Talk to Me (10 page)

AUDIENCE ACCUMULATION (n.):

The addition of new audiences to a television program.

Casey

“My spies tell me the women back at the station are all high-fiving in your honor, Casey,” Jonathan said.

“And what about The Mole?” I asked.

“Yeah, I guess his swears could be heard around the entire newsroom.”

“Well, it’s been nice working with you,” I told Jonathan.

“Don’t worry,” Mack chimed in. “
My
spies tell me the suits loved it. And Phil reports to them. I would bet money that he tells them it was all his idea.”

The suits, aka the news management, were my only hope in saving this job. A job I’d somehow grown to love. I cringed at the thought of facing Phil tonight. Thankfully, I didn’t have to.

We were helping Jonathan break down the equipment and load it back in the truck when I noticed my car was in the lot.

“What the hell?”

“I told one of the guys to drop it off,” Mack said. When we park at the station lot at night, we leave our keys in case they need to move the cars around the tight space.

“Why?” I asked.

“I thought Phil would need a little time to cool off. Let me handle him tonight.”

“I can’t let you fight my battles, Mack.”

“I’m not fighting them for you. I’m just delaying it, so you stand a chance. What you did tonight was awesome. Let that sink in. Let your work, work for you. I just don’t want you going head-to-head with Phil right now. You know how he gets.”

I nodded. “You’re the best, you know.”

“Oh, she knows,” Jonathan says, piling the rest of his equipment in the truck. “We’ll see you tomorrow, Casey. In the meantime, turn off your phone.”

I got into my car and blew out a deep breath, releasing all the tension that knotted in my shoulders. I couldn’t let the girls and Jonathan know, but I’d never been so nervous.

Listening to orders, I didn’t pick up my phone on the drive back to Stillwater. I was sure Phil had filled my voicemail by now, but I was on such a high I knew he’d only bring me down. And I was determined not to let anything ruin my night.

But when I pulled into Finn’s place, all that anxiety came back with a vengeance.

***

Finn greeted me at the door with a chuckle and a shake of the head.

“So did Phil have a coronary?” he asked.

“Don’t know. Don’t care.”

“What does that mean exactly?”

“Jonathan and Mack are covering for me. It was such a great night, they didn’t want him to ruin it. Plus, Mack found out that the management loved our little stunt.”

“And so did everyone else.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, let’s just say you lit it up on social media. You’ve turned into quite a press princess all of a sudden. How do you feel about that?”

“I’m not sure,” I said, forgetting about everything with Finn so close, smelling so incredible.

“Scratch that. No thinking tonight, let’s just celebrate.”

“I’m completely down with that,” I said, noticing Finn’s eyes on me. “What?” I asked, feeling self-conscious.

“You amaze me, Case,” he said. “You went after what you wanted tonight. I’m so impressed.”

His praise made my heart swell, even if I knew I didn’t deserve it.

“I don’t think you’d be impressed if you knew everything about me.”

“I know you are smart, and talented, and you have drive and integrity. And trust me, those traits aren’t easy to come by.”

“Finn, I need to tell you something.” It was time, I waited too long and it was eating at me more and more every day. I had never been a coward before, but I was afraid. Afraid of what I felt for the guy after such a short time. Afraid of how he made me feel — so uneasy, out of control, but in a perfect way. He was exciting and freeing and I knew once I had a taste of everything he could offer, I’d never want anything or anyone else. Most of all I was afraid that once I told him about my original intentions, he’d leave.

“No,” Finn said without wavering, giving me the out I so desperately wanted. “Not tonight. I’ve waited too long for you, Casey, and I’m not going to wait any longer.”

Finn

Kiki was talking, but I wasn’t listening. Instead I went back to the night that changed everything.

I grabbed Casey a little more roughly than I intended. I was tired of waiting, tired of trying to be the good guy. I wasn’t a good guy and it was best if she knew that right now. There was nothing remotely noble or gallant in my nature. I had plenty women who would attest to that fact.

But I was trying. And I wanted to be good for her. To her.

Still, enough was enough.

My fingers laced through the belt loops of her jeans and I pulled her toward me.

“I want you, Casey,” I told her. “Tell me now if you don’t feel the same way.”

A flash of something passed over her face when she said, “I do want this, but—”

I cut her off right there. “No,” I said. “No over thinking this. No flimsy excuses or second guessing. I can’t take any more. In about ten seconds, I’m going to take what I wanted that first time I saw you. What I would’ve killed to finish the first time I had you in my home.”

A tiny moan fell from her lips, so I kept going.

“You were so wet that day. So shocked at what I was doing to you, but so turned on. You didn’t want to like it, didn’t want to like me, but you did.”

She turned then, to hang her messenger bag on the coat rack. I took the opportunity to move in. My chest flush with her back, I drew her to me.

She tensed for a moment. But as I started whispering all the things I wanted to do to her, she melted into me.

“It’s now or never,” I said, slipping my hand under her sweatshirt.

Her skin was hot to the touch, soft, and trembling when I placed my palm on her stomach.

Casey dropped her head on my shoulder and said, “Now.”

My dick twitched at the sound of her ragged voice, and the promise of what was to come.

I began to move my hand in lazy circles on her stomach while my other hand ran up and down her throat. I could feel her pulse racing under my touch. I wanted more.

I pulled off her shirt, uncovering her flawless olive skin and,
Christ
, she looked fucking edible in her plain white bra. It was simple and soft, just like I know she wanted to be. But she was also so complex and tough. Seeing her like this, with me, was better than I ever remembered it being with anyone.

Unable to tear my eyes away, I soaked in her perfect form, aching to touch her heavy breasts.

So maybe this is why you wait.

If I hadn’t been able to spend time with Casey, and if I didn’t know her quirks and humor and spunky personality, would I appreciate this moment? Of course, I’d be mad for her body, but I saw how she was more than that. I felt pangs of guilt for a past with a nameless, faceless group of girls that I only wanted for one thing.

“What is it?” Casey asked, noticing my sudden change.

“Nothing,” I automatically replied. A response that came naturally from people always asking what was wrong with me.
Man, where do I even begin.

I wanted her to know about me, about the illness. I wanted her to know that if we did this, it would be the first time that I did it in my right mind. This was real. But I remember what she said when I told her about Mom. She could never do it — take care of someone like me. I knew that was a lie. I knew she could, but now was not the time to tell her.

“Come back to me,” she said.

A vibrating sound came up from my chest. I hardly recognized it as my own. Casey did something to me; she got to me so deep inside I didn’t think I could ever get enough from her. I’m embarrassed to say I lunged at her like a starving animal. It was as though my life depended on her. And I wanted to consume.

I flipped her over my shoulder and she screamed.

“Put me down, Finn. I’m a grown woman; I can walk.”

The way she squirmed in my arms made me crazy. The good kind of crazy.

Fuck.

This was going to be fun.

FREEZE FRAME (n.):

A technique in which a single frame of video is repeated in sequence to give the effect of frozen, suspended, or stopped motion.

Casey

I was flying.

Literally.

This Neanderthal of a man tossed me off his shoulder into his bed.

And it felt so good to let someone else be in control for once. Not having to think. Just feel. But as much as I wanted to let go and open to him, something held me back.

“I can feel those wheels turning again, Case,” he said. “I’m asking — no, I’m begging — please turn it off tonight. Please give yourself to me.”

“I want to,” I told him, my voice breaking. “I want to so much.”

“Let me take the lead,” he said. “I need you to let me.”

Finn didn’t wait for my response. Instead, he took my hands, turned them over and placed a soft kiss in each palm. It was sweet and comforting, but not for long.

He pulled them up to the slats on his headboard and growled, “Now hold on, and don’t fucking let go.”

There were no words to describe what his command did to me. It excited and calmed me in equal measure. It shut down all the racing thoughts in my head and finally, magnificently, allowed me to let go.

Finn made quick work of my jeans so that within seconds I was spread out for him, wearing only my bra and panties. At that moment, I wished I wore lingerie. I wished I wasn’t so practical. I wished I knew how to be sexy.

“You are so fucking sexy,” Finn said as if he could read my thoughts.

“Not exactly the most exciting choice of undergarments,” I said. The old me rising to the surface.

“Case, you could wear a paper sack and still give me an aching hard-on.”

I laughed. “You’re so romantic.”

“Can’t help it, you make me want to do and say filthy things to you.”

Now this was new. I never had anyone talk dirty during sex. I never even thought about it. I was usually too focused on getting to the end. I always managed to orgasm, but it was almost always on my part versus my partner. I had the feeling that was going to change tonight.

“Like what?” I asked, encouraging him.
What had gotten into me?

“Like how I need to take off this prim white bra and panties before I can do what I’ve been craving since the first time I saw you.”

“So you
were
looking at me as an object then,” I said, only partially kidding.

“Fuck yes, I was,” he said, unapologetic. That familiar zing traveled to all the best places.

Finn leaned over me, moving in for a kiss before he changed paths and went down to my breast. He pulled the cup of my bra down and covered his mouth over the peak of my nipple. The warm heat pulled an invisible thread that went down between my legs. It was a direct line of pleasure that had me arching off the bed.

“Hold on,” he said. “Don’t let go.”

I nodded because I could no longer find my words when his mouth went to my neglected breast and his hands began to travel up and down my sides. I held on and let the sensations wash over me.

Finn slid down my body and nestled himself between my legs, giving the same treatment to my most private parts. He pulled my panties to the side and glided his tongue down the center of me. Again, I felt the warm heat and that invisible thread made my nipples so hard, they actually hurt straining against the cotton.

My legs opened for him. I was unabashed and so full of need, I didn’t think about how I looked. I only wanted him closer.

“Take off your shirt,” I ordered him. I had to feel his skin on me as he worked over my body.

“What did I say about giving up control?” He smirked.

I wanted to bite that lip so desperately, my mouth opened on instinct.

He must’ve liked that because a low hiss came out of those lips and I could feel the moisture soaking my panties.

His smirk was gone and he complied with my command. He reached up and peeled his shirt off and I think my mouth dropped open again. He was so beautiful. Not an ounce of fat on him, he was cut and strong, but still lean. Black ink ran down his rib cage and I couldn’t wait for my turn at this game so I could lick and nip at it.

Between my legs I could feel the smooth skin of his arms on the inside of my thighs before he bit the waistband of my underwear and pulled.

He spread my legs wider and just looked at me.

There.

It was obscene. Dirty.

I wanted more.

Finn hovered over me; his eyes almost black. His stomach pushed against my slick skin and I thought I’d die if he didn’t touch me. He yanked down the other cup of my bra, so both breasts spilled over. They were propped high by the underwire, and that’s how he left them.

He retreated from me, just a little, to admire his work.

I’m not sure what order things happened next, because I felt everything at once: his weight on me; his mouth running over each peak of my breasts; his fingers sliding along my seam; his thumb circling my clit.

The world stopped spinning for several glorious seconds, and I was frozen in time.

Then, it erupted.

I called out in pain, in pleasure, in fear, and excitement. I was feeling so much, I couldn’t put a name on it.

And by the time two of his fingers finally pushed inside, I clenched around him and came hard and fast.