Page 2 of Arranged Scars
He steps forward into the enclosed rooftop pool space. Light from the stars illuminates his face. My mouth opens in surprise as Finn stares at me. He’s in a black suit, sleek and form-fitting, showing off his athletic frame. There’s stubble on his cheeks and chin. His eyes are sparkling and green, almost too deep to be real. His hair’s brushed back casually like he did it with his fingers and somehow made it perfect. I wonder how warm his lips would be against my neck. I wonder how much pressure it would take for his big hands to squeeze my throat until it closes. Not that much really.
Our eyes lock. I’m too stunned and terrified to speak. He’s smiling ever so slightly.
But there’s still no humor or joy behind those eyes.
Only a cold calculation.
“I’m so sorry!” I finally blurt out. “I’m so, so sorry. I know I shouldn’t be in here, but you’re never home and I was just taking a quick swim after my shift, and I’m so sorry, this is so insanely inappropriate, oh my god, I’m so embarrassed.”
He tilts his head and instead of replying, he turns and steps over to the bench where I keep my little pile of clothes. I think he’s about to tell me to get dressed and inform me that I’m fired, which will really, really stink, because this job is keeping me afloat right now. But instead, he sits down beside my stuff and crosses his legs, watching me again.
“Don’t apologize,” he says, hands folded on his knee. “And don’t stop on my account.”
What the hell? I keep treading water, not sure what to do. I’m very, very naked, my nipples are stiff and my skin’s coveredin goosebumps, and he’s just looking at me like a beautiful predator. There’s a strange, hungry gleam in his expression now.
“I should get dressed and go.” I start swimming to the ladder but stop before I pull myself out. “Do you mind looking away?”
“Why would I do that?”
“Because—” I stammer slightly, cheeks turning red. “I’m naked in here. I know this is inappropriate, but still.”
“I don’t mind.”
“I definitely do.”
“Why? You’re an attractive woman.”
I almost laugh. I can’t remember anyone ever calling me attractive. Not for a long time, anyway. But that’s what happens when you run away from home and live like a hermit for a couple years.
“Please, can you just toss me a towel at least?”
He grunts almost like he’s considering something. Then he pushes himself to his feet. “If that’s what you want.” He walks over to the sauna and a wave of relief hits me. I was worried he was going to do something terrible. But why would a guy like that want to risk himself on a girl like me? A nobody with nothing to give? Unless he thinks his money can protect him, no matter what I do…
He’s probably right. Most people have a 50:50 shot at getting away with it.
A guy like him probably has more like 70:30 or better.
I wait for what feels like a very long time. I’m not sure what he’s doing until the sauna door opens again. Finn comes out, tosses his pile of clothing to the floor, and places my towel down on the tile beside the pool.
He’s naked. Completely, gloriously, incredibly naked. And he looks like a god decided to descend from wherever gods live. I swear, the moonlight makes his abs glow. It’s absurd. It’s obscene. I can’t stop staring, my mouth hanging open, my pulse racing in my chest.
He’s insanely hot. By far the best-looking man I’ve ever seen in real life. Tall, broad, obviously takes care of himself. A face like a model without looking too soft.
There’s a towel wrapped around his midsection, but it’s not doing much to cover his bulging dick.
Holy shit. He’s half hard just looking at me.
Weirdly, that drives my beating heart into a frenzy.
“If you want to go, you can go,” he says, gesturing at the towel with one hand. If he lets go with that other, I’m pretty sure he’s going to treat me to a show. A very big show. “Or you can come sit with me in the sauna. I won’t touch you if you don’t want me to. Feel free to cover yourself.” He turns away and takes off his towel, revealing a firm, tanned ass. Maybe the best ass I’ve ever seen. “But you don’t have to.”
He disappears back into the sauna, leaving me in the pool to question all my life decisions.
How did I end up like this? Floating in a hot stranger’s fancy pool while he practically invites me to fuck him in the sauna? I mean, he didn’t say that, but come on. I’m not an idiot. He’s notgoing to touch me? Obviously, he will, because I really want him to.
That’s the problem. I look at the towel and over to my pile of clothes. I could get out, run to my stuff, and disappear back inside. I could dress in the bathroom beside the front door and be gone in two minutes. He might not even realize I left until I’m home.
Then I’d never come back, obviously. That’d suck. I’m living alone and trying to make ends meet with no skills and barely a high school education. It was a good high school, but still. Not a lot of options for me out there, and I swear my family’s actively making my life even harder than it needs to be.
