Alex laughed and asked, “What, you don’t like Theory of a Deadman? This channel plays hard rock, which essentially means alternative, hard rock, and metal. I can find something else if you like.”
She reached for the system remote, but Fin stopped her. “No, it’s fine. I just didn’t have you pegged as a head-banger. After hearing about your cowgirl life on the trip over, I assumed you would listen to western music. You are an intriguing woman, Alexis Tanner.”
Alex felt the heat creep up her face. When do you outgrow blushing like a schoolgirl? “No, I generally avoid country and western music. Too much of it growing up, I suppose. I enjoy dancing to it, though. And I do a mean Texas two-step. Do you like to dance?”
“I have been known to step out on occasion.”
“Hmm… maybe we need to go dancing and I’ll teach you how to two-step. That’s assuming you don’t already know how, of course.”
“I don’t believe I do.” He smiled and finished his whisky. “So, about Eddie’s apartment…”
“Right, back to business. It’s rather nice. He’s redone the place since I was last in it. Did you like it?”
“Aye, it reminds me of a cottage I stayed in once on the East Coast. I checked with Addie and she confirmed there’s no issue with me moving from the hotel. But I have a few questions about staying here.”
While Fin had been talking, his hand had moved along the back of the couch and his fingers slowly drew circles on Alex’s arm where it rested. The tingling sensation running from where his fingers touched down to her spine made it difficult for her to concentrate on the topic at hand.
“Um… wh-what are your questions?” she asked. She leisurely turned her hand palm up and raised her fingers to brush the underside of his arm as he continued to draw circles on hers.
“First, how much should I pay Eddie? I’m unsure what the going rate is for a rental.”
“I don’t think he expects payment. He never charges his friends anything.” She shrugged. “But if you’re concerned, you should ask him. He’ll be straight with you.” Alex shivered as Fin’s circles made their way from her elbow to her palm.
“Okay, then the most important question…” He paused and leaned forward to tug gently on her ponytail.
“Yes?” she asked as she subtly shifted closer and ran her fingers up his arm to wander through his hair.
Fin smiled. “You’re distracting me.”
“Am I?”
“Most definitely,” he answered as he took her glass and set it on the coffee table along with his. “Now, where were we?” Fin reached out and pulled her closer. Alex was practically sitting in his lap at this point.
“You were asking me the most important question,” she whispered as his hand circled around her back and up into her hair. She felt the band holding her ponytail slide out and her hair fall around her shoulders.
Fin groaned and captured her mouth with his. The kiss began as a gentle exploration, but molten desire exploded through Alex’s body and she curled her fingers in his hair, pulling him closer. She leaned backward, bringing him with her, falling back so he stretched out on top of her. Alex adjusted her legs, cradling his body between them. She broke off the kiss and gasped for air.
Fin moved from her mouth to her ear, trailing wet, searing kisses along her jawline. Alex raised her hips up in an attempt to move closer. The evidence of his arousal pressed against her, causing shivers of anticipation along her spine. She gasped as one of his hands explored under her t-shirt, moving her bra aside and finding her breast. She felt the sudden dampness between her legs and uttered, “Jesus.”
Fin’s hands stopped moving and he went still. Alex wasn’t aware they had been grinding against each other until he stopped.Don’t apologize, she thought,please don’t apologize.
He didn’t. But he slowed down. He whispered something unintelligible in her ear. Maybe a foreign language? He peppered light kisses back along her jawline to her mouth. Not as passionate as a minute ago, but definitely smoldering and hot.
Fin raised up on his elbows and focused on Alex. His hair was a mess of curls and she imagined she looked just as disheveled. He twirled a lock of her hair in his fingers before speaking. “I knew we had chemistry, but that fire roared fairly fast. You okay?”
She smiled shyly up at him. “I wasn’t expecting it either. Wow! I think I might have attacked you or something.”
His smile turned sultry and he tugged on her hair. “I could handle being attacked like that. You caught me by surprise, and I responded on a visceral level.” His gaze moved down their bodies. “Am I crushing you?”
Alex instinctively wrapped her legs around him before he could move off of her, unintentionally moving them into a more intimate position. Fin cocked his head and raised an eyebrow at her.
She found herself breathless at the feeling of him resting snugly between her legs. “Um, I… I didn’t want you to move.” She gulped. “Wh-what was your last question? Before we got… distracted.”
His face sobered and he asked, “How do you feel about me being so close to you?”
Alex stared at him for half a second and then burst out laughing. “Seriously? You ask that right now? While we’re lying here stuck together like glue?”
Fin grinned. “Okay, I admit the timing is awkward.”
