30. Kate
Kate
The blanket was forgotten beneath us, sunlight breaking through the trees in golden patches. The soft rush of the creek carried through the air. It was the perfect place to relax, and I hadn’t felt that safe, calm, and happy in years.
When Finn’s hand brushed mine, I didn’t think before I curled my fingers around his. My heart pounded so loud, I swore the woods could hear it.
His head tilted towards mine, his eyes questioning, I squeezed his hand again, leaned forward and closed my eyes. My heart beat once, then twice, and then he kissed me.
Soft at first, like he was afraid I’d pull away and tell him we were only friends, but I didn’t. A small sound escaped me, and that was all it took. He deepened the kiss, his hands cradling my face as his mouth stole the breath from my lungs.
I melted against him, and when he eased me back onto the blanket, I didn’t resist. I pulled him with me, my body arching against his, desperate for more.
“Finn, I need this,” I whispered. “It doesn’t have to mean anything.”
Heat swept through me when his lips returned to mine, then trailed lower, slow kisses brushing down my throat. Every touch unravelled me, made me ache in ways I hadn’t let myself feel in so long.
When his fingers tugged at my shirt, I hesitated, shame flickering through me. The scars that still lingered were proof of every hurt I’d survived.
But Finn didn’t flinch. He pressed his mouth to each mark, murmuring against my skin, “You’re beautiful. Every inch of you.” He leaned back and looked into my eyes. “And this does mean something, Kate. It’s always meant something. I was just too stupid to admit it.”
My breath hitched, and the knot inside me loosened. I tugged his shirt over his head, my hands skimming across his chest, tentative at first, then bolder when he shivered under my touch.
His skin was warm under my palms, the muscles of his chest hard, shifting with each breath I stole from him.
Heat blazed through me everywhere we touched—his chest pressed to mine, his hand sliding over my ribs, his thumb tracing circles against my thigh.
Every brush of his fingertips left a trail of fire.
Every kiss pulled another gasp from my throat.
Our bottoms and underwear were scattered in a rush, the air thick with heat and desire. I wrapped my legs around him, pulling him down to me.
He paused, his eyes burning into mine. “You sure?” His voice was ragged, every muscle in him trembling like he was barely holding back.
“Yes,” I breathed, my whole body shaking with need.
“About what I said to Reaper,” Finn started, holding my chin so I couldn’t look away.
“It’s okay.” I closed my eyes, trying to push the hurt down and stay in the mood.
“It’s not. I only said it so he wouldn’t take you and Noah away from me. You both broke through my walls in such a short time that I was scared. But I want you, Kate.”
“What about the club girl?”
“I told you, she was just a means to an end. It’s you I want.”
“Then prove it.” I lifted my hips, and he pushed forward.
When he entered me, the sharp stretch tore a gasp from my lips. He buried his face in my neck, holding still, giving me time.
My hands clutched at him, nails scraping his shoulders.
“It’s okay,” I whispered, my voice breaking. “Move . . . please, move.”
The slow roll of his hips made me ache. I whimpered his name, desperate for more. He whispered to me between kisses, words I barely caught—strong, so strong, mine—his breath hot against my ear.
My body met his without thought, finding the rhythm, finding him, until the world outside vanished.
Each thrust sent sparks racing through me, each touch drawing me closer to the edge until I was clinging to him, crying out his name.
It wasn’t rushed. He touched me like I was something precious, kissed me like he’d never get enough. Every word he murmured sank deeper than his touch.
“Finn—” His name tore from me as my pussy clenched around his cock, my orgasm so hard that my legs locked and my vision blurred.
The shock of him pulling out of me had my eyes locking to his as he stroked his release onto my soft stomach.
“Perfect. You are perfect.” He leaned down and kissed me.
I watched as he pulled a napkin out of the basket and cleaned me up, then he wrapped us both up in a blanket.
That evening, we lay together, naked, and watched the sun set. Aside from the day Noah was born, it was the best day of my life.