Lyra Parish - Weak Without Him

"You're a horrible fucking liar, Miss Downs," he whispered over my lips. His breath lingered on my skin, causing my heart to race. The thought of his family in the next room caused my nerves to go haywire as his hand trailed up my leg, lifting my skirt just enough for him to feel the lace edges of the panties under my dress.

"Mmm." He slid his fingers under the little string that held them to my thighs and grabbed them in his fist. When he ripped the fabric from my body, a stinging sensation brought me back to reality. The electricity of his ferocity mingled with my want, my need, for him. I was weak as much as I wanted to be strong, and I felt my wall crumbling. He dangled the broken white lace in front of my face, smiled, then tucked it in his pocket. A gleam of satisfaction flashed in his eyes.

"You bastard ," I said.

"I've warned you about those names already. Think of something better, Miss Downs. Be fucking original." He grabbed my ass with a hard hand, and I moaned, but not so loud as to be overheard. His lips and teeth traced along my neckline and he pulled skin, causing small spikes of pain to course through me. I forced myself to pull away.

"Mr. Felton, dick hole, stop. You're being disrespectful, and I don't want this."

He laughed. "Dick hole? Wouldn't that be you, Miss Downs? I've found your smart-ass mouth continuously says one thing, but your body says another. So, which is it?"

He grabbed another handful of ass, and I moaned into his chest and squeezed my legs together. When I thought I might fuck him on the rug in his mother's living room while chatter drifted from the kitchen, Finnley moved away from me. He grabbed his wine from the table, moved to the piano, and sipped. I moved my skirt over my bare ass, crossed my arms, and pursed my lips. Sometimes he really was a bastard.

Then that sinister smile overtook his whole body. The one that made my insides tingle with delight. The one that said you're fucking mine and I know it . Finn enjoyed the way my body responded to his slaps, grabs, his dirty fucking words and snarky comments. Control. He had it, even though I tried to tell myself he didn't.

I looked at him and mouthed, 'Stop, or you'll be fucking sorry.'

He slowly shook his head and mouthed back, 'Not a chance.'

The impulse to touch him was too much, but somehow I resisted. I contemplated going to him and fucking him on the piano bench. It had been too long since I had felt Finnley Felton or had his bare skin press against mine. When I made the decision to play his mind fuck, that I would tease him and make him beg for me to stop, a clearing of a throat stopped me in my tracks. We both turned our heads, and Luke stood with a shit-eating grin on his face.

"Dinner's ready, join us?" Luke winked at me. I shook my head at him and scowled. Of course, he smiled. I still couldn't believe he was in on this the whole time.

"Shall we?" Finnley said, and slapped my ass before we entered into the dining area. I turned and conjured the best go-to-hell-and-I-hope-I-am-going-with-you look that I could.

Smells of fresh herbs lingered. I didn't realize how hungry I was until I saw all the deliciousness that filled the table.

"Mum always cooks way too much," Luke said.

Finnley pulled a seat from the table for me to sit. Franklin and Emma smiled as Finn sat beside me. They were proud parents and had every right to be. They had raised two very fine men, although at this moment, I wanted to curse out both of them.

We passed around salad, roasted chicken, and vegetables.

"I didn't know you made my favorite," Luke said, as Emma brought out a plate of cookies.

"I know how you and Finnley completely rave over Grandmum’s recipe. Since I have you both home, I thought, why not?"

Finnley gave me a side-glance. I ignored him and cut into my chicken. The flavors filled my mouth, meaty and delicious, and not like anything I had ever tasted.

"So, Jennifer. Won't you tell us a bit about yourself?"

I wiped my mouth with the napkin and made sure not to put my elbows on the table. I felt like I was back in the training room, and I was being asked The Elite questions that I had memorized.

"Oh, sure. I was born in Texas. Graduated from the University of Houston and recently moved to Vegas."

She continued to smile. "And how did you meet my sons?"

Finnley grabbed my leg, and I paused, but then continued.

"Actually, I met Finnley at the Bellagio when I came into town."

"Really? That's interesting. Almost like fate or something."

She had no idea.

"Yeah, sorta. After my parents passed away, I… well, I wanted change."

"I'm sorry for your loss," Emma said.

Then Franklin spoke. "I think all of us here have lost someone we've loved at one point in our life. It seems you met Finnley at the right time."

"So, Texas… is it true what they say? Is everything bigger there?" Emma asked.

I laughed, and everyone else laughed as well.

"If you only knew," I said. "Actually, you should visit one day. There is a beautiful bed and breakfast in my hometown. It's by the Neches River. I lived really close to Louisiana. You should experience the Cajun-French food, and Texas delicacies like gumbo, chicken and dumplins, bacon covered donuts."

I gave Luke a glance, remembering the time we shared. Then Emma looked over at Franklin, and they shared a smile. They were so in love with one another, it was sweet. It kind of reminded me of the way my parents acted.

Luke favored his dad: dark hair, blue eyes, and a strong jaw. They even had the same laugh. Emma loved Franklin tons. I knew once Luke found a partner, their love wouldn't be any different from his parents. Some men are easy to love.

"Thanks so much for dinner. Seriously, it was the best I've ever had," I said to Emma. Everyone stood, and she began clearing the plates from the table.

"Thanks, Lovely. Finn, you better keep her around. I like her," Emma said, as I grabbed the plates from the table and followed her to the kitchen.

"I plan on it," Finnley said.

Of course the bastard did.

"You can set it there," she said. I placed the dishes in the sink, and before I walked out Emma stopped me.

"Jennifer."

"Yes ma'am?"

"I've not seen Finnley act this way in a long while. I know how he can be hard sometimes. But he really is a brilliant man. Take care of him," she said then reached over and gave me a big hug.

Take care of him? His mother should be saying a silent prayer for me, because her son was an animal. Finnley, and taking care of, didn't go together.

I walked back to the dining room, and Luke helped grab more dishes.

"Finn fired Jesse," Luke whispered.

My movements slowed.

"What? For what?" I tilted my head and looked at him.

"For sexual harassment."

"Toward who?"

"Finnley."

I burst into laughter, but swallowed it back when Luke put his finger over his mouth. What were the damn odds of her being fired for sexually harassing Finnley? Fucking hilarious.

"So it really was just incredibly horrible timing?"

"I'd say so. Apparently he was furious beyond belief."

A smile crept across my face. Oh, how I would have loved to be a fly on the wall when he fired her. I imagined the hard look in his eyes and the harsh words he spoke. When it came to business, Finnley was nothing but serious, ruthless, professional, and cold. But Jesse deserved to see that side of him. I wouldn't be surprised if she planned the whole thing, and made sure the timing was perfect in hopes of sabotaging me. When I left that building, jealousy reared its ugly head, accompanied by self-doubt. I trusted Finnley, didn't I? He was faithful to me, wasn't he?

I stifled a laugh. I bet it chapped her ass to know that we had one thing in common: being fired from The Elite. Unfortunately for her, I got the last laugh. Momma always said not to rub things in people’s faces or say 'I told you so' because it wasn't very polite, but at that moment, I wanted to.