15. Margo
FIFTEEN
MARGO
Finn is here.
In front of me.
Shirtless, sweaty, and holding out a medal.
I blink and stare at him, wondering what the hell is going on.
“You ran?” I ask, which feels like the dumbest thing in the world to say.
Obviously he ran.
There’s a bib attached to his shorts and a medal around his neck. His cheeks are red and there is dried sweat along his hairline. I want to kick myself for how silly I sound.
“I did. And so did you.” He holds out the medal and I dip my head so he can put it on me. “Congratulations on your first 5k. How do you feel?”
“Marginally better than the half marathon, but also like I want to puke. Is that normal?”
“Totally normal. Let’s get you some water and Gatorade.”
“This feels familiar.”
“There’s less collapsing this time, so we’re off to a better start.” He offers me his arm and I rest my hand on his biceps to balance. “What was your time?”
I check my watch. “Twenty-eight minutes and forty-five seconds.”
“Damn, Miss Andrews. That’s impressive work, my friend.”
It’s funny to hear him call me his friend after the filthy things he said the other night. After he easily tossed around names like baby , but I like the way it rolls off his tongue. I like imagining a world where we can be cordial with each other, even after sleeping together.
“It is?” I ask.
“It certainly is. You should be proud of yourself.”
His praise lights me up, and I’m warmer than I was when I was exerting myself on the course. Nothing about it is condescending, and it makes me feel like I accomplished something important. Like I did a good job, and I never thought I’d be so proud of a physical achievement.
“Thanks,” I say, and a weird burst of emotion sits in the middle of my chest. I accept a sports drink from a volunteer and twist open the cap. “What was your time?”
“Fourteen minutes and some change.”
“Holy shit.” I choke on my sip of yellow Gatorade and wipe my mouth with the back of my hand. “You are unreal.”
“It was a good day. I saw Katarina, by the way. She was the first female, and she told me you’d be here. I, uh, hope it’s okay I’m accosting you at the finish line.” Finn pushes his sunglasses up his nose and looks away. “If you want to get rid of me, I’ll leave you be.”
“No.” I grip his arm tighter, pulled to him like a magnet. “I like having you greet me after I’ve returned from the depths of hell.”
His laugh is light, and he leads us to the field where runners and spectators are reuniting. “It sucks, doesn’t it?”
“I’m never doing another one.”
“Yeah. I said that too. Now look at me.” He lifts his arm and waves to the two guys we sat with the other night at the bar. I spot Katarina with them, and a brunette woman I don’t recognize. “Want to come say hi to my friends?”
“As long as I’m not interrupting the club of fast athletes or anything. I’d hate to bring down the average pace of the group by five minutes.”
“Stop that.” He touches my hip, and I shiver at the contact. I’ve missed the feel of his palm on my body. How he dragged his fingers across my chest and down my stomach. I got off to the thought of him last night, imagining he was watching me from his desk while I fucked myself with a toy instead of a Christmas ornament. My cheeks burn at the memory, and I wonder if he can read minds, because his mouth curls up in one of his devastating smirks. “What did I tell you about self-deprecation?”
“To not do it.”
“Exactly. And you’re not interrupting anything.”
“Okay.” I tug on my shirt, wishing I had brought a change of clothes. “If you say so.”
“I definitely say so. What are you doing after this? Do you have any plans?”
“Am I supposed to do something other than sit on my couch the rest of the afternoon and wallow in pain?”
“Nope. That sounds like the perfect day.” He laughs again and plays with the end of my ponytail. “Come back to my place,” he murmurs, dropping his voice low. “You can shower, and I’ll stretch you out.”
“There’s no way in hell I can bend the ways I did the other night after that run,” I tell him.
“I meant I’d actually stretch you out. I’ll also give you a massage.” Finn drops his hand to the base of my neck, and it’s hard to hold back a groan when he adds a push of pressure with his thumb. “Doesn’t that sound fun?”
It does sound fun.
Way better than spending the day alone and miserable, and I’ve missed him.
I’ve never missed anyone after a hookup before, but I can’t get him out of my head.
When I laced up my shoes this morning, I thought about him.
When I wanted to give up at mile two, I thought about him.
He’s in front of me, grinning like he doesn’t have a care in the world, and I’m still thinking about him.
“Okay,” I agree. “But this is the last time. There are rules about one-night stands turning into two-night stands. What happens when we accidentally get to a three-hundred-and-one night stand?”
“I guess we’ll find out if that happens. Rules are meant to be broken, Margo, and I don’t think three hundred and one nights with you would be the worst thing in the world.” He winks, and we join his friends. “Is everyone in one piece?”
“Barely,” Holden says. “I got a cramp at mile one and hobbled my way to the finish line.”
“You still finished, and that should be celebrated. Rhett? How are you holding up?”
“Surviving,” his other friend says. “I passed this ten-year-old when I was twenty yards from the finish, and it was satisfying to beat him.”
“He’s a child, Rhett.” The woman next to him rolls her eyes then smiles at me. “Hi. I’m Jada, his wife.”
“I’m Margo. Nice to meet you.” I smile and shake her hand. “You didn’t run?”
“God, no. I like being in the crowd. Preferably with wine.”
“I think we’re going to get along.” I pull away from Finn so I can give Katarina a sweaty hug. “I cannot believe you won. That’s incredible, Kitty Kat. You’re amazing.”
“Thank you.” She grins and hugs me tight. “And I’m so proud of you. Sub-ten minute miles are damn fast.”
“I learned from the best.” I kiss her cheek and grimace. The ache in my legs is settling in, and I know I should stretch them out. “Ow.”
“You okay?” Finn asks, and concern laces his tone. “What hurts?”
“Everything.” I bend down and rub my calf. “I’m all right.”
“I’m going to take Margo back to my place so I can make sure she’s on the mend. Forgive me for bowing out of lunch,” he says to his friends.
“You don’t have to ditch lunch for me,” I say, not wanting to create a rift in the group. “You should go with them. I’ll survive. A hot shower will mend me right up.”
“Nah. They’ll be fine.” He grins down at me, and I melt like a damn snowman in the summer. “They don’t even like me that much.”
“It’s true,” Holden agrees. “He’s our least favorite one in the group.”
“See?”
I glance at Kat, and she gives me an encouraging nod. I’ve never been in this position before, and I feel out of place. I’ve never seen someone a second time after agreeing it would only be the one time, and the nerves I didn’t have the first night we were together start to show themselves.
For some strange reason, I care what this man thinks about me. I care that he wants to spend more time with me, and I care that he was there to hand me a medal at the finish line.
I’ve never been one to mix feelings with a quick bedroom rendezvous, but here I am, excited to have another chance to spend a couple hours with him.
“Okay,” I say, wringing my hands together. I have to hold back a grin because I’m so damn excited for a few more hours with him. “Yeah. That sounds good to me.”
After a round of goodbyes, Finn leads us to his car with an arm draped casually over my shoulder. I like how close he is and how warm his body is pressed against mine. He opens the passenger door and gives me a small bow.
“Seatbelt, please,” he says when I get situated. I laugh when he jumps into the driver’s seat and shivers. “I have seat heaters that should kick on in a second.”
“Thank you for inviting me over. I’m sure I would’ve been fine on my own, but it’s nice to have some company.”
He reaches over and squeezes my knee. “I’m happy you’re here.”
Christmas music plays on the radio, and I find myself humming along. The drive to his house is short, and when we get there, it’s my turn to shiver.
“I didn’t realize how cold I was.” I wrap my arms around my chest as he unlocks the front door. “I was sweating thirty minutes ago.”
“The sweat dried, so it’s cooling your body off.” Finn points to my shoes. “Take off your clothes and leave them here. I’ll toss them in the washer after I get you in the shower.”
“You want to see me naked again, don’t you?”
“Can you blame me?”
His grin is a lightning bolt to my chest, and I peel off my running outfit until a pile of clothes forms at my feet. I roll my shoulders back and look at him. A flash of excitement zips up my spine when I catch his eyes raking across my chest and down my legs, and I stand a little taller.
I’ve never been shy about my body, but somehow, being here with him after pushing myself to limits I didn’t know I could ever reach, I’ve never felt more beautiful. I’ve never felt so strong and powerful, and a surge of confidence thumps in my blood.
“Are you going to take off your clothes?” I ask. “Or are you going to gawk at me all afternoon?”
Finn hums and steps toward me, dipping his chin. He kisses my neck and my cheek and tucks a piece of hair behind my ear. “Would you think I’m a creep if I told you I dreamed about your body? If I got off to the thought of your curves and the little scar you have on your knee? You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen, Margo, and I don’t know what the hell I did to deserve you spending time with me.”
His words strike a match inside me, and I’m not cold anymore.
I’m alive, awakened and invigorated.
I slip my palms up his shirt and roam my hands across his chest. “No,” I whisper, standing on my toes so our mouths are close. “Because I dreamed about you too.”
I dance my fingers to the waistband of his shorts and over his hard length. Taking a step back, I saunter down the hall to his bedroom. A glance over my shoulder shows me Finn is palming his erection and staring at my ass with a gleam in his eye.
His bathroom is warm, and I reach into the shower, turning on the hot water and waiting for it to heat up. Finn comes up behind me and bands his arms around my waist. He pulls me flush against his naked body and nips at my ear with the sharp bite of his teeth.
“You’re a tease,” he whispers. I drop my head back in the crook of his neck and his hands move over my breasts. He plucks and pinches my nipples, and I groan. “I’ve wanted you since the minute you left my place the other day. Do I get to have you again?”
“Finn.” I spread my feet apart and kiss his neck. “I’m rubbing against you.”
“Doesn’t mean I get to have you. Do I get to have you again, Margo?”
Taking the hand on my chest in mine, I guide him between my legs. He hisses when his knuckles drag across my entrance, and I groan when he teases me by pushing his pinky inside me.
“Yes,” I manage to get out. “You can have me.”
“Good.” His hand drops away, leaving me frustrated and turned on, and I scowl. “I know, baby. I’m going to take care of you, don’t worry. I want to make sure you’re not sore first, okay?”
Damn him for being so nice.
Damn him for looking out for me.
Damn him for making me not want to stay away.
I spin in his hold and lift my chin so our gazes collide. “Fine. But you better fuck the life out of me after all that’s said and done. I’m a needy girl, Finn. And right now, I need you.”