Out of Mind (Out of Line #3)(18)
Author: Jen McLaughlin

“No.” She shook her head, still biting her lower lip, and smacked my uninjured arm. “You stopped. Don’t. Stop.”

Game f**king on. I moved beneath her, and she rode me hard. I could tell she was close, and I was close, too. So f**king close. “Touch yourself. I can’t do it, so you have to do it for me. You have to be my hands. Play with yourself like I do.”

She skimmed her hands over her belly. There was no hesitation. My Ginger was getting bolder. I loved it. “Where do you want to touch?”

I used my good hand to roll her nipple between my fingers. I wasn’t gentle or sweet at all, and she loved it. “Massage your clit while I f**k you.”

She let out a moan, lowering her hand inch by torturous inch. When she started moving her fingers in a circle, masturbating in front of me, my stomach tightened and twisted. I almost came right there. I needed her that bad. “Oh my God. Yes.”

I squeezed her breast and pumped my hips up hard. She moved over me faster. Her fingers picked up speed, too, and then she was arching her back and tensing. Her pu**y squeezed down on me, and I let myself go. I didn’t close my eyes this time. I just watched her as she came; her lids squeezed shut and her pink lips parted.

She was f**king gorgeous.

I came so hard it almost hurt, and I clung to her as well as I could with one hand. She collapsed against my good shoulder and I let myself fall back against the mattress. I rubbed her back gently, trying to catch my breath. She seemed perfectly content to stay there on me, snuggled up as if we hadn’t just f**ked each other rather than sweet lovemaking.

We’d both needed it.

She traced an invisible pattern on my shoulder. Or maybe she traced my tattoo. I couldn’t tell. “When I sleep next to you, do you have the nightmares?”

“No.” My hand stilled on her back. “But you usually only come in after I’ve already had at least one.”

“Want me to stay the whole night?”

Fuck yeah, I did. “Your dad won’t like it.”

“If he isn’t happy with it, we can go get a hotel room.” She lifted up on her elbows, resting on my chest. It was then that I realized she hadn’t even taken off her shirt. I’d have to make sure she got naked for me next time. “Your peace of mind is more important to me than my father’s rules.”

The painkillers kicked in, thank f**king God, making my mind all fuzzy and loose again. “Then stay. I miss sleeping with you in my arms. Maybe you’ll chase away the nightmares.”

She nodded against my chest. “Get on your pillow. You look like you’re about to pass out.”

I scooted up backward to my spot, rolling halfway over on my side. I didn’t even bother to remove the condom. She rolled me onto my side more fully, removing it for me. Even though I wanted to protest, I couldn’t say a word. My eyes closed, and I started drifting off into my drugged la-la land.

Maybe with her here at my side, I’d actually sleep. Maybe she was my pretty little dreamcatcher, fighting to keep the demons at bay.

She turned off the light, pulled on some clothes, from the sound of it, and then slid into bed beside me. As she tucked me in, my last conscious thought was how very like my father I was right now. I’d tried to help him undress for bed so he could rest, and now Carrie was doing it for me. He and I were kinda the same.

We were both slowly dying from the inside out.

Chapter Eight – Carrie

I got ripped from my sleep when Finn’s door flew open, banging against the wall. Finn cursed and sprung up as well as he could, picked up a knife I hadn’t even known he had from beneath the bed, and faced the door¸ breathing heavily. I scooted back against the headboard and blinked against the hallway light. Finn was completely naked, holding a knife, and mumbling under his breath.

He looked…terrifying.

“Who’s there?” he snarled, positioning himself between me and the threat at the door. “Speak now before I kill you.”

“It’s me.” A man cleared his throat. And, God, I recognized that voice. “Senator Wallington. Sorry to barge in unannounced, Griffin, but you have to—”

“Stop.” Finn looked over his shoulder at me, his face highlighted by the moonlight. I could see that the look in his eyes was somewhere between anger, fear, and desperation all mashed into one. He still held on to the knife. “Can you please give me a second to get dressed? I’m…I’m not decent.”

I couldn’t see my father, but I could picture him taking in Finn’s nakedness. And he’d realize why Finn might be naked in three, two, one…

“Who is in there with you?” Dad asked calmly. I heard him come closer. “You’re not alone.” It wasn’t a question.

“Stop right there.” Finn stepped forward, blocking the light switch. “You’re not turning that light on, sir.”

“The hell I’m not,” Dad growled under his breath. “If you’re messing around behind my daughter’s back, I assure you that my wrath is worse than what you experienced over there. You will never sleep again without picturing my—”

Finn let out a strangled sound. “I’m not cheating on Carrie, sir.”

“Then who…?” He broke off. “Carrie. That had better not be you behind him.”

I closed my eyes in embarrassment. This was hell. Right here. Right now. I opened my mouth to talk, but Finn beat me to it.

“Which is it you prefer, sir? For me to be cheating on her, or for her to be here instead of someone else?” Finn asked, his voice strained. He set down the knife on the nightstand. “What makes you think someone is here at all? Maybe I just sleep naked.”

“I can see it all over you,” Dad said, his voice tinged with disgust. “Who is back there?”

A light shone, and I cringed away from it. Damn those flashlight apps on the iPhone. Finn tried to jump in front of me, but it was too late. He’d seen me in Finn’s bed. Gr-eeeeat. “Hi, Dad,” I said softly, waving a hand. “Fancy seeing you here.”

Dad shut off the light, completely ignoring me. “I was quite clear about my rules, Griffin.”

“Yes, sir.” I saw Finn’s shoulders droop. “I’m sorry.”

“I came to him, Dad. Not the other way around.” I tugged the covers higher, even though I had a shirt on. I felt exposed. “Stop yelling at him and yell at me.”

“Or better yet, tell me why you’re in my room at—” Finn picked up and lit up his phone, “—one in the morning.”