Every Breath You Take (Oasis Book 1) (22 page)

I could feel Finn’s eyes on me, feel the heat of his body next to mine. His hand brushed my knee. Under the table, I clasped his fingers in mine, desperate for that contact.

“Would you like another?” he asked, gesturing to my glass.

“Yes, please.”

The waitress returned again to fill our glasses and deliver dessert, and I was pretty sure ours was the only table she was waiting on this evening, because she was there whenever I looked up or whenever Finn mentioned we needed something else.

I had more wine, and soon started to relax. Thought maybe I could keep the secret until I figured out what to do. I couldn’t talk about it here, I knew that for sure. Mark had eyes in the restaurant. But at home…inside my apartment? Or even better, Finn’s? If I could get to a safe space, I could tell him. Or I could track Curtis down and figure out how to tell him.

That’s what I’d do. I’d tell Curtis. He would know what to do. He’d figure this out and Finn wouldn’t have to know. Paige wouldn’t have to know. No one would get hurt.

() () ()

We returned to the Housing Community as a group, some of us weaving our way through the Commons because we had a few too many glasses of wine. But in my alcohol induced haze, I felt more confident about my plan. I had to keep people safe, and if that meant keeping my mouth shut, so be it.

At the elevators, I found Dustin and quietly asked him to see Paige to her apartment.

“I’m sorry, Ms. Evans, but I need to stay close to you.”

Finn’s smile had an edge when he looked at me. “We’ll go together.”

And in that moment, I knew he was suspicious. We said goodnight to the rest of the group and took Paige to her apartment, where I made her swear to keep her door locked and her phone close just in case.

She wrapped her arms around me in a tight hug. She whispered in my ear, “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.” I straightened. “I just have a bad feeling is all. Be careful.”

Once she was shut in her apartment, I headed back down the hall with Finn and Dustin. Shit. Now what? There were cameras in the hallways, I knew that. If I went home, maybe Mark would see and he’d leave my friends alone. But then Dustin would be at my door and Finn wouldn’t have any protection.

“You’re staying at my place, right?” Finn asked, oblivious to Dustin’s presence. Or uncaring. He also didn’t seem to care that we were being watched. Could Mark hear us, too?

“I don’t know…” I swallowed, suddenly wishing I hadn’t had so much to drink. What was I supposed to do?

“It’ll be safer,” Finn insisted, tugging my hand. “Come on.”

My stomach twisted. What if Mark saw? Would he be angry?

“I should stay home tonight,” I murmured. Closer to Paige. That way Dustin could look out of for her, too.

Finn propped his hands on his hips. “Then I’m staying here.”

“No, Finn–that’s not a good idea,” I said. I used the wall to steady myself as I pulled out my key card and fumbled for the slot.

“Can you give us a minute?” Finn asked Dustin.

He took the card from me when I failed to get it in the slot the third time. It was as much from nerves as it was the wine.

Dustin dipped his head in an easy nod. “Don’t worry about me. I’m going to do a sweep of this floor and then I’ll be out here if you need me.”

“All night?” I asked, frowning.

He offered a small smile. “Someone will relieve me in a few hours.”

Finn ushered me inside the apartment, closing the door behind us, and faced me. “Tell me.”

“Wh-what?” I leaned down to take off the heels.

When I wobbled again, Finn wrapped his arm around my waist. “Let’s sit.”

My head spun, and I clutched his shirt in my fist as he helped me to the couch. “That chocolate cake was really good.”

“I’m glad you liked it,” Finn said, sitting next to me. But his face was stony.

He smelled good. Like a vacation. Somewhere exotic. I turned to him, my hand squeezing his leg.

“We should go there again. The restaurant,” I said.

A small smile touched his lips, but didn’t reach his eyes. “Whenever you want. Charlotte–”

“Do you think there are cameras in here?” My gaze swept the corners of the room. The curtains and windows. Everywhere I could think that there might be a camera.

Finn frowned. “We didn’t plan the apartments to have cameras. Privacy.”

“But I mean…” I swallowed, lowering my voice. “Do you think they’re in
my
apartment?”

“Like someone put them in here?” Finn shook his head. “Powell did a sweep of the place. There aren’t any cameras.”

I blew out a breath and faced Finn. Before he could speak again, I put my arms around his neck, straddling him in one quick movement. “I can’t lose you,” I said, meeting his eyes.

“Charlotte.” Finn brushed my hair back from my cheeks. “I’m right here. What–”

I squeezed his neck tight, burying my face in his shoulder. “You should go back to your place. It’ll be safer.”

I hadn’t meant for the words to come out of my mouth. The wine was making me too loose, too ready to talk to him when what I really needed to do was get him out of here.

Finn gripped my arms, pulling me away from him so he could see my face. “You’re not telling me everything.”

“Finn–”

“No, Charlotte. This isn’t a game.”

I blinked. “I know. I
know
, Finn. I…in the restaurant…I got a horrible feeling and I’m scared.”

His face softened. “You don’t have to be scared. Mark can’t get to you.”

But he already had. He’d gotten to me and now I was afraid there wasn’t anywhere safe.

Touching his cheek, I said, “I need to make sure you’re safe. I think you should go–”

“Not going to happen.”

“Finn, please. Oh, God, Finn. You have to understand.”

“I understand you’re scared. I understand you want to keep me safe, but I can’t go. Ask me anything, but don’t ask me to leave.”

He stood, with me still in his lap. I wrapped my legs around his waist and pressed a kiss to his cheek. “Then be with me, Finn. Just for tonight.”

“Forever,” he murmured.

The word shot straight to my heart. Then twisted inside of me. I didn’t know if I could give him forever. I didn’t know if I could even give him tomorrow.

But for now, this had to be enough.

I fused my lips to his, kissing him with everything I had. I wouldn’t let even a breath of air between us. Fumbling with the collar of his shirt, I undid one button and then the next.

Finn walked us to my bedroom, through the dim hallway and into the dark space. He slapped the wall, trying to find the light switch.

“Lamp,” I mumbled, breaking away from him for a moment.

He set me on the bed, and walked around to the lamp. It filled the room with a soft glow. Finn worked at the buttons on his shirt, but I scooted across the bed to stop him.

Resting my hands over his, I said, “Finn.”

His heart beat fast under our linked fingers. “Yes?”

“I think…” My throat was suddenly dry. The pure love I saw in his eyes made the words come loose. “I think I’m falling in love with you.”

His gaze locked on mine, voice almost hoarse when he said my name. “Charlotte.” He gathered my hands in his and tipped his forehead against mine. “I know that wasn’t easy for you. I’m…it means a lot to me.”

“I know.”

His lips pressed against mine, soft but urgent. I pulled him down onto the bed and straddled him again. He reached for me, but I shook my head. “My turn.”

“Charlotte,” Finn rasped.

I undid the rest of the buttons on his shirt and helped him out of it. Then I slid my fingers down his chest, stopping just above the lip of his jeans to run my finger across the band. His breath hissed in, and I was moved with tenderness for him.

All my thoughts of Mark, all the worries that wanted to push their way in, were silenced. I wanted–
needed
–this time with Finn. To show him that no matter what happened, I still cared about him.

With a quick pull, I had his jeans unsnapped. I slid them down, along with his boxers, and eased off the bed to pull them from his legs. He leaned up on his elbows, eyes hungry.

So I smiled, and inched my dress up. Over my thighs, my stomach, and then over my head. My bra and panties were a simple black, edged in lace that tickled my skin.

Finn breathed out and sat up, reaching for me once more. I walked into his arms, letting him bury his face against my chest.

“You smell good,” he murmured.

I ran my hands through his hair, tugging at the back so he’d lift his face to mine. “So do you.”

I traced his lips with my tongue, and then slid inside, deepening the kiss until his hands couldn’t seem to hold still. They roamed up my back to unlatch my bra, and then skimmed my sides and around my front to trace my stomach down to my panties. He hooked a finger in them and lowered them slowly, all the way down my legs, until I stepped out.

Finn cooperated when I pushed him back on the bed. I crawled on top, arching over him, as his hands came up to cup my breasts.

My low moan was full of pleasure and love, an ache for something more. Something we might never have.

When I eased him inside of me, he echoed the moan, hands dropping to my hips. I rocked back and forth, reveling in the friction and the feel of his hands on me. He reached down, thumb pressing against my center as I swiveled my hips. A flash of white shot through my vision.

“Finn,” I gasped.

I could barely keep moving as the first wave of pleasure overtook me. And in another flash, Finn had flipped me onto my back. My eyes flew open and met his.

He pulled my knees up and slid into me again, filling me with warmth. “I love you,” Finn murmured, eyes full on my face.

Heart racing out of control, I nodded and brushed his cheek with my thumb. And then he plunged. Once, then twice, until he set a steady rhythm that had me grasping at the sheets. He squeezed my breasts and then put his mouth to my nipple, teeth against flesh, making me ride another wave of bliss.

“Finn,” I said, breathless. “Please.”

He picked up the pace, body quick as we merged over and over until he drew in a breath. He shuddered against me and then swept me up in his arms as he climaxed.

“Charlotte. God,” he said, arms clenching around me.

I held him close and let our hearts race together.

Chapter Eighteen

The next morning, sunlight streamed through the window from the open curtains. Half of me was sprawled on the bed, and the other half on top of Finn. I did what I could to untangle myself without waking him, and then pulled on a robe before leaving the room. My eyes felt heavy, my whole body aching for more sleep.

But I had things to do. I needed to talk to Curtis.

While I made my coffee, my phone dinged with a text. I tensed immediately. Snatching it up, I opened the message and froze. It was a picture of Paige. She had her hair up, a smile on her face as she walked. It looked like she was in the Commons.

I squeezed my fist against my chest. When had this been taken?

I yanked open the front door and jumped when I saw Dustin.

“Ms. Evans,” he said.

“Dustin. I thought you were going home.”

“I did. Just came back about twenty minutes ago. Everything okay?”

“Do you know if Paige has left her apartment this morning?”

He glanced down the hallway, instantly going alert. “Brett was here before me. He said no one had come or gone on your floor. She should still be in there.”

“Good. I…is Curtis in today? I think I need to talk to him.”

“Of course,” Dustin said. He pulled out his phone. “I can give him a call, see if he can come on up.”

“No. I mean, no I’d rather go to him.”

“I’ll walk you there.”

Nodding, I backed into the apartment. “Give me twenty minutes.”

As quietly as I could, I grabbed a pair of jeans and a sweater before giving Finn one last look. He was peaceful, lying on his stomach and facing the window, where light streamed across his face. He’d always been able to sleep through noise or light. I envied him that. Right now, all I wanted was to climb back in bed with him and fall asleep to the sound of his breathing.