"Thank you for the wonderful time. It was nice being your boyfriend for the weekend. Send my regards to Julie."

He laughed and tried walking away.

"I don't think so. Not so quick." I wrapped my arms around his neck and hugged. Then, I kissed him on the cheek and pulled away. "Thank you."

"I'm already planning Paris." His finger trailed the outside of my jaw and then he walked away. The Volvo zoomed down the driveway.

Once inside, I leaned against the door and closed my eyes, hoping my head would stop swimming. Too many emotions happened too quickly.

I dragged the suitcase up the stairs and changed into some running clothes. Breaking myself down physically usually helped clear my mind. My parents, the house, tattoos, Texas rendezvous, and the heart of Paris, I couldn't concentrate.

The weather was too nice for me to ignore the opportunity to release all the tension through my body. I pulled my hair into a tight ponytail, jogged down the stairs, and grabbed a bottle of water out of the fridge.

"Where do you think you're going?" Jesse asked as she sipped a cup of tea.

"Out for a jog. Gotta stay fit, you know. It's in the contract."

"Yes, we wouldn't want your ass any bigger than it already is."

"And I don't want a flabby granny ass like yours," I said and then mumbled "bitch" as I walked away.

I did a few quick stretches outside. The temperature had dropped, and the cool air stung as it entered my lungs, but the fresh dryness relaxed me.

Fall, finally.

The slow pace down the long drive would help me warm my muscles. I knew that it was a mile to the country road and a mile back so I would get in two miles, maybe four if I felt up to it.

My feet hit the pavement, but I stayed light on my toes. When I ran, I felt free, strong, and unstoppable.

My heart beat hard, and I picked up the pacing, almost to a full sprint. Air flowed in through my nose and out my mouth, and halfway to my checkpoint, I wished for a pair of gloves. Although my blood pumped fast, and my body felt warm, my fingers and toes stayed cold. But I continued forward.

At the end of the driveway, I checked my time, nine-minute mile, not bad, but not my best. Warm-up lap. I tapped the gate with my fingertips and then took off again. I pushed harder, and faster, with hopes to beat my personal best. The wind carried me to the house as it flowed with me instead of against. I ran to the front steps and tapped the front door, eight minutes and twenty-nine seconds.

"Yes. In your face," I said to myself between breaths that I could almost see.

"What's in my face?" Finnley stood in a pair of running pants and matching windbreaker.

"I cut my time down. Just celebrating."

"Congratulations. Want another go?"

I clicked my heart rate monitor and took off running.

Eat my dust, suckaaaa.

I pushed myself harder than I did the last run. The newfound pace was above my comfort level, but I refused to slow down and dug deep inside. My fingers grazed the gate at the end. The normal break I usually took was skipped when Finn kept running.

"Hey! Don't cheat," I yelled at him and then forced myself to run at his speed.

"Haven't you learned yet?" His breathing was heavy and sexy as he spoke between breaths. I tried not to ball my fists and concentrated on relaxing my body, and moving as a well-oiled machine.

"It's all about pacing, Ms. Downs."

I laughed as I tried to sprint ahead of him, but he was faster, stronger. Neck and neck, we ran beside one another until he left me in his tracks. He stood with his shoulder against the wooden door as I sprinted to catch up.

"I will outrun you any day," he said.

I checked my watch: thirteen minutes.

"Woohoo! Two miles. At seven and a half minutes. That's the fastest I've—"

"Go again?"

"Nope. I'm done. I've beaten my personal record."

Sweat dripped into my eyes, and burned, but I wiped it away.

"Come on, have another go. I'll slow down to your level if you'd like."

The smirk that spread across his face drew out the competitive side in me. I exhaled, but gave in to the challenge. But this time, I didn't race; I took it slow and steady as he instructed. From my peripheral, I could see his body flexing with each movement. His hair, messy and flat from sweat, was tucked behind his ears.

Pure sex.

"How long have you been running?" I asked.

"Since Uni. I ran on the varsity team."

"No wonder I'll never beat you. You're body has been trained. Not fair."

"Very good. I pick up the pace, and you follow. Not the first time I've guided you."

The thoughts of Finn touching my body and speeding up and then slowing down, gave me a bolt of adrenaline. I took the shot with pleasure and doubled my speed. Second wind, just what I needed.

As I ran past him, I thought I heard him chuckle. And as he passed me, I knew why. It was cute that I really thought I could beat him. I tapped the front door and checked my time: twelve minutes and fifty-six seconds. I actually squealed in excitement over my new record. Sweat dripped from my face onto my shirt, but I didn't care. I wasn't that kind of girl.

"I've never been that fast," I said.

"It seems as if I bring out the best in you." His raised eyebrow was such a simple seductive act that begged and drew me closer as he leaned on the doorframe.

"Maybe you do," I whispered.

He opened his arms, and I hesitated. I couldn't allow him to hold me. As I walked closer, he grabbed me and pulled me into him. Warmth flooded me and I wanted to stand there forever, but I had to jerk away. Get away from him before he smothered me in his scent, the one that melted my emotions so easily.

Click. Click.

The door swung open, and Finn fell backward pulling me with him. Jesse stood over us as we lay on top of one another on the cold marble floor.

"Your timing is incredible," Finn said directly to Jesse.

She tightened her fists, and her nostrils flared.

"The final bids are in, thought you'd be happy to know the outcome," she said dryly.

I stared into Finn's greens, and his didn't leave mine. We were stuck in a moment together, and neither one of us wanted to break free. He apologized with his gaze as he helped me from the floor. My body ached for him and his touch, but I withdrew.

Jesse handed over the golden envelope, and he took it without any emotion.

It was really happening. I would give myself to someone, someone who wasn't Finnley Felton.

The destiny of my virginity rested in his hands.

Who would be the lucky bidder?

He opened the envelope and pulled out the golden letter.

"Of fucking course," he whispered as he handed it over for me to read for myself.


LUKETON BRAND


The words should have shocked me, surprised me in some way, but I knew better. I knew Luke, or at least thought I did. The smile that wanted to form on my lips vanished as Finn walked up the stairs and slammed his door. Jesse gave me her typical, "are you fucking happy now" look and a smirk. I turned and went upstairs, making sure to slam my door just as loud.

Knock. Knock.

"Hey, Jen." Lori stood on the other side of the door.

"Come in."

She greeted me with a smile and sat beside me on the edge of the bed.

"Did you hear what happened while you were gone?"

I shook my head.

"Jesse is pissed at you and wants you fired. Felton and her got into a huge argument over it, and he called her a bitch and left. He didn't return until you came back."

"I… I had no idea."

"You should watch out, Jen. Seriously. Felton has never treated any of his girls the way he treats you. He's always been all business. If you get in too deep with him, Jesse will fire you. She has the legal right, and boy is she pissed. Oh my god. You should have heard her screaming at him. I've never heard her use that tone. Everyone was home, too. It reminded me of my parents before they got a divorce."

"Why is she so upset?"

Lori looked at me, dumbfounded.

"Wait. You don't know?"

I shook my head.

"Jen. She has been in love with Felton for years. Since she became his right hand woman."

"That's against the rules," I protested.

"One must first admit he or she is in love and then act upon it," Lori said as if she were reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.

"Have you seen the way she looks at him? It's kind of the way he looks at you," she said.

I had no words. I never noticed the way she looked at him.

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"Jennifer. He looks at you like you are, like… you're the sunrise in the morning. The light of his day that greets him from the darkness."

"Always so poetic."

"Just watch out, okay?" She stood and hugged me. "And please try to have fun when you have sex for the first time."

"Okay."

"Promise me."

"I promise. Hey, Lori?"

"Yeah?"

"Will it hurt? You know, when I finally do it."

"You'll be fine. I think you'll enjoy it, you little sex kitten. You're ready."

She winked at me and gave a tight squeezed hug. When Lori left the room, she left me with a mind full of questions.

I pushed open the window and let the cool night air kiss my skin.

Greets him from the darkness… Her words echoed in my mind.