Chapter Six

 

Aven

 

I wasn’t sure what emotion was stronger. The anger at how presumptuous and stupid my actions had been on Friday night, or my fear that I could have lost a good thing.

By Monday, I hadn’t heard from Finn. The entire previous week, we’d texted nonstop, but the past two days had been silent. When I considered the situation, I wondered if he felt bad and assumed I was upset because he’d turned me down. That was not the case. I was not and never would be the guy who when chasing a nice piece of ass just to get off. I dated. Only slept with men I was interested in developing a relationship with. But Finnley didn’t necessarily know that.

Before I could pull out of my driveway in the early dawn and head to work, I pulled my phone out and sent him a text, hoping beyond hope he didn’t hate me.

Good morning. I hope the rest of your weekend treated you better than your date did Friday night. I think it’s important you know that I like you a lot and I want more than one memorable night with you. If that was the impression I gave, I’m sorry. I want to date you, Finn. Have a relationship and all the amazing stuff that goes with it. So maybe it’s lame texting this to you, but if there is even the slightest chance you’d be interested in the same, please let me know.

I hit send, and with a heavy sigh, I tucked my phone away and headed to work. If the line of communication remained silent, I’d have my answer.

My office wasn’t far from home, and in under fifteen minutes I was pulling into my designated parking space in the underground garage and killing the engine. As I wandered to the elevators, I tried not to think about Friday night and focused my attention on the week ahead of me.

I wasn’t two feet inside my office when my cell rang. I hung my coat on the rack by the door and pulled out my phone. It was Finnley, and my stomach rolled over with nerves as I answered it.

“Hello?”

There was a beat of silence before a soft voice came through the line. “Are you asking me to be your boyfriend?”

I smiled at the straightforward way Finnley always seemed to have with everything. “Yes, I am.”

I didn’t sugar coat it or beg, because I’d said all I could say. So, I waited.

“Okay.”

“Really?”

“Just because I didn’t want to spend the night, it didn’t mean I didn’t like what was happening or where it was going. In fact, that had nothing to do with it, okay?”

“I believe you.”

“We really need to try this again.”

I sunk down in my chair behind my desk with relief. I felt a million tons lighter. “I will find out what’s happening today and let you know if I’m free this weekend.”

“Sounds good. Call me tonight?”

“I will.”

It turned out I needed to head to Chicago Thursday morning. However, the plan was for us to return home Saturday afternoon. Finnley’s schedule was really dependant on other people staying alive or Margret being available, so we arranged a tentative date for then.

Texting and phone calls resumed as though nothing had happened, and I was grateful we hadn’t fallen apart so early on in our relationship. On Wednesday, I managed to sneak away from the office around noon and didn’t need to return until two forty-five for a meeting. Since I had plenty of time to kill, I went through a drive-thru and grabbed a couple of coffees, intent on surprising Finn at work.

It was a little uncomfortable knowing what he did for a living, but I figured that was my bridge to cross and something I’d probably get over in time. The parking lot was quiet, so I knew there wasn’t a service going on which helped alleviate some of my nerves. I went in the front, double doors and was immediately hit with the lingering hint of incense.

With a tray of coffees in hand, I moved quietly through the halls toward his office. I knew the chimes had announced my arrival, but no one came running to find me. His office was empty, so I poked my head into a few rooms while I tried to find someone.

It was after finding a third vacant room that I pulled out my phone, intent on texting him to see where he was at. There was no way I was heading downstairs to search. There were some things I didn’t need to see.

Just before I could open a message box, a woman I recognized as Margret poked her head around a corner near the back of the house.

“Mr. Woods. Good afternoon.” Her smile was wide and welcoming. “I was busy downstairs. Sorry, it took a minute to get up here. I assume you’re looking for Finn?”

“Yes. Is he around?” 

“He called me this morning and asked if I’d handle the workload today. Said he was fighting a bad headache. I can show you to the back stairs if you’d like to go up and see him?”

“Oh…umm… sure.”

She moved down a hallway and through a closed off door with a small plaque that read “employees only”. Beyond was a kitchen, and off to the side, a staircase leading up.

“I don’t think he’s been sleeping well again. It’s probably the source of the headache. So, if he’s out, maybe leave him be.”

I frowned and nodded. When Finnley and I hung out, he often carried an aura of sleepiness to him. Especially on our first date. His hazel eyes were naturally drowsy-looking and hid his tired state well, but I wasn’t stupid and had seen more than once the heaviness he carried around.

“Thank you.” Margret was about to move off when I called out. “He doesn’t sleep well?” She’d said it, but I felt like I needed to clarify or find answers to something that sounded important.

She shook her head with a look of remorse. “Not for as long as I’ve known him. It’s where he got his nickname.”

I quirked a brow. “And what’s that?”

She winked and proceeded to remove the tray of coffees from my hand. “Not for me to say. But can I suggest not precipitating the problem? The last thing he needs is more caffeine.”

I stared at the tray in her hands with confusion as she brought it to the counter and left it beside a sink. “Oh, umm, okay. I didn’t know.”

“Of course, you didn’t. He does all he can to hide his sleep problems. Go on now, see how he’s doing like the good boyfriend you are.” She turned and headed back down the hall from where we’d come.

When she was gone, I considered the stairs and decided to go see if he was feeling any better. Walking lightly, in case he was sleeping, I crept to the top and to the closed door on the landing. I didn’t want to walk in but also didn’t want to wake him. Tapping lightly, I waited for a response. When one didn’t come, I cracked the door open a few inches and called out, keeping my voice low but also not barging in unannounced.

“Hello?”

There was a shuffling, and a head popped up from the couch. “Aven?” The voice was groggy, and the man behind it looked adorably disheveled.

“Hey, can I come in?”

He worked his fingers through his wayward hair, trying to force a few pieces down as he furrowed his brow. “Umm… Yes. God, I look like hell, what are you doing here?”

I closed the door behind me as he rose and shot down the hall to the bathroom. He had on pajama bottoms which hung low on his hips and a ratty T-shirt with a frayed hem. Friends played on the TV unsurprisingly. I was beginning to see just what he meant when he’d called it his favorite show.

“I had a couple hours free. I thought I’d stop in and see how your day was going. Margret sent me up. I didn’t mean to barge in.”

He returned a minute later wearing a holey pair of jeans, the same T-shirt which I saw had a Cheers emblem on the front, and with a toothbrush hanging out of his mouth. His hair was still everywhere.

What stood out the most were the heavy bags under his eyes and the redness surrounding his irises.

“I took the day off,” he said around the toothbrush.

“She said you were fighting a headache. Are you okay?”

He held up a finger and continued to brush his teeth, eyeing me wearily as he returned to the bathroom.

“I’m okay,” he said when he re-emerged. “It happens sometimes. No big deal.”

Inspecting his living space, I noticed his coffee table was cluttered with more energy drinks and coffee cups than the previous time I’d been there. Margret wasn’t kidding; he really didn’t need anyone to facilitate his caffeine intake.

His cheeks pinked as he swiped up as many items as he could carry and removed them to the kitchen. The counters in there were as full as the coffee table but included various empty takeout containers and dirty dishes as well.

“I wasn’t expecting company.”

“You don’t have to clean for me.”

A fleece blanket laid across the couch. I shifted it aside so I could sit. He joined me, folding a leg under his butt and fidgeting, not making eye contact. He rubbed at his eyes, squeezing them closed a few times before examining my person.

“Look at you all gorgeous in your suit, and here I am in clothes that are literally falling apart at the seams.” He picked at the fraying hem of his T-shirt in demonstration.

I unbuttoned my jacket and removed it before hanging it over the back of his couch and shuffling closer. “Only because I came from work.”

With a hand on his knee, I used the other to tilt his face up. His smile came easily, shining through despite the heaviness in his eyes. Leaning closer, I brushed my nose along his unshaven cheek and caught his lips in a kiss I was hoping he wouldn’t deny me. The peppermint of his toothpaste invaded my mouth, and I was glad when he pulled me closer, taking more and sucking my tongue and lips like he’d thirsted for them for days. I knew I had. Finnley’s delicious mouth had been the spotlight in all my dreams recently.

I crawled across the couch to him, not caring in the least that I was dressed for work and messing up my clothes. When he leaned back, I ended up on top of him, giving with as much thirst as he showed me. “I love your lips,” I said before taking his bottom one and licking it gently. “I missed kissing you.”

He moaned in response and tugged me down, so he was crushed under my weight. The swell of his erection against my leg made me groan as his hands trailed down my spine to my ass. He pulled me tight against him and ground his hips up saying without words what he wanted. The temperature between us mounted fast, but I knew I didn’t want to start down that road. Not at that moment. Not when I had to be back at work in only a few hours.

When the time came for us to explore each other in that sense, I didn’t want to be limited in any way. I wanted the freedom to enjoy his body all night and not be rushed for one moment. Despite the insatiable appetite building between us, despite that I wanted to worship him and bring him a world of pleasure, I had to pull us back from that edge before it became impossible.

The kiss ended, and I lingered above him, studying his hooded eyes and swollen lips as I worked to get a grip on the pulsing need coursing through me. “You look so tired.”

He shook his head, dismissing my concern and stroked fingers over my lips. “I’m okay. Please, kiss me again like that. Aven, I want this.”

The low grovel in his voice was going to be my undoing. When he jutted his hips up again, pressing himself against my thigh, my eyes fluttered closed.

“See what you do to me.”

“Finn…” I fought every urge and lowered my forehead to his. “I want this, too, believe me. But I have to be back at work in only a couple hours, and I refuse to rush it.”

He blinked heavily, the lust thick in his hooded hazel eyes. When his lips turned into a pout, I chuckled.

“It will be worth the wait, trust me.” I kissed him once more and stroked his cheek. “You really look exhausted.”

“I’m not. I’m okay. I swear.”

He wasn’t. I could see it plain on his face. Deciding not to draw any more attention to it, I maneuvered him to his side and slid in behind him, wrapping him in my arms.

“Do you mind if I snuggle here with you until I have to go back to work?”

He nudged his body closer, grinding his backside against my semi-hard length as he sighed contentedly. “Mmm… You feel good wrapped around me like this. But, you’ll be all wrinkled.”

“Don’t care.” I kissed his neck and inhaled the soft scent of spices and sweetness. “Just want to hold you.”

I pulled the fleece blanket over top of us and continued to kiss his shoulder and neck while we watched the TV.

“Margret says you have a nickname.” I tucked a wayward strand of hair behind his ear and caressed his cheek.

His smile grew under my fingers, and he turned his head slightly to peer back at me. “She calls me owl.”

“And why is that?”

“Because I don’t sleep well, and I’m up a lot at night.” His eyelids closed as I continued touching him and delicately traced every contour of his beautiful face and neck.

“Is that why you didn’t want to stay over at my house?”

His eyes popped open and his body tensed as he shuffled uncomfortably. “Umm…”

“Never mind.” Whatever I said had caused anxiety to slip in, and I pulled him tighter against me wanting him to stay calm and enjoy my touches. “I’ve got you,” I whispered in his ear.

His focus went to the TV, and slowly the tension released from his body again. I tried to catch what was going on with the show, but my focus was solely on Finnley and the way he seemed to be fighting sleep with everything he had. Every time his eyes closed, and I thought he was out cold, they’d jerk open, and his heart would race under my palm.

“Is this a good episode?” I asked, randomly trying to steer his focus.

His voice was thick with sleep and almost unintelligible when he answered. “Mmm… Joey keeps his book in the freezer because it’s scary, then, Rachel gives him a book, and it’s gonna make him cry, so it goes in the freezer, too. I love Joey. He’s my favorite.”

I wasn’t sure I understood a word of his explanation, but I encouraged him to keep talking until his responses became further and farther between. In under ten minutes, he was out cold, leaned heavily against me, and snoring softly. I didn’t dare move. If Margret was right, he probably really needed to sleep and had been fighting it for a long time.

There was something I was missing about Finnley Hollins, and I had a feeling what had happened the other night was directly related. My impromptu visit had shed light on something that niggled concern in my gut.

For the time being, I stored it away to examine and discuss at a later date. So long as he rested peacefully wrapped up in my arms, I wouldn’t move. I took the following two hours to simply enjoy the shared connection. The scent and feel of him were enough to soothe my soul. When two-fifteen came around, I didn’t want to move, but I knew I couldn’t miss my meeting.

With as much care as possible, I slinked out from behind him and adjusted the blankets over his still sleeping body. Bending down, I placed a lingering kiss on his forehead. I hoped he slept the day away. He needed it.

Slipping out the way I’d come in, I returned to my office and my meeting.