Chapter Eighteen
Finn
—I miss you. —
I hit send before I could reconsider my choice. Then I didn’t give Ulysses a chance to respond before I sent the next text.
—When did you say you’d be back? —
Probably too needy, but I was still recovering from a bad bout of the flu. Dr. Raymond said that as soon as I was healthy, I needed to get my flu shot. That, because of the different strains, I might not have immunity for all the crap I might be exposed to.
Getting a flu shot, along with everything else, had been on the list for the next time I was off. Damn virus had caught me first. I’d happily roll up my sleeve for a shot if it meant not going through that again.
And now Ulysses was out of town. Tracking down leads.
—I miss you too, Sunshine. Home soon. —
I didn’t even mind him calling me Sunshine. We were kind of like that romance trope—grumpy/sunshine. A few couples I knew were like that. Correction—had been like that.
Maddox the recluse until he met Ravi—the sunshine pediatric nurse.
Recluse Adam until he met sunshine Aussie forester Dean.
Leo the surgeon before he met and married the perpetually happy nurse Quinton.
Except…had Ulysses been grumpy when we’d first met? Aside from nearly being taken out by Rodney Saunders joyriding in his mom’s minivan—and running that red light—Ulysses had seemed chill. Relaxed. Horny.
Kind of like I was now. Being alone was not conducive to getting laid.
Problem was, I didn’t want just anyone. I certainly wasn’t going to do a run into Vancouver or take a look at my app to see if anyone new had suddenly appeared.
To the best of my knowledge, Ulysses didn’t have a profile there.
When he’d first disappeared—and I hadn’t known who he was—I’d kept my eye out for any new additions.
Then I discovered who he was—and I’d kept my distance. Because I was dumbass hurt when he’d left my bed.
Now? Now I wanted him down to the marrow of my bones—which made no sense.
How he’d become so important to me wasn’t clear to me.
He brought you soup. He took you to the game—even though you might’ve made him sick.
He’s taken you out on dates—even though they weren’t real dates.
He’s drilled you into the mattress repeatedly—even though he could be out looking for someone else.
My phone rang. My heart leapt until I checked the screen.
Mom.
“Hey, Mom. How’s it going?”
“Busy. More than usual. Early flu season and it’s hit hard. Most people haven’t even gotten their shots. You’re getting yours, right?”
“Yeah…but I already got the flu. Was a bastard. Or is that a bitch?”
“You’d have to ask a language that assigns gender to all nouns.” She laughed. “I don’t speak French or German.”
“Neither do I. Well, I did okay in my high school French classes.”
“You’re okay now?”
I sighed. “Yeah. Dr. Raymond said to get the shot anyway. Something about variants—”
“Your doctor is very smart. Make certain you listen to him.”
A chuckle escaped me. “Yes, Mom.”
She snorted. “When do you ever listen to your mother?”
“Hey! All the goddamn time.”
“Like when I admonish you for swearing?”
I laughed again. “I remember—usually after I’ve said the curse word.”
“Are you coming for dinner this weekend?”
“Why don’t you come here?”
“Really? You won’t be busy this week?”
“I can cook up something on Sunday before you come over. I, uh, might have a friend for you to meet.”
“Oh.” She paused. “A friend friend or just a friend?”
“Yes?”
“Is that a question or a statement?”
“Yes?”
She chuckled. “You always were a dark horse, Finnegan. It’s why I love you so much. Sure, I’ll come to dinner. What can I bring?”
“Caesar salad and lemon meringue pie?” I licked my lips.
“Sounds great. About five?”
“Yes, that would be amazing. Thanks.”
“Finnegan?”
“Yes, Mom?” She was one of the very few people who full named me—even when she wasn’t mad.
“I’m so damn proud of you. Whomever this young man is, I can’t wait to meet him.”
“Yeah, about that…” My mind flashed to the odd silver whisker in Ulysses’s scruff. Hopefully he’d shave before meeting Mom.
“Yes, my dear?”
“He’s…maybe not my young man.”
She chuckled. “Is he as old as I am?”
“No.”
“Well, then he’s your young man. See you Sunday. Love you.”
“Love you too.”
She cut the call.
I sank farther into the cushions of the couch. Well, that was something. Perhaps a big something.
I texted Ulysses. —Will you come to dinner Sunday? Shit, will you be back by Sunday? —
I waited. Rather impatiently.
—Yes. To both. —
—Great. —
I hesitated. Then added, —I’ll cook. We’ll have company. —
—Oh? Anyone I know? —
—My mother. —
My phone rang.
I answered. “Hey. Was this a bad time?”
“For you? It’s never a bad time. So, is this a casual, here’s my friend, Ulysses? Or is this a meet the parents moment?”
“Yes?”
He chuckled. “Okay, that’s fair. Anything I need to know?”
“I might’ve warned her that you’re not my young man.”
He snorted. “Didn’t we figure I was closer in age to your mother than to you?”
“Had we?” I considered. “Well, not quite up there.”
“But close.” More amusement.
“Well, maybe.” He wasn’t wrong. No regrets…but he wasn’t wrong.
“I’ll contact you as soon as I’m home.”
“Okay.” My heart did a little pitter-patter. To my memory, he hadn’t referred to Mission City as home before. Or maybe he meant me—which would be even sweeter. I’m falling for this guy.
“Hey, Finn?”
“Yeah?”
“How are you feeling?”
“Better, why?”
“Oh, good. I’m just thinking about all the things I’m going to do to you when I’m back.”
“Yeah?” I adjusted myself. “How about you tell me?”
And he proceeded to.
A day later, he was on my doorstep.
I opened the door with a huge grin on my face, glad he hadn’t waited until Mom-day to come over. “Do you want dinner now, or—”
“I’ll take the second option.” He held up a bag from Fifties. “We can heat this up later. Right now, I want you naked in bed.”
“You don’t have to ask me twice.” I hotfooted to the bedroom and was stripping as he sauntered in.
“So eager.”
“Hey, it’s been—” I squinted.
“Seven days.”
“Longest we’ve gone. Well, since, you know…”
“Yeah, since we started this…whatever this is…” He yanked his henley over his head, revealing an expanse of dark skin.
I licked my lips.
“Yeah?” He grinned as he unbuttoned his jeans, pulled down his fly, and then yanked off both jeans and boxer briefs.
His gorgeous erection sprang free. He arched an eyebrow. “You got here first and you’re still dressed?”
Well, my shirt was unbuttoned and my fly was down. But yeah, I’d gotten distracted. So off came the rest of my clothes, and I dove for the bed.
He laughed as he followed me down. Levering himself, he lay flat against me.
My skin tingled every place his touched mine.
Our cocks brushed and a shot of electricity arced through me.
I held his gaze. “My doctor ran the tests. I’m negative.”
“Oh really.” He grinned. “I went to a clinic, and they ran all the tests for me. I’m negative as well.”
“And we’re not seeing anyone else? Well, I mean I’m not. But you might not—”
“Just you, Finn. I can’t imagine that changing but, for now, just you.”
I didn’t know how to interpret his words. They sounded like a commitment of some kind. Like if we stopped using condoms then we were all in with this relationship thing. “I’ve never gone bareback.”
He held my gaze. “I haven’t either. Never met someone who made me want to. Not until I met you.”
“Okay.” I brushed our cocks together.
He groaned. “Yes. That. Can I prep you?”
“I’d love that.” Because somehow, when he did this, his care and attention deepened the bond between us.
He rolled off me and snagged the lube from my nightstand.
I opened my thighs to welcome him.
From there he did what he always did—but with the new anticipation there wouldn’t be a barrier between the two of us. I wasn’t nervous. Deep in my soul, I trusted him. Even as he carried secrets. I didn’t. I was an open book.
He crooked his finger to brush my prostate.
A drop of precum leaked from my cock.
He licked it with a Cheshire cat grin. “You ready for me?”
“Always.” I didn’t try to keep the need from my voice. Because he’d become an important part of my life. Hell, I’d invited him to meet my mother.
He slicked his cock, and lined himself up.
Our gazes met and held.
I nodded.
Slowly he pushed inside me.
The feeling was both the same and different. Knowing I was laying myself open to him. Giving him the opportunity to deeply hurt me—if he chose to.
It goes both ways—you could easily break his trust as well. But I wouldn’t. I knew enough of myself to know I’d never do that.
“God, Finn. I’ll never get enough of you.” His jaw clenched as he bottomed out.
“Then don’t. I’m right here.” I wrapped my legs around his waist and dug my heels into his ass.
He chuckled. “Trust me—I know.” He withdrew and thrust in, pulled back then pushed forward. He teased and tormented and pushed me higher and higher.
All at once it was not enough and too much, an electric sizzle in every nerve that had me ready to explode. Too much, pushing me to the brink of the highest cliff.
“Come for me. Just do it.” He held my gaze.
I came. Hard. Spectacularly. In a way that robbed me of both breath and words. That totally overwhelmed my senses as I flew high above us.
Ulysses thrust twice more before holding himself still. He came inside me.
This is going to change me. Change us.
Hopefully for the better.
But I just didn’t know.