AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Aye, same,” Finlay says. “Fuckin’ big-heid.”
Rory glances at them in surprise, and then across to me. My face feels increasingly warm. They’d been kissing each other that night — and thinking aboutme?
The air flares with tension. But after running his gaze over me, Rory shrugs. “Ah, fair enough,” he says easily, inserting another chocolate segment into his mouth.
“I thought you gave me that orange,” Finlay points out, his brows descending.
“Fine.” Rory glances at the small pool of candy and positions the chocolate orange onto the center of the heap with a deliberate look at Finlay, then pushes the whole blanket across to him. “All this — and it’s yours if you kiss D-boy.”
Finlay shrugs. “I cannae eat hauf o’ that, anyway. It’s no’ vegan.”
“Fuck’s sake, Fin, just do what the saint asks. She doesn’t ask for much, so indulge her on this one occasion, yeah?”
“Why don’tIget the chocolate?” Danny asks, put out.
“Because you’d shag an otter for a bar of soap, D-boy,” Rory drawls. “It’s notyouwho needs convincing.” He turns to Finlay again. “It isn’t unfaithful if it’s what the saint wants.”
“And you?” Finlay asks quietly. “Because I huvnae — no’ even wi’ Luke, until… well…”
“It’s not unfaithful ifIwant it, either.”
Finlay and Rory gaze at each other for a long time, assessing. “Then I accept,” Finlay says in a slow, serious tone, “but I also want ye tae raise. Put in mair o’ they packets o’ dark chocolate buttons that I know ye like so much. Make a true sacrifice by throwin’ some o’ them in — and I’ll dae mair than just kiss D-boy for ye.” He glances at me as he adds the last bit, drawing me into their bargain.
Rory’s face scrunches slightly, as if in great pain. I can’t tell if it’s from the idea of Finlay doing more than kissing Danny, or if it’s at the potential sacrifice of chocolate buttons.
“Does D-boy — I mean me — doIget a say in this? Also, you just said I’d shag an otter for a bar of soap. He wants to shag me for a packet of buttons!”
“Chocolate buttons are the food of gods, D-boy,” Rory explains patiently, his voice deeply grave. “This is no easy bargain to make.”
I can’t tell if they’re joking or not. Everyone’s suddenly become very serious. Rory scans the pile of candy as though it’s his stake of chips at a poker table, scrutinizing Finlay across it like he could be bluffing. His gaze flicks to Danny, who seems dumbfounded, and then up to me. I shoot him a look that I hope conveys just the right touch ofwhat the actual fuck? And finally, with a weary sigh, Rory stretches out his hand to shake Finlay’s and says, “Well played. He’s all yours.”
Danny frowns. “Has my virtue just been exchanged for a chocolate button?”
“No’ a single chocolate button!” Finlay exclaims, as thoughthatwould be mad. “A whole dozen packets o’ them.” He cocks a brow at Rory, as if to check.
Rory shakes his head. “Lower your expectations. Half a dozen at most.”
“Ten.”
“Eight.”
“Nine.”
Rory rolls his eyes. “Fine. It’s a deal.”
Finlay turns back to Danny, looking immensely pleased with himself. “There.Ninepackets o’ chocolate buttons. That’s a pretty decent exchange rate for Lochkelvin, D-boy. I wouldnae turn yer nose up at it.”
Danny shoots me a look that seems to say, ‘Help me.’ But before I can step in, Finlay grabs Danny’s head, his hands winding around his neck. He yanks Danny forward until their faces are pressed together, breathing each other in. Danny stares at him, wide-eyed and stupefied, a moment of tautness hanging between the two of them as the entire island hushes to a whisper. And then Finlay presses his mouth firmly to Danny’s.
7
Istare at them in awe, falling to the ground. I’d never seen this properly the first time, when I’d been skulking against the castle wall, shattered by the angst of delivering a literal doom-scroll to Benji. But there’s something sweet and almost pained about both of them slowly opening up, as though pouring out the parts of themselves they aren’t used to sharing. It’s strangely equal, and Danny kisses back with the same calm fury, his lashes fluttering closed.
The air surrounding the two of them floods with heat. I sit cross-legged, still in my skirt and bra, my gaze glued to both of them. I’m utterly captivated. My heart rockets as I watch every slow, slick flash of tongue, listening as Danny whines softly beneath Finlay’s mouth, watching as Finlay’s fingers make hard, unyielding fists in Danny’s light brown hair.
I want something. I want more than to stare.
“Touch yourself,” Rory instructs quietly, his voice curling into my ear like smoke. My eyelids lower at the idea. I could. I could so easily give in to his command, and my hand hovers experimentally at the waistband of my skirt.
