Talk to Me

by Clare James

  “I don’t think you’d be impressed if you knew everything about me.”

  “I know you are smart, and talented, and you have drive and integrity. And trust me, those traits aren’t easy to come by.”

  “Finn, I need to tell you something.” It was time, I waited too long and it was eating at me more and more every day. I had never been a coward before, but I was afraid. Afraid of what I felt for the guy after such a short time. Afraid of how he made me feel — so uneasy, out of control, but in a perfect way. He was exciting and freeing and I knew once I had a taste of everything he could offer, I’d never want anything or anyone else. Most of all I was afraid that once I told him about my original intentions, he’d leave.

  “No,” Finn said without wavering, giving me the out I so desperately wanted. “Not tonight. I’ve waited too long for you, Casey, and I’m not going to wait any longer.”

  Chapter 26

  Finn

  Kiki was talking, but I wasn’t listening. Instead I went back to the night that changed everything.

  I grabbed Casey a little more roughly than I intended. I was tired of waiting, tired of trying to be the good guy. I wasn’t a good guy and it was best if she knew that right now. There was nothing remotely noble or gallant in my nature. I had plenty women who would attest to that fact.

  But I was trying. And I wanted to be good for her. To her.

  Still, enough was enough.

  My fingers laced through the belt loops of her jeans and I pulled her toward me.

  “I want you, Casey,” I told her. “Tell me now if you don’t feel the same way.”

  A flash of something passed over her face when she said, “I do want this, but—”

  I cut her off right there. “No,” I said. “No over thinking this. No flimsy excuses or second guessing. I can’t take any more. In about ten seconds, I’m going to take what I wanted that first time I saw you. What I would’ve killed to finish the first time I had you in my home.”

  A tiny moan fell from her lips, so I kept going.

  “You were so wet that day. So shocked at what I was doing to you, but so turned on. You didn’t want to like it, didn’t want to like me, but you did.”

  She turned then, to hang her messenger bag on the coat rack. I took the opportunity to move in. My chest flush with her back, I drew her to me.

  She tensed for a moment. But as I started whispering all the things I wanted to do to her, she melted into me.

  “It’s now or never,” I said, slipping my hand under her sweatshirt.

  Her skin was hot to the touch, soft, and trembling when I placed my palm on her stomach.

  Casey dropped her head on my shoulder and said, “Now.”

  My dick twitched at the sound of her ragged voice, and the promise of what was to come.

  I began to move my hand in lazy circles on her stomach while my other hand ran up and down her throat. I could feel her pulse racing under my touch. I wanted more.

  I pulled off her shirt, uncovering her flawless olive skin and, Christ, she looked fucking edible in her plain white bra. It was simple and soft, just like I know she wanted to be. But she was also so complex and tough. Seeing her like this, with me, was better than I ever remembered it being with anyone.

  Unable to tear my eyes away, I soaked in her perfect form, aching to touch her heavy breasts.

  So maybe this is why you wait.

  If I hadn’t been able to spend time with Casey, and if I didn’t know her quirks and humor and spunky personality, would I appreciate this moment? Of course, I’d be mad for her body, but I saw how she was more than that. I felt pangs of guilt for a past with a nameless, faceless group of girls that I only wanted for one thing.

  “What is it?” Casey asked, noticing my sudden change.

  “Nothing,” I automatically replied. A response that came naturally from people always asking what was wrong with me. Man, where do I even begin.

  I wanted her to know about me, about the illness. I wanted her to know that if we did this, it would be the first time that I did it in my right mind. This was real. But I remember what she said when I told her about Mom. She could never do it — take care of someone like me. I knew that was a lie. I knew she could, but now was not the time to tell her.

  “Come back to me,” she said.

  A vibrating sound came up from my chest. I hardly recognized it as my own. Casey did something to me; she got to me so deep inside I didn’t think I could ever get enough from her. I’m embarrassed to say I lunged at her like a starving animal. It was as though my life depended on her. And I wanted to consume.

  I flipped her over my shoulder and she screamed.

  “Put me down, Finn. I’m a grown woman; I can walk.”

  The way she squirmed in my arms made me crazy. The good kind of crazy.

  Fuck.

  This was going to be fun.

  Chapter 27

  FREEZE FRAME (n.):

  A technique in which a single frame of video is repeated in sequence to give the effect of frozen, suspended, or stopped motion.

  Casey

  I was flying.

  Literally.

  This Neanderthal of a man tossed me off his shoulder into his bed.

  And it felt so good to let someone else be in control for once. Not having to think. Just feel. But as much as I wanted to let go and open to him, something held me back.

  “I can feel those wheels turning again, Case,” he said. “I’m asking — no, I’m begging — please turn it off tonight. Please give yourself to me.”

  “I want to,” I told him, my voice breaking. “I want to so much.”

  “Let me take the lead,” he said. “I need you to let me.”

  Finn didn’t wait for my response. Instead, he took my hands, turned them over and placed a soft kiss in each palm. It was sweet and comforting, but not for long.

  He pulled them up to the slats on his headboard and growled, “Now hold on, and don’t fucking let go.”

  There were no words to describe what his command did to me. It excited and calmed me in equal measure. It shut down all the racing thoughts in my head and finally, magnificently, allowed me to let go.

  Finn made quick work of my jeans so that within seconds I was spread out for him, wearing only my bra and panties. At that moment, I wished I wore lingerie. I wished I wasn’t so practical. I wished I knew how to be sexy.

  “You are so fucking sexy,” Finn said as if he could read my thoughts.

  “Not exactly the most exciting choice of undergarments,” I said. The old me rising to the surface.

  “Case, you could wear a paper sack and still give me an aching hard-on.”

  I laughed. “You’re so romantic.”

  “Can’t help it, you make me want to do and say filthy things to you.”

  Now this was new. I never had anyone talk dirty during sex. I never even thought about it. I was usually too focused on getting to the end. I always managed to orgasm, but it was almost always on my part versus my partner. I had the feeling that was going to change tonight.

  “Like what?” I asked, encouraging him. What had gotten into me?

  “Like how I need to take off this prim white bra and panties before I can do what I’ve been craving since the first time I saw you.”

  “So you were looking at me as an object then,” I said, only partially kidding.

  “Fuck yes, I was,” he said, unapologetic. That familiar zing traveled to all the best places.

  Finn leaned over me, moving in for a kiss before he changed paths and went down to my breast. He pulled the cup of my bra down and covered his mouth over the peak of my nipple. The warm heat pulled an invisible thread that went down between my legs. It was a direct line of pleasure that had me arching off the bed.

  “Hold on,” he said. “Don’t let go.”

  I nodded because I could no longer find my words when his mouth went to my neglected breast and his hands began to travel up and down my sides. I held on and let th
e sensations wash over me.

  Finn slid down my body and nestled himself between my legs, giving the same treatment to my most private parts. He pulled my panties to the side and glided his tongue down the center of me. Again, I felt the warm heat and that invisible thread made my nipples so hard, they actually hurt straining against the cotton.

  My legs opened for him. I was unabashed and so full of need, I didn’t think about how I looked. I only wanted him closer.

  “Take off your shirt,” I ordered him. I had to feel his skin on me as he worked over my body.

  “What did I say about giving up control?” He smirked.

  I wanted to bite that lip so desperately, my mouth opened on instinct.

  He must’ve liked that because a low hiss came out of those lips and I could feel the moisture soaking my panties.

  His smirk was gone and he complied with my command. He reached up and peeled his shirt off and I think my mouth dropped open again. He was so beautiful. Not an ounce of fat on him, he was cut and strong, but still lean. Black ink ran down his rib cage and I couldn’t wait for my turn at this game so I could lick and nip at it.

  Between my legs I could feel the smooth skin of his arms on the inside of my thighs before he bit the waistband of my underwear and pulled.

  He spread my legs wider and just looked at me.

  There.

  It was obscene. Dirty.

  I wanted more.

  Finn hovered over me; his eyes almost black. His stomach pushed against my slick skin and I thought I’d die if he didn’t touch me. He yanked down the other cup of my bra, so both breasts spilled over. They were propped high by the underwire, and that’s how he left them.

  He retreated from me, just a little, to admire his work.

  I’m not sure what order things happened next, because I felt everything at once: his weight on me; his mouth running over each peak of my breasts; his fingers sliding along my seam; his thumb circling my clit.

  The world stopped spinning for several glorious seconds, and I was frozen in time.

  Then, it erupted.

  I called out in pain, in pleasure, in fear, and excitement. I was feeling so much, I couldn’t put a name on it.

  And by the time two of his fingers finally pushed inside, I clenched around him and came hard and fast.

  Chapter 28

  Finn

  Anchor/Kiki Stuart: Finn. Earth to Finn.

  Finn Daley: Sorry, do you mind repeating the question?

  I don’t think I’ve ever seen something so erotic, so goddamn beautiful than Casey coming apart all around me. I let the moment draw out. I didn’t rush; I didn’t push.

  As I wrapped my arms around her, I couldn’t have been much closer. Still, it didn’t feel like it was enough. She was spent, her body all soft and heavy. She tried to fight it, feeling her way down my body. I knew she wanted to reciprocate, but she needed her sleep.

  And I wanted to hold her and enjoy my quiet and peaceful mind.

  ***

  Once she was sound asleep, I went out to my indoor rink in shorts and T-shirt, laced up my skates and went to work.

  The plan had always been to give the treatment one year. One year, and if it worked, I’d come back to hockey.

  It was working and everything was finally falling into place.

  I jumped over the boards onto the ice, enjoying the cool air rising off it, hitting my bare skin. I was skating, shooting, and maneuvering around imagined opponents for almost an hour when Casey came in.

  She was wearing my jersey and nothing else. It unsheathed something so primal out of me, I couldn’t think. I could only react.

  I flipped my legs over the boards as she approached. I had to touch her. Needed to get my hands under my name and number.

  She didn’t give me a chance.

  Casey moved toward me, eyes locked on mine.

  I was having trouble finding my breath. I wanted to flip her over the boards and drive into her. There wasn’t time.

  So tiny, especially with the extra inches I had on her wearing my skates, she dropped to her knees. Oh, shit. I was losing my mind. She tugged my athletic shorts and boxers down with her. I sprang free and thought I might come right then. Fuck, I wanted this girl.

  “I want you to taste you,” she said. “Understand?”

  Suddenly my mouth was so dry, my voice felt like sandpaper rubbing against my throat. I couldn’t talk, so I nodded to give her permission to abuse my body in any way she saw fit.

  Her mouth was hot and tight and damn inviting. I wanted to move. She took me in — all the way to the base. The suction make me cry out.

  I wanted to fist my hands in her hair, hold her head, push my cock deeper into her mouth.

  But I didn’t, I let her take control. It was her turn.

  She bobbed her head up and down, achingly slow at first. Then she picked up her rhythm and suction. Adding her teeth to the mix, she slightly grazed over my shaft.

  I called out her name and she pulled back.

  “It’s okay,” she said. “I can take you deeper. Don’t hold back. Fuck my mouth.”

  She put her mouth back on me and I was so close. So ….

  “Finn,” Casey said. “Finn, wake up.”

  Chapter 29

  AIR (n.):

  The medium for radio and TV broadcasting … and something I could never get enough of when Finn was around.

  Casey

  Finn’s thrashing woke me up in the middle of the night. I must’ve fallen asleep after he gave me the best orgasm of my life. Something I fully intended to pay back.

  “Wake up,” I said, trying to shake him awake, worried he was having a bad dream.

  But when I located his hand, and other parts, I realized it wasn’t bad. Not bad at all.

  I should’ve let him finish, but jealousy sunk in. I wanted to do it. I wanted to make him come apart like he did for me.

  Sliding his boxers down, I placed my hand over his. Stroking roughly.

  “Let me take over,” I said and he stirred awake.

  “Casey?”

  “Shhh,” I said. “Let me take care of you.”

  ***

  The next morning, I snuck out of Finn’s bed, went home, and dressed for work. I hated leaving him, but now that daylight had come, it was time to face the consequences of my little stunt last night.

  I walked into the station and took the long way up to the sports department. I needed to ease into it. As I took my first step inside, I braced for Phil’s tongue lashing.

  But at the table in the center of the room, his smile stretched from ear to ear.

  “Great work, Phil,” the Executive Producer, Tim Hobbs, said with a laugh. “Just an excellent job with the Sports Girls, and last night was brilliant.”

  Mack was right, The Mole was taking credit.

  My eyes were locked on Phil as he explained his line of thinking — how best to draw in the female demographic. I was burning up and obviously not paying attention to where I was walking, because I hit a file cabinet. The metal vibrated and everyone turned in my direction.

  “The lady of the hour,” Tim said. “We were just congratulating the team on a job well done. Our website crashed due to the number of hits from last night’s cut-in. And the comments have been pretty damn incredible.”

  My cheeks heated, feeling the flaming daggers Phil shot from his eyes.

  “I’m so glad you liked it,” I told the suits. “Better get back to work though; it’s going to be hard to top.”

  “Well, leave that to Phil,” Tim said. “I’m sure he’ll come up with another great idea for you.”

  ***

  Phil was busy the rest of the day working with the promotions team, so I was in the clear. Tomorrow, however, would be another story.

  I spent the day researching safety issues for high school hockey players, hoping to find something that would work for sweeps. But anything safety and kid-related had been done to death.

  I found some evergreen
stories, but nothing that really stood out. Nothing like why Finn Daley left the NHL at the height of his game. But that story was dead. It simply couldn’t happen. Not after last night.

  My body tingled at the memory, one that I had been too crazed to even think about until now. It warmed me inside and out.

  As if he could always sense what I was thinking, a text from Finn came in at that moment.

  Haven’t heard from you, so you must still have a job.

  For now, I replied.

  Well, I’m sure I could find plenty for you to do around here.

  Don’t be smart.

  I think I’m starting to like you bossing me around.

  Okay, perv. What did you want? I’m busy working for a living.

  Just to tell you, I missed you.

  Me too.

  Come over after work?

  Two nights in a row? Sounds serious.

  It is.

  Does this have something to do with the dream I woke you from this morning?

  Everything and more.

  What were you dreaming about anyway?

  You and your filthy mouth.

  I’m intrigued. How was I?

  You have no idea. But the reality was even better.

  Chapter 30

  Finn

  Anchor/Kiki Stuart: Tell us how you felt before you learned about her assignment. Before you learned that your entire relationship was a sham.

  Finn Daley: Right before I found out? Well, that’s easy. It was the best time of my life.

  Between the dream, the wake-up call, and dirty text messages, I was hard all day. I should’ve realized the signs, but I didn’t. I just thought it was the excitement, the newness of Casey. So when she arrived at the house, I didn’t waste any time.

  She seemed just fine with that.

  I stripped her bare within seconds of her arrival.

  She pushed me back against the wall and let me fondle her with my eyes.