Page 76 of Filtration Play
However, Ollie sank into the kiss.
His lips on theirs were a balm to their entire existence, a healing they’d been chasing down the freeway. Except they’d left it behind right here. Fin’s chest squeezed tight, and they wrapped their hand around Ollie’s nape, keeping him there. If they had it their way, they’d never let go. Fin slipped their tongue into his mouth, deepening the kiss. They claimed Ollie with everything in them except the words, memorizing the taste of him, the lush feel of his lips, the hunger that brewed between them stronger than ever.
When Fin pulled back, their shoulders heaved. Ollie’s gorgeous dark eyes were widened, but they fast crinkled with his smile.
“Fuck, you’re so beautiful.” Fin sucked in a sharp breath. They owed Ollie an explanation, but damn, saying this aloudhurt. “Hera blew up about Whipped, but she declared me unsafe in the process. After yesterday, the idea of losing the only home I have left…” Their throat grew tight.
Ollie chewed on his lip. “Yeah, that makes sense. I hate that you bolted and turned your phone off, though.”
“I hate that I did that too.” Time to summon whatever fight they had left. “If…fuck, if you aren’t done with me after this, I promise if I do need to bolt, I won’t shut off contact. Sometimes a ride cools me when nothing else will, but I shouldn’t have been so reckless about it.”
“Mmm, depends.” Ollie arched an eyebrow. “What does the future entail for us?”
“Damn, making me sweat.” Fin squeezed their nape. Their skin prickled. Still, he deserved their words more than anyone. “Boyfriend feels too trivial. I want you to be mine in every sense of the word.”
Ollie let out a low whistle. “Never thought I’d hear you saying it.”
“The text you sent,” they said, their heart thumping a little harder. “It was the reality check I needed. I’ve never had someone to come back to or somewhere I didn’t believe would get ripped out from under me. But you made me believe. This might be early, but you’re it for me, Oliver Hale. I’m fucking in love with you. And I don’tdolove. At least, I didn’t until you.”
Ollie blinked, his breaths coming faster. “Are you saying what I think you’re saying?”
Fin’s heart thrummed, but they’d already committed. “I love you, Ollie.”
“Fuck, I love you too,” he said, a gorgeous light arising in his eyes, dawn breaking on his face.
Fin’s chest spasmed, and they rocked back slightly as if they’d been struck. The weight of what he’d said sank in, dripping through them like warm honey. Ollie had said it back.
Ollie loved them.
No one had ever said those words in that way. Fin hadn’t let them. The second anyone showed hints of romance, they’d jetted, and yet somehow, Ollie had worked his way through their defenses.
They leaned in and closed the space between them to press another kiss to his lips. This one was filled with promise, with the hope he’d ignited in them. Hope they hadn’t even believed had existed. Ollie melted into the kiss, all sweet submission that they devoured. And yetdespite the way he softened for them, he’d proved himself to be strong and unshakable in his own right.
They couldn’t be more proud of their partner.
Fuck. Their chest burst with butterflies. Giddiness rose in them as they kissed and kissed and kissed him.
Until the door smacked open.
“Finley Williams, if you ever no-contact on me again, I’ll tie you up and force you to talk feelings for twenty-four hours,” Meg called through the apartment.
Fin broke apart from Ollie. Meg wasn’t the only one who’d arrived. In came Tristan, Parker, Micah, Pixie, Eva…and shit…everyone.
The entire Whipped crew was piling into their tiny-ass apartment.
Ollie grinned. “The cavalry’s here.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
Fin loved him.
Talk about an unexpected twist to today.
He’d woken up to them gone, believing that was the end. And now not only were they back, but they were also locking things down in a way Ollie had hoped for but never would’ve believed could happen. The second they’d returned, Ollie had shot off a text to Meg, as promised, and now the entire Whipped staff was sitting and leaning against their furniture in the most bisexual fashion.
“Can I claim some Jesus shit? I abandoned you only to come back, uh…six hours later,” Fin said, their shoulders tightening despite the bravado.
“Pretty sure he died and came back three days later.” Micah crossed his arms. The sour look on his face was warranted.
