Chapter 21 #2
I nod as we get pushed a little closer together by the crowd. “Right. Sure.”
Instead of running from me, he lingers. “I noticed Chase used your card to buy ice cream for the mechanics.”
“Yeah. Saw you’re raising money for the theater.” I cough, a little embarrassed. “And wanted to, uh, support you.”
“I appreciate that. And I appreciate the mechanics stopping by, too. With all the tension in the air, it’s hard to know where everyone stands.”
I nod. “I’ve noticed. So has Chase, for what it’s worth, and neither of us want it this way. Treating the mechanics to ice cream doesn’t solve anything, but consider it a first step. It’s taken us long enough, but I think we’re ready to find a real solution.”
Finn considers me. “I’m glad to hear that,” he says. “And I wonder if it wouldn’t make sense for you and I to extend this semi-truce, too. We can probably make more progress together than we can apart.”
Relief floods through me. “I’d like that.”
Finn smiles.
Fuck, it’s nice when he smiles. Wish I were better at making him do that.
“Wonderful,” he says. “After the chaotic weekend comes to a close, let’s get together and try to find a way—”
We’re interrupted by a sudden yelp. I turn in time to see a man on a bicycle, losing control and careening our way as he tries to balance a large tub on the handlebars. “Incoming!” he hollers as he tumbles to the ground and launches the tub at us, its lid flying off on the way.
Something wet and pink splatters all over me, soaking me from head to boot, with the excess splashing on Finn’s lower half. “What the fuck!” I blurt out, and when I wipe off my eyes, I see that I’m covered in glittery paint.
Globs of sparkling pink goop fall to the sidewalk.
“The body paint for the bear wrestling match!” the man says, distressed, as he scrambles to his feet. He grabs the empty tub and holds it out. “Quick! Can you save any?”
I stare at him. “Are you serious?”
Finn laughs. “I think it’s a lost cause,” he says as he brushes paint off his pants and the bottom of his shirt.
“Yikes,” a passing woman says. “Glitter paint? You can never totally clean up glitter paint. You’ll be finding glitter for months.”
I wipe more paint out of my hair. “Perfect,” I grumble. “Just what I wanted today.”
The man rights his bicycle. “I’m sorry,” he says. “Truly.” He slaps his hand to his forehead, leaving a pink smear. “What are the bears going to say?” he blurts out before riding away.
Finn and I look at each other. He busts out laughing again, and him finding the humor in this absurdity allows me to see it, too. I chuckle and shake off my boots.
“This is so much worse than a butterfly on my nose,” I say.
“No offense, but pink isn’t really your color,” he replies, and then strikes a pose. “I can pull it off, though,” he adds, and paint drips to the sidewalk from his pants.
“Come on,” I say, as I gesture over my shoulder. “This is my apartment. There’s an entrance through the rear. You can clean up inside.”
“Oh! Thanks.”
“We’ve been glitter bombed.” I shift my weight, and paint squelches in my boots. “Even I wouldn’t abandon you like this.”
Finn does a little dance, shaking more of the paint off his pants. “Chivalry accepted,” he jokes, and I lead him around to the back of the building.
It would be wrong of me to leave him paint-soaked while I go to clean myself up. Only decent thing to do is to invite him inside. He came over and suggested a truce, anyway, so it’s right for me to make a gesture in return.
“I’ve got the basement unit here,” I say as we enter the backyard. “The landing inside is private.” After shaking some more paint onto the walkway, I open the door. “I’ll get towels, and you’re welcome to use the shower inside.”
Finn nods as he gives me a funny look, and I tear my eyes away.
When I reach my apartment door, I hesitate, not wanting to drag all that glittery paint inside.
“I’ll just, uh…” I awkwardly pull off my shirt as I kick my boots to the side, then remove my socks, too.
I’d strip naked if I were alone, but instead, I leave my paint-soaked jeans on as I hurry inside.
At least the apartment is tidy, I think. I’d hate for him to see it a mess.
When I return with a stack of towels, Finn is down to his boxer briefs, and his wet clothes are in a plastic bag he found. His warm skin is streaked and splattered with pink glitter on his legs and hips, and he looks down at himself with a laugh.
“I feel like a faerie,” he says.
I glance at myself, mainly just so I don’t stare at how pretty he is. “Or a vampire,” I add, and can’t help but recall my story with MorningEnthusiast.
“Glittery vampires. I’m surprised you’ve read those books,” Finn jokes, obviously thinking of other stories instead of my secret fantasies he’s never read. “Considering how important the love triangle is. I remember you hated the one in Galaxy Demons.”
I snort as I hand him a towel. “Read them and saw the movies, as a matter of fact.”
“And what did you think?”
I shrug. “Fun enough. But I prefer Anne Rice for sexy vampires.”
“On that,” Finn says, “we can agree.”
I rub myself with the towels while Finn does the same, each of us dripping on the tile floor. Since he’s stripped down to his underwear, and considering we’ve already seen each other naked, I push aside my doubts and kick off my pants.
I steal a glance at him, and catch him doing the same to me.
“Will you party around town today?” he asks.
I shake my head. “I’m going to check in on the garage after this, then probably hide away at home.
” I clear my throat, curious if he’s going to be out looking for a date later, or possibly meeting up with a guy he’s already dating.
With how attractive and friendly he is, he must have lots of offers.
“How about you? You said you have to get back to work?”
He nods as he grabs a fresh towel. “We’re open late tonight. The gayborhood gets pretty rowdy during Pride.”
“Rowdy is one word for it, I hear.”
Finn laughs. “Frisky might be a better one. Either way, the ice cream sales are healthy.” He glances down at himself. “I think I’m mostly unglittered.”
He’s so damn attractive; I struggle not to stare. Instead, I look down and inspect myself, too. Like him, I’m no longer soaking wet, just streaked with bits of pink paint.
“Yeah, I…” My heart stops when I realize I’m half-hard, my partial erection obvious in my wet boxer briefs. Embarrassed, I quickly turn, hoping he hasn’t noticed. When I glance his way again, I see there’s a paint streak down his lower back.
“Back is still pink,” I say.
Finn pulls the towel around, trying to wipe himself off. When he struggles, I step forward, the urge to help stronger than my insecurities. “Let me,” I say, voice soft but firm, and when he nods, I drag a fresh towel down his back, from between his shoulders and down his spine.
It feels right to help take care of him, somehow comforting to me as well.
I feel it everywhere.
Slowly, Finn turns to face me. We’re only a few inches apart, and I’m aware of every nerve in my body and the heat radiating between us. Our encounter in the hotel room is playing in my mind, and I want nothing more than to kiss him again, pull his body to mine.
Finn takes in a shaky breath.
I let myself truly look at him, dragging my eyes down his body, and see that he’s hard in his boxer briefs, also.
“You can come inside,” I tell him. “Use the shower. Or….”
“Or…?”
We stare at each other for another long moment, neither of us breaking the gaze. A drop of paint drips down my forehead. Slowly, Finn leans forward and uses his thumb to swipe it off.
I shudder when he touches me.
“Or we make an exception,” I say, and when he remains close, I lean in. “For Pride.”
Finn angles his body to meet mine, and emboldened, I take his hip and pull him closer. First our eyes meet, and then I bend and lower my mouth to take him in a kiss. Our nearly naked bodies press together, and Finn swirls his tongue against mine, kissing me back as he rises up on his toes.
I growl, my barely suppressed desire surging forth. His slim, warm body is pure pleasure in my embrace. Finn pulls his hands over my torso, feeling my chest, and I drag my palm from his hip to the soft, muscular curve of his ass.
His hard bulge presses to mine, and we kiss each other deeper, longer. I’m groping him, overcome by how much I want to touch him. I’ve been trying to deny this, but his sweet scent and soft mouth drive me wild, unleashing my burning, hard desire.
Last time we were rushed. Hurried. Frantic.
But today, I fully intend to take my time. After weeks of acting like an ass and focusing on myself, I’m going to make this about his pleasure, his satisfaction, and give him back some of that joy he brings into the world.
I fumble for the door with one hand, and when I manage to pull it open, I stumble into my apartment with Finn in my arms.