Could Be Forever: (Finn and Juliet) (A Back to Jetty Beach Romance Book 1)

by Claire Kingsley

  “Not once,” she says. “To be fair, I never really asked. But you’d think if he wanted to, he might have at least brought it up.”

  I slide my hand up her thigh. “That makes me want to do it again right now.”

  She laughs again. “Since I apparently left all my inhibitions somewhere on the beach, can I ask you a very blunt question?”

  “Absolutely.”

  She shifts so she can look at me. “Did you enjoy doing it?”

  I raise an eyebrow. “Did I enjoy eating your pussy?”

  She laughs. “That just comes right out of your mouth like it’s nothing.”

  “I’m sorry, am I embarrassing you?”

  “No, not at all,” she says. “I’m just not used to it.”

  “I’ll be more careful with what I say.”

  “No,” she says, emphatic. “Don’t. I really like your dirty mouth.”

  “Yeah?” I really like hearing that. “I’ll answer your question, then. I loved having my mouth on your pussy. I loved the way you felt warm and soft against my tongue. I loved the way you tasted. It’s better than any drink I’ve ever made. And I really loved the way you moved against me. How you put your hands in my hair. The noise you made when you came. I loved making you feel that way.”

  She stares at me, open-mouthed, and blinks a few times. “Are you for real? Or did I die on the way down here and I’m actually in heaven?”

  “I’m pretty sure we’re both alive.” I run my finger along her jaw. “I’m so glad you walked into my bar.”

  She smiles, her eyes sparkling. “Me too.”

  12

  Juliet

  Finn shifts and I startle, realizing I fell asleep. I’m snuggled up against him on the couch, my head on his shoulder, and he has his arm wrapped around me. I blink a few times and lift my head.

  “What time is it?”

  “A little after two,” he says.

  “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to fall asleep,” I say. “You’ve probably been bored just sitting here.”

  He kisses my head. “Not at all. But do you want to go to bed?”

  Uh-oh. Should I stay over? It’s so late, and I’m half asleep anyway. Does it really matter if I just climb upstairs and crash in Finn’s bed with him? Obviously he’s asking me to. This going with the flow thing has worked out pretty well for me so far. I might as well keep it up.

  “If you’re sure you don’t mind me staying,” I say.

  He tightens his arm around me. “I definitely want you to stay.”

  We get up and he takes my hand, twining my fingers through his. I think about texting Madison and Becca again, but they’re probably asleep, and they know where I am. I didn’t think I’d be here literally all night, but I’m so sleepy, and his bed is right there…

  I let him lead me upstairs and I climb in his bed.

  “Do you want something else to wear?” he asks. “I can get you a t-shirt.”

  I nod into the pillow without opening my eyes. “Please.”

  Finn sits down next to me and helps me change into his t-shirt. We get in bed and he pulls up the sheets while I snuggle into one of his pillows.

  I lift my head up and force my eyes open. “Oh, am I on your side of the bed?”

  He smiles. “I don’t really have a side. You’re fine. But come here.”

  I turn, putting my back to his front, and snuggle into him. He puts his arm around my waist, his hand on my belly. He lets out a contented moan, and I drift off to sleep.

  Light streams in through the windows and I pull the comforter over my head. I blink my eyes open, realizing where I am.

  Finn’s house. In his bed.

  I peek out over the covers. He’s not here. I sit up a little, but there’s no sign of him. I hear noise from downstairs that sounds like it’s coming from the kitchen. The clock by his bed says nine forty-nine. What the hell? I don’t think I’ve ever slept this late before.

  Last night was… unbelievable. But in the light of day, a million questions start swirling through my mind. Should I have slept with a man I just met? Maybe I get a pass because it was my birthday, but that’s over now. What happens next? I need to check in with Madison and Becca. I hope they’ll be feeling better today, and we can salvage the rest of our girls’ weekend. But what about Finn? Was last night just a hot hookup? Will he want to hang out with me again? What do I do now?

  The thought of going back to the vacation house and leaving Finn behind is strangely depressing. I knew what I was getting into yesterday—didn’t I?

  I tiptoe into the bathroom to freshen up a little. My hair is a disaster, but there isn’t much I can do about it without showering, so I smooth it down as best I can.

  I come out and Finn appears at the top of the stairs holding two mugs of coffee.

  “Morning, sprinkles.” He hands me the coffee. “It’s not a latte, but I added cream and about a teaspoon of sugar.”

  “Mm.” I smell the rich aroma. “Now you’re speaking my love language.”

  Finn smiles and we both sit on the edge of the bed. “So I thought I’d make you breakfast. What sounds good?”

  You, naked again.

  Whoa, down girl.

  “I’m fine with whatever.”

  He looks at me like he can read my thoughts. Or maybe it’s just that he’s thinking the same thing I am. A smile tugs at the corners of his mouth. “Or maybe I can have you for breakfast.”

  We both set our coffees down on the nightstand, our eyes locked. I can’t believe how much I want him again. He surges in, grabbing the back of my neck, and brings my mouth to his. We fall onto the bed in a tangle, ripping off our clothes as fast as we can.

  Last night was not a dream; he feels just as good as I remember. He pins my arms above my head, growling into my neck. It takes me no time at all to be riding the edge of my climax. And riding him. He flips me over so I’m on top and holy shit, I love the control this position gives me. After yet another breathtaking orgasm, he puts me on my knees and takes me from behind. I toss my hair over my shoulder and look back, watching him come in me. He groans in time with his thrusts and his abs flex as his body stiffens.

  After he deals with the condom, he falls onto the bed next to me. I lie on my back with my arm draped over my forehead.

  “Holy shit, Finn,” I say, still a little breathless. “It’s not even my birthday anymore.”

  Finn laughs and props his head up while his other hand traces slow circles across my stomach. “I could do this all day long.”

  I should probably figure out what I am doing today. It’s well after ten, and I feel a little guilty for ditching my friends. It was supposed to be a girls’ weekend, after all. As tempting as it is to spend a day in bed with Finn, that seems like a jerk move on my part.

  “You know, I, um…” Wow, I’m having a hard time saying this. “I should probably get back to my friends.”

  He blinks and gets that little groove between his eyebrows. “Yeah, of course. You guys are heading home tomorrow?”

  “I’m sure we are, although I didn’t make the reservations.” Suddenly I’m terrified that they didn’t book the house for tonight, and we’re leaving today. But even if we stay, will I see Finn again? Should I see him again?

  The thought of saying a real goodbye almost makes me tear up. I sit up, pulling the sheet over my chest, and grab my coffee so he won’t see.

  “So, okay,” he says. “I can take you back whenever you want.”

  He gets up and starts getting dressed. I stare at his back while he pulls on a pair of jeans. So that’s it? He’s just going to drop me off?

  I swallow hard. This is fine. We had a good time. He took a shitty situation and turned it into a great birthday. He never offered anything else, and the sex was my idea. So what if it was the best sex of my entire life? I don’t need to get upset over this.

  But I still can’t quite look at him while I gather my clothes and put my dress back on. I wish I had something else to wear. Putt
ing on the dress I wore to dinner last night feels awkward.

  I go downstairs and get the rest of my things. I don’t have any texts, but I kind of wish I did. If they were texting me, anxious to know where I am and when I’ll be back, maybe I wouldn’t feel so confused.

  Finn comes down the stairs. “Do you at least want to finish your coffee?”

  His tone is so casual, like he doesn’t particularly care either way.

  “No, I think I should go.”

  He pauses, his face registering surprise. “Okay. Is everything all right?”

  “Yeah, I’m fine,” I say, trying to match his casual tone. “I just don’t usually sleep so late, and I feel bad leaving them. They brought me out here so the three of us could hang out together.”

  “Girls’ weekend,” he says with a nod. “Okay, well, I have to work later too.”

  I guess this is it. He throws on a coat and grabs his keys.

  This isn’t ending the way I thought it would, but I have a feeling the angst is all on my side. Finn smiles and opens the door for me. I follow him out to his car and I wish he’d quit being sweet, but he opens the passenger side door and shuts it once I’m in. He gets in and it’s only about a five-minute drive to the vacation house. Madison’s car is still out front, and Finn pulls up next to it.

  I take off my seatbelt, but Finn puts a hand on my leg before I can open the door.

  “Juliet, I had a really great time,” he says.

  I don’t think I can meet his eyes, so I keep my gaze fixed on my lap. “I did too. Thanks… for everything.”

  He leans in and kisses the corner of my mouth. “Happy birthday, sprinkles.”

  “Thanks.”

  I don’t want to admit how much I want to put my hands through that stupid messy hair of his and climb into his lap. But I really need to stop thinking like that. This was fun. I don’t want to end it on a bad note.

  “Really.” I look up at him. “Thank you.”

  He smiles and my brain melts into a puddle inside my skull. He gets that groove between his eyebrows again, like he’s thinking. “You know, if you girls aren’t doing anything tonight, you should come to my pub. It’s the off-season, so it won’t be all that busy, but Saturday nights are usually pretty fun.”

  Something tells me I need to pull away and do it now, or this is going to get complicated. Not for him, obviously. But for me. “Yeah, I’ll run it by them, but I’m not really sure what we’re doing yet. I guess we’ll see.”

  “Sure,” he says. “I just realized I don’t have your number or anything. How about I give you mine and you can text me if you guys want to come down.”

  I hesitate for a beat before getting out my phone, but I’m pretty sure I’ve made up my mind that we won’t be going to his pub. I’ll just text him later and say we have other plans. I add his number, and give him mine.

  So we have each other’s numbers now. This is fine.

  We both get out of the car and he walks me up to the door.

  “Okay, well…” I’m suddenly anxious to get this goodbye over with. I’m feeling way too many emotions and I need to get a fucking grip. “I guess I’ll see you later.”

  “Promise?”

  Oh god, Finn. Don’t say things like that. I can’t answer, so I just shrug a little and smile.

  Please just go. This is hurting in places it shouldn’t.

  He steps in like he’s going to kiss me, but I can’t let him. I have to cut this off. Now. I grab the doorknob and say a silent thank you that it’s not locked. “Bye, Finn. Thanks again.”

  I slip through the door and shut it behind me before I lose my mind and make him take me back to his house.

  Madison and Becca are in the kitchen, both staring at me with wide eyes and big smiles.

  “There she is,” Becca says.

  “Hey, I’m so sorry, you guys.” I walk to the kitchen, hoping they have coffee made.

  “Sorry for what?” Madison asks.

  “Sorry I was gone so long. I slept in. I didn’t mean to make you wait.”

  “Girl, I hope you didn’t rush that hot man this morning,” Madison says. “Because we are fine.”

  They both look like themselves again, with their normal color. “You guys feeling better?”

  “Yeah, we’re good,” Becca says. “I’m starving, though. I ate like four crackers and a bowl of soup yesterday.”

  Was it really only yesterday that Finn and I dropped off groceries?

  “Who gives a shit about us?” Madison hands me a mimosa in a champagne flute. “Let’s have our breakfast drinks and you tell us everything.”

  I groan and go plop down on the couch, careful not to spill my mimosa. “Fine, what do you want to know?”

  Madison and Becca sit down, watching me with eager faces. “I told you—everything,” Madison says.

  “Okay…” I take a sip. “We had an incredible dinner at this really nice restaurant. Afterward, when we were standing by his car, he kissed me.” Becca lets out a squeal and holds her hand up to her mouth. “And then I… well, I kind of suggested we go back to his place.”

  “You suggested?” Madison says, raising her eyebrows.

  “Yes, I suggested. Is that really so shocking?”

  Madison shrugs. “It’s just not like you. But I love it. Go on.”

  “I know it’s not like me,” I say, leaning my head back against the cushion. “Nothing about yesterday was like me. Yes, I asked to go back to his place, because fuck, I really wanted to. It was crazy. And then I did, and we did, and oh god you guys.”

  “Wow,” Madison says. “Happy birthday Juliet.”

  “Yeah, more than once.”

  “More than once?” Becca asks.

  Madison leans forward. “How many times are we talking?”

  “Last night? Three.”

  “Three?” they both squeal together.

  I put a hand over my eyes. Why did he have to be so damn good? “Yes. It was great. No, it wasn’t great. It was incredible. Amazing. Mind-blowing. And a very, very stupid thing for me to do.”

  “What are you talking about?” Madison asks. “You went from birthday shitsville to oh my god, do it, yes… three times?”

  “Four, if you count this morning.”

  “Four?” Madison asks. “You had four orgasms in the last twenty-four hours?”

  “Yes.”

  “So when are you seeing him again?” Becca asks.

  “I’m not.”

  “What?” Becca asks, her voice going shrill. “Of course you are.”

  “No, I’m really not.” I down a big gulp of mimosa.

  “Juliet, what are you talking about?” Becca asks.

  Madison nods, like she totally understands. “I get it. He was an asshole about it this morning, wasn’t he?”

  “No, actually he wasn’t,” I say. “He was really sweet and invited us all to come to his pub tonight.”

  “Then what’s the problem?” she asks.

  “There are several.” I tick them off on my fingers. “One, this is a girls’ weekend. I should be hanging out with you two, especially since you’re getting better. Two, we’re leaving tomorrow, right? I can’t get all tangled up with this guy when I’m about to go home. Three, I…” Wait, I’m sure there’s a third. “I can’t remember what three is, but I know there’s something.”

  “But he wants to see you again, right?” Becca asks. “If he invited you to his pub tonight?”

  “I guess. Maybe he was just saying it to be nice. He didn’t seem all that bothered that I was leaving.” My phone dings with a text and I clutch my chest. “Fuck, that scared me.”

  “It’s him,” Becca says.

  “I’m sure it isn’t,” I say. “It’s probably my mother.”

  My phone dings again with another text.

  “It’s totally him,” Madison says.

  Ding. Again.

  I dig my phone out of my purse and check. Holy shit—they are from him.

  Hey spri
nkles. I feel like I didn’t say goodbye very well.

  I know you’re hanging with your girlfriends today. I don’t want to get in the way.

  Fuck it. Please come to the pub tonight. I want to see you again.

  I close my eyes and Madison grabs my phone.

  “Oh my god,” she says. “We are obviously going.”

  “That is such a bad idea,” I say.

  Madison gives me her you’re a dumbass look. “Not going is a bad idea. Do you see this shit?” She holds up my phone, then passes it to Becca so she can read his texts. “This guy is seriously into you.”

  I smile and bite my lower lip.

  “See,” Madison says. “You totally want to see him again.”

  “Okay, yes, I do, but—”

  “No buts,” Madison says, pointing her finger at me. “We are having fun this weekend, and we are showing you that you can loosen up and go with the flow. So, we’ll get dressed, take a walk on the beach, do a little shopping, and then party it up at Finn’s pub tonight.”

  “Thank you for the itinerary,” I say, winking at her.

  She tosses a pillow at me, and I lift my glass so I don’t spill.

  “Fine,” I say. “Fine. We’ll go. And you know what? I won’t stress about it. I’ll just hang out at his pub, and we’ll see what happens. No plans.”

  “Good for you,” Madison says. Becca smiles at me.

  I take a deep breath and sip my mimosa. I’m not quite sure what I’m doing—but for the first time in my life, I kind of like not knowing.

  13

  Finn

  I plunk my phone down on the counter, wondering if Juliet is going to text me back. Fuck, why did I let her go like that? I should have realized something was wrong when she said she wanted to leave, but I’m an idiot. I figured sure, she’s here with her girlfriends, and she wants to get back to her weekend. No big deal.

  But then she bolted inside their vacation house like she was trying to get away from me, and I knew I screwed up.

  Most of the time, I’m great at reading people. When someone walks into my bar, I can usually tell in about ten seconds what’s going on with them. Maybe not specifics. But a rough day at work looks different on a person than a fight with the spouse, or the loss of a loved one, or financial stress. I have a knack for seeing what people aren’t saying.