Amazing after watching you score the game-winning touchdown. Congratulations!
She watched. Fuck yeah.
ME:
You liked that, did you? Well, I might’ve snuck you a little souvenir.
FINLEY:
Please tell me it’s chicken tenders.
ME:
Not exactly, but I can stop and grab you some on the way. It’s only about a three-hour flight, so I’ll be home before you go to bed.
FINLEY
No, that’s ok. I’m sure you’ll be exhausted by the time you get back.
ME:
Trust me, Mama. I’d love nothing more than to feed your cravings.
A blue text bubble pops up and disappears several times, the three dots telling me she’s not sure how to reply. I probably shouldn’t have used such innuendo with her, butfuck it. I haven’t been able to get her out of my head since the ultrasound. Seeing the life she’s growing did something to me, and now I’m more attracted to her than ever—even though I didn’t think it was possible. She’s got a lot going on, and I’m sure dating is the last thing on her mind, but flirting is harmless. Right?
My phone buzzes in my hand when her response finally comes through, my stomach somersaulting as I read it.
FINLEY:
See you soon.
ELEVEN
FINLEY
I’d lovenothing more than to feed your cravings.
Theo’s words echo in my mind as I lie in bed, aftershocks from my second orgasm of the evening passing through me like electricity. I should probably be ashamed of how quickly I bolted upstairs after reading his text, the ache between my legs becoming more commanding with every step I took. I got myself off with just a few rough strokes of my fingers, imagining Theo on his knees while he fed my real cravings—the ones that have nothing to do with food.
Did I feel bad after? A little bit. Not enough to stop me from doing it again a few hours later, butwhatever.
I know I need to be careful. Blurring the lines between friendship and more is a slippery slope, but the man has made it impossible not to swoon since I got here. Not only is he selfless and kind, but I’ve never felt more comfortable and accepted by anyone. With Theo, I never wonder if he’s judging or being disingenuous,because he isn’t capable of either. And it turns me the fuck on.
Cue the internal groan.
Hopping out of bed, I adjust the sleep shorts I couldn’t even be bothered to take off, walk to the bathroom, and wash my hands. A quick glance in the mirror tells me that I went a little harder on that last round than I thought, resulting in a mess of red knots on the sides and back of my head. Thankfully, it’ll be bedtime soon, so I quickly run a brush through my tangled hair before piling it into a bun.
I enter the hallway, my eyes landing on Boner as I approach the stairs. He’s got his stare pinned on me, a captious expression written across his adorable face.
I scoff, rolling my eyes. “Don’t judge me. You have no idea what kind of hormones I’m dealing with right now. It’s torture.” His response is a befuddled tilt of the head as his fluffy tail slaps against the floor behind him. I giggle, scratching his ears for a few seconds before heading down toward the main floor with him hot on my heels. But as soon as the muffled sound of the garage door bleeds through the wall, he’s barking like a madman, his clumsy paws sliding across the hardwood floor as he attempts to gain traction.
“I’m home!” Theo shouts moments later, and I have to bite down on my bottom lip to hold back the smile that’s threatening to split my features. He’s only been gone a day and a half, but by the way my insides are practically vibrating right now, you’d think he left years ago.
Get your shit under control, Finley. He’s a nice guy who’s paying you to watch his dog while you crash in his guest room. Afriend.That’s it.
My mental pep-talk works for approximately three seconds, because as soon as he rounds the corner, I’m right back where I started. He’s wearing a pair of sinfully snug gray sweatpants, a purple Renegades hoodie, and a backwards cap. His sandy-brown hair curls out from the bottom, causing my fingers to twitch at my sides with the desire to run through it. My gaze wanders, locking onto his sparkling blue eyes and crooked white grin, everything I told myself moments ago falling away as the corners of my mouth tug up against my will. Before I know it, I’m flashing him a full-blown smile, unable to ignore the butterflies that are flapping around wildly in my stomach.
“There she is,” he says, erasing the space between us and pulling me into a hug as soon as I’m within reach. Even though it’s a little unexpected, I melt into the embrace, snaking my arms around his neck and returning the gesture. All my raging emotions settle, my heart rate slowing as we linger in each other’s hold.
