CHAPTER SIX

ABIGAIL

Oh my god.

My hands grip the edge of the counter I'm sitting on, the hard edge digging into my skin. A pleasant warmth tingles along my nerve endings after my mini orgasm. An orgasm where Finn kept his hands to himself, but his words… Wow. The man has a dirty mouth, and I want to know what else it can do.

Fear of a man's touch ? of allowing the wrong man that privilege ? evaporates in the wake of what just happened. Finn's blown all of it out of the water and in the nick of time. Tomorrow marks my birthday, and I'm determined to cross "Have my first kiss before 30" off the list.

"Finn… Kiss me, please."

He jerks back in surprise at the request. "What? Abby, don't feel like I expect you…"

Shaking my head in denial, I place a hesitant hand on his shoulder ? the first point of contact we've had tonight. "I know. You've respected all of my boundaries, and I'm telling you I want my first kiss to be with you. Now. Are you going to make me beg?"

His eyes darken before dropping to my mouth. "Not yet, baby."

Relief courses down my spine along with anticipation. Finn's going to kiss me. Finally.

Angling forward, his long hair forms a curtain around our faces. The scratch of his beard grazes my cheeks before seeking lips find mine. A mutual sound of gratification vibrates between us as our mouths meet in a clash of teeth and tongues ? rough and ravishing, just like he'd promised.

All this time nerves and anxiety have plagued my thoughts about letting a man touch me, about not knowing what to do or how to handle it. But none of that matters now. Finn's desire heightens my own, and those are the only emotions that belong in this moment.

Strong hands tangle in my hair and tilt my head to the side as he deepens the kiss. My glasses press into the bridge of my nose, but I ignore the discomfort. The aggressive rasp of Finn's tongue along mine draws all of my attention. It feels like a possessive claim which is something I want more than anything, and a decision solidifies in my mind. Can I really do this? Pulling back, words burst from me before I chicken out. "Will you take me home tonight? Make love to me?"

"You're determined to kill me, aren't you?" A brief, incredulous chuckle rumbles from his chest. "There's nothing I'd love more, baby, but is it what you really want? Emotions are riding high, and I don't want you to regret anything."

His concern does the opposite of his intention ? proving this is the right decision versus making me reconsider. Finn cares about my welfare. This is more than a quick hook-up for him. Otherwise, why put me off? If this were Michael, we wouldn't even be debating the subject. I'm sure he would've had me carted out to the parking lot by this point.

"It may seem rash, but my birthday starts at midnight. I want to be with you, in your arms. It's the only gift I want."

He paces away, and I immediately miss his heat while awaiting the verdict.

"Midnight?" Brown eyes glance back at me, and I nod in confirmation. "Then, we have a few hours. We'll both go home, and you'll have time to think about whether this is a step you're prepared to make. If you don't change your mind, I'll be waiting for you at my place. But I warn you: at midnight, if you decide to give yourself to me, that's it. That shit means forever, Abby-mine, because once I have you, I'm not letting go."

That's the idea.

My whole life I've clung to romantic dreams ? read happily-ever-afters. I want my own with Finn. There's always been a part of me that's known it was only ever going to be one man for me, however silly it seemed. But my heart was right to wait. Now it's time for my reward ? in the form of a tall, tattooed man who looks like he can rescue me from hell before bringing me to heaven.

"Deal." Vaulting off the counter, I stumble in my eagerness before Finn catches me. "Text me your address, and I'll be there like Cinderella… Though, this is opposite of that, but you understand." Anticipation sends me into rambling, flustered by all the possibilities of tonight.

This is gonna be one hell of a birthday.