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carter

Finn and I haven’t left the house for almost a week.

We’ve spent the entire time wrapped up with each other, arguing over which movie marathon we’ll start next and exploring each other without any pressure from the outside world.

We turned our phones off and focused on just the two of us.

After everything Finn has been through, after the turmoil of our rocky start, we just wanted a moment to breathe.

What was supposed to be a few days turned into five.

I’m not complaining. For the first time in my life, I’ve found a place that makes me feel at home.

Finn stripped me to my barest form, and with him, I’m completely myself.

“Have you had enough of me yet? Ready to face the world?” he asks, his breath warm against my lips as he lies next to me, our heart rates coming down from the mind-blowing sex we just had.

Before I can answer, his tongue darts out, licking across the seam of my lips, begging me to open for him.

It’s a slow, erotic swipe that instantly fans that ember burning within me.

Instead of giving him what he wants, I lean in, nipping at his bottom lip and pulling it until it pops free.

The growl that works its way up his throat goes straight to my cock, even though I just came.

It’s never enough with him. I always want more. More. More.

My hands caress the clammy, bare skin of his rounded shoulder, down his strong arm, my fingers tracing over the bulging veins of his forearm.

“Mmm. I’ll never get enough of you, Finn.

But I am ready. I was thinking I would take you out to a bar.

When I wasn’t at Temptations, I would hang out there.

It’s a good spot, but everyone knows everyone here; we’re gonna run into people. People I’ve probably slept with.”

Finn cringes ever so slightly but then settles as my hand cups his sharp jaw, forcing him to meet my eyes. My thumb smooths across the soft skin under his stormy blue eyes before I speak. He’s so beautiful that it nearly causes me pain to look at him. I can’t believe he’s mine.

“You are it for me, Finn. I will tell you that as many times as you need to hear it.”

“What if you crave a female? It’s normal, and it’s all you’ve had until me.”

“Because it’s not about what’s between your legs, Finn.

It’s about who you are. Your company, the connection and chemistry we have, the comfort and safety you bring me.

Jesus Christ, the peace? Finn, that’s what matters.

You could be a green alien with two cocks and a tail, and I would still be in love with you.

It’s who you are here.” I place my hand against his chest, his heart beating rapidly beneath my hand.

“It’s how I feel when I’m with you. It’s that I love you .

You’re the first person I’ve ever been with that I had to force myself to walk away from. ”

And fuck if that isn’t the truth. Never in my twenty-five years of life did I think I would end up with a man or be bisexual.

But even more than that? I never thought I would be open to love.

Sex with Finn has always made sense, and I fought the love he was giving me and pulling out of me in equal measure as hard as I could.

But I’ve never been able to fight Finn and win.

For that, I’m so fucking thankful. He’s my person in every single way.

Finn laughs and it’s the best damn sound I’ve ever heard.

“A green alien would be pretty cool, though,” he says.

“Honestly, I’m only slightly disappointed that you aren’t,” I reply with humor. “You ready?”

“Yeah, take me out, lover. I don’t remember the last time I saw sunshine.”

“Hate to break it to ya, baby, you live in Aspen Ridge now, and that shit doesn’t come out often. Hope you like overcast, moody skies.”

“Looks like I’m just gonna have to ’cause you’re here. I wouldn’t be anywhere else.”

“You’ll love it.”

“I already do.”

Finn smacks my ass hard as I crawl out of the bed, growling as I turn around to face him.

“What was that for?” I snap.

“I’m still pissed at you for branding that fine ass, Hayes.”

A laugh bubbles up from deep within me. “Yeah, well, take it up with my asshole brothers, Nash.”

While Finn goes to shower and pull himself together, I power on my phone to text the group chat our plans and see if any of them are free.

Me: Finn and I are getting drinks at The Night Owl

Me: Come join us fuckers

Sawyer: Not gonna happen shit for brains, can’t exactly bring Grace into a bar now can I?

Me:

Dallas: Blaire and I are already heading out tonight. Glad to know you’ll be in AR though *wink emoji*

Liam: Do I even want to know wtf that means?

Me: Nope

Dallas: Not a chance in hell

Liam: Charlie is already in bed so Han and I are stayin’ in to watch Scream

Kinsey: I’ll come. Bringing Olivia

Me: You and Lo still not talking?

Kinsey: After the shit she pulled with Han and Hailey? Hard no.

Sawyer: Good. Stay away from shit friends Kins

Kinsey: Yes, of course, brother almighty. Next time I’ll be sure to ask my keepers to vet my friends first

Dallas: Only your boyfriends

Sawyer: No boyfriends

Liam: None

Me: For fuck’s sake, Kins- meet us there.

Tossing my phone to the bed, I grab the bottle of lube from the floor and jog to the bathroom to find Finn standing under the spray. Pulling open the glass door, I step in to join him. My fingers glide over his wet hips, pulling him back flush against me.

“Fuck, I love you like this,” I growl into his shoulder, his skin pebbling with goosebumps from my touch. My hands move down to spread his ass, my hard dick finding its home between them.

“Mmm. We’re in here to get clean. We’re going out, remember?”

“Perfect place to get messy again, in my opinion.”

“You’re insatiable, lover.”

“For you I am, baby,” I tell him between kissing across his strong shoulder blades. “Let me fuck you. Want you leaking my cum while we’re out.”

His head drops back onto my shoulder, and I take full advantage of his exposed neck, licking up the column and back down again.

“Oh, fuck, when you talk like that,” Finn whispers.

“You turn to putty in my hands.”

Finn just moans as I slip a finger into his hole, pumping him firmly.

“You gonna let me fuck you out of your mind now?”

“When have I ever said no to you, Carter?”

“That’s my good boy, baby.”

I make good on my promise, pumping him so full of my cum there’s no chance he won’t be leaking it all night .

The Night Owl is hopping as Finn and I walk in.

I’ve imagined this moment more times than I can count.

Shelby, the owner, nods to me as I take the only seat available at the far end of the bar, Finn next to me, saying he’d prefer to stand.

We order two whiskeys—Aspen Ridge—and as Finn picks up the glass and brings the cold liquid to his lips, I take a moment to study the side of his face.

It takes a lot of courage to do what he’s doing.

Moving to a small town where everyone knows everyone, a place where his boyfriend has quite the reputation for getting around with the female population, and trusting that I’m going to stand by him and own what’s between us. As if I would let him down.

My fingers twitch against Finn’s hip as Maya DiAngelo walks up to us with wide eyes.

Finn’s spine straightens as if he’s bracing for it, but I give him a squeeze in reminder that I’m here with him.

That I chose him—the only person I’ve ever chosen.

Maya and I hooked up a few times, and she was one of the few who thought she could nail me down.

“Carter. This is quite a surprise,” she says as she arches a brow, looking at Finn.

He’s wearing a pair of denim jeans that hug his ass and thighs perfectly, and a navy blue button-up shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows.

He looks so goddamn good, I’m sure she’s jealous I nailed him down and not the other way around. She’d be crazy not to.

“Is it?” I ask, pulling Finn between my spread legs as I turn in her direction, my thumb rubbing against his hip through his soft shirt.

“I mean, if I really think about it, it makes total sense. Of course it would take a man to settle your wild ass down.”

I laugh lightheartedly because she’s not completely wrong. “Nah, just needed him. ”

“Well? Are you going to introduce me?”

“Maya, this is my boyfriend, Finn. Finn, Maya.” I give the introductions with confidence and pride, and it doesn’t go unnoticed by either of them, both grinning at me with huge smiles. My face flushes from the unwanted attention, and I grip Finn harder.

“Happiness looks good on you, Carter. It was nice to meet you, Finn.”

Finn nods his head before spinning in my arms, his hands hooking around my neck as I look up at him.

“See? That wasn’t so bad, was it?” I ask, trying to make light of the situation.

“I love you,” is all he says in return before leaning down and pressing a soft, chaste kiss against the side of my turned-up lips.

The contact immediately lights that fire, and I quickly wrap my fingers around the back of his neck, forcing the kiss deeper, longer, the rest of the world fading away as it always does.

A loud smack rips us apart, Finn’s lips red from the force of my kiss. I look at the asshole to find my sister looking at us like we’ve lost our minds.

“I’m sure lots of people are enjoying the show, but you’re my brother, so cut it out! Get a room if you need to! I did not come over here to watch my brother suck face with his boyfriend. K?”

“Damn, calm yourself down, pipsqueak. What’s gotten into you?”

“Just ready for my freedom! I love you all, Carter, but I feel like I’m suffocating some days, and I just want to experience life without you Neanderthals hovering over me like a pack of rabid wolves.”

“Hey,” I say, putting my hands in the air defensively. “I didn’t give you any shit about the friends or boyfriend then, I’m trying, Kins.”

“I guess.” She shrugs.

“It’ll be better once you move into your own apartment. Next week, right?”

“Yeah, Reid said he wanted to do a little work on something in there and then it was all mine.”

“I’ve got a ton of furniture I was going to donate if you want to look at any of it for your place,” Finn offers, and Kinsey beams at him.

“I would love that! Thank you.”

“It’ll work out, Kins. We’ve got you. We’re in your corner,” I vow to her.

“I hope so. ’Cause I’m ready to start living for me, and you four are going to need to let me.”

A sharp pang hits my heart, but I nod through it. She’s right. We can’t keep protecting her from everything, and we have to let her live her life how she wants to and hope that we’ve all prepared her enough. She’s got this, and we’ll love her, wherever her path leads her.

We spend the next few hours sipping on drinks and chatting with my sister, whose best friend couldn’t make it, before walking up Main Street and back to our house.

Our house.

I thread my fingers through Finn’s and yank him close to me so that our shoulders bump.

“What was that for?”

“I’ve imagined this so many times this summer. Wondered what it would feel like to walk up this street with you by my side.”

“Yeah? How’s it compare to the real thing?”

“This is a million times better than my dreams, baby.”

“Good, ’cause you’ve got me forever.”

“Forever.”