“Finn, wait …”

Beads of sweat struck her back and he continued his game.

The tension built but it was wrong. Wasn’t what she wanted. Mindless passion, losing themselves in each other … yes. Which would have been honest. But no, he had shut her out.

And it felt a lot like he was proving a point in here with her much like he had out there with Dan.

If it wasn’t so good she would have throttled him.

There was nothing wrong with his sexual technique. Over and over he f**ked himself into her, saccharine sweet and mechanical y slow. His thrusts timed like a metronome kept pace. He had closed himself off completely.

She could hear his belabored breathing. Feel the tension in his hands, shaking and gripping her hips. This was taking its toll. “Finn.

Please. Stop.”

“You don’t like this?” he asked. A hand settled onto the mattress beside her. He leant over, reached beneath to slip his fingers over her mound, in pursuit of her clit, of course. “I think you like this. You’re going to come again for me. Then we’ll get to work on number three.”

The strength left her arms as he found the tight bundle of nerves and stroked. Her body shook as the orgasm stole over her. Stars.

Sunbursts. The whole setting sun. “Oh God. Finn.”

The bed cushioned her cheek, as her lungs fought for air. Her eyes were ful to brimming with scalding hot tears. Seizures still racked her when she gave in and asked, “Are you finished?”

The man behind her stilled, his c**k still buried in her.

“What?”

“You heard me,” she said.

He pulled out of her and the loss was devastating. Everything was cold and empty.

“What the f**k is your problem?” Finn’s voice was quiet and cold with anger.

Ali turned over, legs locked. Finn’s c**k was hard, his hair disheveled. He was so beautiful it hurt, and she hadn’t even gotten to touch him.

She sat up straight, tucked her feet beneath her. Faked the dignity sorely lacking. What was even happening here?

“Good question,” she muttered.

“I just made you come. Twice.” He waved two fingers in her face in case she needed the visual aid. “Twice, Al.”

“Because it’s a competition. Right? We really need a scoreboard in here, don’t we?”

Finn shoved a hand through his blonde hair, his mouth a strict line. “Al …”

“Are you finished proving whatever you felt you needed to?” The first tear spilled onto her cheek, and she hated herself for it. She wanted to yel with frustration, batter at him with her fists like he was a locked door. “That’s what I meant, Finn.”

He stood at the foot of the bed, his eyes stunned, horrified. He looked at her like they were strangers. Of course they were, really, weren’t they?

She had been stupid. Breathtakingly dumb to have thought this meant something. It was almost funny, to be making this mistake. She was too old for this shit. Crying was for pussies. Making a mess of herself served no purpose at all. Now was the time to toughen up.

“Remove the condom. I’ll finish you off,” she said, just wanting it done.

He flinched like she had hit him, green eyes locked on the latest dumbass tear trailing down her cheek.

“Sorry ‘bout that.” Ali flicked off the offending tear with her fingers, forced herself to face him. Still beautiful. The whole situation still wrong. “Well, are you —”

He grabbed her without warning, hauling her up onto her knees. Shock held her rigid. His mouth slammed down on hers, and his tongue forced its way inside. Forced a reaction from her.

She thought briefly about biting the bastard. There was no doubt he deserved it. But she couldn’t. Because she was stupid. Clearly.

Instead she found herself kissing him back, holding onto him as hard and tight as he did to her.

Both of them desperate.

“I’m sorry, Al.” Her name was an agonized groan as he dragged his mouth over her cheek. His arms around her so tight her ribs creaked. “So sorry.”

“Okay. It’s okay, Finn.”

“No.” He wrapped an arm beneath her butt, one around her back, and lifted, taking her back down into the middle of the mattress with him above her. The weight of him pressed her down, and her legs wrapped around him, her h*ps cradling him. “No, it’s not. I want you so much.”

“You have me.” She slicked her fingers over his back, comforting him. “I’m right here.”

“With conditions.” Face against her neck, his teeth sank into her. The sting of it had her body bucking beneath him, her pelvis pushing. He was still hard, amazingly enough.

“Yes.” And she wanted him worse than ever. She still wasn’t going to lie. “With conditions.”

Finn drew back, up onto his elbows, and studied her hungrily. Her neck stung, her body ached and she still couldn’t read him for shit.

Whatever was going on in his head, she remained out. It nearly started the tears again.

“Don’t,” he said.

“Don’t what?” she asked.

“Don’t cry. Shit. Don’t.” His hand slid between their bodies as his mouth slid over hers. Sweet and hungry and perfect.

The press of his c**k against her pu**y seemed natural and right. She canted her hips, tightened the pul of her legs around his waist.

The head of his c**k nudged her entrance and his hand guided it back into her. They both panted.