Page 99 of Manhattan Tormentor

Holy fuck, this is news.

“What happens if he finds out you’re not there?”

“He’ll cut me off, and I’ll have to drop out. He’s a cold bastard and will have no problem demanding the school return my tuition.” Finn shrugs. He hasn’t spoken much about his ambition to be a photographer. But the evidence of his passion is all over his apartment with equipment and prints. It would suck if he has to drop out of school.

“Our fathers had the great idea to hook us up like we’re in Victorian times. Assuming that if their kids are married, then they’ll never do the dirty on each other with business.”

“That’s some extreme power to put in your cock.”

Finn snickers.

“You and her have been together.”

“Yes,” he replies with strength to his voice, his eyes unwavering. “A long time ago. It’s not something I think about, it meant nothing. Yeah, makes me a dick, I’ll add it to the list.”

“So, you got engaged because your dad wants it?”

“He thinks so. Sofia isn’t as ditzy as she pretends to be. The only reason she agreed was so she can go to school out in Cali. It was something Sofia, and I cooked up together from the start. The presence has kept our parents sweet.”

“She doesn’t want it and you don’t want it, but she’s still wearing your ring.”

“Her grandmother’s ring, and I never put it on her finger. We haven’t fucked, kissed or dated. We agreed to get them off our backs to finish school.” I watch him inhale and let it out slow. He runs a hand over his disheveled hair.

“So there it is,” he says, “It’s a fake engagement.”

“What I’m hearing is you’ll be engaged for at least three years. What happens if they push for a wedding before that?”

“They won’t. Sofia’s dad said she has to graduate first.”

“And on the holidays or family parties, are you expected to be there together, loved up with your hands all over each other?”

Guilt blooms on his face, so I know what the answer is.

He might not be denying how he feels about me, but Finn still has me pushed into a closet as his secret. I’m not sure how well that sits with me.

I reserve the right to process the shit I’m hearing, even when he looks impatient for me to say something. With silent agreement, we both dress. I slip into my jeans and shirt and turn in time to see Finn fit his Adidas track pants on his lean hips. I pick up his t-shirt and toss it over.

“Tell me now, Finn, no bullshit, are you in or are you out?”

He blinks as though I’ve asked a question he can’t figure out, but answers immediately. “Sage, you have no idea how in I am with you. I want you.” When he smiles, I feel like exploding. “Tell me back.”

“I’m standing here, aren’t I? I want you.” He reaches for me and I let him drag me into his body, the heat of being near Finn is a constant and I have to resist throwing him down so I can say what I need to.

“This shit is shit,” I say, and he smirks, “Wordsmith, Fierro.” I dig my fingers into his belly to shut him up. “I don’t want you to get kicked out of school, so we’re gonna have to get through this, but I won’t be hidden, Finn.”

“Fuck no. I won’t do that.” His reply snaps fast. His hand moves around the back of my neck and I grunt when his lips touch mine. “I thought I lost you for good or I would have told him to get fucked when he pushed me into it. I wanted to be decent for you, Sage. To earn my way back but don’t think you were off my fucking mind for a second. You were what I was aiming for.”

A pulse rushes through me and I relent because I have no choice to. I want to go on being cold as ice. To shut him out, to hold back all my feelings because this has disaster written all over it.

He makes me weak, but weakness isn’t always a bad thing.

He also makes me feel more alive than I ever have.

And I’ll do anything for this man. I’ll weather anything to have him as mine.

I think he interprets my silence as rejection because he frowns, “I’ll tell them I’m not engaged to her.”

“Shut up.” I say and tug the front of his hair, enjoying the grunt he pumps out from his chest. “You’re not losing your tuition. But there are rules.”

---