Chapter 5 Always Hard

• Finn slept like the dead, the mental and physical exhaustion of his return finally catching up to him.
• When he woke up the next morning, the bright sunlight was pouring through the crimson curtains of the guest suite.
• He sat up, wincing slightly as a dull ache radiated from his neck and hips.
• Glancing in the mirror, Finn touched the dark purple mark on his collarbone, a violent reminder of the storm he had unleashed in his bedroom the night before.
• To Finn, all this was still a thrilling game of control, proof that he could bring even the most stoic titan to his knees.
• He showered quickly, dressed in a soft cream knit sweater with a high neckline to conceal Martinez's marks, and made his way downstairs.
• The aroma of freshly brewed coffee and roasted herbs filled the sprawling marble kitchen.
• As Finn stepped into the dining hall, he was met with the grating sound of laughter.
• Vanessa was standing by the head of the long dining table, hovering over Martinez as she poured him a cup of black coffee.
• "I told the caterers that for the gala next month, we simply must have the imported caviar Martinez loves," Vanessa chirped, her voice dripping with sickly sweet pretension. She rested a manicured hand over Martinez's broad shoulder, squeezing it possessively. "My baby is just so particular about his tastes, aren't you, darling? Only the absolute best for my fiancé."
• Finn felt a sudden, hot coil of annoyance tighten in his chest. Fiancé. The word tasted like ash.
• He slid quietly into the chair directly across from Martinez, taking in the older man's appearance.
• Martinez looked immaculate in a crisp charcoal suit, his dark hair neatly styled, his face a mask of cold authority. But the moment Finn sat down, Martinez’s dark eyes lifted, locking onto Finn with a heavy, dangerous intensity.
• "Good morning, Finn," Brian said cheerfully, digging into a plate of eggs beside him. "Did you sleep well?"
• "Like a baby," Finn purred, his eyes never leaving Martinez's face.
• Vanessa barely spared Finn a glance, continuing her unbearable monologue. "Anyway, Martinez told me he’s taking me out to his private yacht this weekend. He’s just so generous, so attentive... honestly, I don't know how I got so lucky with a man like him."
• Finn’s lip twitched in irritation. She was bragging as if she truly owned him. She wasn't even bold enough to just call him sweet names, how can you call your fiance, by his government name? Finn thought bitterly.
• Under the long, silk-draped tablecloth, Finn slipped off his right sneaker.
• Slowly, deliberately, Finn extended his bare foot across the gap under the table.
• He pressed the tip of his toes against the polished leather of Martinez’s shoe, then slowly traced his foot upward....past his ankle, dragging his toes up the heavy fabric of Martinez's tailored trousers, right over his calf.
• Martinez froze mid-sip, his cup stopping inches from his lips.
• Finn leaned back in his chair, taking a slow sip of orange juice, his dark eyes sparkling with absolute audacity as his foot climbed higher, tracing the line of Martinez’s inner thigh until his toes gently pressed against the thick, hardening length beneath Martinez's crotch.
• "Oops, is it always this hard?" Finn teased audibly, as everyone turned their gaze to look at him in confusion.
• "What's hard?" Brian asked Finn.
• Finn tilted his head to Brian, "Forget i said anything."
• Martinez’s jaw was set into iron, his knuckles turning white around the porcelain handle.
• The air between them instantly went volatile, charged with a dark, suffocating heat.
• Vanessa paused, noticing the sudden, rigid stillness of her fiancé. "Martinez? Are you okay, darling? You look... tight."
• Martinez didn't blink. His burning, dark gaze remained pinned on Finn’s innocent face as he forced his voice into a flat, steady rumble. "I'm fine, Vanessa. Just... thinking about work."
• "Oh, you work too hard," she sighed, kissing his cheek before sliding into her own seat.
• Finn smirked, slowly withdrawing his foot under the table and placing it back into his shoe, satisfied with the silent havoc he had caused.
• "So, Finn," Brian cut in, oblivious to the war happening beneath the wood. "We need to hit school today. I can show you around the humanities building, get you acquainted with the student lounge, and help you get settled before lectures start."
• The playful triumph in Finn's chest instantly vanished, replaced by a cold, sharp knot in his stomach.
• Campus. Lectures.
• "Yeah... sure," Finn murmured, his voice dropping as he stared down at his plate.
• He felt a sudden, bitter pang of shame. He had lied to Brian, pretending he was transferred and ready for the new semester. In reality, Finn didn't even have the money for his tuition fees yet. He hadn't registered. Every single cent he had scraped together from working backroom joints in England had been spent on his flight ticket and fake identification documents to escape the Don.
• He was broke, stranded, and completely out of options.
• He needed a way out. And staring across the table at the billionaire whose lap he had just tormented, Finn realized his solution was sitting right in front of him.
• He was going to use Martinez.