Before the Sunset (Cottonwood Cove, #4)

I’d never seen anything more magnificent in my life.

He wasn’t wearing a shirt, and the muscles in his back strained with each pump of his hand.

I pushed into the bathroom further, and he froze for a moment before glancing over his shoulder.

“You watching me, Reese?”

“I am,” I whispered.

“Come here.” He turned toward me, stroking himself slower now. “Does this turn you on?”

I nodded because it did. Carl and I had never discussed touching ourselves. He’d certainly never let me watch him get himself off.

But Finn had always been more confident in his own skin.

It was one of the things that I loved most about him.

He continued sliding that big hand of his up and down his engorged shaft. It was long and thick, and I moved on instinct, stopping directly in front of him.

“It’s normal to want to feel good. There’s nothing to be ashamed of,” he whispered.

“I’m not ashamed. I want to feel good.” My voice was quiet, but it sounded huskier than normal. My head was still fuzzy, and the tequila was clearly still present or I’d never have had the nerve to be standing here.

“Slip your hand into your shorts and touch yourself.” He continued to slide his hand up and down his erection.

I squeezed my thighs together because I was so turned on, I couldn’t think straight. I slipped my hand beneath my pink pajama shorts and closed my eyes as my fingers grazed along my most sensitive area, and I let out a deep breath.

A deep groan left his mouth. “Are you wet?”

“Yes.”

“You like watching me, don’t you?”

I opened my eyes for a moment and nodded, but the sensation between my legs was like nothing I’d ever experienced. I’d never been turned on like this before.

“Keep rubbing those fingers over that pretty little pussy.” His voice was so sexy and gruff. My hand moved faster in response. I stepped closer to him and forced myself to open my eyes, even if I couldn’t believe what was happening.

“What are you thinking about, Finn?” I asked as my fingers pressed in circles against my clit.

Faster.

“I’m thinking about what it would be like to touch you. To taste you,” he said, as he started sliding his hand faster and faster up and down his shaft. “To fuck you until you cried out my name over and over.”

“Oh my God,” I said as my hips started bucking against my hand, and my head fell back as I groaned. I was so close.

“Do you like that I’m thinking about that tight little pussy that hasn’t even been tasted yet?”

“Yes,” I said as his hand grazed along my shoulder and down over the fabric of my tank top. His thumb stroked over my hard nipple, back and forth.

I couldn’t think straight; the sensation was so overwhelming.

White lights exploded behind my eyes and a moan that I barely recognized as my own left my lips as I went over the edge.

I cried out as I rocked against my hand over and over.

“Fuck, Reese,” he hissed. My gaze snapped open, and I watched as he worked himself faster now. I stared in wonder as a feral sound escaped his lips, and he went right over the edge with me. White liquid pooled over his hand, and he just kept stroking himself. His head fell back, and I watched his Adam’s apple bob in his throat as the muscles in his chest bulged and his chiseled abs flexed with each thrust into his hand.

I was still tingling. I’d never felt anything close to this before. My legs wobbled, and I pulled my hand from my shorts and gripped the counter to keep myself upright.

A layer of sweat covered my forehead, and Finn just watched me like I was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen. When he was done riding out his pleasure, he took two steps back and grabbed some tissue, cleaning himself up before tucking his dick into his boxers.

I couldn’t help but stare because it was still hard.

I turned to the sink because suddenly, the realization of what we’d just done was settling in.

I’d just gotten off in front of my best friend while he’d done the same thing.

I hadn’t been surprised that he had a filthy mouth because I knew Finn better than I knew anyone.

What surprised me was that I liked it.

Hell, I liked it a lot.

Hearing him talk about the things that he wanted to do to me.

Did he mean it? Or had he just said it because I’d walked in on him?

Finn was a player. He’d never been in a relationship longer than a few days.

And it wasn’t because he didn’t have endless women chasing after him.

The problem was that no one could hold his attention for long.

He was a heartbreak waiting to happen for anyone who fell for him.

“Shit,” I whispered as I shifted toward the sink and turned on the water, reaching for the soap and cleaning my hands.

What the hell had I just done?

This was a line that Finn and I had vowed we’d never cross.

Along with my family, my best friend was the most solid relationship in my life, even before things blew up with Carl. What he and I had had always been different.

This man was my confidant, the one person who never judged me.

“You all right, Miney?”

I shook my head. “I’m drunk. We’re both drunk. That was not a good idea. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have walked in on you.”

“There’s nothing to be embarrassed about.”

“You’re right, because nothing happened. This never happened. Goodnight, Chewy.”

I couldn’t even look at him.

I padded through the house, back to my bedroom.

What the hell was I thinking?

I squeezed my eyes shut and tried to think of anything other than what we’d just done. My body was still tingling from the sensation.

I could still vividly see the muscles in Finn’s arms straining as he stroked himself.

The way his eyes had watched me with a hunger I’d never felt before tonight.

No. No. No. No.

This was a stupid, drunken mistake.

We hadn’t touched each other—well, aside from a little nipple graze.

Tomorrow we would just act like it never happened. I could do that.

There was no other option.





I’d snuck out of the house early this morning to take Millie for a ride. I’d been unable to get Finn out of my mind now that I’d seen him the way that I had last night. I’d always known he was sexy and that women fell to their knees for him—I’d just never allowed myself to imagine why.

But I liked it, didn’t I?

The things he’d said to me.

The way he’d made me feel.

Watching him fall apart right in front of me.

What kind of woman was I? Here I was, trying to win back my fiancé, and I fell asleep last night, thinking about my sexy best friend.

Millie trotted into the barn just as Finn stepped out of Han Solo’s stall. He had on a pair of faded jeans, his worn cowboy boots, and a navy-blue Henley. His tan baseball hat was turned backward, and the man just oozed sex appeal. It shouldn’t be legal to look that good without even trying. He smiled, flashing his white teeth at me, while his eyes hid behind his gold aviators.

“Did you take her down to the water?” he asked, his tone light, like nothing had happened between us.

It was what I’d asked of him, but I didn’t know how to pretend I hadn’t made a massive mistake myself.

“Yeah, it’s gorgeous down there. It’s a little cloudy today, and she loved it. What are you doing out here?” I asked as I slid down Millie’s body, and he wrapped both hands around my waist and set me on my feet.

“I came to find you,” he said, waiting for me to turn around and face him. He chuckled, like whatever he saw on my face was funny. He leaned forward and rubbed his thumb above the bridge of my nose between my eyes. “Stop worrying, Miney.”

“Is that what you came to tell me? To stop worrying?”

“No. I came to tell you that I spoke to Maddox about an investment property he’d asked if I wanted to partner up with him on, and I thought it might be something that could work for your office space.”

I tucked my hands in the back pockets of my jeans and shifted on my boots. “Really? That was nice of you.”

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