Weakness: No Longer Weak Part 9

Finnley lay beside me and wrapped his arm around my stomach. I stared at the ceiling, gasping for air. Too many emotions streamed through my body, but the only one that stood out was the electricity that Finnley's touch left behind. Oh G.o.d. His body had taken me to another place, one that I hadn't visited in a while. He didn't look at me like he pitied me, but rather like he would save me, and he had. He had saved me from myself, from the darkness that haunted me. When Finnley unlocked his dominant side and took control the way he had, it made me want to beg for more, for more of him in the raw.

A smile touched my lips, and it wasn't lost on him. He gave me a side smirk, his bottom lip so full and s.e.xy. He tilted his head at me. That man knew exactly what he was doing. How could he not?

We didn't just make love; we f.u.c.ked, hard, and it was exactly what I needed. My eyes trailed from his eyes, to his lips, then down his abs to the s.e.xy V that pointed to his hardness.

"Like what you see, Ms. Downs?"

I shook my head no, then smiled. "I love what I see, Mr. Felton."

I rolled over on my side and ran my hand down the side of his neck, then leaned in to kiss him. Our lips were at war with each other, fighting, despite how much we had experienced. He pulled away and met my eyes, and I felt so much emotion in his burning gaze. Want. l.u.s.t. Love. Then, as if an unseen force had pulled us together again, he leaned over and softly touched his mouth to mine, sucking on my bottom lip, and lightly tugging on it with his teeth.

"I'd do anything for you. You know that, don't you?"

I smiled. I could listen to him talk all night long with that accent. "Yes, and thank you. Sometimes I feel like you're a dream, and I'm going to wake up and this will all be gone. I'm so used to losing everything that I'm fearful you're next. This is all real, right?"

Finnley shot up in bed and turned toward me. "Baby, this is as real as it will ever be. I'm not going anywhere. Only death itself can separate us, Jenn. And death better put up a d.a.m.n good fight."

There were days when I felt so lonely, but when I saw Finnley's face, it all disappeared. He made me want to be stronger. I knew that when we were together, nothing could harm me. It was comforting to know that no matter what, everything would be okay, guaranteed.

He held me in his arms and our bare skin stayed pressed against each other all night. I slept without nightmares, but with dreams.

JENNIFER.

Eighteen.

The next morning, I woke to lips pressing against my forehead. The early morning light glowed behind Finnley, and he almost looked like an angel. I didn't want this day to come, but I couldn't stop time.

"I don't want to leave you," he said. He was already dressed in black slacks and a white, b.u.t.ton-up s.h.i.+rt. The tie hung around his popped collar.

I looked at him with sleepy eyes and smiled. "They will be happy to have you back at work," I said.

"I suppose." He climbed on the bed and streamed his fingers through my hair, then gently rested his hand on my neck and pulled me close. His soft lips pressed against mine, and I wanted to pull him into bed with me and never let him go. If I asked him to stay, I had no doubt he would, but I wouldn't do that. It wasn't me.

He checked his watch, adjusted his collar and tie, and glanced back at me. "I've got to go. Meet me for coffee and lunch. Eleven sharp." A smirk hit his lips, and I leaned up and kissed him one last time.

I watched him walk away, and before he closed the door, he spoke, "Abbot is officially your shadow. Not quite as s.e.xy, but he will do." Then, as if he already knew my reaction, he laughed and clicked the door shut.

Finnley's pillow smelled like him, and I breathed in his scent. I lay perfectly still, with hopes of falling back to my dreams, but after a few more minutes, I realized it just wasn't happening. Might as well get up and start the day. I threw the covers off my body, then pulled on a pair of pants and boots, and threw on a b.u.t.ton up s.h.i.+rt and a scarf from the closet. Once I put them on, I looked like I gave more f.u.c.ks than I really did. As I brushed my teeth, the memories of last night floated through my mind. I remembered Finnley's skin, lips, and touch on me, and I wanted more. Before I left the room, I made the bed and picked up our clothes that littered the floor.

Downstairs, Abbot leaned back on the couch with his feet dangling off the edge. When my foot hit the bottom step of the stairs, he moved the book from in front of his face and glared at me.

"Shakespeare? Really?" I asked, reading The Works of William Shakespeare on the outside cover.

He slammed the book shut, set it on the coffee table, and sat up with a s.h.i.+t-eating grin on his face.

I narrowed my eyes at him, but it didn't change his reaction.

"Are you ready to be followed every single place you go?

Finnley had settled back in work, and was interviewing women for the spring convention. He texted me explaining how much his approach had changed, that it was nothing like it had been with me. It satisfied me to know that he didn't treat everyone with the same intensity. Apparently, I was a special case. I liked the thought of that.

I met him at a coffee shop down the street from the Elite office. Abbot sat in the car and waited like he always did. He was my new shadow, and a part of me was okay with that, considering how much of a monster he was at home. Finnley had told me stories. While those stories should frighten me, they didn't. They made me feel safe, and I think Abbot knew that.

I waited inside with a newspaper at our regular table, with his coffee and a ham and cheese croissant. He pa.s.sed the window, tapped on it, and I looked up from the cla.s.sifieds. He came inside and removed his jacket. The green in the tie matched his eyes perfectly.

He leaned over and kissed me on the mouth, then sat.

"You look beautiful, love," he said. His phone rang and he picked it up immediately.

"Sure. Yes. I'll be back in ten minutes. Tell her to wait there," he said.

I lifted my eyebrows and stared at him.

"I've got to go. Sorry, Jenn. It's really important." He stood and kissed me on the forehead, then left me there with two cups of hot coffee and sandwiches.

"It's okay."

"I'll make it up to you tonight," he said.

I looked out the window and made eye contact with Abbot.

He shrugged, and I waved for him to come in.

"No use letting it go to waste. Might as well join me," I said.

He sat down with a side grin and sipped the coffee.

"Oh, it's still warm. Thanks, Finnley," Abbot said into the cup. Curiosity got the best of me, and I wanted to know what was so important that he had left our lunch date so quickly?

We finished our croissants, and when we stood, I noticed Finnley's wool coat on the back of the chair. Abbot saw me staring at it and grabbed it.

"We are stopping by the Elite real quick," I said.

Abbot lifted an eyebrow at me, almost as if he knew I was up to something, but he didn't protest. I was sure he liked my antics.

We stepped outside. I looked up and down the sidewalk. Abbot put his arm around me and walked me to the driver's side. A car zoomed by, almost knocking him off his footing. My nerves went haywire.

"It's all right. Just some a.r.s.ehole with no consideration. I'll drive," he said. I handed over the keys and walked around to the pa.s.senger side. My little V had barely been driven, and she still smelled like a new car. I ran my fingers across the dashboard and admired the embroidery on the seats, then sunk back into its comfort. Abbot knew exactly where we were going, and he drove fast, like he was on the open Autobahn. We arrived in less than five minutes. I got out of the car and grabbed the jacket, and he joined me inside.

I promptly walked to the elevator and pressed Finnley's floor. Abbot leaned against the wall and watched the arrows. It wasn't his first time at the Elite office.

Finnley's secretary greeted me and asked us to have a seat while Finnley was in his meeting. Abbot and I waited at least twenty minutes. I gripped Finnley's wool jacket so hard that my hand throbbed with pain. After another ten minutes, I walked right past her until I was eye-to-eye with the engraved golden plaque with Finnley's name elegantly written across it in script. I swallowed before opening the door.

Finnley sat on the edge of his desk and spoke with a woman with dark brown hair. For a moment, I thought it might be Lori. His face when I walked in-shocked; no other word could describe it. I had completely caught him off-guard.

"I thought I would bring you your coat," I said.

His mouth dropped open as the woman turned and looked at me.

Then my mouth dropped open. In front of me sat the spitting image of a younger version of my mother. It took a moment for me to find my words; there were too many stumbling through my mind, and I couldn't think straight.

"Who are you?" I asked. My voice was meek and trembled.

She stood, and so did Finnley.

I walked up to her. "Who are you?" I demanded, finding my confidence at the bottom of my core.

"Hi, Jennifer. I'm Cait. Caitlyn Jenson." She turned and looked at Finnley, then back at me.

"I didn't want it to happen this way. I wanted it to be different when I told you," she said.

"What are you talking about?"

"Jennifer"-she swallowed- "I'm your sister."

My world crashed down around me, and I temporarily lost my balance.

"You're lying. I don't have any siblings," I said.

Finnley lightly grabbed my arm and sat me down in the chair in front of his desk. My heart pounded so hard I couldn't hear anything other than the beat. Finnley sat in the chair next to me and rubbed my back. His touch comforted me.

She waited until the shock wore off before she spoke. "Our parents had me when they were both sixteen and put me up for adoption. It was kept a secret. I only found out after I started researching my family tree and found out I was adopted. It took me years to find who my biological parents were and unfortunately, I was too late. While I was in Port Arthur, I found one of your old friends. Abigail, I think it was. I told her we were cousins. She didn't question me much. So here I am."

"I have no words. I-I-You . . . you were the one who met Abbie?"

Finnley continued to rub his hand across my back. "She called me and told me she was getting on a plane to Vegas. I had no choice. I was going to tell you tonight," Finnley said.

"I'm an only child. My parents had me when they were twenty. I was their first."

She held a sad smile and shook her head. Resentment flared and burned inside me. How could they not have told me this? They let their secret follow them to the grave. I had gone through everything in the house. I had no reason to believe that my parents had had another child. Nothing.

I stared out the window of his office. The clouds were gray and rain splashed against the gla.s.s, leaving streaks all the way down. Somehow, the universe knew exactly how I felt.

Deep down inside, I knew Caitlyn wasn't lying. The almond shapes of her eyes and the dimple in her cheek gave her away. She was my mother and father's daughter, and she looked so much like my mother that I ached for my parents. Unable to hold in my emotions any longer, tears streamed down my face. All of my life I had wanted a sibling. I had wanted someone to share my life with and after my parents died, I knew I was alone. Until now.

Finnley held my hand. Concern filled his face.

"I'm sorry. It's just unbelievable," I said.

"I'm going to leave you two alone," Finnley said. He rubbed my back. I heard the door click behind him. When he was out of the room, she turned and looked at me.

"I couldn't believe it either, until I did. I went through the list of emotions, and after I accepted everything I thought I knew and replaced it all with the reality of what had really happened, I knew what I had to do. I had to find them. I had to find you."

"You look so much like my mother. Our mother. It's frightening almost," I whispered.

"That's what Abigail said. She was hesitant until she realized I looked like you. I tried to find pictures of them online but couldn't."

"I have photo alb.u.ms with me. I'm sorry. I'm still in shock. So you're twenty-six? What do you do for a living? Where do you live? Are you married? Do you have kids? I have so many questions for you," I said.

"Yes, I'm twenty-six. I'm an interior designer, and I live in Houston. Not married. No kids. And that's okay. What about you? It seems Mr. Felton has a crush on you."

I laughed for the first time that day. "Twenty-two, but I feel like I'm thirty. I graduated with a degree in accounting, and I live here, in Vegas. Engaged to Mr. Felton. No kids and not for a long time," I said.

"Engaged? Wow. Congratulations. He seems to have you in his best interest. I could tell there was something there. Whenever he talks about you, his whole demeanor changes. He's not so uptight. One day you'll have to tell me how you met. I want to know everything about you. About your life. About our parents. Your dreams. Your goals. I've felt so alone for so long, and now that I'm sitting in front of you, I just want to bombard you with questions. It's taken me years to find you. Lots of research and time. I finally feel like a million pounds has been lifted from my shoulders. I'm sorry. I'm rambling."

"You sound like her too, and your mannerisms, the way you talk with your hands when you're nervous," I said. After a few more moments, I ran my palms over my face and wiped away the wetness from the tears.

She smiled at me and placed her hand on my back. It was such a sweet gesture. She was comforting me. I should be the one comforting her, because she hadn't gotten to live a life with us. I should have been telling her how sorry I was she had been put up for adoption. But the words didn't come.

"Where are you staying?" I asked.

"I'm staying at the Bellagio," she said.

I chuckled slightly, and she gave me a quizzical look.

"That's where I stayed when I first arrived. You can stay with us. We live on the outskirts, but still really close to the strip."

"I wouldn't want to impose."

I grabbed her hand and squeezed. "You wouldn't be."

"Okay, then," she said.

We stood, and for the first time, I hugged my sister. Sister. The word seemed foreign and awkward.

"I'm so glad I found you," she said.

We walked to the door and opened it. Outside in the hallway stood Abbot and Finnley.

"Holy s.h.i.+t," Abbot said. "They look just like each other."

Finnley elbowed him in the side and gave us both a huge smile.

"Excuse us," I said to everyone and pulled Finnley into his office. He shut the door behind him and leaned against it with his arms crossed.

I looked up at him. "She can't stay at the Bellagio. It isn't safe. She has to stay with us."

"I know," he said. And that was it. No use arguing, and no need to try and convince him otherwise. He knew. He opened his arms, and I fell into them. He smoothed the hair on my head and spoke softly. "It's going to be okay. Everything is going to be okay, I promise."

JENNIFER.