Burning Moth

Chapter Five, Part Two - No Sudden Moves

When Finn texted to meet up with him on campus, strange as it sounds, I was sorta-kinda relieved.

After that dish of realness Jacob had served me in the kitchen, he and Aidan wasted no time rekindling the old flame. When I heard my bestie's headboard begin to knock against the wall, getting reamed by Finn suddenly sounded a whole lot better than sticking around to hear Aidan getting reamed himself.

I shot Finn a quick reply, slipped into the skinny jeans that hugged my ass the best, then put into action the rest of Plan A–a low-cut sweater that never failed in grabbing Finn's attention. Plan B was to strangle him with the sleeves.

I borrowed Aidan's car, and drove to campus. Finn was waiting in his classroom, sitting patiently at his desk, sandy hair windswept like James Dean. The last time I had run my fingers through it, he was whisking me to a paradise so dark, he made Christian Grey seem like Mr. Rogers.

I strolled up to his desk, hands in the pockets of my leather jacket, head cocked in expectation. As usual, he challenged back by disregarding me completely, continuing to grade papers as if I weren't really the most entertaining part of his day.

Another minute passed, in which my impatience got the best of me. I was just as fed up with Finn and his expectations as I was with Nicholias.

"I didn't come here just for you to ignore me, Finn. Would it kill you to get to the point?"

He raised an eyebrow, but his eyes stayed on his papers, the red pen in his hand continuing to do its job.

"You've ignored me for days, Scarlet. Forgive me if I'm not as understanding as you'd like." He paused, and the red pen finally stopped moving. He looked up, and I was swept away in a steady wave of green, shiny as the sea. "But I can look past your shortcomings. I know how those misdeeds of yours keep you busy--must be the reason I haven't received my cut."

Chastened into silence, I clacked my tongue ring against my teeth, burning with degradation. I wasn't used to failing at anything–grades or otherwise. I shook down classmates on a regular, and now my Civics professor was giving me the stick-up. Talk about irony.

"Look, I'm sorry, Finn. I had the money, and then something came up--it was an emergency. But in my defense, I've never missed a payment until now. And midterms are coming up, I can double what I owe you--"

"We had an arrangement, Scarlet..." Finn's tone was soft, but his eyes flashed in warning. I didn't know what was coming, but just like another storm, I knew it was big and it was on the horizon. "I hate surprises--I don't even read my birthday cards--which is why your failure is such a disappointment. Still, I am in a forgiving mood..."

His smile was deceptively pleasant. The last time I saw it was right after I had given him the safe word, exhausted into submission.

Finn dropped his pen, and stood. His eyes were fastened on mine as he slowly pulled open his desk drawer, removing a leather riding crop–my old nemesis. He saw me bite my lip at the memories it inspired; instantly, his smile darkened.

I straightened, raising my chin. "Seriously? With all the many talents I have at my disposal that is what you want from me?"

"No..." He shook his head. "I want more."

His threat left my spine tingling in secret pleasure. No doubt, Finn was a sadist; sometimes it repulsed me... and others time it didn't. In a way, I guess we were both suckers for pain.

He walked around the side of his desk. I didn't move when he took his place behind me, ignoring my jumping heart. Finn's hands started at my shoulders, then moved south, down my arms until he gripped my waist.