Finn's Shot (Eden's Odyssey Book 1) (8 page)

When my alarm goes off at ten
that morning, I roll over and smack the hard plastic of the phone with the palm
of my hand. Then I roll to my back and stare at the ceiling. Having a
conversation with Finn about all of this is the equivalent of pulling my
fingernails out with tweezers. It’s part of what I wanted to avoid all this
time. There’s no good way to explain why I own a sex club or what my kink is.
It’s why I only dated seriously one time since James and I broke up eight years
ago.  

I get up and shower and pour
my morning coffee, hoping to find the courage I need inside the cup, and then I
sit on the couch to dial Finn’s number. My hand shakes a little as I wait for
him to pick up. By ring number six, I know he’s not picking up. I let out the
breath I’ve been holding. It never goes to voicemail, so I can’t leave a
message, but if he wants to talk to me, I know he’ll call. He’ll be able to see
I called him like I said I would. I just think maybe he finally understood why
we wouldn’t work out. A part of me hoped he would listen to what I had to say
and realize it’s not so bad and want to try with me. I think it’s the same part
of me that at eight years old I wore princess dresses for a year and waited
every night for prince charming to stop by our house with the glass slipper.
Although we’ve been apart for a month, seeing him at Eden’s Odyssey sparked a
little hope in my heart. He’s the first man I’ve known I could fall in love
with since James.

I puff out a sigh and head
for my studio. When my heart hurts, I paint, and right now, my heart hurts
something fierce.

Before I set my phone down, I
type out a text message to Finn.

I’m sorry about last
night. If you decide you want to talk, you know how to find me.

~Darcy

I spend the morning painting and use the darkest colors I
have in a while to reflect the mood of my heart at the moment. When I finally
come up for air, it’s past six in the evening, so I prepare myself for work.
For the first time in many years, the thought of going in holds no excitement.
After my hair and makeup are done, I pick up my cell and dial the number to Georgia’s
place. Nurse Mary answers.

“Hi, Mary. It’s Darcy Baxter.”

“Oh, hi, Darcy! How are you
this evening?”

“I’m good. I was just calling
to check on Georgia.”

“She’s been quiet today. Not
much change. I wish I had better news, but at least she’s not worse. Doc will
be in tomorrow. Want me to have him call you?”

“Yes ma’am. I’d appreciate
that. Does she at least seem comfortable?”

“Yes, she does. She’s just
not jubilant like she usually is. Quiet is the only way to describe her right
now. If something changes, I’ll call your cell phone. I made a note for Doc to call
you. Have a good night, sweetie.”

“Thanks, Mary, you, too.”

I hang up, and the stone in my gut grows heavier as I think
of Georgia laying there lifeless, even her childlike qualities quiet for now. I
shake my head, trying to dispel the sad thoughts and leave for work.

A few hours later, I’m walking the length of the dungeon
when James finds me. I bend my head closer to listen and my eyes dip to the
floor as he whispers in my ear, “Mr. Thompson is back at the front desk. This
is the last day on his pass. Christina wasn’t sure if after last night he’s be
allowed back.”   

My heart jumps at the thought that maybe he came back for
me, but then I remember he didn’t pick up when I called this morning and never
called me back. Solemnly I nod and ask, “Is he here with the member?”

“Yes, Mr. Tyler is with him.”

I lift my eyes to meet his. I can tell by the look on his
face he doesn’t want to permit entrance, but I think Finn’s harmless. He’s just
like everyone else and drawn back to Eden by the pleasures of the flesh and the
beautiful people you find here.

“Yes, he can come in. I don’t think he’ll cause any issues.
If there’s a problem, just let me know.”

He holds my gaze for several long seconds before he asks,
“Are you sure? I don’t want you hurt by his presence.”

The corners of my lips lift slightly as I paste on a small
fake smile and nod. His eyes search mine before he nods in return and
disappears from the room.

My stomach does a backwards somersault. If I actually ate
today, I’d probably throw up, but I’ve been pretty queasy since I woke up. It’s
cruel that he’d come back here tonight knowing I’d be here after he avoided me.
Maybe he’s a sadist. Torture might be his thing.

I stay in the second floor dungeon for another twenty
minutes, and then begin making my rounds through the rest of the building.
Before I get to the scene rooms, I spot Finn leaning on the bar with one elbow.
His hair is damp like he took a shower and came straight here. My mind drifts
to an image of him in the shower as the water runs along all the lines of his
muscular body. I give a quick shake of my head to clear the thoughts away and
continue past him. If he wanted to talk to me he, would’ve called earlier
today. I skate around the back way through a little known, never used hallway
to my office. Just catching a glimpse of him makes my knees weak and my heart
hurt a little for all the things I can never have.

After a half an hour of reviewing this last month’s bank
statement, I hear a knock on the door. James enters before I can say anything.

“Mr. Thompson would like a
word with you.”

My eyes open wide with
surprise. I sit up straighter and square my shoulders.

“Where is he?”

“Outside the door. If you decide too, I want to be present.
After last night, I don’t trust the guy, and I don’t want you hurt.”

“It’ll be okay. He’ll never hurt me, James. He’s just upset.
He doesn’t understand this lifestyle. I’ll keep my panic button in my pocket. If
something happens, I’ll press it right away. Don’t worry. I need to have this
conversation. Just ask Charles to wait outside my office if you’re nervous.”

It’s obvious he’s angry when he glares at me and says, “I
don’t like it, but I’ll let you make that decision. I’ll get Charles before I
let him in.”

“Alright. Thanks, James, for
looking out for me.”

He runs his fingers through his blonde hair leaving it a
little wild. His agitation is apparent but his face softens before he replies, “Always.”

He slides back out the door
as I wait for Finn to enter.  

I’m pacing when he opens the door and enters. Tonight he’s
in another black suit with a gray button-up shirt sans tie, and his sexy factor
is through the roof. It makes me a little ill to think he could hook up with
someone else while under the same roof as me. I’m not sure I could handle
knowing about it. That was part of what killed things for James and me.

As Charles closes it, he
stands inside the door, his eyes stormy, lips set in a frown.

“Finn,” I greet with all the
strength I can muster.

He says nothing, just stalks forward, takes my face in his
hands and kisses me so deeply my toes curl.  

Releasing my mouth, he leans his forehead against mine, and
his eyes stay closed. His hands cup my chin, and he kisses me again. Slower
this time with more delicate strokes of his tongue, and all the tension I’m
holding on to slips out of me, which floats to the floor in a forgotten mess.

“God, I missed that,” he
breathes.

“Why didn’t you answer when I
called?” I ask, unable to mask the hurt in my voice.

He releases my face and turns to face the wall that holds a
giant painting I created a few years ago of a beautiful blonde woman in profile
as she stands in the Garden of Eden with the reddest apple in existence held in
her delicate hand.  

“I didn’t want the complication of whatever you had to say.
I don’t want to want you. I’m the kind of guy looking for the house with the white
picket fence and a couple of kids and a dog. A sex club owner has never been on
that list.”

“Then why are you here?” My stomach dips and twists like I’m
riding a roller coaster as I wait for his response.

“Because I can’t stay away from you. You’re like a siren calling
to something deep inside me. This is my last night with a pass and my last
night in town for a week. I couldn’t leave without seeing you.”

He turns back to me, waiting
for my reaction.

“Finn. This is who I am. It’s
who I’ve been for twelve years. There is more to this story, but the end of it
is still with me being the owner of a private sex club. I can’t and won’t
change that right now. Eventually, maybe, but not now.”

He runs an impatient hand
through his hair and takes an abrupt step into my space.

“Tell me why.”

“I like to be watched and to
watch others. I don’t know why I like it, I just do. I don’t sleep with random
people. In fact, I’m certain I’ve been with far less people than you, but I’m a
voyeur and an exhibitionist, and I’m not going to apologize for that.”

“Other than me, who was the
last person you were with?” 

“A woman named Vanessa about
two years ago. We never dated, but she was into the same thing, and we’d hook
up here in the scene rooms. It filled a need for a while. We broke it off when
she fell in love with a man she worked with. Before that I dated a guy for
about nine months. Before that it was James and also two one night stands mixed
in there somewhere. All with club people and all here on the premises.”

The shocked expression on his
face says it all. He’s horrified by what he’s just learned about me. This is
why I didn’t tell him from the start. Having someone look at me the way he’s
looking at me now hurts so much worse than just letting him go. I turn away as
shame burns through me.  

“Just go, Finn. I knew from
the start this wouldn’t work even with the incredible chemistry we seem to have.” 

He ignores what I’ve said to
ask, “That’s all you’ve been with and you own a sex club? I don’t get it.”

“There’s more you don’t know,
but I can’t stand the way you’re looking at me now that you know. Why drag this
out? We already know it won’t work. I can’t give this up right now.”

“It’s not your history with
other people that’s freaking me out, Darcy. You’re right that I’ve been with
more people than you. I can’t even be exact about who or how many so you’re in better
shape than I am. What I can’t come to terms with is sharing you. Even if it’s
just the visual of you. I don’t want every man around me to know what my woman
looks like when she comes. Or hear the sounds she makes when I’m eating her
pussy. Those are mine and mine alone. I wanted to beat some ass last night when
I saw people getting off to the vision of you.”

I hold my hand up to stop his
thought process. “Have you ever had sex in the same room as someone else?
Either while they do the same or just watch?” I ask, trying to make a point.

His body goes still as he contemplates
his answer. He doesn’t have to say a word for me to know he has, I can read it
in his body language.

“It was hot wasn’t it? You
probably came harder than you usually do and performed better, too.”

His eyes are wide, but he
hasn’t said anything.  

 I continue, “I don’t
know why I get off on it, but I do. The human body is beautiful and watching
someone enjoy that is sensual and sexy as hell. You can lie to yourself all day
long and say you didn’t like it, but I bet seeing me in the scene room with
people watching got your cock hard as steel. If I would have touched you right
after, I bet you would have exploded in one pump.”

“I don’t want to share you.”
He’s adamant about his feelings on this.

“You don’t have that choice.
Besides we aren’t together; there is no sharing to it,” I explain to him
snottily. I only resort to that tone when I’m trying to keep from being hurt.

“You know I want to be together.”
His eyes are pleading with me to understand.

I clench my hands and squeeze
my eyes shut. I’m so darn frustrated that he doesn’t seem to get it.

“Come with me. Just once and
watch one of the rooms with me. If you don’t like it, you leave. If you do, we
can talk more.” It’s the only olive branch I can offer. My hope is that he will
enjoy it too much to give it up… to give me up.

I wait with crossed arms for
his answer. I don’t think he’ll do it, but either way, the conversation ends
now. I won’t stand here and defend myself any more. Nothing he says changes who
I am, and if he cares about me, he won’t ask me to. His hands run impatiently
through his hair, mussing the beautiful dark strands.

“Alright. I’ve got nothing to
lose. Let’s do this.” He throws his shoulders back and adjusts his suit coat
like he’s walking into a meeting with a bunch of big-wigs.

“You have to promise to keep
an open mind, and if you get pissed, just leave. I don’t want the wrong kind of
scene, and I don’t want Charles to throw you out.” His scowl deepens, and he
nods.

I grab his hand, thankful for
the moment I have an excuse to touch him, as I lead him through the main room and
down the hallway to the last room. The light is on in the room so I know
someone is in there. I have no idea what we’ll find. I just hope it’s something
that works for him. I was trying to find the least crowded space to do this. I
grab the last seat at the end and gesture for him to sit in it.

Tonight there is a lovely
young woman, completely bare, stretched out on her stomach on a massage table.
She’s young. Probably twenty-four or twenty-five years old and beautiful. Her
supple body is all natural. Rounded hips, small waist, toned legs, alabaster
skin and because I know this girl, I know she has beautiful perky breasts. Her
arms hang down off the table while her hands rest on handles down below. Her
legs are slightly spread open for the viewers to glimpse her glistening sex.

The man behind her has on white
draw string linen pants and nothing else. He’s also young, about the same age
and buff. Well defined muscles cover the landscape of his body. He must wax or
shave everywhere because there’s no visible hair on his entire body. He grabs
the large bottle of oil on the stand next to him, and he squirts a line from
her neck to her ass crack. He places the bottle back on the stand and begins to
work the oil in to the skin on her upper back in wide strokes, moving his way
down as he goes. When he gets to her ass he kneads the fleshy rounds in his
palms, separating the two parts, allowing us to view the hidden treasure
underneath and the puckered pink opening of her ass. His fingers subtly swipe
near both entrances but never quite touches them. The longer this goes on, the
more she squirms, like she’s trying to get him to penetrate one or both holes.
Soft whimpers and the sound of his heavy breathing leak out of the speakers around
the viewing area to surround us.