MAYA BROOKE
We leave Willows Bay tomorrow morning, and I’m not sure if I’m ready to go back to reality.
It’s been a wonderful few days, and I want nothing more than to move to the small beach town and see Finn’s family every day. They’re the most accommodating and welcoming people I’ve ever met, and they love Skye like they’ve known her since she was born.
All I’ve wanted for her is to grow up in an environment where people want to see her and not beg to be seen.
“Hey,” I hear from behind me as I glance up at Ivy.
I beam back at her. “Hey.”
She perches on the sofa beside me as Skye sleeps between my arms. Her eyes immediately fall on her niece as she leans in. “I’ll never get over how beautiful she is.”
Pride warms my chest. “Me neither.”
“Can I have one last cuddle?”
“Of course.” I slowly place her in Ivy’s arms. “Ooh, there you go.”
Skye wriggles a little but settles within seconds. After her feed, she’s been down for the count.
Ivy’s eyes light up as she stares down at her. “I’m gonna miss you,” she whispers. “I’m going to see JJ’s family, and I’ll be heading straight back to university.”
My heart nearly explodes as I watch them together, my cheeks aching from the smile lingering there.
“So this will be my last cuddle,” Ivy says with a pout. “But we’ll make up for it in the future.”
I suck in a breath when my chest starts to pound at the sweet statement. If only my sister cared the same way Ivy does.
“We should have a girly day,” she says. “When I come up to see JJ, we should take Skye out and do something fun. Just girls.”
“I’d love that,” I say in agreement.
Ivy flicks her green eyes between mine, and they’re identical to Finn’s. “I’m really glad you’re a part of our family, Maya,” she says earnestly. “You’re really good for Finn and I—”
“What?”
“I’ve never seen him like this.” She sweeps her fingers over Skye’s legs softly. “He’s changed so much, and that’s a really good thing. I was worried about him for ages, but now he has you and Skye, I know everything is going to be okay.”
I shrug helplessly. “I didn’t do anything.”
She tilts her head to the side. “Trust me, Maya, that boy would do anything for you. You saved him.”
“No,” I murmur. “I couldn’t save him before.”
“You still did, though,” she whispers. “He wants to be better for his family, and that’s exactly what he’s doing. He knows what’s at stake and I know he’ll never put himself in a situation to lose you again.”
I purse my lips and inhale a slow breath. “Yeah, I know so, too.”
Ivy offers me a supportive smile.
“Thank you for welcoming me in,” I say.
“You’re not getting rid of us now.”
A small laugh bursts from me. “I don’t think I ever want to leave.”
An hour later, Ivy and JJ leave to head to his parents’ house for a few days. We all say our goodbyes and wave them off. Once the door is closed, Andrea and James turn towards Finn and me.
“What?” Finn quirks a brow.
“So…” She trails off. “We were thinking about taking Skye out this afternoon.”
“Okay. Where do you wanna go?”
His parents give each other a quick look. “Just us three. Not you guys.”
My brows raise and almost hit my hairline. “Oh—” I cut myself off.
“Just you two and Skye?”
“Yeah!” Andrea exclaims. “It’ll be good for you guys to have some quiet time. Don’t you think?”
I glance at Finn, who stares down at me. “Are you okay with that?”
“Sure,” I say. “It would be good for you guys to spend some time with Skye.”
“Ah.” Andrea’s face stretches into a beaming expression. “Amazing. We won’t be gone long. Maybe a couple of hours.”
Finn hums as he eyes them suspiciously. After getting Skye’s things ready, I kiss her goodbye before she leaves with Andrea and James in her pram. The door shuts, and I spin around to face Finn, who shoves his hands into his tracksuit pockets.
“Do you think they just—”
“They know exactly what they’re doing,” Finn chuckles as he pokes his tongue into the corner of his lip. “Sneaky fuckers.”
I brush my hair away from my face. The house is immediately quieter without Skye, and it startles me.
“You okay?” Finn asks as he walks towards me.
“Yeah,” I laugh hesitantly.
Finn hums as his eyes slowly roam my face. “Better make the most of it then, huh?”
My eyes drop down to his lips as he speaks, and I don’t know why the most inappropriate thoughts flash through my head, knowing we have an empty house and two hours to kill. But I make them evaporate for the sake of my sanity.
I clear my throat and tear my eyes away from his lips. “What should we do?”
“Are you hungry?” he asks. “I can make us a late lunch.”
I nod as I clasp my hands together despite my trembling heart. They definitely left us alone in the hopes we’ll make another baby—I’m sure of it.
My ass slides onto the stool as I watch Finn waltz around the kitchen before placing a rather luxurious sandwich in front of me. My stomach growls at the sight.
“Thank you,” I say gratefully.
“You’re welcome.”
Halfway through eating, my phone flashes up on the other side of the table beside Finn. He glances at it and his entire demeanour changes. My heart slams into my stomach as he drops his sandwich, swallows harshly, and wipes a hand over his mouth.
“What’s wrong?”
Finn’s nostrils flare as he avoids my gaze and stands up, shoving the rest of his sandwich in the bin as if he just lost his appetite.
Panic laces through me as I stare at my phone screen, but it’s gone dark.
“Finn—”
I reach for my phone and tap the screen to find a message from Alfie. My body freezes.
Alfie:
Hey, is it weird to say I miss you?
Jesus Christ.
“Finn, I—”
Finn braces his hands on the edge of the counter, and I stare at his back as his shoulders tense. “Are you dating him?” His voice is low and shaky.
“No,” I say instantly.
“Don’t lie to me. God, please don’t lie to me.”
“I’m not lying.” I loop around the counter with trembling legs. “We’re acquaintances. We have a project together. That’s it.”
Finn glances at me, and the pain behind his eyes nearly knocks me over. “I saw you together on campus,” he says hoarsely. “You looked cosy and…fuck.”
“No, no,” I say with panic. “I promise we’re just—”
“He wants more. Doesn’t he?”
My mouth parts as he watches me. “He asked me on a date,” I confess.
Finn drags a hand down his cheek before gripping his jaw. He pushes himself away from the counter and turns away from me. “God,” he exhales sharply.
“But I—” I cut myself off to swallow. “I don’t want to date him. We’re not…it’s not like that.”
“Do what you want,” he murmurs as he walks away. “I don’t own you.”
Every inch of my body starts to shake until my breathing becomes uneven. “I don’t want him, Finn.”
He stops walking and turns towards me with glossy eyes. “Then what the hell do you want?”
All I can hear is my rapid breaths as emotion clogs my chest.
“You. I’ve always wanted you.”
Finn’s face twists into confusion as his forehead scrunches up. “But you keep pushing me away. Fuck, Maya. You’re making me lose my mind.”
“Because I was taking my time,” I murmur through a gentle cry. “Because I had to protect my heart.”
He lowers his eyes before leaving the kitchen.
“Why are you walking away from me?” I blubber as tears greet my eyes.
“Because I am fucking breaking inside, Maya!”
“I just told you that nothing is going on between us,” I say as I follow him. “I wouldn’t lie to you.”
Finn stops again and then storms up to me as my pulse thrashes in my throat. “Then tell me what is happening between us,” he demands as he laces his fingers through the back of my hair and presses his forehead against mine. “Tell me.”
I choke out a sob as tears roll down my cheeks. “I don’t want anyone else but you,” I whimper. “I’ll always want you. Until the day I die.”
Our chests rise and fall quickly, brushing one another’s as his eyes flick between mine. He stares straight through my soul as his bottom lip brushes over my mouth, and I’m quaking at the gentle touch.
“Please,” I beg desperately. “I don’t want him. I want you. Only you.”
Finn’s jaw clenches as he watches me through dilated eyes.
“Please—”
“Then why’s he texting you, saying he misses you?”
My mouth trembles as I whimper in response. “I-I don’t know.”
“He wants what’s mine,” he heaves with devastation in his gaze.
“I’ve always been yours.”
Finn’s jaw tightens. “Then prove it.”
I lace my fingers into the back of his hair and slam my mouth against his.
The second our lips meet, I release a breath of relief.
He cradles the back of my head as he devours my mouth with his own.
Everything shatters around me, the tightness in my chest finally starting to ease as he slides his tongue into my mouth and kisses me like it’s our last.
I clutch onto his arms as he holds my jaw tightly, and I feel like I’m floating through space. He thrusts me backwards until my spine hits the wall, and we both groan. My hands slide over his shoulders and down his arms until I’m clawing at the material of his hoodie.
His fingers grip onto my hair and have me panting against his tongue as he kisses me deep and hard, until I don’t even remember my own name.
Home. God, this feels like home. The safest place I could ever be.
It’s urgent, desperate, and messy. He sucks on my bottom lip before grazing his teeth over the tender skin.
“Finn,” I moan as he swallows down the sound.
“Tell me again,” he begs.
My eyes sting at the deepness of his voice. “I don’t want to be with anyone else but you,” I pant between kisses.
Finn groans as he slides his tongue over mine again, and I’m lost in my unconditional emotions for him. He untangles his fingers from my hair and trails them down the curves of my body. Then he wraps his hands around the backs of my thighs and picks me up like I weigh next to nothing.
I clasp my legs around his waist as he pins me to the wall, not breaking the kiss for a single second. I’m falling and falling, and I don’t know if I ever want to get back up.
My fingers brush down his curls until he bites my lip again, and I throw my head back in pleasure.
“No one is going to kiss you like I do, fuck you like I do,” he grunts as he thrusts his hips into my core, and I gasp at the hardness of him. “Love you like I do.”
I cry out as my eyes roll back the moment his lips meet my neck. “Give it to me,” I beg. “I want it. I need it. I need you so badly. Show me that I’m yours. That I’ll only ever belong to you.”
Finn releases a low sound, somewhere between a groan and a desperate snarl. “You asked for it, sunshine. Remember that. You want me to be possessive? I can show you how fucking possessive I can be when it comes to you.”