CHAPTER 22

DAY 37

AN: Thanks to all that reviewed the last chapter and especially those who review every chapter. You guys rock. After this chapter we get Finn's POV. Keep those reviews coming, please.

Tuesday Afternoon

Finn sparred with me after lunch even though he hadn't finished the assignment for Oz.

"I'm going to turn up the heat," he said. "From now on, the hits will be harder and faster."

"I'm ready." Maybe. Hopefully.

"I know you are." He hit me in the jaw. Luckily, I had on my headgear.

"Is that the best you've got?" I glared at him as I rotated my neck and shook my arms. He was going down.

He smiled, and my stomach quivered. I was in trouble in more ways than one. I knew he wouldn't severely hurt me, but I also knew he wouldn't take it easy on me. While I looked for an opening, he hit me on the shoulder, spinning me around. I sputtered and caught myself before falling. I was so mad I probably had steam coming out of my ears.

I kept my head down, hiding my intention, and took two quick steps toward him. Channeling my frustration, I gave him a swift uppercut. His head went back, knocking him off balance, but he remained on his feet. My mouth hung open, and I stepped back in horror. Shit! I was in trouble now.

He shook his head from side to side, sending sweat flying. "Nice hit, but backing away was a mistake. You should have followed that strike up with another and had me on the ground."

"I thought I really hurt you."

"You can't let your feelings get in the way. I guarantee your attacker won't be worried about the damage they cause." He adjusted his headgear and got back into fighting stance. "The next round isn't going to be so easy."

Easy? Was he joking?

I was taking the majority of hits, but I was also getting in a few good ones. We were in the middle of our third round when Finn ripped his sweat-soaked t-shirt over his head. Suddenly, I couldn't breathe. My fist was in the air, ready to strike, and all I could do was run my eyes over his muscular body. A slow smile split his face, enjoying me gawking.

From the backyard, Maggie barked, probably at the squirrel she'd been chasing earlier. When Finn turned to look in her direction, I took advantage of his distraction and tried to kick his legs out from under him. His knees buckled, and he went down, but it wasn't the swift Wonder Woman move I'd hoped for. Still, I knocked him to his knees, so I'd take it as a win.

Before he recovered, I placed my foot on his chest and pushed him over onto his back, straddling him in the mount position. We both knew he could flip me if he wanted. Instead, his eyes lit up in challenge and maybe curiosity to see what I would do next. Honestly, I wasn't sure. I'd been trying to best him, but now that I had him at my mercy, my mind started going in an entirely different direction. I ran my hands over his sweat-covered skin and ground my center over his hard cock. Mesmerized by his iron-like muscles and his openness to letting me explore, I luxuriated in the power he gave me. The power to turn him into my instrument of pleasure.

Unlatching the Velcro on my headgear, I pulled it off, and he did the same. As if my lips had a mind of their own, they lowered themselves to his and kissed him deeply. While our mouths tangoed, my hand slid down his sweaty abs and under the waistband of his shorts. When I wrapped my hand around him, he kissed me harder and placed his hands on my face to ensure I wouldn't go anywhere. With every stroke, I heard a crinkling sound, and something scratched against my wrist. I felt around to find out what was scratching me and found a foil packet in the little pocket sewn into his waistband. His face turned red.

"Were you hoping to need this?" I asked.

"Maybe." His embarrassment changed to confidence once he saw that I was intrigued instead of angry that he presumed he might get lucky during practice.

I laid the condom on the mat and stuck my hand back down his shorts. "Got anything else down here I might be interested in?"

A slow smile split his face, and he reached for the hem of my tank, pulling it off in one swift motion. Because my tank had a built-in bra, my breasts were now bare. We got rid of the rest of our clothes, and I arched my back as his hands went to my breasts, kneading and lightly pinching my nipples. I moaned and rubbed against him, letting his cock slide between my folds and over my clit. With each delicious swipe, my juices coated him. I moved up a little higher until the head of his cock nudged my opening. It felt so good I did a full-body shiver, almost slipping him inside me.

"Slow down," he said, reaching for the condom. "We need to be careful."

He was right. Even though I was on the birth control shot, I still wanted to be smart about protection. While he worked quickly to get the condom on, I kissed his neck, going lower until I reached his nipple. I ran my tongue around it before giving it a gentle bite. In retaliation, he flipped me onto my back and entered me quickly. A ragged moan escaped. My body had been more than ready, but his size was something I'd have to get used to.

He began pumping, each stroke more intense than the last. I grabbed his ass with both hands, bringing him closer as my heels dug into the back of his thighs. He tore his lips away from mine and took my nipple into his mouth. Moaning, I arched my back to give him better access as he sucked deeply on one and then the other. I nearly gasped out loud when his hand reached between us, pinching my clit, and circling it. He was good. I'd give him that. Within seconds I was contracting around him. "Please don't stop, " I begged.

He raised his head to look at me, and my nipple popped out of his mouth, breaking the incredible suction. His eyes lit up with pride that he'd been able to make me beg. Barely missing a beat, he took my nipple back in his mouth and sucked even harder. My entire back arched off the mat, and I might have started speaking in an unknown language while I did my best to hang on for the ride.

His thrusts were deliciously forceful and deep. I tried to hold off so we could come together, but I was on a collision course of sensations. When his breathing quickened, I knew he was close, too. He pulsed inside me before he groaned, and I let go as he joined me in the most incredible pleasure I'd ever experienced. This wasn't a gentle wave. This was a take no prisoners, hostage negotiator needed type of situation. Every one of my nerve endings felt like live wires swaying back and forth and sparking hundreds of mild electrocutions.

He dropped his weight on me, completely spent, and tucked his face against my neck, placing little kisses on my damp skin. "Sorry." He stiffened, worry clouding his eyes, and lifted himself off to move to the side.

"No. Wait." I put my hands on his shoulders before he could pull out of me. I didn't want to lose the connection we had.

He hovered over me, afraid I would freak out on him because he was on top of me, but that was the farthest thing from my mind. Instead of fear, I felt power. Together, we had brought each other to our knees.

"I'm too heavy," he protested.

"I like it." I wiggled my lower body just a little. He gently lowered himself, allowing me to believe I was experiencing all his weight when his elbows braced the majority. It was sweet.

"My chin hurts. Do I have a bruise?" He lifted his neck for me to see, knowing there wasn't a mark on him, and even if there were, I wouldn't be able to see it underneath all that scruff.

I smiled, proud of myself for getting in a few good shots, and pretended to inspect him. "Nope. Were you taking it easy on me?"

"Not as much as you think, but you need to work on overbalancing." I couldn't help but laugh. His pillow talk was a little rusty.

"You're choosing now to critique my form. I'm pretty sure you didn't have a problem with my form a few minutes ago." He kissed me again, and I felt him begin to swell. "How many of those things do you have stashed on you?"

"Only the one," he said regretfully as he gently pulled out of me and got to his feet, spent condom enclosed in his hand. "Let's go shower."

I took his other hand and followed him to the basement bathroom. We washed each other's backs and other bits, but since we didn't have another condom, we managed to control ourselves from going another round.

When we were done, he wrapped a towel around me and one around himself. "Do you have anything down here I could wear until I get upstairs?" The thought of putting my sweaty clothes back on was unappealing. Plus, I didn't want to go outside with a towel wrapped around me to get upstairs, and I wasn't ready to use the basement stairs… yet.

He opened a small closet, pulled out a t-shirt, and handed it to me. "Here, put this on. It's clean." I slipped his t-shirt over my head, the hem settling below my knees, while he put on a pair of shorts. On our way out, he grabbed our sweaty clothes and offered his other hand to me. "Ready for dinner?"

"Yup." I nodded and took his hand.