Chapter 37
Thirty-Seven
They brought Felix’s journal and the jewels back to Bottoms House.
To Owen’s amusement, after Finn ascertained that Tansy was asleep in one of the guest bedchambers, she flew into action.
The fact that it was the middle of the night didn’t prevent her from pacing in front of the drawing room fire, plotting the best way to stage the exchange with Carver.
“We Hawks know too much,” she told the group. “To Carver, we are liabilities. After he has the jewels, we’re more useful to him dead than alive.”
“Then how will we guarantee your gang’s safety?” Owen asked.
“I will use my advantage.”
He cocked a brow. “Which is?”
“Carver thinks I am alone, save for Tansy. He has Iris—and by now, likely Caleb, Nell, and Simon. Caleb would have told him that you and your family discovered my ruse and threw me out. Carver’s men will corroborate his story.”
“So you keep up the pretense,” Mama said, nodding. “Pretend you are friendless and alone.”
“Precisely. Carver will believe it because he knows us Hawks. As a rule, we do not trust easily. He couldn’t conceive of the notion that I might ask a bunch of bluebloods for help—um, no offense.”
“None taken,” Grantley said dryly.
“The lot of you will be my hidden hand.” Finn continued to pace with an energy that Owen could only marvel at.
“Because Carver will think he has me cornered, he will let his guard down. He will agree to the location I set. He’ll bring men, of course, but not an army because how many brutes does he need to defeat poor, defenseless me? ”
“A battalion, apparently.” Papa sounded amused. “I admire your strategy, Finn.”
She paused mid-stride, and her look of surprised gratitude hit Owen in the chest. It never ceased to amaze him how she could be so formidable yet vulnerable too.
He knew she yearned for his family’s acceptance—and his parents’, in particular, after getting off on the wrong foot.
He wanted to tell her she needn’t worry.
Once Papa and Mama got to know her, they would love her cleverness and plucky spirit, the bone-deep loyalty that was part of her nature.
Although she might not realize it, she fit right in.
She’s meant to be a part of my family. And I will make it happen—once we save hers.
The next topic was the best place to lay the trap. Several sites were considered and rejected.
“What about the Pearce manor?” Grantley suggested. “Its distance from the village will reassure Carver of privacy. The place has plenty of room for us to conceal ourselves, inside and out. Best of all, you needn’t worry about gaining the owner’s permission.”
“Yes, that’s it,” Finn said. “The manor is the perfect place.”
“There is something fitting about defeating a villain there,” Gigi said thoughtfully.
“It was there that Langdon Pearce abused Rose, and she cursed him in self-defense, leading his guilty conscience to bring about his death. Perhaps by freeing the Hawks and bringing Carver to justice, we will end the history of violence…”
She broke off, yawning.
“Time for bed,” Grantley said firmly. “You have been running around all night whilst lugging my heir with you. You need your rest.”
“We all do.” Mama looked at Finn. “That includes you, my dear.”
“I am not tired,” Finn protested. “The others should rest, of course, but I must send word to Carver—”
“In the morning,” Owen cut in. “You cannot send a note in the dead of night, anyway. After a few hours’ sleep, you’ll have a clearer head to compose the message.”
Finn opened her mouth, clearly intending to protest—but a yawn escaped her.
Owen lifted his brows.
“Fine,” she said grudgingly. “I suppose a quick nap won’t hurt.”
Everyone disbanded, and Owen shepherded her to the gamekeeper’s cottage.
He helped her undress, and although the sight of her beauty stirred him, she needed her rest. She got into bed, and after disrobing, he joined her, tucking her close.
He savored the intimacy of being skin to skin, the feel and scent of her soothing the ragged edges of his soul.
Now that she was back in his arms, he felt the world right itself again. He drifted off—
“Owen?”
“Hmm?” he murmured.
“I can’t sleep.”
“Just close your eyes.”
“I tried.”
“Try closing your eyes and your mouth.”
He thought maybe she was heeding him for once and jerked when he felt her lips brush his chest. She licked his nipple gently. When he felt the edge of her teeth, she had his full attention.
“Are you awake?” she asked.
“No.”
“I think you’re up.” She closed her hand around his ready cock. “Just as I suspected.”
“Finn, you need to sleep—”
“I need you.”
Bloody hell. So much for resting.
“Fine. But since this is your idea, you’ll do the work.”
He hauled her on top of him. Filling his hands with her pert bottom, he rubbed her pussy against his throbbing length. Their mouths crashed together. She squirmed, moaning, painting his turgid flesh with her lush petals until he was slick with her dew.
“You really do need my cock, don’t you, little wanton?” he growled.
“Yes,” she gasped. “I want to feel you inside me.”
“You’ll feel me, all right. Give me a moment to fetch the—”
He began to shift her off him…and was stunned when she pushed him back onto the mattress.
“I want to feel you, Owen. Just you,” she breathed.
His erection pulsed. It wasn’t possible, but he got harder.
“What about the risk?” he managed.
“I love you. I trust you.” The sweet simplicity of her declaration flooded him with joy. “Do you feel the same way about me?”
“Unquestionably.”
“Are we getting married?”
“As soon as I can make the arrangements.”
“Then, as you said, that’s settled. Now stop stalling and make love to me.”
Even in the dimness, he saw her vibrant smile.
“Always giving orders, aren’t you? Then take me, Finn. I’m yours.”
Gripping her hip in one hand, he positioned his cock with the other. He notched his tip to her plush hole, grunting as she slid onto his shaft. He quivered as she enveloped him, inch by inch, with her snug heat.
“You feel so big this way,” she gasped.
“You can take me. All the way now, there’s my girl.”
She did take him, with an alacrity that stole his breath.
At first, he tried to hold still to give her time to adjust, but he soon realized she didn’t need it.
She wiggled and shifted and moaned as she joined her body with his.
Her passage flowered around him, soft and silky and hot.
She began to experiment, moving her hips in ways that made his eyes roll in bliss.
“Oh, Owen,” she sighed. “This feels so fine.”
Given that she was impaling herself on his rod, her lower lips kissing the base of his shaft, he shared her enthusiasm. In fact, he was going to blow like a cannon, and he didn’t want to go off without her. Placing his palm on her supple spine, he angled her forward.
“You might like it even better like this.”
“Why is that—ohh.”
Her question melted into a moan as she discovered the benefit of this new angle.
Panting, she braced her hands on his chest, and he welcomed the bite of her fingernails as she screwed herself onto his rod.
He thrust his hips as she rode him, playing with her bouncing breasts and sucking her nipples.
Their mating became frenzied, ferocious, a wild race to completion.
“I love you.”
The words erupted from them simultaneously as ecstasy hit.
Afterward, she fell asleep, draped over him like a downy coverlet.
My Finn. Mine at last. Mine forever.
Smiling, he followed her into slumber.