, Squirt. Ask me my favorite scent and I’ll tell you vanilla. Ask me my favorite movie and I’ll tell you The Notebook.” His eyes hit mine. “My entire life I’ve fallen for a girl who I wasn’t allowed to touch, so instead of touching I learned to fall in different ways. Anything that reminds me of you skyrocketed to the top of my favorite things years ago.” He shrugs and my mouth pops open to say something but I can’t. I never knew how he felt about me and I’m kicking myself for not paying that much attention. “So, when I say my favorite color is the color of your eyes, it’s not to get in your pants.” He smirks at me. “I know how to do that easy enough.” His hands shove into his pockets and his eyes trail back out to the water. “It’s because I couldn’t have you, so being reminded of you was the next best thing.”
“That sounds like torture,” I whisper, wondering if I inadvertently did the same thing over the years. I never liked baseball until I saw him watching it so intently one day. Then suddenly I was a huge fan. I never really liked steak until I overheard my sister and him fighting about how to cook the right steak, then suddenly I craved it. I was young, and I had no clue what I was really doing at the time…but it makes sense.
“It’s the best torture, though,” he whispers, turning towards me. His stare holds me in place and makes me wonder why we’ve waited this long when both of us were in the same exact boat of denying ourselves the one thing we’ve always wanted. “Now that you’re here, though, and I get all my favorite things in one package?” He huffs and pulls me to him, trailing his thumb down my cheek. “It’s amazing.”
His lips push against mine and as the water hits our feet he pulls me closer. My arms move around his neck, my fingers pushing through his hair. My body arches into him as his touch moves under my shirt and slides up my back, igniting my body for him and making my legs weak with need. His kisses are relentless. His hands leave a trail of goosebumps in their path. My heart’s in my throat and all I can do is frantically pull at him, needing more.
“Levi,” I pant. “I need more. I need you.”
“I know,” he whispers, lifting me so I can wrap my legs around him then slowly lowers us to the sand. “Right here, Squirt. I’m right here.”
I dip my head, pushing myself against his erection and moan when I find the right amount of friction. My lips push against him and I grind down on him, my entire body pulsing. So many layers between us but this right here is what I need right now.
“Baby,” he mumbles, his hands pulling me against him hard as I pivot my hips, rubbing against his hard length.
“Oh God,” I manage to groan, my body starting to shudder. “Oh my God,” I pant.
“Let go, Finley.” He grips my ass and helps me when my body refuses to move fast enough, grinding against me until my orgasm peaks and his lips find mine as I moan out, louder than I should but I can’t hold back.
“Oh fuck!” I scream, the pulsing in my pussy hard and making my entire body quake. “Fuck, Fuck, Fuck.” I huff, pushing my head into the crook of Levi’s neck. His hands rub down my back and he turns his head, pushing his lips to the side of my head.
“You have yet to cease to amaze me, Finley Reeves.”
And all I can do is moan, because for the first time ever I know what I’m feeling is more than a lifelong infatuation with an incredibly good looking boy.
It’s way more.
And it’s way wrong.
***
“You dry humped him on the beach.” Alexa grins, playing with one of my purses. I nod, biting my lip. “And you came?”
“You’re so crude,” I blurt, throwing a dress at her.
“And it was amazing?”
“It was so good.” I giggle. “I feel like… I don’t know. I’ve never felt like this before!” I pull my hair on top of my head and glance in the mirror. Tonight’s finally date night. After a week of late night beach walks and stolen texts throughout the day, I finally get another date with him.
And boy it’s going to be an interesting one.
“This has got to be the cutest and weirdest idea ever…” Alexa trails off and laughs, flinging herself down onto my bed. “I’m kind of jealous!”
I smile and fix the rat’s nest on top of my head, trying not to freak out that my hair isn’t perfectly done.
I read the idea for this date a little while ago and thought it’d be adorable to try. No makeup. No primping. Ten dollars each to buy an outfit for the date at Goodwill then off to the nearest truck stop restaurant for a cheap way to enjoy time with someone.
Or as the article put it… ‘Make yourself uncomfortable to feel more comfortable with someone’.
This is definitely making me uncomfortable…but it’s Levi. How could I be uncomfortable around him?
“I’ll let you know how it goes. Maybe you and Zeke can try it!” I pat on some clear lip gloss and grab my sandals.
She scrunches her nose.
“Uh…we broke up.” Her tone flat lines.
“What?” I blurt, spinning to look at her. All she’s talked about the past month has been about how awesome this boyfriend of hers is! “Why didn’t you tell me? What happened?”
Alexa’s quickly becoming one of my closest friends here. She’s trustworthy, she has my back, and she’s fun to be around. She’s completely opposite of me when it comes to style and way of life, but we make a good team and we both have the love for our jobs in common. She came over after work tonight to grab a dress I offered to her for the weekend and now she’s made herself at home and is curling up on my pillow like she’s about to take a nap. I sit on the bed next to her, unsure how to handle this.
I had girl friends in college that would jump from one guy to another so they never dealt with breakups, and my sister can’t keep a guy past one date. I’ve never really had to console someone like this. I feel like at my age I should have more instinct on how to deal with a breakup, but I don’t.
Shit.
“He was an idiot and cheated on me with some cunt.” She sighs. “It’s fine. There’s always more dicks in the sea,” she says and I smile at her.
“You want me to beat him up for you?”
“Yeah. Let me have at him with a butter knife, first.” She groans and pops out of bed. “Fin, it’s almost five. You have to get going!” She grabs her purse and dress and shoves my purse in my hands as I try to tame the beast on top of my head. Looking me in the eyes, it’s like she can feel the nerves rolling off me and she smooths her hands down my arms.
“He’s a childhood friend, right?”
I nod.
“And you’ve already slept together?”
“Twice… And then some,” I mutter and she lets out a laugh.
“That’s perfect. So why do you look so nervous?”
“I do?” I glance back at the mirror and she laughs again, grabbing my arm and pulling me towards the door.
“It’s fine. It’s a date.” She slaps my ass as she pushes me out my front door. I’m in a haze so I let her take the lead as we walk down the stairs.
I didn’t realize I was nervous until the thought of not knowing how to deal with a breakup popped into my head. Whatever Levi and I start here this summer will eventually end with a breakup. And I’m not certain I’ll know how to bounce back from that.
I stop mid stride and take a deep breath, looking at her.
“I’ve never broken up with anyone before,” I blurt. Her eyebrows push together in confusion.
“I thought this was a date…this isn’t a date? You’re breaking up with him?”
“No!” I let out a nervous chuckle. “I mean I’ve never had a serious boyfriend so I don’t know what it feels like to break up with someone that I like as much as I like Levi.”
She nods, glancing out to the parking lot.
“Well it sucks.” She shrugs. “But you get past it.” She turns to look at me again. “But why are you worrying about that right now?” The look she gives me tells me I’m insane. I know it. But I can’t help but worry about these things.
“He’s only here for a short time, Alexa. He’ll move back home soon so a breakup is imminent.” I shrug and sigh.
“Oh damn…” She squints when his Charger pulls into the parking lot. “Well…” Turning to look at me, she smiles softly. “Then have your fun and leave the feelings out.”
I blink at her, wondering if I could really do it. Could I screw around with a man I’ve wanted since I was a teenager and not get attached? It’s Levi. The boy who brought me my favorite snow globe. The boy who stood up for me all those years. The boy who’s had my heart since day one.
Could I do this no strings attached?
I watch him park his car and pop open the door. The bright yellow t-shirt he’s wearing, tight enough at the sleeves to show off the tanned muscular biceps, brings out the blue eyes and light hair.
Then he smiles at me and I have my answer.
No. I can’t.
“Damn, girl…” I hear her voice but I can’t take my eyes off Levi. “I’ll be ready and waiting with that tub of ice cream and box of wine when the time comes,” Alexa whispers, patting me on the back.
“Yeah,” I mutter. “I’m screwed, aren’t I?” I whisper as he approaches us. Somehow I’ve made my feet trudge towards him while my heart and soul are screaming that this is dangerous territory. It’s not like I’m in love with him. Not yet, at least. But even getting spoiled with all this attention just to know in a couple of months he’s going back home to probably give that attention to another girl is enough to send me running for the hills. Why put myself through that?
God…because it’s Levi. I’d throw myself off a cliff for the man. I’m already betraying my sister by starting this with him. I guess if I’m going down I may as well go down in flames.
“Hey,” he says to me casually, like my insides aren’t panicked that I’m diving head first into a steel trap.
“Hi.” I push out a smile nervously.
“You okay?” He knows something’s wrong. Fuck, Finley get it together!
“I’m Alexa,” Alexa says from next to me and shoves her hand out to take Levi’s. He chuckles and shakes her hand.
“Levi. Hey, thanks for making sure my girl was safe last weekend.” He smiles at her and I watch her reaction to him. It’s not like my reaction. It’s a polite smile back and a small shrug. Not like her insides are on fire and her pussy is clenching with need over a man she shouldn’t want this badly.
What the hell is wrong with me?
“We had fun. Only saw a couple gators but I think we both got out with only a few mosquito bites.” She’s lying. My legs were covered in them and she ended up with a tick latched on so hard I thought we were going to have to go to the hospital, but all in all it was an amazing trip. We bonded and she showed me all the wonder of the everglades that tourists don’t get on the trails.
“That’s good.” Levi laughs and looks at me like he knows something’s not setting right with me.
“She ate something weird. Had a little tummy issues earlier. She’s okay now,” Alexa blurts, noticing it too.
My eyes go wide.
“No I didn’t. I’m fine. You ready?”
“Yeah. Good meeting you, Alexa.” He takes my hand and walks me to his car, opening the door for me and stopping me before I duck into the passenger side. “You sure you’re alright?”
I search his eyes, getting lost in the cool ocean colors swirling with more than just lust.
“Yeah, I’m positive,” I whisper. Because I am. I’m terrified, but if I start telling myself now this isn’t going anywhere maybe it won’t hurt as bad when it fizzles out.
He grins and his lips connect with mine pushing softly before pulling back and heading for his side of the car.
“So are you going to tell me what we’re doing tonight?” He grips the steering wheel but doesn’t pull out of the parking spot.
“Oh!” I laugh, completely forgetting briefly about the plans for tonight. “Do you know the shopping section at the corner of Pevely and East Third?”
“Well, yea, we grocery shop there.”
“Great. Head that way.” I grin and cross my legs, sinking into the soft leather seats.
His questioning glance makes me smirk but my lips are sealed until we get there. Less of a warning means less time for me to decide this is a stupid idea.
Apparently I’m full of stupid ideas at the moment, but knowing that hasn’t stopped me from doing them yet. I still haven’t told my sister. Truth be told I haven’t talked to her. Last weekend I didn’t have a signal so when our weekly call was supposed to happen it couldn’t. She’s supposed to call tomorrow night so I plan on telling her that I met up with him while down here at the very least.
I’ll gauge her reaction to us hanging out as friends on whether or not I give her any more details.
“Where am I parking?” Levi asks as we pull into the parking lot.
“Goodwill.” I smirk at him and he raises an eyebrow at me.
“Goodwill?”
“Yeah? Got a problem with it?” I challenge and he chuckles.
“Not at all.” He swings into a spot in front of the store and turns off the engine. “So what are we doing here, Squirt? Because you look hot as fuck today and all I want to do is take you back to your place and try out all those sex toys I know an inner freak like you has to have.” His low tone sends a tingling need straight to my core and my mouth pops open at his words. If he only knew. “Sorry,” he chuckles low, almost a growl. “I turn into a beast around you with no manners. But…” he waves his hand in front of me. “Have you seen you?”
I roll my eyes and pull my wallet out of my purse. Yanking out his ten dollar bill, I hold it out in front of him and he makes a face at me.
“A contest. We each have ten dollars to buy the most inappropriate, out dated, awful outfit for our date tonight. We’re eating at this little truck stop diner just outside of town wearing said outfits, so make it good.”
“A… You want me to go in there and buy something inappropriate? To wear in public?” He grins slowly and I stall, my eyes going wide at the possibilities.
“Er…” I giggle. “Okay so maybe not as inappropriate as you’re thinking. Something a guy would wear on a date…”
“And all I have is ten dollars?” His eyes narrow in on mine. “You know I like a challenge, right Squirt?”
“I was hoping you’d say that.” I wave my bill in the air and wiggle my eyebrows. “Ready?”
“Oh I was born ready.” He hops out of the car and runs to my side as I open my door and start to stand. “I’m going to need you to start letting me open these doors for you, Squirt.”
“I’m a grown ass woman who can open her own doors,” I mutter, grinning and secretly in love with the fact that he’s insistent on opening doors for me.
“I’m a fucking gentleman. You’re already taking my man card by paying for tonight’s date, the least you can do is wait for your door to be opened for you.” He rolls his eyes dramatically and I jut out my bottom lip, patting him on the cheek.
“You poor thing.” I spin and start to walk away, leaving him and his manhood back at the Charger.
I hear his feet running up behind me and before I can brace myself he’s got me swooped into his arms and is spinning me in the parking lot. I squeal with laughter and hold tight as he slows the spin and his face gets as close as possible.
“You’re not like the Finley I remember,” he mumbles as he pushes his lips against mine, his arms holding me tight as he brings my feet back down to the pavement.
“It’s still me, Levi,” I whisper and he chuckles.
“Yes. It’s you. Sexy legs, sexy lips, sexy ass… but you have more spunk than I ever remember seeing.” I grin, tapping her on the nose. “I like it. Don’t lose it.”
Grabbing my hand, he starts walking for the front door while I mull over his words. I had spunk when I was younger! He just never saw it because he didn’t hang out with me. I had friends. We had fun.
“Did you expect me to be boring or something?” I blurt right as we’re getting to the door. He looks at me as he opens it for me and I walk in, waiting for an explanation.
“I don’t know what I expected. You were always so quiet growing up. I figured you never liked me. I figured… I don’t know. I got the feeling you thought you were better than us,” he says, chuckling.
“Oh,” I whisper. “I… I’m not, you know. I’ve never thought that.”
He grabs my hand tightly and brings his free hand to my cheek, locking those eyes on mine. In the middle of Goodwill, everything around us fades away and I get lost in those eyes. Brilliant. Swimming with emotion. Words unspoken that should probably be left unspoken after all these years.
“I know that now. I’m glad I was wrong about you, Finley.” He leans closer to me. “I love you’re your own person.” Stepping back slightly, he runs his hand through his hair. “I always watched from the sidelines and listened to what I was told, never having the balls to create my own personal opinion. All I could think about back then was that getting to run my tongue on every inch of your skin would be heaven.” My cheeks flush at the thought and he laughs, shaking his head with a curse. “Looking back I think it was jealousy, though, from your sister. I think she was always jealous that you got your dad’s attention. You were the tomboy who your dad loved to go fishing with. You were always the girl he talked about working in the Everglades when she got older.” He nudges me and I tuck a strand of hair behind my ear, glancing at the ground because I don’t know if I want to hear this right now. “Kat loves you, but I think she was just secretly jealous of you. I listened to a lot of bitching throughout the years about the ‘golden child,’” he laughs and I furrow my brows, glancing up at him. Before I can interject my questioning he holds his hand up. “She loves you, Finley. She just doesn’t understand. She’s her own breed, and thank God you’re your own.”
I smile softly. It’s comforting being here with him. Levi. The Levi who knows more about my life than I probably give him credit for. He saw things I never had to tell him and heard things Kat never said. And he’s right about all of it.
“You’re right,” I blurt and square my shoulders. “I am my own person. I’m a nerd who likes nature too much and drinks her coffee with more creamer than black sludge. I still rock out to boy bands when I’m cleaning my place and I’m in my pajamas by seven most nights.” I shrug. “You still want to date me?”
He scrapes his teeth over his bottom lip and smirks at me, those beautiful eyes locked on mine like there’s a war brewing in that head of his.
“I want to do more than date you, Finley.” He leans closer and the buzz of the business going on around us fades out. The man’s intoxicating. “I want to fuck you. I want to taste you. I want to own you.” He nips my earlobe. “And I will so many times you won’t be able to walk.” My knees start to shake and my breath hitches as he pulls away with a cocky look on that beautiful face, knowing full well my panties are soaked from just those few words. “Ready to do this?”
My mouth drops open then closes a few times. Trying to form any sentence right now is not going to happen so I nod and blink through the insane lust that’s rolling through me.
God, the man’s good.
“We have fifteen minutes,” I blurt, almost forgetting one of the main rules. He barks out a laugh and slaps my ass.
“It’s on, Squirt.” He takes off for his side of the store and I run for mine, searching through racks upon racks of clothing. Old clothing. Clothes that maybe were in style in the seventies.
This is painful.
I end up picking a mauve colored floral dress with short sleeves and the puffiest shoulder pads I could find. It’s hideous. And it hangs on me like heavy, expensive drapes hang in a home that hasn’t ever been allowed to have a speck of dust in it.
I see Levi head for the dressing room with two minutes so spare and quickly pay for my outfit, which I was able to finish off with a bright white pair of grandma style heels, without him seeing it, then duck into a fitting room to change.
When I emerge, he’s standing at the front door with a bag in his hands and a smirk on his face.
The man outdid himself.
“Oh my God,” I laugh, walking up to him. The bright blue blazer he’s wearing compliments the red and black checkered pants nicely. But it’s the t-shirt that does him in.
“You paid money for that?” I laugh, pulling open the jacket to reveal an I’ve got Crabs shirt that’s obviously from a seafood shack nearby.
“I did. It’s too comfortable, might actually be my new favorite shirt.” He smiles at me and looks me once over. “I never thought my grandma’s drapes would be sexy.”
“Hah!” I look down at the ill fitted dress. It’s itchy and I can’t help but wonder what the history of this dress is. Was someone murdered in it? Or was it bought for a wedding back in the day and never worn? As long as no one was killed in it I think I’m okay.
I give him the address for the diner and relax back in the seat. This seat was incredibly comfortable on the drive to Goodwill, but now that we’re in these outfits I feel like I could crawl out of my skin.
“I think I got the only material that makes me want to scratch my skin off,” I mumble, hiking up the hem of the dress and itching my thigh. I notice Levi glance over at my leg.
“You could always just take it off,” he murmurs, his hand tight on the steering wheel like he’s actively trying not to touch me. I like seeing his reaction to me, even in this getup. I slap him in the arm and scoff.
“No way in hell. This is going to be the best date ever. I hope you don’t get embarrassed easily.” I shift and fix my dress, sitting up straight and trying to ignore how much this thing is driving me crazy. “Because these outfits are pretty embarrassing.”
He laughs and that dimple pops out again. I love when he’s so carefree like this.
Hell, I love that I feel so carefree right now. He’s easy to be with. And he does things to my body without even touching me that no man’s been able to do. Ever.
He pulls into a parking spot and turns in his seat. “You know I’m going to have to top this date next time, right?”
“I’m just glad you want a next time after what is potentially the worst date ever.” I sigh, eyeballing the building that looks like it’s falling apart. Hell, is this place even open?
“Hey, I’m having fun. And loving this random, quirky date.” He pops his door open and eyes me with a silent warning to stay put as he jogs to my side of the car.
We make it inside the small diner and find a booth in the back corner. I just want to hide but Levi seems completely casual in his mismatched outfit. After the waitress comes over to take our order, she gives us both a strange look before walking away and I can’t help but laugh.
“God, I wish I knew what she was thinking,” I whisper, giggling at the goofy expression on Levi’s face.
“Probably how jealous of me she is.”
“Oh please,” I laugh. “There’s nothing to be jealous of tonight,” I say, glancing down at my dress and cringe. “So bad.”
“Sure, the dress is a little intense,” he says, clearing his through and laughing. “But that’s not what I’m talking about. I’m talking about a girl who planned this crazy date for us. Who’s forcing me to let her pay. And who, even though the dress she was forced to buy is ugly as sin, is still wearing a smile and walking around without a care in the world. That’s the girl I’d be jealous over.” I catch his eyes and the intense gaze he has on me right now is almost too much.
A small smile comes to my lips.
“Well thank you,” I whisper finally. “So,” I say, shifting in my seat and trying to get comfortable while wearing these curtains. “I’ve always wondered something and I’m not sure if it’s okay to ask or not…”I trail off trying to decide when he cocks his head at me.
“Squirt, I’m an open book. There’s literally nothing you could ask me that would offend or upset me.”
I smile and take a deep breath.
“What happened to your mom? You never talk about her.” It’s harder than I thought it’d be asking the question, but my sister never said anything about it and I never had the balls to ask.
He leans back in his seat and takes a long drink of water. I can’t tear my eyes from the muscles in his arms rippling as he sets his glass down. Even in the ridiculous getup he’s still sexy as hell.
“She left when I was tiny. I don’t have any memories of her and I don’t care to make any.” He shrugs like it makes him no difference. Maybe it doesn’t.
“Do you not care that she just walked away that easily? What about your dad? Weren’t they in love?”
The laugh he lets out is more of an ‘aww Finley’s so naive’ laugh.
“People don’t need to be in love to make a baby, Finley.”
“I know that,” I blurt, my cheeks burning with embarrassment. “I just… I assumed…”
“You assumed wrong. My mom left me on my dad’s doorstep with a note that she wasn’t coming back and not to try to find her. So he didn’t. It’s been just us ever since and I don’t think I care to ever know who the woman is.”
“Wow,” I whisper. “I don’t know what’s worse, honestly. Never having a parent or having an awesome one and losing him way too early,” I mumble.
“Definitely losing one.” He reaches across the table and takes my hand in his. “Finley I’ve said it before but I will say it again. And it probably won’t be the last time. I’m so fucking sorry I wasn’t there…”he trails off but he doesn’t need to finish his sentence.
“It’s ok, Levi. It’s over and done with.” I shrug. It’s not like he would have been there supporting me, personally, anyway. He’d have been there for my sister. I would have been too shy to talk to him…
We fall into a comfortable silence, both of us probably deep in thought. When our food comes the conversation picks up and by the time dinner’s over I’ve forgotten completely that we’re dressed like assholes from the eighty’s and in turn have spent the time laughing and smiling with a man I’ve craved for years. There’s something to the art of becoming the worst dressed person in the room. You no longer feel like maybe everyone’s looking at you or maybe they’re not. It’s not a guessing game. You know they are; you know they’re talking, and you fucking rock it.
It was freeing, really.
He parks the car in front of a house on my street. A house that I’ve noticed every time I drive past it. It’s massive with a huge wrap around porch and shutters that look like they actually work. None of that decorative shit here, those bad boys actually close. He smiles over at me when I finally glance back at him and I see the sparkle in those eyes.
Eyes that trap me in every time he looks at me.
“I thought I’d walk you home tonight.” He kills the engine and nods to the house. “This is the house we all live in every year.”
“All? How many of you guys live here?” I glance up at the two story house and wonder if they’re living like sardines in there.
“Five of us. There are plenty of rooms and couches.” He laughs. “You want the grand tour?”
“Aren’t they all asleep?”
The laugh that earns from him makes me cringe in embarrassment again for the second time tonight.
“Finley, it’s eight at night. On a Friday.”
“Right. I guess not everyone’s as lame as me.” I giggle.
“I’ll break you of that.” He reaches across the car and presses his lips to mine briefly. “Fuck, you taste delicious.”
“Even in my ugly dress?”
“Especially in that ugly dress. Now, do you want the grand tour or not?”
“Yes, I absolutely want the tour.” I go to pop open my door but he screams at me.
“Me, woman! That’s my job!” He bolts out of his car and runs to my side, opening the door for me as I laugh.
“Thank you,” I say, tucking my purse on my shoulder. “But you don’t have to do that every single time, you know? I get it, and I know you’re a gentleman. But honestly, Levi…”
“I taught him those manners. Glad to see they stuck,” I hear a man’s voice and my eyes fly to the house. A man, an older looking version of Levi, is sitting on the front porch swing. I know this man. I’ve only met him a handful of times in my life, but he was always very nice to me and my sister.
“Don’t listen to him,” Levi laughs, gripping my hand in his and heading to the porch. “Dad, I’m sure you remember Kat’s little sister Finley?” Levi doesn’t let go of my hand as he introduces me to the familiar man.
“Hi, nice to see you again, Mr. Walsh,” I say, smiling at him and shaking his hand. He’s strong, and if he were any younger the man could pass for Levi’s twin.
“I hope he’s treating you right.” He glances at Levi.
“I am, Dad,” he says, shoving his hands into his pockets. “I’m giving her the tour before walking her home.” He takes my hand again and I can sense the nervousness rolling through him.
“Do I want to know why you two look like me on my first date thirty years ago?” He chuckles and I glance down at our outfits.
“If you wore a shirt like this thirty years ago I’d be shocked. And proud.” Levi beams at his dad and I can see their relationship is a good one.
“We had a Goodwill date. Each of us only spent ten bucks on these outfits!” I chirp and Levi’s grinning at me like he’s proud. He’s got nothing to be proud of tonight. I look horrible and took him on a cheap date!
“Well that’s cute…” His dad laughs. “Holler if you need anything. I’ll be heading up to bed in a little while. It was good meeting you, Finley.” He smiles at me and takes his spot back on the rocking chair and Levi opens the screen door for us.
“Right this way,” he says, motioning with his arm inside the beach house.
I’m not sure what I expected when I heard that five grown men lived here. I assumed I’d be walking into a man cave full of empty beer bottles and trash everywhere. But it’s not… It’s nice. Open. Fresh. Clean. Mature.
“Wow,” I whisper, following Levi into a wide-open living space. “This is beautiful.” My fingers trail along a statue that’s sitting in the middle of the foyer and he laughs.
“This is my dad being bored during down time. The man doesn’t know how to sit still.”
“Looks like he’s doing a pretty good job at it out there on that porch.” I chuckle and Levi grunts. “Whatever the reason, the house looks amazing, Levi. This is the most beautiful place I’ve seen in a long time. It’s the perfect beach house.”
The light blues and light grays make it feel open but the stark contrast of deep blue in the accents give it that manly touch I’m sure all the boys here appreciate. And it’s so clean!
“So,” he says, changing the subject. “Living room.” He waves to the open room. “Kitchen.” He walks down a hallway and points to the upstairs. “The upstairs is open loft style where Anders, King, and Kellan live.”
“You have a friend named King?” I grin at him and he lets out a laugh.
“Yeah. It’s his last name. He hates his first name so over the years we’ve all learned to use the name that doesn’t piss him off.” He shrugs and continues down the hallway. “Dad’s off limits suite.” He points to a closed door. “Kind of weird living with my dad when I’ve got my own place back home, but it works.” He chuckles. “And my room.” He pushes the door that opens to a room with a full wall of windows, ceiling to floor. I gasp, looking out at the beach and my feet take me straight to the view.
“This is beautiful.” I turn to look at him. “I’m so jealous of you,” I say laughing. “My view comes from my one sliding door. You’ve got an entire wall of ocean!”
He’s leaned against his doorway, arms crossed in front of him, and he’s looking right at me. Not at the view. Not at his phone. Not at anything else that could distract him.
Me.
“My view right now is better than anything I’ve seen from this room before.” He walks towards me, the reflection of the moonlight on the water dancing across the ceiling of the room. His eyes lock on mine and nothing else is left to be said. I could make fun of my outfit. I could make fun of his outfit. But… I don’t say anything. I stand there as he approaches me. When his fingers trail down my jaw I let my face push into his palm until he’s looking straight into my soul, piercing blue eyes and all. “You have no idea what you do to me, do you?” His eyebrows pull together and his bottom lip sucks between his teeth.
I push my hand over his heart and my eyes flick to his lips. “You’d be surprised if you knew how similar those feelings were.” I feel his heart hammering under my palm and he takes that half a step closer and brings his body against mine.
In one swift movement, his arms are around me and his lips are on mine, pushing me back against the window.
“Hey Finley?” he whispers, his lips still on mine.
“Yeah?” I breathe heavy, pushing my fingers through his hair.
“I’m a fucking gentleman. You know that, right?”
My head falls back and I let out a loud laugh then gasp when his mouth connects with my skin.
“Yes,” I hiss, answering his question and his lips.
“Outside of the bedroom.” He grunts, trailing his tongue up my skin. Each time he touches me like this makes my need for him even worse. “I just needed to clarify that. All bets are off the minute you let me touch you like this.” It’s like a switch is flipped and he grips my ass harder than before and lifts, forcing me to wrap my legs around him.
“Fuck yes,” I growl. “I’ve been waiting for this side of you,” I say, giggling.
He pauses and pulls back with his eyebrows high on his forehead.
“Oh yeah?” He smirks. “You a little closet sex freak or something?”
My cheeks burn and I bite my lip, nodding slowly.
“I have a few drawers full of things…” I shrug and his eyes go wide.
“Are you being serious right now?”
I nod, my cheeks burning.
Without notice, he drops me to the floor, my feet thudding on the hardwood, and grips my hand.
“We have to go.” He takes off for his door and turns briefly, grabbing my face with both of his hands and kissing me hard. “Fuck, Finley,” he breathes out, his forehead on mine before snapping back to his mission.
Our ‘walk on the beach’ tonight is more of me keeping up with a man on a mission. A mission to get to my sex toy drawer, apparently.
I definitely didn’t see tonight going this direction when I put on this hideous dress, but I’m not about to stop him.