Chapter 8 Sexcapades
Waverly
“Kidnapping an officer of the law is a federal offense, you know?”
“I’ll let you cuff me when we get there.” He took his eyes off the road long enough to waggle his eyebrows at me.
“Something tells me that wouldn’t exactly be a punishment.”
“Only one way to find out.”
Rolling my eyes, I shifted in the passenger seat of his Audi. I wasn’t a fan of surprises and if my bouncing legs were any indication, it showed.
“Relax.” Covering my knee with his hand, he squeezed. “We’ll be there soon.”
“And where is there again?”
“Nice try, baby.”
Gah!
After the dumpster fire of a week, we went out for dinner and drinks at Birds of a Feather to celebrate surviving ’til Friday.
The gang was all there; Shayne, my team, Henley, and Jade.
Only Nelson and Sammy hadn’t joined us. It was the first time many of us had been back to our old haunt.
The place brought back a lot of memories; not all of them good.
Thankfully, Keaton’s crew was able to transform the old sports bar into a tropical oasis. It looked nothing like it did before.
When we missed the turnoff for Finn’s house, he finally told me we were going away for the weekend.
I should’ve known something was up when Shayne asked whether I liked the beach or the mountains better.
The damn traitor was in on my surprise, even going so far as packing a bag for me. I’d get her back eventually.
Forty-five minutes later, we pulled up to a cabin in the woods.
Okay, cabin was an understatement for the two-story, A-frame with a wraparound porch.
A secluded, luxury villa would have been a more appropriate description.
The tiny cottage sitting to the left was presumably for Joel and Noreen, who were following behind us.
At least Finn took his security seriously.
Finn carried our bags toward the staircase. “Why don’t you grab us a drink out of the fridge. I’ll put these in the master, then fire up the hot tub.”
“It’s stocked?”
“The fridge? Of course. What do you take me for, an amateur?”
“So I’m not the first woman you’ve kidnapped?”
“You’re the only woman I’ve ever surprised with a weekend getaway,” he hollered over his shoulder, quickly disappearing from view.
Spinning around, I went in search of liquid courage.
I’d need it to get over myself. My past relationships barely lasted until the “staying the night” stage, let alone a vacation.
Since I was currently living in his home, I’d say we surpassed the first milestone and had reached the second in record time.
The whole going away together thing was new and terrifying territory for me. Hence, my need for alcohol.
Grabbing two bottles of beer out of the fridge––which was indeed stocked full––I popped both tops off and took a healthy swig.
With nothing left to do, I took our drinks and moved to the glass sliders I passed on the way to the kitchen.
Hopefully, they led to the porch or even a deck.
Lightning flashed across the sky, illuminating the surrounding forest, as soon as I slid the doors partially closed behind me, followed by a rumble of thunder. Seconds later, the heavens opened up.
Mountain weather was bipolar. One minute it was clear skies, the next, all hell broke loose. I didn’t even remember hearing about a chance of storms.
“Well, it was a no-go for the hot tub anyway.” Finn came up beside me, taking his beer from my outstretched hand while I leaned against the railing, twirling the neck of the other bottle between my fingers.
“Why’s that?”
“I couldn't get the heater to turn on.”
“Mother Nature had other plans for us, it seems.”
He took a long pull from his drink. The storm began to rage around us, soaking everything in sight. It was wild and beautiful; kinda like how Finn made me feel.
“Screw it.” He took both our bottles, set them at our feet, then grabbed my hand. “Let’s go.”
“What are you doing, Finn?” I cried out as he pulled me to the top of the steps.
“I may not be able to stop the downpour, but I can dance with you in the rain.”
Running headlong into a deluge of water, we were soaked to the bone without a care in the world. Life took a back seat to living as we swayed to the beat of each drop that fell from the sky; merely existing in the moment. It was cathartic; freeing in a way I didn’t know I needed.
Minutes passed, maybe hours as we moved from side to side. The trees were our backdrop, the sky our audience, while the thunder provided the music. It wasn’t the graceful waltz I’d seen in old movies; it was sloppy, yet it was the single most romantic gesture I’d ever known.
Until he dipped me.
He captured my laughter with a kiss and shredded the last of my resolve.
Finn demolished any clouds of doubt I still had about our future.
Tears stung my eyes, threatening to spill over from the onslaught of emotions which accompanied the unexpected revelation.
There was nowhere to run from my feelings; nowhere to hide.
I’d tried that already and failed miserably.
The only thing left to do was acknowledge the truth in their meaning. At least in my head.
I’d fallen in love with Finnian O’Lachlan.
Dammit all to hell.
Waking up in Finn’s arms was quickly becoming a necessity.
The soothing caress of his warm breath against the back of my neck was enough to make me want to stay in bed for the rest of eternity.
If it hadn’t been for the incessant ringing of the doorbell, I might have suggested it.
Cracking my eyes open, I stole a glance at the bedside clock.
Six thirty. Noreen and Joel were early risers. Good to know.
“They’re fired. Both of them,” he grumbled behind me.
“We told them to come over in the morning.”
“Not we, baby. That was all you.”
Guilty as charged. Once we’d warmed up from our jaunt in the storm the night before, we’d gone to check on the couple at their little cottage. Eggs Benedict was mentioned, then before I knew it, I’d invited them to join us for breakfast. What could I say? I was a sucker for hollandaise.
“Besides, morning doesn’t infer the arse crack of dawn.”
“They’ll go away eventually, right?” I stretched backward, purposefully brushing my ass against his hard length.
He nipped my ear. “I’d love nothing more than to slide deep inside you, but they won’t go away easily.”
“How do you know?”
The sound of the front door opening and closing had me shooting up in bed.
“Because Noreen knows the door code.”
“Finn? Waverly?”
“We’ll be down in a minute,” Finn hollered before flipping the covers off and rummaging through his bag for clothes.
It was a damn shame for him to cover up his gorgeous body, especially the half sleeve of ink covering the upper part of his right arm.
At first, I’d thought they were tribal, but on closer inspection, they were rows of Celtic knots interwoven around two blue daisies.
They had to have special meaning; I just hadn’t thought to ask about them before then.
“What do your tattoos mean?”
He paused briefly before answering.
“The Celtic knots stand for love, loyalty, and strength, and the daisies are the twins.”
“Why daisies?”
“They symbolize resilience.” He pulled a shirt over his head while I slipped on a pair of yoga pants.
“Sloane had a rough time when she got out of the hospital. Her recovery was hard, more so because of the pregnancy. She has a smaller version on her back. It was a way to remind us we were stronger than whatever life chose to throw our way.”
“I’ve always wanted a tattoo.”
“What’s stopping you from getting one?”
“Needles and pain. My least favorite things.”
Lacing his fingers with mine, he kissed the back of my knuckles one by one. We left the master bedroom, descending the stairs slowly. The scent of bacon hit my nose as we neared the bottom, making my mouth water and my stomach grumble.
“If you want one, I’ll take you.”
“Shayne and Duncan both have offered and I’ve turned them down.”
“No offense, baby, but they’re not me. I’m exceptionally skilled in the art of distraction.”
“I can’t tell if that’s a threat or a promise, Mr. O’Lachlan?”
“Both, Agent Mitchell.”
“Good morning, you two.”
Noreen smiled from where she stood by the stove, cracking an egg into a bowl. On the counter, the ingredients to make our breakfast were lined up in an orderly fashion.
“Sorry for barging in so early. Reenie gets a little excited about cooking for someone who isn’t me.” Joel smiled lovingly at his wife.
Besides our first dinner, I hadn’t had the opportunity to spend much time with them.
I knew they’d been happily married for over thirty years, but I wanted all the juicy details.
How did they meet? Who fell in love first?
Apparently, being deliriously happy turned me into a regular romance junkie.
It was all Finn’s fault. He’d yanked my “feels” out of hiding.
"Coffee's ready.”
“You’re a god among women, Noreen.”
She snickered, transferring slices of bacon from the pan to a paper towel lined plate. It was cooked just the way I liked it, with a perfect crisp along the edges.
“Joel can be a real bear in the mornings. There’s no talking to him until he’s sufficiently caffeinated.”
“Same with Waverly,” Finn added.
He stole a couple pieces of bacon off the top of the plate, earning himself a scolding look from the cook. Handing me one, he shoved the other in his mouth, giving me a sexy wink. I moved quickly to the pot on the counter, filling two mugs, while he grabbed the creamer from the fridge.
We moved around each other with ease, like we’d been doing it for years rather than a few weeks. It was as comfortable as it was unsettling. No one, not even Shayne and Duncan, had infiltrated my life so fully, so quickly.