Chapter Sixteen

 

June

 

“If that’s what you’re wearing to the party, I guarantee that you’ll be the most popular person in attendance. And that your picture will definitely make the front page of every single tabloid in the country.”

Delilah glanced up at the sound of Finn’s seductive drawl, arching a brow in his direction as she continued applying her makeup. “Correction,” she replied calmly, doing her best to ignore the unmistakable flare of passion she’d spied in his green eyes. “If I walked inside the ballroom dressed like this, I’d be arrested on the spot for indecent exposure.”

Finn’s heated gaze inspected her body in slow, thorough detail, and she couldn’t suppress a little shiver at just how intimately he was checking her out. She hadn’t put her dress on yet, not wanting to get it wrinkled or take the chance that it might get stained with makeup, so she only wore her lingerie at the moment. And judging from the way Finn’s tongue was practically hanging out of his mouth right now, she smugly deduced that he really, really liked the way she looked in the strapless black lace bra and matching pair of barely there panties.

He shook his head, making a little clucking noise. “Babe, trust me. There is nothing the least bit indecent about you right now. In fact, I’d say you were the most decent looking thing I’ve ever seen. But you’re right. There’s no way I’d actually let you leave this suite dressed in just those two little bits of fabric. Or ever let anyone else see you looking this way. For my eyes only, baby. My eyes only.”

She eyed him suspiciously as he approached, recognizing that lustful gleam in his eyes all too well, and waved her blusher brush at him. “Don’t you dare get any ideas, Finn McManus,” she warned ominously. “We have to leave in just over an hour, and I’m barely halfway through my makeup as it is.”

He grinned at her lasciviously, pressing his chest against her mostly naked backside as his hands skimmed over her hips. “Good thing you’ll only have to re-do half of it then, hmm? And I’ve told you more than once how gorgeous you are without a lick of makeup on.”

Delilah shivered delicately as he dropped a kiss on her bare shoulder, his hands squeezing her half-bared buttocks. “You told me that there’ll be a lot of press there tonight,” she reminded him shakily, biting down on her lip to stifle a moan. “So if you think for one minute that I’m going to have my picture taken without having full makeup on, you’re in La La Land, buster.”

Finn slid his arms around her waist, pulling her flush against his now very aroused body. “Actually,” he chuckled, “we’re both in La La Land at the moment, since that’s a well known nickname for Los Angeles. And given how hard I am right now, this isn’t going to take very long - which means you’ll have plenty of time to touch up your makeup.”

“Finn,” she protested, but her objection was faint at best, and she offered up little to no resistance as his hands began to roam over her nearly nude body.

Her makeup brush clattered to the granite top of the spacious bathroom sink, her hands gripping the counter as his lips trailed down from the nape of her neck to the back hook of her bra. He unfastened it with a deftness that could only come from years of practice, but that was the very last thing she wanted to think about right now. She sighed in pure bliss when his hands claimed her breasts, his thumbs and forefingers tweaking her nipples.

“Damn you and your talented hands,” she scolded breathlessly, her head lolling back onto his shoulder.

Finn nuzzled the side of her neck, his tongue tracing a circle teasingly around her ear before giving the lobe a teasing nip. “I thought it was my tongue that was the most talented part of my body,” he murmured, sucking her tender skin between his teeth.

Delilah wrenched her head away and glared at him ominously. “Hey, if you even think of giving me a hickey, I’ll give you a black eye so that we’ll have matching bruises. The last time you left a mark on me I had to wear scarves to work for a week since even half a pound of makeup wouldn’t cover it.”

He kissed the side of her neck instead. “Okay, no hickeys tonight, I promise. Now, where was I? Ah, that’s right.”

She bit her lip to stifle a cry of pleasure as his big hands reclaimed her full, swollen breasts. She liked to tease him at times that he had an obsession with her breasts, an accusation that Finn didn’t even try to deny. But Delilah also couldn’t deny how much pleasure it gave her when he touched her this way, or when he licked her nipples, arousing her to the point where she had very nearly climaxed more than once simply from the stimulation.

With his arms still wrapped around her waist from behind, Finn ground his fully engorged cock against the cleft of her buttocks, while at the same time he contorted his body in such a way that he could take one of her nipples between his lips, pulling at it hard. He slid one palm down her belly inside the low-cut waistband of her panties, then lower still to where she was already soaking wet and so ready for him that she almost came on the spot.

“Mmm, nice and juicy,” he crooned against her ear, pumping his fingers inside of her before withdrawing them to spread her feminine moisture around her clit. “For someone who didn’t want to fuck a few minutes ago, it sure feels like all systems are go right now.”

Delilah was panting by now, so turned on by his seductive words and his oh-so-clever fingers that she was grinding her ass against his erection frantically. “You have no idea,” she hissed. “So what say you put that big cock of yours to use? Like, any second now would be nice.”

He laughed softly but made no move to give her what she demanded. “What’s the rush, babe? We’ve still got almost an hour before we have to leave. And I don’t really care if we’re a few minutes late, do you?”

She cried out uncontrollably as his fingers began thrusting in and out of her with a slow, steady rhythm. “Not in the least,” she whispered unevenly.

“That’s my girl,” he murmured encouragingly. “Look up now, hmm? At the mirror. Ah, that’s it, just like that.”

Delilah forced her eyes open and glanced up as instructed, staring at herself in the mirror as though she was looking at a stranger. Because, she thought faintly, that couldn’t possibly be her - not that wanton, wild creature who looked like she’d go mad with lust if her lover didn’t shove his dick inside of her right this very second and fuck her brainless. She didn’t recognize this woman, the one who gazed back at her with flushed cheeks and parted lips, and who was practically whimpering with need.

“Watch,” commanded Finn as his hands palmed her breasts. He kept one eye on their reflections in the mirror while trailing a series of kisses along her cheek and brow and throat at the same time.

“Please,” she begged, her voice cracking on that single word.

“Not yet,” he replied maddeningly. “You’re not quite ready. At least, not for the way I’m going to take you this time. Now, keep watching the mirror, baby. If you don’t I’m going to spank this pretty little butt of yours. Got it?”

She made some incoherent sound as he suddenly dropped to his knees behind her, tugging off her lacy black panties at the same time. She quivered as he began to run his tongue along the backs of her knees all the way up her legs until he paused at her buttocks.

Delilah made a choking sound as he traced a finger down the cleft of her ass, then teased the tiny puckered opening at the bottom. “Finn!” she cried, frantically wiggling her bottom in an attempt dislodge his finger.

He placed a soothing kiss to one round butt cheek instead. “Not to worry, babe. Going in through the back door isn’t what I was referring to. You’re way too small for me to ever seriously consider that move, and the last thing I would ever do is cause you even a tiny bit of pain. Which is why I need to get you a little wetter. Like this.”

She shrieked at the first lick of his tongue along her labia, her hands clamping down fiercely on the granite counter for support. She was already so aroused, all of her senses so overstimulated, that she climaxed easily, noisily, watching herself in the mirror as she did so, as if mesmerized by the sight of her own face.

Behind her she could see Finn hurriedly tossing off his own clothes until he was as naked as she was, watching as he rolled on a condom. Then, before she could guess his next move, he was turning her to face him before lifting her up high enough to sit on the counter. Delilah gave a little shriek at the feel of the cool granite beneath her bare skin, but quickly forgot about any discomfort as Finn placed his hands on her knees, spreading her thighs wide.

She gulped to notice how big he looked from this position, not just the breadth of his shoulders or his finely sculpted chest and abs, or the fact that he was more than a foot taller than she was. What her eyes were glued to instead was the long, thick, throbbing length of his penis, and how it somehow seemed even bigger and harder than usual. Delilah gripped the edge of the counter tightly, as though holding on for dear life in anticipation of what was to happen next.

His fingers slipped inside of her wetness easily, spreading the inner lips of her pussy wider, stroking the tender flesh there experimentally. “This is why I needed you wetter,” he murmured hoarsely. “So I could have you this way, right in front of this mirror, so that we can both watch while I fuck you nice and slow.”

The mirror encompassed the entire wall behind the double sinks, and also extended onto the walls on either side. Delilah could easily glance to her right or left and see both of their bodies, and watch as he slid inside of her.

She sucked in a breath when he entered her for the first time, though he was careful not to thrust all the way in. Finn kept his hands on her inner thighs, continuing to hold them apart as he gradually worked his cock a little further inside of her vagina. When he was all the way in, he held himself still for several seconds, making sure she was ready for what would come next.

“Nice and easy, babe,” he soothed, his initial thrusts long and slow, allowing her to get used to this position, where she could have easily felt too exposed or vulnerable. Instead, because he was taking so much care with her, Delilah felt cherished and protected, aware that Finn was intentionally holding back for her benefit.

She slid her palms up his body to rest on his leanly muscled shoulders, then pulled him close enough that her breasts were crushed against his chest. “Harder,” she whispered in his ear. “Do me harder now. I need more and so do you.”

“Delilah.”

He uttered her name softly but harshly, then took her lips in a blistering kiss, his tongue relentless as it circled the inside of her mouth. Her tongue joined in the fray, tangling with his as the kiss deepened, then threatened to quickly flare out of control.

Finn’s hands slid beneath her buttocks then, lifting her slightly off the counter as he gradually increased the force and rapidity of his thrusts. She bit down on the inside of her mouth once or twice when his cock rammed against the tip of her womb a little too hard, determined not to cry out for fear he’d take it easy on her. And the last thing she wanted right now was sweet, slow sex. Not when he’d already aroused her into a near frenzy, when the sight of their bodies moving almost violently against each other as they fucked mindlessly was easily the most erotic thing she had ever seen.

“This feels so fucking good,” groaned Finn. “Nothing like it in the world, baby. But I can’t hold back much longer, so wrap those gorgeous legs around me and hold on tight.”

She obeyed without a word, entwining her legs around his waist before tightening her grip around his neck. His thrusts became more forceful, hard enough to bend her backwards over the counter until her head touched the mirror. Her legs spread even wider as he leaned further over her, far enough for his chest to graze her nipples.

“Come for me now, babe. Let me hear it. Scream my name,” he urged, using his thumb to stimulate her clitoris as he continued to pound inside of her body unceasingly.

And scream she did, calling out alternately to Finn and then to some unknown deity, sobbing and cursing and crying out wordlessly as she came and came and came, one orgasm rippling into the next, the intensity building with each one.

“Holy fuck!” yelled Finn, his body bucking savagely as he climaxed, his torso almost crushing her ribcage, his hips continuing to piston rapidly even after he was empty, drained dry.

Delilah was too shaky, too dazed, to move for a few minutes afterwards, even as she felt Finn gently cleaning her up, rubbing a dampened wash cloth between her legs and up along her torso.

She didn’t resist when he lifted her carefully off the counter and set her back on her feet, but she held up a hand in warning as he would have swooped in for another kiss.

“No way,” she reprimanded, taking several steps away from him. “Don’t forget I’ve seen you do this before, mister. And I know how greedy you can be once you get started. We’ve only got half an hour now before the party starts, and we’re already going to be late. So take your sexy butt out of here and let me finish my makeup.”

He grinned at her unapologetically, wiggling his ass as he did so. “You think my butt is sexy, huh?”

Delilah threw the used washcloth at him, smiling wickedly when it hit him smack in the chest. “You know I do, you idiot. Every part of you is sexy. And you can tempt me to do most anything you dream up, even if it’s a little on the raunchy side.”

Finn’s grin deepened suggestively. “Ah, but from my experience, the raunchy times are the one you like best. And the times you scream the loudest. You know, I had trouble deciding whether to fuck you the way I just did, or have you bend over the counter and stick your cute little ass up in the air. I think we’ll have just enough time to - ”

She snatched up the metal wastebasket from beneath the counter, holding it over her head. “This is the next thing that’s going to get tossed your way,” she threatened. “And unlike the washcloth this will definitely leave a bruise.”

He held up his hands in surrender and began to back out of the master bathroom. “Okay, okay. We’ll save that idea for later tonight. I’ll use the smaller bathroom to finish getting ready. And there’s no rush, babe. In fact, given how much you’re not looking forward to this evening, I’d think you’d be intentionally stalling for time.”

Delilah sighed, picking up the discarded blusher brush. “The thought had occurred to me,” she admitted. “But I also hate being late to anything. It’s not very good manners, you know. I’ll be ready in time, I promise. Good thing we’re staying in the same hotel as the party and just have to take the elevator down a few floors.”

Finn blew her a kiss as he exited the bathroom, leaving her to finish her makeup and get dressed, both of which she was going to have to accomplish in near record time thanks to her lover’s untimely horniness.

But it was almost impossible to be irritated with Finn over his impulsive seduction, given how damned good she felt right about now. She applied another coat of mascara, a sensuous smile playing about her lips as she recalled just how hard he’d made her come a few minutes ago, and how easily she’d succumbed to his wiles. That was something that had rarely if ever happened with her previous lovers. She had always enjoyed being in control, had needed to be the one in charge most of the time, and while Finn frequently indulged that need, it seemed to Delilah that more and more as of late he was the one exerting his dominance over her in the bedroom.

Her smile turned into a frown as she tweezed a couple of stray eyebrows before using a pencil to give them a more dramatic look. While there was no use in denying the way Finn always gave her tremendous pleasure - unselfishly so, at that - what gave her cause for concern was the fact that she was actually starting to like giving up control. And that, she thought firmly, could simply not be allowed to happen, at least not as much as it had been as of late. With a man like Finn in particular - one who liked sex, a lot of sex - she needed to be sure he didn’t start becoming complacent in their relationship. Delilah only had to think about her parents’ ill-fated marriage to realize that when a man started to take a woman for granted was right around the time he started getting bored with her. From there, it would only be a matter of time before he wanted something new, and before the woman was even aware of what was happening, she’d find herself being unceremoniously dumped to make room for her replacement.

Well, that was sure as hell never going to happen to her, thought Delilah fiercely. She was not her mother, not by a long shot, and would never, ever permit herself to become so weak and dependent on a man that she would lose the very will to live if he ever left her. No man was worth that sort of pain, she decided, no matter how hot he looked naked or how skilled he was with his tongue and fingers, or how many different sexual positions he knew. Finn was going to have to learn that she was not the sort of woman who could be manipulated by sex, and she came to the decision right then and there that the next time they had sex she was going to be back on top.

She finished her makeup, using blotting paper to wipe off any excess lipstick, and then put her lingerie back on. Delilah thought tartly that she ought to at least be grateful that Finn had taken her bra and panties off before getting her all hot and bothered, especially since she’d only packed one strapless bra in her luggage. Given the style of the dress she’d chosen to wear tonight, a regular bra just wouldn’t do.

She had designed this particular cocktail dress with tonight’s party in mind, sewing it up herself in her home studio. It had taken her endless hours to painstakingly affix all of the sparkling red beads and glittering stones to the halter necked bodice, but the effort had been well worth it, she decided now. The bodice fit like a glove, the deep cut of the neckline showcasing her breasts splendidly without being too revealing. The waistline of the dress nipped in tightly, allowing the red chiffon skirt to flow gracefully to a point several inches above the knee. The sexy but sophisticated dress left most of her back bare, and she was glad she’d put in some extra hours at the gym focusing on her lats and shoulders.

Delilah rarely wore hosiery, and especially not when it was almost ninety degrees outside, so she’d made sure her bare legs were smoothly shaven and had a bit of color from some self-tanning body lotion. She’d squeezed in a mani-pedi yesterday afternoon before Finn had picked her up to go to the airport, and her toes were painted the same ruby shade as her fingers. She sat down on the edge of the bed gingerly, careful not to wrinkle her dress as she buckled the straps of her favorite red stiletto sandals.

The jeweled bodice of the dress meant that she didn’t have to go overboard with additional jewelry, so she merely slipped on a gold bangle bracelet and then inserted a pair of ruby and diamond drop earrings that had belonged to her mother.

“Somehow I just knew you’d be wearing red tonight.”

Delilah glanced up from retrieving her red satin clutch to see Finn hovering in the doorway to the master bedroom, his green gaze glittering as he looked her over approvingly.

“I’d say that you were psychic or something, but you already know that red is my favorite color,” she quipped. “And you must have guessed I’d be wearing red since your tie is the same color. Nice suit, by the way. Remind me to compliment whoever helped you pick it out.”

He snickered, placing a hand on the small of her back as they headed towards the front door of their suite. “That would be my drop-dead gorgeous neighbor who has amazing taste in just about everything - clothes, interior design, food, wine, flowers. And especially men.”

She inspected him carefully, straightening his perfectly knotted red silk tie, then smoothing the lapels of his charcoal gray suit before patting a stray lock of his carefully combed dark blond hair back into place. “You look really handsome, Finn,” she told him sincerely. “Sophisticated, stylish, and really, really sexy. Every woman at this party tonight is going to have her tongue hanging out when they get a look at you. Though if they know what’s good for them they’ll keep their distance. There’s a reason I wore the shoes with the extra pointy heel.”

Finn slid his arm around her waist, hugging her close against his side. “Bloodthirsty little she-devil,” he teased. “And since I’ve felt the wrath of your stiletto on my own foot, I’ll make sure to warn off these so-called other women. Though, honestly, babe, they’re going to take one look at you, know they can’t possibly begin to compete with someone so beautiful, and find other fish to fry. And it goes without saying,” he added, nuzzling his nose against her ear, “that you’re the only one in the whole place I’ll have my eyes on. You look incredible, Delilah. I can’t wait to show you off to everyone. Come on, now. We’re already going to be fashionably late.”

She groaned as he ushered her out the door of their suite. “How about we give it a miss altogether? Though I suppose the sooner we arrive the sooner we can leave. Right?”

He hesitated before replying. “I certainly don’t plan on closing the party down. But the hosts are one of my biggest sponsors, and they’ll be expecting me to hobnob with the other guests. We aren’t just going to be able to put in an appearance and then duck out the side door after thirty minutes.”

“Yeah, I know.” She exhaled sharply. “So I’ll do my part and act like the loyal, supportive girlfriend while sipping expensive champagne and eating all of the appetizers.” She glanced up at Finn anxiously as they reached the elevators. “They will have champagne, won’t they? I mean, I realize it’s a vodka brand, but not everyone drinks vodka.”

“Yes, there will definitely be a full bar,” assured Finn. “And way more than just appetizers, too. There’s usually a whole spread, big buffet, the works.”

She nodded in satisfaction. “Okay, then. So long as there’s good booze and plenty of food, and you stick to my side like glue, then I guess I can gut it out for a few hours. But don’t ever say that I’m not a good sport, Finn McManus. Big parties like this are just not my thing, so I’m doing this for you. And I’ll expect something in return, of course.”

He laughed as the elevator began to descend to the ballroom level. “Of course. Anything you want, babe, just name it and it’s yours.”

“Okay,” she agreed happily. “I want to be on top the next time. Oh, and for the next two weeks after that.”

Finn shook his head in mock exasperation. “Somehow I knew you were going to ask for that. Okay. You drive a tough bargain, but you’ve got a deal.”

“Tough bargain, my ass,” retorted Delilah. “Don’t forget that you get your rocks off no matter if I’m on top, the bottom, or upside down.”

His green eyes twinkled roguishly. “In other words, it’s really a win-win situation for me. Ah, here we are.”

Delilah mentally braced herself for what was about to happen, knowing that no matter what she owed it to Finn to be supportive and put on a happy face. He’d been so good to her, she reasoned, so attentive and accommodating. He willingly let her pick where she wanted to go for dinner, or what movie she wanted to see - within reason, of course. He had gone along with just about every suggestion she’d made when it came to re-decorating his condo, or buying new clothes. And he was making a real effort to learn more about wines and food, experimenting with cooking, and even succeeding in not burning down the house in the process. He looked after her when she was exhausted after working a fourteen hour day, making sure she ate well, and giving her the most delicious foot rubs she’d ever experienced. He had charmed just about every employee in her office, especially when he surprised everyone with boxes of donuts or macarons or bagels, and he even tolerated Calvin’s outrageous flirting. He had even, realized Delilah wryly, managed to win Desiree’s grudging approval, though her sister had informed her that the jury was still out on the final judgment.

So she needed to suck it up for a few hours, and put on a happy face. After all, she reasoned, she’d been raised to have impeccably good manners, had started attending social events from a young age, and attending a party with her boyfriend should be a piece of cake.

But over the next two hours, Delilah’s resolve about how easy this evening was going to be began to dissolve rapidly. She hated crowds and noise and people who drank too much and put on all sorts of pretentious airs. And to have to deal with all four of those issues at the same time was beginning to overwhelm her. The fact that she hadn’t seen Finn for the last twenty minutes or so was only making things worse, not to mention seriously pissed off.

Oh, it had started off well enough, with Finn proudly introducing her to the owners of Volcano Vodka - two thirty-something men who were dressed a little too flamboyantly for Delilah’s taste, especially considering each had a beautiful woman plastered to their side. But the men - Trace and Braden - had been exceedingly charming, gushing over Delilah, and telling her how she was all Finn could talk about nowadays. Even their two rather annoying companions had been almost sickly sweet, oohing and ahhing over Delilah’s dress and shoes, and looking appropriately dismayed when they realized their five foot seven frames were several inches too tall for her line of petite sized clothing.

There had been champagne as promised - Cristal, to boot - and table after table heaped with food. Delilah had nibbled hungrily at the lavish spread, though she’d noted she was practically the only female present who actually seemed to be eating anything beyond a carrot stick or a slice of melon.

Finn was a veritable master at working a room, something she’d realized right from the start. He was what was referred to as a “people person”, someone everyone liked and who liked everyone in turn. Delilah quickly lost count of the number of hands he shook, backs he clapped, hugs he exchanged, and kisses on the cheek he received and bestowed. And while Finn seemed to remember almost everyone’s name, greeting them like old friends, her mind seemed to go blank within half an hour after arriving. Her jaw and cheeks were sore from smiling so much, and she shuddered delicately at the mingled scents of dozens of different perfumes and colognes that clung to her skin, courtesy of all the hugs and kisses she’d received.

And even though Finn had been true to his word - at least, to begin with - by sticking to her side like glue, Delilah hadn’t missed even one of the poisonous, envious looks directed her way by most of the females in attendance. She guessed that most of these women had either fucked Finn at some point in time, or had aspired to, and the fact that she was now being introduced as his girlfriend was not sitting well with any of them.

To Finn’s credit, he hadn’t so much as flirted with another woman while in Delilah’s presence, merely greeting them politely and then quickly moving on to the next group of attendees. Delilah had been sorely tempted to quiz him about all of the evil glares she was being subjected to, asking him how many of those women he’d actually slept with. But she was far too well bred to start a conversation like that in such a public setting, not to mention the fact that she really, really didn’t want to know the answer. What made her speculations even worse was that Finn probably didn’t even remember if he’d actually taken some of these women to bed or not.

She had been politely listening to one of the more elderly guests in attendance drone on and on about a trip he had recently taken to South America when Finn had been whisked away by Braden and his girlfriend. Finn had given her a reassuring wink, as if to say he’d be right back, but that had been close to half an hour ago by now and he hadn’t made any attempt to return to her side. Instead, she’d silently fumed as he had continued to shake hands and chat companionably with one guest after another, laughing and posing for photos, and always with a drink in his hand.

But it was when he took a photo with two gorgeous, willowy blondes, one of his arms draped over each of their shoulders and giving the camera one of those naughty, flirty smiles of his, that Delilah decided that it was well past time for her to turn the tables on one Mr. Finn McManus. After all, she reasoned, hadn’t he encouraged her to have a good time and be sociable? To eat and drink whatever she wanted, and talk to whomever she wished?

‘Well, two can play at this game, darling Finn,’ she muttered under her breath. “And it’s a game I can play very, very well. Maybe even well enough to teach you a few things.’

It took her less than a minute to latch onto not one but two very attractive, well dressed, and very interested young men. When one of them noticed that her champagne flute was nearly empty, he practically tripped over his feet to get her a refill. She ignored the fact that both of them kept staring at her boobs, or that they were both well on their way to becoming plastered. Instead, she laughed and flirted with them rather outrageously, even taking out her phone to snap several selfies of the three of them.

After a few minutes of enduring their none-too-stimulating conversation, Delilah smoothly extracted herself and moved on to the next attractive, unattached man she came across. She made damned sure that every time Finn happened to glance her way she was sidling up against one of her would-be conquests, smiling and laughing as though she was having the time of her life.

In reality, though, she was doing anything but. In fact, she couldn’t recall a time when she’d been more miserable. Or more pissed off. Finn, she thought darkly, was going to have a hell of a lot to answer for whenever he could drag his sorry ass away from the skank who seemed intent on monopolizing his time. Idly, Delilah wondered just how big of a scene she would cause if she were to casually slink over to where Finn stood conversing with the brassy bitch - whose bright red hair and oversized tits were both very obviously fake - and upend her champagne on the tart’s head. Or toss it in Finn’s face, she couldn’t decide which would give her more satisfaction. Hell, she told herself, why not grab a second flute and give both of them an unexpected shower?

She was halfway to the bar, in fact, when a familiar masculine body pressed up against hers, his hands clamping possessively on her hips.

“Don’t you think you’ve had enough?” hissed Finn. “And If you imagine I haven’t been paying very close attention to all of your little antics, baby, then guess again. And sorry to disappoint the fan club you’ve managed to acquire over the last few minutes, but I don’t share.”

Delilah spun around furiously, positive her eyes must be flashing fire by now. “Same goes for me, lover boy,” she snarled in a low voice. “Though I guess my feelings don’t matter, do they? And FYI, you ditched me more than half an hour ago, not the few minutes you claim. Guess you’ve forgotten how to tell time, as well as the fact that you’ve supposedly got a girlfriend. As for having had too much to drink, you’re a fine one to talk, Finley. You practically reek of vodka right now.”

He had the good graces to look dutifully chastised but still defended himself. “I’ve had a few drinks,” he admitted. “Sort of tough not to sample the goods when you’re the spokesperson for the brand. But someone spilled a drink on me a few minutes ago, and that’s what you smell. See?”

Finn showed her the damp spot that covered more than half of his right arm, even holding up the limb so she could sniff the gray wool fabric. There was a definite smell of vodka that emanated from his sleeve, and she gave a small shrug of acknowledgment.

“Fine,” she bit out. “So you’re not falling down drunk. Yet. But that doesn’t explain why you were just letting that redheaded bimbo hang all over you. Or the two blondes a few minutes ago. Or that old cougar who had to be at least fifty years old, and was obviously here with another man to boot.”

He chuckled, despite the murderous look she was giving him. “Somehow I hadn’t pegged you as the jealous type. I guess because I had to work so damned hard just to get you to go out with me I figured maybe you wouldn’t care if other women paid attention to me. Not,” he held up a hand to halt the angry retort she’d been about to make, “that I was at all trying to make you jealous, Delilah. I don’t like to play those kinds of stupid games, and I wouldn’t have thought you did, either. Guess I was wrong about you.”

“Humph.” She tossed her long hair over her shoulder, then bolted down the last of her champagne. “Just a little tit for tat, lover boy. I don’t play those sort of games either, mostly because the men who’ve pursued me in the past were all smart enough not to piss me off. And flirting with other women, no matter how harmless you think it might be, really, really pisses me off. So unless you want a much bigger dose of your own medicine, I’d suggest you cool your engines real fast.”

“Hey.” Finn slid an arm around her waist, pulling her close. He looked about as serious as Delilah had ever seen him, and more than a little shamefaced. “I know it probably looked like I was flirting, but I swear I wasn’t. I don’t even remember those two blondes you mentioned, just that someone flashed a camera at me and all of a sudden there was a woman on either side of me. I didn’t even get a look at their faces or say a single word to them. The redhead happens to be Lynette Franco, one of the brand’s biggest investors, and trust me - she greets everyone that way. I swear when she said hello to Braden she had her tongue halfway down his throat, and with his date in plain sight. As for the so-called cougar, she’s closer to sixty, that was her husband with her, and I played college football with one of their sons. They were just catching up is all.”

“Okay,” she retorted sullenly. “And lucky for you that you’ve got a very convenient explanation for all of your actions. Except, of course, for the fact that you more or less ditched me. And, yes, I realize that Braden pulled you away, but you should have stood your ground and told him to hold his damned horses for a minute until I was free to come with you.”

“You’re absolutely right,” he agreed easily, obviously anxious to soothe her. “I should have made him wait until you’d finished talking with that old dude.” He pressed a kiss to the top of her head. “Forgive me?”

“I’ll think about it,” groused Delilah. “Meanwhile, you can start making up for your bad behavior by ordering me a cappuccino. And then I want dessert. And since I don’t want to look like a pig and take more than one thing, that means you need to put several desserts on your own plate and let me take a bite of each one.”

Finn grinned, looking greatly relieved that she was starting to sound more civil towards him. “Baby, you can take a bite of whatever you desire. Including me.”

She eyed him warily. “Don’t tempt me. Because the way I’m feeling right now I’d take you up on that offer. Only problem is that this time around it wouldn’t be a love bite. There might even be blood involved.”

“Ouch.” He shuddered visibly. “I get the picture. Let’s get you that cappuccino real fast. And I could probably use a triple espresso myself right about now.”

For the remainder of the party, Finn was on his very best behavior, not leaving her side for even a second. When Trace swung by and asked to “borrow” Finn for a few minutes, Delilah was pleased when he quietly brought her along with him. When he greeted party guests, in particular the female ones, he merely gave them a polite smile and hand shake, refraining from any sort of embrace or kiss, no matter how innocent or casual the intent. And when fans asked to take a picture with him, he insisted on having Delilah in the photo with them.

Delilah didn’t miss the looks of surprise and even dismay on the faces of some of those fans, but no one was willing to offend Finn or anger him, and they all went along willingly with his demands.

Even as the party began to gradually wind down, he kept her tucked close against him the entire time. It was only when she excused herself to find the ladies room that they were finally parted for a few minutes.

Delilah was washing her hands, anxious to get back to Finn and hopefully persuade him to make a discreet exit, when a stunning, scantily clad woman tottered rather drunkenly inside the bathroom on her sky-high stilettos. Delilah had caught the woman’s gaze a few times while circulating the party, and each time the sexy, raven-haired beauty had stared daggers at her. She’d meant to ask Finn who the seriously hostile woman was, but had been more than half-afraid she wouldn’t like the answer.

Delilah avoided meeting the other woman’s gaze, intent merely on picking up her clutch and getting back to Finn as quickly as possible. But the tall, tanned female in the tight, low-cut mini dress of shimmery bronze lame evidently had other ideas.

“You’re here with Finn, aren’t you?” she asked almost accusingly.

The black-haired woman towered a good eight inches over Delilah, but she had always refused to let someone’s superior height - whether it be a male or a female - intimidate her. Delilah straightened her spine and gazed up at the very drunk woman assessingly, giving her skimpy dress and fuck-me heels a disparaging look.

“That’s right,” replied Delilah in a falsely sweet voice. “I’m his girlfriend, actually.”

“Girlfriend!” scoffed the dark-haired woman. “As if Finn McManus has girlfriends. Honey, you’re delusional if you think you’ll last more than a night or two with that manwhore, a week at best. He’s not the sort for relationships, in spite of whatever bullshit he might have fed you to get in your panties.”

Delilah struggled mightily to control her temper, realizing that it would probably look very, very bad if she were to slug a guest, no matter how badly this bitch deserved it. “Well, honey,” she drawled, taking out her scarlet lipstick and carefully reapplying it, “news flash. Finn and I have been together going on three months now. And I’m well aware he didn’t do relationships in the past. But that was before he met me. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’d like to get back to my boyfriend.”

The other woman looked visibly shocked at this announcement, and let Delilah sweep by her without another word. But just as Delilah was about to open the door and exit, the raven-haired woman called out, “It won’t last you know. Oh, you’re pretty hot, no doubt about it. But Finn’s just not the type who can be happy with only one woman for long. He’s too weak, too much of a ladies man. Why would he settle for the same woman night after night when he could have anyone he wanted?”

Delilah clenched her fist, willing herself not to slug the smug bitch right in her Restylane-enhanced lips. The other woman might have several inches on her, but given how obviously drunk she was Delilah was willing to bet she’d go down like a deflated balloon right about now. So instead of hitting back with her very capable fist, she decided to use words instead.

She half-turned to face the arrogant bitch, who by now was clutching the sink to hold herself upright. Delilah tossed her hair back deliberately, cocking a hip, and smiled confidently.

“Because,” she replied in a sultry voice, “I’m that good. And if we ever do stop seeing each other - which, by the way, neither of us have any intention of doing for the foreseeable future - it’s pretty much a given that I’d be the one to end things, not him. Because while Finn might have had a reputation as a manwhore, they call me the maneater. Have a nice evening now, hmm?”

She strolled out the door without a backwards glance, unable to stop herself from grinning with glee. But her grin faded abruptly as she wondered if the drunken, dark-haired woman was actually right. Would Finn wind up getting bored with her sooner than later? Or would attending a party like tonight’s make him realize how much he missed his old life, the old Finn? It was almost impossible to believe that a man like Finn, one who’d had a different woman every week, could really be satisfied with just one now.

Delilah considered telling him about the unpleasant encounter with the other woman in the ladies room just now, but decided this wasn’t the time or the place. Fortunately, Finn seemed to sense that something was troubling her and quickly said their good nights to Trace and Braden and a handful of others.

They were alone in the elevator on the ride back up to their suite - the private, spacious suite was a perk that the vodka company had arranged for them - and Delilah intentionally kept a distance between her and Finn. He frowned when she shied away from his touch, and especially when he noticed the somber expression on her face.

“What’s wrong, babe?” he asked in concern. “I mean, aside from the fact that you hated being at the party, and that you’re probably still kind of pissed off at me.”

She gave a caustic little laugh. “Like that isn’t enough? But, no. It isn’t either of those things. And the party wasn’t quite as bad as I’d feared, at least when you weren’t off schmoozing the crowd without me. And frankly, I’m just too tired right now to be angry.”

Finn took her hand, squeezing it tighter when she tried to pull away. “Then what is it, Delilah?” he inquired tenderly.

The elevator reached their floor then, and so she held off on answering him until they were inside the suite. She set her clutch down on the entryway table before taking off her shoes. Her feet were sore after walking around in high heels for several hours, and normally she would have cajoled Finn into giving her one of his magical foot massages. But since the last thing she wanted to do right now was have him touch her, she resisted the urge.

Finn gazed at her expectantly, and she knew he’d never let the matter rest until she gave him the answer he wanted.

“It’s just - ” she began hesitantly. “I don’t even know how to express myself properly. But I realized that tonight I saw a side of you I had never really observed before - the sociable, hard drinking, hellraising party boy - the one all of the tabloids loved to feature on their front page. You’ve been really good about repressing that side of yourself so far when we’ve been together, have been kind and caring and considerate. But after seeing you work that room tonight, schmoozing it up with all the guests and investors and such, I have to wonder which one is the real Finn.”

“Why can’t I be both?” he replied, cupping her cheek in his hand. “I mean, as long as the party boy side doesn’t go overboard. And so long as he only appears from time to time.”

Her spine stiffened at his touch but she didn’t turn away. “Maybe because I discovered that I don’t care much for the person you become when the party boy side takes over,” she answered truthfully. “I’ve never been attracted to that sort of man, probably because it brings up bad memories of my father. He was extremely social, you know, always the consummate host, always the life of any party. He loved being the center of attention, made sure that he was the most sought after person at whatever sort of event we were at. And, well, seeing you there tonight, Finn, how much you obviously love the limelight - I guess I felt a little sick to my stomach to see you that way, and realize just how much like my father you are.”

She held up a hand to forestall him when he would have interrupted her. “And I know that’s totally selfish of me, completely unfair, to expect you to give all that up for me. I would never ask you to become someone you aren’t, would never demand that you stop going to these sort of parties or associating with the people there tonight. I just know that’s not the sort of lifestyle I could ever be happy with.”

Finn stared at her in shock. “So what are you saying exactly - that you’re breaking up with me or something? Jesus, Delilah, you’re way, way more important to me than some stupid party. Yeah, I have fun at them, though lately they’ve started to become something of a drag, if I’m being honest. But I would give them all up in a heartbeat to make you happy, babe. Just say the word.”

“But I won’t say the word,” she insisted. “I would never make you choose, Finn. And, no, I am definitely not breaking up with you. That would only give that skank who confronted me in the ladies room the satisfaction.”

He frowned. “Huh? What skank? Did somebody say something to offend you, because - ”

Delilah shook her head. “Nothing I couldn’t handle myself. And frankly, I’m just too tired and my feet hurt and I feel a headache coming on – and don’t you dare tell me I shouldn’t have had that much champagne. I’m going to pop a couple of Advil, wash my face, and go to sleep. And by sleep, I mean actual sleep, Finn. I’m just too - too everything to be in the mood for sex right now. Okay?”

He nodded, his expression resigned but understanding. “Okay. Can I - can I at least hold you for a few minutes? At least until we fall asleep?”

His green eyes looked so sad that her heart ached just a little, and she didn’t have the heart - or the energy - to tell him no. “Of course you can,” she assured him gently. “And I’m sorry for sounding like such a nag. I’m just tired, I guess, after all the stress over the Bloomingdale’s deal, and still wondering and worrying what if anything they’re prepared to offer me. I think I just need a really good night’s sleep. I’m sure everything will seem better in the morning.”

 

***

 

Delilah wrinkled her nose as the aroma of something wafted into the bedroom from the kitchen. The spacious suite she and Finn were staying in was really like a two-bedroom apartment, complete with its own dining room and full kitchen. And from the smells emanating from that part of the suite, it seemed as though the latter room was currently in use.

She pulled on a knee-length robe of turquoise satin over a matching nightgown, and padded on bare feet in the direction of the kitchen. Once there, she clapped a hand over her mouth to stifle a laugh at the sight that greeted her eyes. Though sight was probably an understatement, she thought. More like complete and utter chaos.

Finn was frantically trying to do a multitude of tasks all at once, and he didn’t seem to be having much success at any of them. A frying pan was sizzling with some sort of breakfast meat, and Delilah could tell at a glance that it was within thirty seconds of being burned to a crisp. He hustled back and forth between stirring the scrambled eggs, squeezing oranges into the juicer, and flipping pancakes, and he looked so much like one of those goofy cartoon characters moving at warp speed that she couldn’t suppress a chuckle.

He looked up in agitation, blowing a lock of sweat-damp blond hair out of his eyes. By the looks of things, he’d managed to get more of the breakfast food on his T-shirt and pajama pants than in the frying pans.

“Oh, hey,” he mumbled distractedly. “I was hoping to have all this done before you woke up. You know, as a little surprise. To, ah, say I was really, really sorry for the way I acted at times last night. And to also thank you for coming to the party. It meant a lot to me, Delilah, especially since I know how much you hate that stuff.”

She was so touched by his sweet apology, and also by his hard-fought efforts to cook her a lavish breakfast, that she instantly forgot what an ass he’d been for a time the previous evening. She walked over to him, tenderly brushed the errant lock of hair off his forehead, and gave him a kiss on the lips.

“You don’t have to thank me,” she told him. “And so long as you don’t act like a jerk ever again, there’s no need to keep apologizing. Now, I know you had good intentions and I really, really appreciate it, but you need to hand over that spatula now, Finn. Otherwise you’re going to burn this kitchen down.”

Finn gave a sigh of relief as he willingly placed the spatula in her outstretched hand. “God, I was hoping you’d say that.”