Camera Shy (Lessons in Love, #1)(44)

This night has barely begun.

“Why are your pants still on?” I ask, nodding toward his shorts. Never have I been more eager to see a man’s erect penis before in my life.

Except Finn cringes. Apologetically.

“Hop down,” he says, holding out his arms to catch me. Draping the robe over me, he kisses my cheek. “Come on.” Grabbing my hand, he leads me to the bedroom. He just tasted the most intimate part of my body, but it still gives me nervous flutters when he holds my hand. Leading me to the bed, Finn pulls the corner of the cover down and guides me into a sit. He joins me, sitting right beside me, shoulder to shoulder. “Can I get you anything? Water? A beer?”

“Why do I feel like you’re leaving?”

He lets out a big sigh. “Because I am.”

“Did I do something wrong—”

“Don’t even say it, Avery.” He kisses my shoulder. “You are perfect. In fact, you really got into it.”

I turn my head to face him and he’s smirking. I roll my eyes. My confidence has sobered, and I’m embarrassed at how animalistic I just acted on that closet counter.

“Sorry. It’s not my usual style…”

“Don’t be. It was great. But I realize that you must be really comfortable with me to let your guard down like that.”

I pat his knee. “I am.” It’s strange. It doesn’t make sense. But I am.

“Which means I have more responsibility in this than I realized,” he says softly.

“What does that mean?”

Finn turns his knee in to face me. He tucks a loose hair behind my ear as he speaks, “When I left you in the hot tub, I got a call.”

“I know.” I’m worried about why he’s grimacing. “Who called?”

“Someone who really pissed me off.”

“Do you want to talk about it?”

He releases something between a laugh and a grunt. I’m not sure exactly. I just know it means hell no. “I was upset, so I came over thinking we could have some fun and comfort each other, but I want tonight to stay just for you. Can I take you out before we go any further?”

Out? Like into the world? Where people would see us together? “Finn…you told me you weren’t ready for a relationship, and I heard you loud and clear. Mason and I just broke up as well. I have no expectations from you. I’m not trying to trick you into dating me. I really just needed a safe space to explore this side of myself.” A secret, safe place. Because if people knew what we were up to, Finn might be the one embarrassed for a change.

“I wasn’t thinking that.” He cocks his head to the side. “I meant, let’s go to dinner as friends. Just because I’m not your boyfriend, doesn’t mean I don’t respect you. You told me you want me to teach you how to have good sex. No matter how you look at it, it gives me the upper hand and puts you in a vulnerable position.”

“True.” I’m impressed with his intuitiveness here. Really impressed. It’s strange, almost.

“I think we’re going to have fun doing this, but let me be a good guy about it. Okay? So have dinner with me tomorrow night, and then I’ll fuck you senseless right after.”

Why the hell are you single? How is this possible? Now I need to see his penis immediately because there must be something horrendously wrong with it. Maybe he murdered someone? Maybe he tortures puppies? What’s wrong with this man?

“Okay, thank you. That is incredibly nice.”

Finn smiles. “I have a client tomorrow afternoon, but I’ll be done well before six. Do you have a nice dress?”

Literally one. It’s the same dress I wore to my thirtieth birthday dinner. I don’t even know why I packed it. It’s the only dress I feel good in, and I didn’t want to leave it behind with Mason.

“Yeah.”

“Okay, good. The place I want to take you to has a dress code.” He kisses my forehead. “Get changed and comfortable. I’ll lock up on my way out then go through the back gate.”

He stands, but I stop him, my hand clenching his forearm.

“Hey, Finn?”

“Yeah?” He blinks at me expectantly with his baby blue eyes. His light eyes in contrast with his jet-black hair are so striking. Finn’s an interesting combination of sexy, yet beautiful. I don’t know whether I want to fuck him or paint him.

“Do you read women’s magazines or something? Or, like…follow Oprah. It’s weird. You told me to fuck your face, and yet you also want to be a gentleman and take me to dinner before sex?”

Finn chuckles. “You just haven’t seen my dark side. Yet. I’m taking you to a really nice restaurant and I’m going to pick up the tab. Then, when we get home, I’m going to make you earn your meal.”

I cross my legs as the stirring between my thighs kicks up again. “All right then, Finn. Keep your secrets. Good night.”

I stand up, intent on grabbing a clean pair of underwear, but Finn pauses in the bedroom doorway. He spins around to look at me across the room. “Avery, my dad is a womanizer.”

“What?” I’m caught off guard by his odd declaration.

“My dad treats women like shit. And I swear, I’m his spitting image. My entire life is basically my apology to the world for his behavior and a desperate attempt to prove that even though I look just like him, I’m nothing like him.” Finn’s eyes are on the hardwood floor, one of the rare moments he’s not making eye contact with me. “That’s why I’m nice.”