“You seem to have a great relationship withyourmom.”
“It would seem that way,wouldn’tit?”
Surprised, Finn looked to me for clarification. Thankfully, Kyle came clomping through the bus at that very moment,savingme.
“What the…” He stopped abruptly. “What are youdoinghere?”
“Just setting a little trapforJake.”
Kyle glanced at the two of us before breaking into a smile. “Nice.Where?”
“Bathroom.”
My brother went off to investigate, and Finn and I high-fived our handiwork. What he would find there, and Jake shortly thereafter, was a five-foot-tall stuffed dog wrapped in a bath towel, a shower cap over his floppy ears, with a dollop of Casey’s blue facial mask slathered on his cheap fur. For presentation, we chose to have him peering out from inside the shower cabin with his beady-eyed plastic stare and elongated, panting tongue. The sheer size alone was enough to raise an unsuspecting recipient’s bloodpressure.
“Jesus, that thing’s creepy,” Kyle said, rejoining us in the kitchen. “Jake will surelyappreciateit.”
* * *
Having founda good home for Stan, we made our way back to the hotel to get ready for the concert. Finn had been all hands on deck with me in the back of the cab, so much so that the driver had adjusted his rearview mirror to get a better look at the action. And it was action. I was losing complete control of the situation. I knew what I needed to do – keep the relationship purely platonic – but my body was not agreeing. We’d barely made it into the hotel room before Finn had me pinned down on the sofa, kissing his way down my neck. The soft touch of his lips flittering on my skin sent a sensual vibration down myspine.
“Finn.”
He leaned back, entangling his fingers in mine. “Do youwantthis?”
“Yes,but…”
“If you don’t want to, tell me and I’ll stop. Otherwise, turn your damn brain off and let’s getiton.”
His hands dipped between my legs as he made his impassioned plea, and I quivered at histouch.
“Don’t stop,” I said, panting. “It’s off. My brain. I turneditoff.”
That was all Finn needed to hear, for as soon as my words were uttered, he pulled the shirt over my head and started kissing his way up. His lips danced along my neckline as his fingers continued to please. Shivers rattled through my body as his lips drifted down to my breast. Lingering there for a moment, perhaps waiting for my next move, Finn continued kissing his way around the soft flesh. I realized then that he’d been stalling as he hovered on the line between being a gentleman and tearing my clothes off, so I erased all doubt by unbuckling my bra and then groping him through his jeans. That was the last moment of indecision on Finn’s part. He dropped to his knees. My legs wobbled as he licked the inside of my thigh. Light strokes led the way, and I spread my legs to further welcome him in. Pressing my head against the cushioned sofa, I arched my back as his tongue dipped inside of my opening and tasted my desire. With a hunger, he expertly devoured me, sucking and lapping with an urgency only one committed to the cause could maintain. I moved my hips with him, grinding his mouth, giving in to the pleasure. Finn’s thumb joined with his tongue and the combined effort had me writhing under his expert touch. A few more seconds of the dual assault brought a shivering cry from my lips as a powerful orgasm ripped from my uterus rushed through my body, pouring out into hismouth.
Finn held my legs tight as they trembled and he continued licking the climax from me. My hips jerked and twitched, the climax taking control, until finally it had rushed through every inch of me. Panting on the sofa, I heard the rip of a condom wrapper, and then his warmth was back and his tongue was replaced by his bulging desire. He entered me fully with one solid thrust, and I cried out in ecstasy as my long legs wrapped around him, encouraging ever more powerful thrusts. We rocked together in rhythm as my fingers found his curly hair and I took hold. My god. How had I ever found those locks obnoxious? He was the hottest thing on two legs, and I wanted every bitofhim.
Finn took my unbridled desire as further encouragement and dipped his hands onto my ass, pulling me up to meet each thrust. Clinging to him, my arms draped around his muscular back and my legs locked tighter around his hips. The strength of his body and his strong thighs hammering into me sent my body into another frenziedspasm.
“Yes.Yes.”
Finn, his chiseled face contorted with lust, was as wildly out of control as I was, and the two of us tottered dangerously close to the sofa’s edge, but when his fingers found my sex, I unexpectedly exploded around him, my legs shaking with ripples of satisfaction. That was all it took for Finn to let loose, grinding his way to an enthusiastic orgasm and, in turn, pumping us both to the floor in a heap of sweaty armsandlegs.
* * *
Asingle drumbeatbrought the crowd to their feet as their steady screams drowned out all conversation. Making our way from the shadows, my family filled in the space below center stage, with the roar of the appreciative audience to our backs. Chairs had been set up for those who wanted them, but only Mom, Dad, and Lassen actually took a seat. The rest of us waited with bated breath for the main attraction – my talented brother – to take the stage and start the show. The energy was electric, and Finn stared on in awe. If this was exciting for me, someone who had been in this position many times before, it had to be an indescribable thrill for a newbie like Finn to be this close to theaction.
Kyle was sitting on the edge of the stairs, long legs dangling, diligently watching the crowd for jumpers. It was nice to see him taking his job so seriously. Despite our insult-flinging earlier, we were closer than we’d been in years. Much of the tension that existed between us in the past had stemmed from the guilt I carried. I should have done more to ease his suffering all those years ago. We all should have. Even though Kyle had spent his life holding the short end of the stick, he hadn’t let it destroy him, and I was proud of the changes he’d made to improve himself. Competing on the reality show and meeting Kenzie had been a game changer for him. He was calmer now, more at peace. Protecting Jake for real gave him a purpose and maturity that had not been therebefore.
He caught me staring, and furrowed his brow as if he thought I was judging him. That couldn’t be further from the truth. Feeling such love and admiration for Kyle in the moment, I waved. Surprised, he looked around and then pointed to himself. I nodded, put my hand to my lips, and blew him a kiss. Kyle lifted his arm and caught it before bringing it down to his heart, grinning from ear to ear. He then went back to scanning the audience, but that smileremained.
To thunderous applause, Jake entered the stage and broke out into hisfirstsong.
“This is crazy,” Finn said, screaming the words into my ear. “Total insanity. I can’t imagine what it feels like for him upthere.”
I pulled his arm tighter around me. After this afternoon, I could feel myself falling for him, and in this moment of excitement, I welcomed everything he had to offer. Noise and lights exploded from every inch of the outdoor arena, and as Jake crossed the stage and belted out a soaring number, I tingled with pride. The excitement was electric, and tonight, with Finn by my side, I was seeing the show in an entirely different light. I’d never fully appreciated the magnitude of Jake’s influence on his fans… or theirsonhim.
About an hour into the performance, Jake took a break from the action to talk to the thunderous crowd. Thankfully, he’d cleared his head after our discussion earlier, yet I knew even if he hadn’t, Jake would have faked it. He was nothing if not a consummateprofessional.
