Page 64 of Puck Your Charity

I shake my head, fresh tears welling in my eyes. "He doesn't even know me."

"He knows enough." Finn offers a gentle, dimpled smile. "He knows you possess enough fire to melt his ice. He knows you protect the people you care about. He knows you refuse to back down from a fight. He loves you, Olive. He sits in his room on the other side of this house punishing himself because he thinks he ruined your life."

The truth hurts worse than a lie.

"What do I do?" I grip the fabric of his white t-shirt. "How do I fix this?"

"You don't have to fix anything right now." Finn brushes my dark hair behind my ear. "Victor is waiting for you to open the door. He respects your boundaries. When you feel ready, you walk up to him and you tell him you want him. He will cross oceans to get to you the second you give him the green light."

"I feel like a mess." I let out a frustrated sigh, wiping my nose with the back of my hand.

"You went through tough couple of weeks." Finn runs his hands down my arms. "You lost your job, you moved into a new house, and you survived a presentation heat. Finding out the guy you hated for the last two and a half weeks is actually a decent man adds a lot of emotional whiplash to the pile."

He understands how my brain works. He validates the chaos without making me feel crazy.

"I don't want to think anymore." I rest my head against his shoulder. "I just want to turn my brain off."

"Done." Finn slides one arm under my knees and the other around my back.

He stands up in one fluid motion, lifting me off the sofa like I weigh absolutely nothing. He cradles me against his broad chest. The smell of his crisp ozone scent wraps around me likea protective blanket, drowning out the lingering anxiety in my chest.

"No more thinking tonight." Finn carries me out of the sitting room and heads down the hallway. "Tonight, you just get to be held. We can tackle the Victor situation tomorrow."

Finn carries me through the sprawling mansion. We leave the quiet sanctuary of the east wing.

He pushes the door to his bedroom open with his shoulder.

The room reflects his personality. The space feels warm and lived-in. A king-sized bed dominates the center, covered in a surprisingly cheerful burnt-orange quilt and a mountain of pillows. A worn leather armchair sits in the corner next to a stack of hockey magazines. Framed posters cover the painted drywall, showing off a side of him I haven't seen yet. Gritty indie rock bands and vintage music festival prints mix with a few classic goalie action shots. It feels like a twenty-six-year-old guy lives here, offering a contrast to the sterile luxury of the rest of the mansion. The crisp, intoxicating scent of ozone and citrus fills every inch of the air, sinking deep into my lungs.

Finn walks over to the bed. He sets me down on the edge of the mattress with incredible gentleness.

He steps back. He grabs the hem of his white t-shirt and pulls it over his head, tossing the fabric onto the armchair. His broad, muscular chest is on display. A light dusting of auburn hair trails down his stomach, disappearing into the waistband of his sweatpants.

He doesn't stop there. He shoves his sweatpants and boxer briefs down his long legs and kicks them away. His thick cock springs free, standing at rigid attention. The base of his shaft already looks engorged. The thick knot stretches the skin tight.

"You look beautiful." Finn keeps his voice a low, rumbling murmur.

He steps between my knees. He reaches out and cups my face in his large, calloused hands. His thumbs brush over my cheekbones. His warm brown eyes lock onto mine, holding my gaze with intense, unwavering devotion.

He leans down and presses his lips to my forehead. He moves to my temple, kissing the soft skin. He trails down to my jawline, showering my face in tender, lingering affection. He treats me like something precious and vital.

The emotional rawness of the afternoon cracks wide open. A soft, needy whine escapes my throat.

"I've got you." Finn presses a warm kiss against my neck.

He reaches down and pulls my sweater over my head. He tosses it aside. He unfastens my jeans, his knuckles brushing gently against my stomach. He eases the denim down my legs, taking my underwear with them.

I sit naked on the edge of his bed. I feel incredibly vulnerable, stripped of all my armor.

Finn drops to his knees on the plush carpet.

He wraps his arms around my hips, pulling me to the edge of the mattress. He buries his face against my stomach, pressing a hot, open-mouthed kiss right above my belly button.

I tangle my fingers in his messy auburn hair. "Finn."

"You are so perfect." He kisses his way down my skin. "Everything about you is perfect."

He settles his face between my thighs.