Chapter 2
CAROLINE
Finn doesn’t look surprised when I quickly sit down on the bench at the far end from him.
He’s totally naked, dick leaning against his thigh, and it takes some serious effort not to stare.
Instead, I look at his chest, glistening with sweat, and his lips, pulled into a confident and lazy smirk.
His eyes are heavy-lidded and his eyelashes are very dark.
His eyebrows are thick and not groomed, which I like.
He’s a man that takes care of himself, but doesn’t spend too much time obsessing.
“I’m glad you decided to join me,” he says.
“Just for the sauna.” I say it too fast and it makes him smirk more.
“Of course. What else?” He adjusts slightly and his privates are blocked by his leg. Which is good because even though I want to be polite and I’m not even particularly dick-obsessed, it’s still hard not to look at someone’s bits when they’re totally nude.
Finn’s checking me out. He’s not being subtle about it. I’m tempted to cover my breasts, but screw it. What’s the point now? Instead, I lean back and try to get comfortable.
There are six feet between us at most.
“I just want to say that I didn’t intend any harm. I know I shouldn’t have come in here while I was working. I just… couldn’t help myself.”
“I understand. I never use this stuff, if I’m honest.”
“Really?”
“It’s a shame. I’m happy you got some pleasure out of it.”
I shiver lightly. “Still, I shouldn’t have done it.”
“Life’s full of fun rules to break. I’ve broken a fair share of my own. And you weren’t hurting anything. I forgive you, if that makes you feel any better.”
“It’ll make me feel great if my recruiter doesn’t hear about this.”
He laughs like he’s genuinely amused. “I’m not interested in making your life harder. If I wanted you gone, I would’ve told you to go. Don’t worry.”
I relax slightly, which is hard, considering I’m very hot and in a confined space with a gorgeous naked predator.
We lapse into silence for a minute or so.
The warmth sinks into my skin. I start to bristle with sweat.
This is my favorite part of the sauna, when it just begins.
“Can I ask you something?” He nods slightly for me to continue.
“What do you do for work? Is that why you’re never here when I’m cleaning? ”
“Among other reasons. I manage a string of clubs and other commercial properties throughout the city.”
“You’re in real estate?”
“Something like that.”
“Do you own those businesses?”
“Not me, exactly, but the organization I’m a part of.”
That catches my attention. I’ve heard men talk like that before. “What organization is that?”
He doesn’t seem to hear me. Instead, he looks at me sideways, always with that confident smile like he knows I’m just about to hear a fantastic joke. “How’d a girl like you end up cleaning apartments?”
I narrow my eyes. “I’m not sure I like that question. What’s wrong with cleaning apartments?”
“Nothing at all. I only mean, you’re an attractive young woman.”
“Oh, and pretty girls all get jobs selling dick pills to bored doctors?”
“You’d probably be good at that.”
I let out a soft laugh. “No way. I’d be terrible. I’d end up talking too much about the horrible side effects.”
“Really? Why’s that?”
“Morbid taste, I think. You know all those true crime podcasts? Those are basically my crack. Unsolved mysteries are like the blood in my veins.”
“You have a dark streak.”
I shift slightly and resist the urge to fan myself. The heat’s getting to me. I swear, he’s closer now. Only five feet apart.
“I guess so. Always have, since I was a little kid. Used to freak my brothers out.”
“That’s a very good skill to have. How many brothers?”
“Four of them.”
“And you’re the youngest?”
I nod and glance over. “How’d you guess?”
“Just a hunch.” He’s definitely closer. What’s going on? How’s he doing this without me noticing? “Honestly, I’m not into the podcasts or the TV shows. But I don’t mind the dark stuff.”
“I have a theory. I think everyone likes fear. It’s primal, right? The adrenaline rush and all that. But lots of people convince themselves it’s wrong so they shut that part of them down.”
“You’re absolutely right. Everyone’s got a touch of darkness in them.”
“I mean, why else would the horror industry be so big?” I lean toward him. Now we’re four feet apart. “Did you know that there are over 40,000 sets of human remains sitting around in evidence lockers, but only fifteen percent of those have been entered into the FBI database?”
“That’s a lot of bodies. How’s there space for all of them?”
“Who knows. The system isn’t built to find people.”
“What’s it built for?”
“To process paperwork.”
He laughs, but now it’s low and edged. He’s closer, three feet away.
Way too close. But my heart’s racing and I’m prickled with sweat all over, and I like the way he looks.
I like his sharp stare and his boldness.
I like the way his eyes roam my breasts and my lips, not hiding what he wants.
I like that he’s half hard and not trying to cover it up. He’s dripping with pure confidence.
It should be my signal to run away.
“You really do have a twisted mind,” he says gently. “I like it, though I wonder if I let the wrong woman clean my apartment.”
“Don’t worry. I let other people do the killing for me.”
“That’s smart of you.”
“But what about you? I’m talking too much.”
“What about me?”
“I have brothers. Do you have family?”
“I also have brothers. Three of them.”
“Are you close?”
“Yes, and sometimes I think we’re too close.”
“I know what you mean.”
“You and your siblings get along?”
I close my eyes briefly. I see Mal’s gleeful smirk. “Not really.”
“Too bad.” He’s closer. Two feet at most. Close enough that I can make out the details of his skin.
There are scars on his arms. Tiny scars all over his shoulders. They disappear onto his back. Long, white lines, strangely and sickeningly familiar.
If I turned around and let him look closely, he’d see some on my own skin.
He’s watching me carefully now.
“Not really,” I say again, heart racing. “They’re assholes.”
“You think so? You’re not close with your family at all?”
“I don’t talk to them unless I have to.”
“That’s good.” One foot away. Practically touching. Twelve pathetic inches of space.
Why does he think that’s good? I swear, my head’s swimming. The heat’s starting to get to me. “I should jump in the pool.”
“Stay.”
He puts his hand on my thigh.
Now I have a choice. Push it away and leave. Or let him touch me and find out where it goes.
I walked in here knowing where it might lead. I’m not naive or stupid.
I slide across the bench until our sides are touching.
“If I don’t get up, what’s going to happen?” My stomach twists with excitement and fear. I’ve never done anything this risky before in my life. Despite my obsession with dark stuff, I’m actually a very safe person. No walking alone at night if I can avoid it. No putting myself in harm’s way.
No strange men touching my naked body.
“I’m going to kiss you.” My heart hammers into my throat. Frick, I like this. I really like it. I’m scared and excited. My hands are shaking. Finn seems utterly at ease. “I’m going to keep touching you. Do you want that, Caroline?”
I almost let out a low whimper at the sound of my name on his lips. He hasn’t said it yet. But of course he knows it.
“Yes, I do,” I whisper.
He leans forward, one hand tilting my chin up toward him. His eyes burn with a hungry malice. Like he hates me and he wants to fuck me into oblivion.
That stare is insanely intoxicating.
His fingers slide to my cheek until his hand is holding my face. His thumb presses into my jaw and he’s even closer now. Two inches apart at most. His lips part and his tongue peeks out.
“When I’m done with you, after you’ve satisfied yourself, you can dive into the pool. But not before. Do you understand?”
“Yes, I understand.”
“That’s a good girl.”
Oh, frick. Oh, fuck.
His mouth closes on mine in a hungry kiss.
I lose myself in it. I let myself go. No more thinking, no more darkness, no more hate and no more dreams. No more memories and no more pain.
My tongue sinks into his mouth and his presses against mine.
His taste floods into me, delicious and spicy.
He’s musky, slightly sweaty and salty, but there’s also the tang of whiskey too.
He might’ve been drinking earlier. Where did this man come from? What was he doing before he found me?
And why am I kissing him?
His other hand slowly explores my body. His caress sends pangs of pleasure into my core.
My pulse rockets with excitement, fear, and anticipation.
I want this to keep going and I’m afraid of what might happen.
It’s the greatest emotion I’ve ever experienced.
The gray area between wanting and hating.
His thumb brushes my nipple and slowly teases it, rubbing sweat into my sensitive bud.
I let out a soft moan accidentally, but he seems to like that.
He cups my breasts and kneads them before touching more of me, his kiss getting more urgent.
When his hand reaches my hip, I let him spread my knees apart.
Oh, god. This is incredible. I can’t think. His fingers stroke around my pussy, teasing me. I lean back on my hands, letting him touch, and risk opening my eyes. I glance at his body. His cock is rock hard now.
He likes that.
That relaxes me somewhat. His fingers stroke my folds and get nice and slick as he rolls them around my clit.
My god, he knows what he’s doing, just like I had hoped.
I open my legs wider, letting him touch me more, as he sinks one finger in followed by another.
His palm rubs my clit as he moves them in and back out again.
I whimper into his mouth. He laughs lightly, nipping at my lip. The hand on my face tightens.
“Tell me it feels good,” he murmurs, kissing my neck.