Chapter 23

I pushed the knot up, cinching it in place. "Now you try," I said to Shane, tipping my head to the mirror.

I promised him I would help him learn to do this before his homecoming dance next weekend. It sucked that I wouldn't be here to see him off with his date. But at least I could do this.

"So, you like this girl?" I broached.

He raised one eyebrow at me in the mirror. "I asked her to be my date, so yeah."

I smirked. "Good. Don't do anything stupid then."

"Ivy already had this talk with me." He rolled his eyes. "I'm good."

Pride ran through me as he tightened and positioned the knot of the tie at his throat.

"Practice a few more times, but I think you got the hang of it." I patted his shoulder and left him standing in front of the full-length mirror that hung on the master bedroom closet door.

"I'm never gonna get this," Blair huffed from her spot at the kitchen table.

I stepped up next to her, taking in the multiplication flash cards. "Which one are you struggling with?"

"The eights are hard."

I coughed out a bit of a laugh and her eyes narrowed at me.

"I have a trick with those that might work." I pulled out a chair, turning it around and straddling it before turning over one of the flash cards. I explained the double, double, double rule for eights. "So, eight times four. What would we do first?"

She tilted her head. "Four times two is eight."

I nodded. "Go on."

"Eight times two is sixteen, and then sixteen times two is thirty-two."

"So, the answer is…"

"Thirty-two?" She flipped over the card and beamed when she realized she had got it correct.

"Good job. Try it this way for a couple of flash cards and see if it's easier to remember that way."

"Okay."

"And next week we can play that one game you like through the computer."

Her lips turned down in a frown before she hesitantly turned back to her flashcards.

Maia stepped up to the table then, placing a stack of plates down with Jayden right behind her with a handful of silverware.

"Did you get your assignment back yet on the interviews you did?"

Maia smiled. "Yep, got it back today. Got an A."

"That's great."

"Yeah, my teacher said she wants to submit it for some regional writing contest." Maia shrugged and my gaze lifted over her head to Ivy, who stared at us wide-eyed.

"You didn't tell me that," Ivy said.

"It's not a big deal. Not like I'd win or anything."

I locked my jaw, hating that she didn't see the worth she had. Ivy had explained being bounced around for the last four years probably took a toll on her. Like she didn't expect much of other people, or possibly even of herself.

"Just the fact that your teacher thinks it's that good is a huge accomplishment. You should be proud. I know I am. And so is Ivy."

She glanced over at me, a smile tugging at her lips. That was good enough for me.

Throughout dinner, the mood around the table was dim compared to the way it usually was. Almost like everyone was just as unsure about me leaving as I was.

Tucking Kai and Jayden into bed was the hardest. I thought Kai would be upset that Diesel was leaving with me, especially since the traitor spent every night in his bed. It made me wonder what Ivy would say if I offered to leave him here until next month, when I came back for Christmas with my family. It would save me the headache of flying the mut back and forth. But would that make it harder on Kai, though, when Diesel had to finally leave?

"Can you come back sometimes to help me with my sight words?" Kai's question cut through my thoughts.

I swallowed. "Of course. And we can FaceTime too."

"Can we do that too?" Jayden piped up. "To read Percy Jackson?"

"Yeah, you can call me anytime, buddy." I ruffled his mop of dark, curly hair.

"So, you'll come back?" Kai asked.

I nodded. "I'll be back. Everyone will be here for Christmas, remember? So, I'll see you all then."

I didn't like the fog of sadness that hovered over us even as Ivy and I headed into our bedroom a few hours later.

My heart lurched as I took in the gorgeous woman staring across the bed at me.

"It's not like I'm not coming back." The random words left my mouth before I thought them through. I didn't want to talk about it. But now I'd said it.

Her lips pursed. "I know."

What I didn't say was that it would be different. I wasn't flying back to sleep in her bed. So this might be it. This might be our last night. I hated that idea.

"How about, for now, we just enjoy tonight?" she suggested, slipping her hands under my T-shirt.

I helped her pull the shirt over my head, then captured her lips in a soft kiss. "I will never say no to that." My heart pounded as I wrapped my arms around her waist tucking her close. The feel of her against me was something that lit me up every time.

I cuffed the back of her neck and lowered my face to hers. Plush lips pressed against mine before I ran my tongue along the seem of her lips, coaxing her to open for me.

She opened with a groan and my chest tightened. It felt so right in this moment connecting with her. But I needed more. I might be losing her tomorrow, but tonight she was mine one more time. The slight moan that echoed deep in her chest only encouraged me.

My hands skated down her neck to cup her breast. My cock throbbed, begging for her.

I walked us back letting her thighs hit the mattress before I guided her down. Lowering myself down settling onto top of her, pushed away some of my melancholy. Tonight didn't need to sad, it needed to be a reminder of exactly how good we were together. Something to hold on to and smile about.

"You're beautiful." I mumbled against her lips.

My hand skimmed the satin skin of her neck and shoulder, then drifted lower until I found the hem of her shirt. I needed less between us. I slipped my hand under her shirt and cupped her breast, her nipple pebbling through the thing material of her bra. One flick of my thumb, and she rewarded me with arching up whimpering for more. I shifted settling my cock between her thighs and I groaned at the throb. Even through our clothes I could feet her heat.

I thrust against her. I adjusted to lift her shirt over her head. My stomach tightened when she released the clasp on her bra, letting her breast fall free. Her small perky tits were perfection. I couldn't help but lean forward wrapping my lips around her nipple. Her hands locked into my hair keeping me clothes.

"Less clothes." She panted.

I slid down to remove her leggings.

She lay against the plaid quilt in just a nude through. My chest twisted because this woman was stunning. Her hand reached out to brush her fingers along my cheek and a shiver rushed through my body. How could I leave this?

Her brow pulled together as she scanned my face. "Finn?" The soft words were hardly a sound.

"You're mine tonight," I demanded needing to hear her say it.

"I'm yours, so touch me," she begged, arching up, trying to close the distance between us. I leaned down and ran my lips against the curve of her breast, and in response, goose bumps erupted along her skin.

I wanted more skin.

I yanked my shirt over my head, then dove in again and claimed her lips. Her soft skin rubbed against the plains of my chest. But I needed my jeans gone.

"I want you naked." I mumbled against her lips before I pulled back stepping out of my jeans with my eyes locked on her. Slowly she lowered the thong off her legs, leaving a perfect view of her glistening pussy. I couldn't wait any longer.

I slipped my hand between her thighs. My fingers teasing through her heat.

"Mmmm." The sound echoed up her chest and I dropped my lips to her.

I groaned.

She pulled me down on the bed again with her and wrapped her legs around me rocking against my hard cock. "Finn."

My cock surged, desperate to slam into her tight pussy. She rocked again. Fuck. She felt like heaven. She was wet and ready, but I wanted her begging for me.

The idea of the sweet plea leaving her mouth rocked through me. Slowly, I worked my way down her body. Goosebumps broke out along the soft skin of her stomach as my lips slowly kissed their way down. I ran my nose along the apex of her thighs.

"Damn, you're so wet." I groaned, inhaling the scent of her arousal.

"Please lick me Finn, I need your mouth," she answered.

That desperate plea was music to my ears, and I rewarded her with a long, slow lap over her pussy. Her moan was all the encouragement I needed to continue.

Having her writhing under me was everything.

I sank two fingers deep inside her and curled them upward, searching for the spot that would have her crying my name.

"Yes, right there." She moaned, writhing on the bed.

I flicked my tongue over her clit in rapid strokes until her pussy gripped me as she came, calling my name. My chest tightened and the feel of her pulsing against my tongue. My body buzzed, my dick wept so desperate to feel her around me. I need to be inside her.

I shifted up claiming her mouth and letting my cock once against settle between her thighs. My hand slipped between us and notched the tip of my cock against her.

"I need you."

"Damn right you do." With a long exhale, I guided myself inside her hot body. Her wet pussy took every inch of me clinging to me, like she was made to fit only me. Seeing us linked together made my chest tight.

I held her there for the briefest moment, then pulled back and thrust hard. Her tits bounced below me with each thrust as she pushed against me, pulling me deeper. My lips sealed over hers, connecting us more as I rutted against her. Her responding moans only spurred me on. Every pound was driving her higher. With every stroke, her pussy gripped my cock tighter.

"I need you to come," I demanded.

"Yes," she moaned, rocking harder against me.

My stomach tightened, and I thrust hard into her, losing control.

She clenched around me as her pussy milked my cock. My hips slammed forward faster and harder until I exploded.

Her eyes weren't open, but she looked blissed out, perfectly glowing below me. I leaned down and gently kissed her lips. I held her for one long second before I pulled myself out of her tight heat. And spun us so she rested on my chest. It felt so right holding her. Being here. It seemed impossible I was leaving tomorrow. And yet I had to go.