Stripped Bare

by Heidi McLaughlin

  Finn sighs and runs his hand through his dark hair. It falls back into place immediately. His hair looks the same, whether he’s waking up or I’ve run my hands through it while we’re having sex.

  “Look, I’m not pissed. I get it.”

  “Get what, exactly?” he asks, taking off his tuxedo jacket. He starts working on his cuff links, followed by the buttons of his shirt.

  “That you’re looking to bed the next donor. It’s business. You’re a businessman and she clearly wanted to be between your sheets. I thought about leaving so you could seal the deal tonight and not have to worry about me being here.”

  “Wow,” he says, acting shocked. “I can’t believe you think so little of me.”

  “Am I supposed to think differently?”

  “I don’t know.” He shrugs. “I thought I’ve been doing a decent job of treating you nicely. I know I’m demanding, but you don’t shy away from telling me off either.”

  He stands and moves toward the living room. “Look, if you want to go, you can. I’m not going to keep you here if you don’t want to be here. I’ll put the money on the counter for you.”

  Finn disappears before I can open my mouth and tell him that I’m sorry, that maybe I misjudged him. Deep in my heart I know that I didn’t, though. Once I’m gone, he’ll replace me with someone else. It may not be Brandy or the woman who was all over him, but next week another woman will walk barefoot through his house, share his bed and be made to feel like the world is at their feet.

  And maybe they won’t be a stripper or an escort. Maybe she’ll be a random chick he sees walking down the street or an old flame who has returned to Vegas for a vacation. Regardless, it won’t be me.

  I start to get up, only to find him standing where the wall should be. He’s clad only in silk pajama bottoms, sitting low, highlighting the defined V of his hips. My mouth waters, knowing the taste of him well and wanting more.

  Finn stalks toward me, resting his knee on the chaise until I’m pushed back against it.

  “Don’t leave,” he whispers over my mouth, his lips dangerously close to touching mine. He nuzzles my neck, placing feather-light kisses on my skin while his covered erection presses against my leg. Closing my eyes, I open to him, letting him center himself.

  “Please stay, Macey,” he begs, resting half his body on me as he cups my cheek. Between his blue eyes and the dark stubble, I’m lost. I desperately want to kiss him, to feel his lips and tongue against mine. I swallow hard, fighting back the urge, and nod my head.

  “Yeah?” he asks and I nod again, pulling my lower lip between my teeth to keep myself in check.

  “You won’t be sorry.” His lips are like fire against my neck as they move languidly down the valley of my breasts. The tie keeping my robe closed is pulled away and the silk keeping me covered is pulled again. Finn’s grasp on my boob is rough but sensual, and as his teeth bite down on my nipple, I cry out.

  Reaching between us, I pull the drawstring on his pants, loosening them enough that I can slide my hand in, feeling his arousal against the palm of my hand. Gripping his shaft, I work my hand up and down his rod while his mouth makes love to my breasts.

  Finn pushes my robe away, leaving me exposed to the elements. The cool breeze hits my wet nipples, making them harder. I arch into him, needing him to take away the chill. With each pull of my hand, his erection brushes against my clit, increasing my need for him. I let go, needing my hands to push his pants down. I want him in me. I need the feeling of him inside to take away the ache that I feel in my heart. My time with him is coming to an end and I don’t want it to.

  “Fuck, your body is on fire,” he says, kissing his way down my torso.

  “Finn, please.”

  He sits back on his haunches with his hands on my knees, spreading my legs open. My finger rubs my clit, giving me a little bit of the friction I need. Finn licks his lips and pulls my body forward, lining up with my core, rubbing the head of his dick between my folds. He hisses at the contact, letting his head fall back before his gaze meets mine.

  “Do you want me?” he asks, his voice soft.

  “Yes.” I squirm, making sure he can feel how wet I am.

  “Fuck it.” A primal roar echoes loudly as Finn plunges into me. He stills and looks me in the eye. “Tell me you’re on something because now that I can feel your pussy caressing my bare dick I don’t want to cover it.”

  “I am. I promise.” My hand reaches up to cup his cheek. He kisses my palm and starts moving his hips in a slow rhythm, never taking his smoldering eyes away from mine. I meet him thrust for thrust with my hands pressed to his backside, taking him in greedily and holding him there as long as possible until neither of us can hold on anymore.

  Chapter 14

  Finn

  The days of Macey being here and at my beck and call are numbered and I’m letting my heart get the best of me. Instead of doing the logical thing of going to work, I’m taking Macey away from Vegas for the day, showing her the Grand Canyon. I’m rationalizing this by saying to myself that she’s never seen the majestic beauty of the Colorado Plateau, she’s never experienced the Hoover Dam, traveled on Route 66 or tasted the freshness of handmade tortillas off the side of the road. And while all of this makes sense in my head, I’m regretting my decision. I’m straddling the proverbial tightrope and if I’m not careful I’m going to end up losing at my own game.

  Truth is, after last night, after being with her without a barrier, something changed and as much as I don’t want to admit it, I don’t want her to leave. Except, she will and I’ll make sure of it, despite this feeling inside of me. Relationships are complicated and I can’t offer her whatever she may be looking for. Hell, I can’t offer it to myself because the thought of being with someone long term seems so foreign to me that it’s not an avenue I want to traverse. Not to mention, there’s someone named Morgan standing in the way. I asked her to take a shower with me, she agreed, and when she didn’t come in I went to look for her, spotting her in the kitchen talking on her phone. I stayed there, eavesdropping, until I heard the words that caused me to take a step back. I didn’t expect my heart to feel anything when she told Morgan that she loved him, but it did. And I hate myself for it. I’ve let myself become emotionally invested in her and that has to stop.

  It’s rare that I take days off from work, but today I’m making an exception. Taking this drive is something I want to do. Not for me, but for her, because regardless of my inability to commit, Macey has done everything I’ve asked of her even when I didn’t deserve it. The top is off on the Jeep Wrangler and Macey is dressed casually in shorts and a tank top. Her hair is piled on the top of her head with wisps flying everywhere from the forced wind, and dark sunglasses shade her blue eyes. Eyes that told me so much last night that I didn’t even have to ask her how she felt. Each time I look over at her, her head is on a swivel taking in the sights of the desert, pointing in amazement and yelling questions at me. I know that today is something she’ll remember when she returns home. Maybe she’ll even bring Morgan back and remember that it was me who brought her here first. Sex is easily forgettable, especially when you’re being paid. When she goes home, I’m sure I’ll be the furthest thing from her mind. Besides, Morgan will be waiting for her. He’s probably a pimp or someone like that. I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that the more I think about him, the more pissed I get.

  The more I’ve thought about her leaving, the more curious I have been. Many times I’ve been tempted to ask Lamar to figure out where exactly home is, but the less I know the better. Cutting ties with Macey is the only option that is feasible for me.

  Pulling off the highway, we head toward the Hoover Dam. Years ago, Arizona constructed a new bridge, moving traffic away from the dam and, with increased security, making the dam a bona fide tourist site. After the car is searched and a small drive, we reach the parking area. Thankfully, it’s still early enough in the day that it’s not crowded with tourists.

 
“Ready?” I ask her, popping the latch on not only my seatbelt but hers as well. I don’t wait for her to answer before I’m moving around to the other side of the Jeep to open her door. When she’s out, she reaches for my hand, but as coyly as possible I slip it into my pocket. I need to get my head back into the game and shut my heart off. I don’t want her thinking that my thoughts have changed because they haven’t. The last thing I want to give her is hope that we have a future. She needs to know, without a doubt, that in two days we will never see each other again. I don’t care if she ends up in my casino again after this week. I’m done.

  I pretend not to notice how put out she is that we’re not holding hands. She should be, considering I’ve held her hand all week, often initiating the contact. Her arms are crossed in front of her chest and her lower lip juts out, making me want to break my cardinal rule of no kissing on the lips. Fuck, that’s another rule I wanted to break last night. Hearing her cry out because of what I was doing to her body had me on edge. I wanted to swallow each of her moans and mix them with mine, but held back. Kissing is far too intimate for me and yet I find myself closer and closer to her mouth each time we’re together.

  Macey leans against the bridge, her forearms rest on the railing while her hands dangle over the side. There’s a slight breeze, but between the rising heat of the desert and the stifling air, all it’s doing is making us hotter. The only consolation is that it’s not humid. I can deal with the high heat, but sweating my balls off is never enjoyable unless it’s a result of sex.

  “They say if you throw a coin over the bridge your wishes will come true.” Macey looks out over the water while speaking.

  “I think you heard that in a movie.”

  She shrugs. “Maybe.”

  It dawns on me that she doesn’t have any money, and if she does she didn’t bring it with her. I promised her a week when I would pay for everything. Digging into my pocket I pull out a quarter, wondering what she’ll wish for. Eternal happiness? Wealth? I don’t know what someone in her position would want more of. If it were me…yeah, I don’t even know what I’d wish for.

  I stand behind her, placing my arms through the gaps between her arms and body. It’s nothing but pure torture, but I can’t help myself as I inhale her scent. Nothing but warmth, coconut and lust seep through my system. I’d fuck her right now if there weren’t people looming around and taking pictures.

  Opening my palm, the quarter rests there for her taking. I expect to feel her fingers push into my skin as she picks it up, but she uses only her nails as if touching me would give her a disease. Her reaction is exactly what I want. I want her pissed off at me. Not only will it make what I have planned for us later even better, but when she leaves, she’ll be counting her lucky stars that she’s finally rid of me.

  Macey holds the quarter in her hand, letting it drop into the river below. The faint plop is barely heard among the noise and other people making wishes.

  “What’d you wish for?” I ask, leaning into her only to have her turn slightly and give me a sideways glance.

  “If I tell you, it won’t come true.”

  “You know the likelihood of your wish coming true is slim to nothing.”

  Macey turns fully in my arms and leans against the railing. “What the hell is wrong with you?”

  “Excuse me?” I counter.

  “You’re like night and day and I can’t keep up. One minute you’re this nice man who treats me like I’m worth something and then the next you’re this cynical piece of shit.”

  “And what am I now?”

  “Definitely the piece of shit,” she says with a huff as she turns back around. If her hair were down, I have no doubt in my mind that she would’ve flipped it in my face, but it’s the eye roll that really makes her statement epic. In fact, she should market that shit because it was done so dramatically and with such flair that I’d pay for an instant replay.

  “Piece of shit, huh?” I ask, trying to keep my voice low. Macey sighs again and leans slightly over the railing, pressing her ass into my groin. The reaction is instant and I have a feeling she knows this. “And why is that?”

  “Because after last night, I thought…”

  She doesn’t finish her sentence. She doesn’t need to. I already know what she’s going to say. Macey thought after I fucked her without a condom that things would change between us. They did, but not the way she wants them to.

  “Listen,” I say, tugging on her arm to turn her around. She does, but her movements are without attitude. “What happened last night was a mistake.” Her face pales and she looks away.

  “You asked me to stay last night when I wanted to leave,” she says, poking me in the chest. “Last night at your stupid fundraiser I saw you with that other woman. She was pawing at you, draping herself all over you, and you expected me to stand next to you while this was going on. You never brushed her away. You laughed at whatever she was saying to you. I felt so used.”

  “I’m sure it wasn’t the first time.”

  I don’t know if everyone heard the slap, but it sure sounded loud when her hand hit my cheek as it echoed in my ear. And for dramatic effect, I leave my head turned to the side, letting the sting set in. I can’t believe she fucking slapped me, but I deserved it. What I said was a low blow, especially after I’ve already told her that I’ve never called her a whore. The word may not have come out of my mouth right then, but it was definitely implied.

  I drop my hands, effectively freeing her, and rub my face. It fucking hurts, but it’s a stark reminder that I’m nothing but a fucking dick. Regardless of her profession, she deserves respect because that’s what she’s given me all week. Everything I’ve asked her to do, she’s done and done without complaint.

  By the time I’m ready to face her, she’s gone. I look around the bridge quickly and find her walking toward the Arizona line. I think about chasing after her, but realize she probably needs her space, so I stay where I am, assuming her spot along the bridge wall and watching the river flow below me. Every few minutes, or more like thirty seconds, I’m looking down the bridge to find her. Sometimes I spot her easily, other times I have to squint, but she’s still at the dam, although she could be looking to hitch a ride back to Vegas.

  I don’t know how much time passes before I’m walking toward her. She’s across the border and on the opposite side of the road, chatting with a security guard. This all but forces me to play it cool because one wrong move and my ass will be tossed in jail.

  “Hey, babe.” I rest my hand on her hip and place a simple kiss on her cheek. The corner of her lip rises, I can feel it against my lips and her body sighs. As mad as she is at me, she still craves my touch. “Did you see everything you wanted to see?” I ask, hoping to set an amicable tone with the security guard.

  “Yeah, we were only chatting.”

  It doesn’t escape my notice that her statement can easily be taken out of context. I don’t know whether to walk away or wait patiently. She makes the choice easy for me and says goodbye to the guard then steps in front of me. I’m sure to keep my hand on her waist so he knows that she’s with me.

  “I’m sorry I slapped you,” she says on our walk back to the car.

  “I deserved it, Macey. I was out of line, but not about last night being a mistake. I shouldn’t have lost control like that and not protected us. It won’t happen again.”

  “Okay.” Her voice is soft and barely above a whisper as we walk back toward the Wrangler. I help her in before climbing in myself. Once we’re back on the road, I can’t help but want to ease her mind. I reach over and place my hand on her bare leg, pulling it slightly closer to the middle. Her attempt to adjust against the leather seat is subtle. If it weren’t for the automatic cooling system, her legs would be burning right now.

  Halfway back to Vegas, after we’ve stopped at a roadside hut for dinner, she laces her fingers with mine and turns her head so she can watch me. Every chance I get, I look at her and wonder if this is
the woman she would’ve turned into if someone, even me, had paid her a little more attention in high school.

  Chapter 15

  Macey

  While today was great in the sense that Finn took time out of his day to show me Nevada, everything felt awkward. The fact that he regretted last night weighs heavily on my mind. I should’ve stopped him. I should’ve reminded him of our agreement, that he’s paying me to service him, but I couldn’t. I desperately wanted to feel him without the barrier. The move was completely selfish on both our parts, but I knew better. This is my livelihood, reminding men of what’s allowed and what’s off-limits, and sex without a condom is definitely a no for me.

  As much as I want to dissect his actions, make myself believe that after almost a week of being together, he’s fallen for me, I’m not that stupid. For a brief moment, when he asked me to stay, I wanted to believe that maybe he wanted something with me, something away from sex. That’s the problem, though; men don’t see someone like me as a long-term commitment, and I’d give anything to change that view, especially where Finn is concerned. Having him in my life, in Morgan’s, is a dream I wish for and I know with one sentence I can change everything.

  But he’d hate me and I’d rather leave knowing that Morgan is taken care of. She’s the only reason I’m doing this. Next week, we’ll move into our own place and start a life that will be healthier than what we’re doing now.

  As soon as we arrived back from our day trip, Finn went to the office, leaving me to sit and think. It’s been almost two weeks since I’ve seen my baby and I miss her.

  “Hey,” Steph says when she answers. “Everything okay?”

  “Yeah, why?”

  “Second time you’ve called today. Either you’re calling because you’re really homesick or you’re calling to tell me you aren’t coming home.” She sighs, before continuing. “And if you told me that, I’d tell you that I love you, but you need to come home.”