“You like me because I’ve been a judgy bitch to you?” I deadpan.
“Yeah,” he replies in all seriousness, then sinks his teeth into his bottom lip. “Honestly, it kind of turns me on.”
I make a big show of rolling my eyes, but my cheeks are flushing.
A grin spreads across his face. “Did I just make tough Maddy blush?”
“Oh, shut it.” I playfully shove him, but he captures me by the hand.
“Don’t be embarrassed. It’s cute.” He traces a path down my palm with his fingertip.
"You're acting weird,” I tell him while fighting back a shiver.
“I know. But I want to be honest just once. I’ve spent my entire life living behind a mask, and I just want to…” He sighs. “I want to tell you something, but I need you to tell me it’s okay.”
The intensity in his gaze causes me to gulp.
“What is it about?” I nervously ask.
“About… about my feelings for you.” He’s still holding my hand. “But I won’t if you don’t want me to.”
My chest constricts. “I don’t… you’re scaring me.”
“I’m sorry. I’m not trying to. I just want to see what it’s like… just one time…” He becomes enthralled with my mouth. “Just in case I don’t make it out of here.”
My heartbeat roars in my eardrums. “See what what’s like?” I think I might already know the answer, though, with the way he’s staring at my lips.
He starts to lean in. “What it’s like to kiss someone I actually have feelings for.”
He’s going to kiss me.
He’sgoingto fucking kiss me.
I feel like I should stop. After all, I’ve kissed River. But we’re locked in this room, and we don’t know if we’re going to get out. Maybe it’s that which keeps me motionless. Or perhaps it’s the exhaustion of the day. Or maybe it’s Finn’s pretty lips and blazing gaze that keeps me where I am. Whatever the fuckingreason, I remain motionless, and then the next thing I know, his lips are touching mine.
He lets out an agonizing groan as his arm slips around me. Then he urges me closer, and I surprisingly easily comply, sliding toward him while he parts my lips with his tongue. I moan. God, do I moan as heat pours through my body. I reach out to grab onto something, which ends up being his bicep, and his muscles flex under my touch. He deepens the kiss, kissing me fiercely and then dragging his teeth along my bottom lip, causing me to moan again.
He slightly pulls back and breathes raggedly. “God, I want to see if you make that noise when you come.”
My breath catches in my throat at his filthy words. While I’m used to hearing guys say dirty things to me, it’s almost always been unwelcomed. It’s not like that with Finn. It’s confusing, though, since I like River.
Maybe it’s the life and death situation messing with my head?
He must feel the confusion flowing off of me because he moves back even further. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done that.”
“No, it’s not that. I just… What about River?” My eyes go huge. “Oh my god, what am I doing? Well, other than panicking, because I so am.” I struggle to get oxygen into my lungs.
His fingers frame my face. “Just breathe. Fuck, you’re not breathing.” He takes my hand and lines it to his solid chest. “Match my breathing, okay? Everything will be fine. I promise. River won’t get upset. He won’t be heartbroken. This is on me. I kissed you.”
“I let you,” I point out, but my breathing is returning to normal as I match the rhythm of his own air intakes.
“Shh… Just focus on calming down,” he tries to soothe me. “We’ll figure this out if we get out of this mess, okay? River won’t be pissed off. I know him as well as I know myself.”
I meet his gaze, searching for a crack of a lie in his story, but his expression is genuine. “He’s going to hate me.”
“No, he isn’t, sweetheart,” he assures me with his hand over mine as he presses my palm against his racing heart. “I promise.”
I wish I could fully believe him, but how can River not be upset with me?
