Page 11 of Flynn (Foxy’s Rent-A-Date #4)

I hadn’t laughed so much in a long time.

Ara and I had always gotten along. We’d always had a strange connection despite the differences in our upbringing, and I liked that even though we’d spent more than ten years apart, our connection was still there.

Dinner was great, but I barely remembered what we’d eaten.

Conversation between us barely stopped as we caught up on our lives over the last decade.

Since I knew who her first kiss was—yours truly—she demanded to know mine.

That was followed by first times, and I was surprised to learn she’d never slept with Ellis.

I knew he had been pushing her for sex, and I’d thought for sure she’d given in.

It was a surprise to learn she’d slept with some random college boyfriend just to get it over with, and a part of me hated that for her.

Chiara took another mouthful of her wine and leaned back in her seat, eyes searching my face.

Her smile dimmed a little and she ducked her head.

“What’s that look?” I asked. She jerked her head back up, eyes wide.

“What look?” I chuckled. “You had a look on your face just then, like you wanted to ask something but thought better of it.” She gnawed on her lower lip in indecision, and I waited.

“I… never mind. We’re having a good time, and it’s kind of a heavy topic,” she explained.

I raised an eyebrow. “You’re not going to ask me about mine and Ellis’s fight again, are you?

” She scoffed and rolled her eyes. “No. I’m beginning to see that you’ll never explain that one.

” “What is it, then? Ask. If I don’t want to answer, I won’t.

But it won’t ruin our night,” I promised.

She hesitated again and then leaned forward.

“I was going to ask you about… about the night you lost your parents.” Ah, shit.

Schooling my features quickly, I reached for my beer and took a long pull, hoping to give myself some time.

She sighed. “See? Too heavy. Sorry I asked. Please forget it.” I put my drink down and reached across the table to take her hand, shaking my head.

“No,” I said and kept my gaze focused on our hands.

She could know, right? It’s not like it was a big, state secret or anything.

Sighing, I ran my other hand through my hair and looked back up at her.

“My dad… he and Uncle Trevor were very similar after getting out from under their parents. My grandparents were mean and abusive, and so Trev and my dad grew up rough. Trev joined a gang but thankfully got out when he met Carol. My dad, however—” “He was in a gang too?” Ara asked softly, eyes wide.

I shook my head. “No, he was just a miserable bastard who wasn’t happy unless everyone else around him was miserable as well.

He was abusive, angry, mad at the world for the cards life had dealt him.

” Ara’s fingers clenched around mine and I forced myself to take a breath.

“We didn’t get along, and the night of the crash, we’d gotten into a huge fight.

I wanted my mother to leave him, to run away with me, but she wasn’t strong enough.

She was too beaten down. My father must have clued in on what I wanted because he came home in rage.

He was throwing chairs and punches. I got between him and my mother—again—and it wasn’t pretty.

” Chiara remained silent, giving me time.

I turned her hand over and traced over the lines of her palms, giving myself something else to focus on.

“Anyway, as it usually happened, he broke down afterwards, swearing he didn’t mean it, that he was just scared to lose us.

My mother bought the lie—as she always did—and she tried to pretend everything was fine.

He wanted to take us out to dinner, and my mother said we’d go.

I wanted to stay home, but I refused to leave him alone with her if I could help it,” I continued, remembering that night clearly.

“Was it an accident?” Chiara asked softly.

I shrugged. “Yes and no. My father had a short temper, and it wasn’t just reserved for us.

Someone cut him off, and he started tailgating them.

He was swearing and carrying on, and when my mother begged him to stop, told him that he was scaring her, he turned his rage on her.

He told her to shut up, that all she did was nag and whine.

He liked her fear, so he started driving faster, more recklessly, swerving all over the road and being a menace.

We were on a sharp turn when he tried to correct from being on the wrong side of the road, but he couldn’t make the turn in time to miss the other car,” I continued, remember the heart-stopping moment the other car appeared in our line of sight.

“Did...did the other driver die?” she asked quietly.

I shook my head and took another mouthful of my beer, taking a moment to breathe through all the old, ugly emotions.

“No. His reflexes were faster. He swerved to the other side, and when my father tried to correct his turn, we spun out of control. We hit the side of the railing, and the car flipped and rolled. By the time we stopped, I realized my father was dead. He got off easy, but my mother…” Ara sucked in a sharp breath and when I glanced back up at her, those big gray eyes were swimming with sympathy.

“Oh, Flynn.” I ducked my head. “It took them two hours to get me out of there, and she struggled to breathe for over an hour of it.” I’d never forget the sound she’d made, the wet, uneven sound of her breathing as her body struggled to cope with the massive internal injuries she’d suffered.

The final rattling breath she’d taken had haunted my dreams for a long time afterwards.

“I’m so sorry, Flynn,” Ara whispered thickly, her eyes filled with tears.

I shook my head and drew in a deep, cleansing breath.

I liked that she knew, but I didn’t want her to cry for me.

It was all in the past, and there was no changing it.

I’d come a long way since then. I was a different person.

Squeezing her hand gently, I leaned closer and gave her a small smile.

“I was turning out just like my father when we met,” I started.

Her eyes widened and she shook her head in denial, but I continued speaking before she could say anything.

“I was angry, hurting, and I wasn’t happy unless everyone around me was hurting as well.

If I had to cause the pain, then so be it.

But you…somehow, you found a way to get through to me.

You pulled me out of the dark a number of times.

Uncle Trevor was a huge help too, but there were times when even he couldn’t make me see a way out.

No one could do that… until you.” Her face softened, her eyes warming, and I was drawn once again to the beauty this woman possessed, inside and out.

“You could have fooled me,” she said with a small laugh.

“Half the time, I was certain you were putting up with me because you worried I’d cry if you were too mean.

” I grinned. “I admit, that was a worry, but it wasn’t why I listened to you.

I don’t know what it was, Ara. There was just something about you that called to me, that got through when nothing else would.

I found… peace with you. I still do.” She bit her lip and lowered her lashes, and fuck me , that look got me every time.

“I shouldn’t like hearing that as much as I do,” she admitted.

“Baby, you should like it every bit as much as you do. No other girl ever had that effect on me. You were always special, and you’ve grown up into a fucking amazing woman.

” “Language,” she murmured with a good-natured smile.

I laughed. “You like my foul mouth, admit it.” “Nope,” she said, sitting back to take a sip of her wine.

“Liar,” I accused and laughed. “You are a sucky liar.” She shook her head, and I grinned.

“Bet I can change your mind.” Her eyes narrowed.

“You’re a cocky man, Flynn.” I smirked. “I know my capabilities, that’s all.

And I know you, Ara.” She swallowed hard and when she didn’t say anything else, I leaned forward and crooked my finger at her.

Eyeing me wearily for a moment, she complied, and I grinned.

“Let’s dance while we talk,” I suggested softly.

Her smile made my cock go hard in my jeans, and it was an effort not to tangle my fingers in her thick hair and pull her mouth to mine.

Winking, I offered her my hand and she took it, heat climbing up her cheeks.

I led her to the dance floor where several couples were already dancing and pulled her close.

No, we didn’t know any real dances but holding her close and swaying was all I needed.

“You ready to be proven wrong?” I whispered.

She grinned. “Give it your best shot, Flynn.” Smirking, I leaned forward to press a kiss to her forehead.

“First of all, you look fucking gorgeous in that dress.” She gave a breathy laugh and shook her head.

“You didn’t need the curse in there.” “Second,” I said, continuing as if she hadn’t spoken.

“Your smile is fucking spectacular, and it makes me think all sorts of dirty things I want to do with your mouth.” Her breath hitched, and I traced a finger across her cheek and down her neck until my fingers were spanned across the slim column.

“Third: I fucking loved the sight of my handprint on your neck today, and all I could think about was fucking you with my hand around your throat while you squeeze my cock with your tight pussy.” Her breath stuttered and she swallowed hard.

“Flynn.” “I liked pinning you beneath me this morning in bed and feeling your hot body pressed into mine,” I whispered.

Her pupils blew wide, and her breath stalled.

“I liked holding your hands down and letting you feel my hard cock pressing into you, teasing you. I wanted to slide my hands beneath the waistband of your shorts and feel your slick pussy, to play with your clit until I had you screaming my name as you came.” She pressed tighter against me as if needing to friction, and the moment she did, I knew she could feel the bulge in my jeans.

Her mouth fell open with a small pant and I leaned closer, nipping at her lower lip.

“I fucking love the way you say my name with that little gasp, and the way every thought or desire is printed across your face for me to read. And I fucking love that, despite all these years, you still get on me about my language.” We were barely moving now, merely swaying on the spot as I murmured all these things to her.

I was very aware of the heat sweeping up her cheeks and the way her gray eyes were nearly black with arousal.

“Flynn.” “Ready to admit you like my dirty mouth, Angel?” Her gaze dropped to my mouth, and she leaned in close, her eyes glazed with lust, her breathing that smallest bit uneven.

“Flynn?” “Hmm?” “Do you want to get out of here?” My body locked tight at her question, and when she finally dragged her gaze up to mine, I wanted to shout with victory at the raw need I found there.

“Fuck yes,” I groaned. She grinned. “I like that answer.”