Chapter 24
“Finn!” I giggle, surprised, as he sweeps me into his arms and carries me over the threshold of our new home. “What are you doing?”
“Erin told me this is a wedding tradition.”
“Yes,” I play with his damp hair. “But it’s a human tradition. You don’t have to live up to things that aren’t part of your culture.”
“I know,” he says as he sets me on my feet. His arms circle my waist as his smoldering blue eyes lock on mine. “According to my culture, you were already mine.” He smiles. “But I wanted to be your choice.”
“As if I ever had a choice. I fell so hard and fast for you, I didn’t realize it was happening. All I had to do was lean into my feelings.”
He strokes my cheek with the back of his fingers. My head tilts toward his touch like metal to a magnet. I have no choice, no will. I am his.
“As a thank you for agreeing to spend your life with me, I will learn all I can about your culture and your ceremonial traditions. I will do everything in my power to make you happy.”
“You don’t have to learn anything or do anything extra. I’m already yours. Just be you.”
“You’re already mine, huh?”
I nod.
“Where I come from,” he lifts my dress and rubs his hands over the sides of my thighs. “That means I can have you anytime I want.”
My body tingles.
“Not yet. Humans need time to recover.”
He nods. “I just want you to know, I want you. I’ll always want you.”
I take his hands off my thighs because the last thing I need is to give in to the carnal desires running through me. Except… Maybe there is something I can do.
Looking at him through my lashes, I feel sexy and empowered in a way I haven’t in a very long time. I step closer to him. Our chests touch and press together with every breath. I run one hand through his hair and rub the other over his already-engorged manhood.
“How does this feel?” I lick my lips.
Finn’s eyes open wide. His chest heaves. “Masha.”
I kiss his neck while stroking him over his pants, rubbing my thumb over his oversized tip.
“What are–? It feels so good.”
My lips curl up. “Do you want it to feel better?”
“I’m not sure it can.”
“It can. Trust me.”
“With my life.”
I’m surprised at how turned on I am. With both hands, I explore his sculpted chest, allowing him to see the pleasure I get from touching him. I’ll never tire of his body.
His mouth dips down, searching for mine. I want to kiss him, but the yearning in my belly is for so much more. My lips evade his mouth. Teasing him just a little. He nuzzles the area between my shoulder and my neck. Now my chest heaves.
My hands move down to his powerful thighs. Strong. Solid. Carved to perfection. Slipping my fingers into the waistband of his pants, I pull them down enough to set him free, happy to find he goes commando. My mouth peppers a trail of kisses from his chest to his navel.
I drop to my knees. Finn’s fingers thread through my hair as he watches and waits.
“What are you doing?” He whispers with hooded eyes that beg me for release.
“Using my magic on you.”
My tongue journeys around the oversized head of his shaft. He’s so long, I hold it with both hands, one over the other, stroking while I lathe his tip. I know he’s too thick to take in my mouth, but that doesn’t mean I can’t kiss and lick him all over.
When my tongue collects his salty pre-cum, he sucks in a breath. I feel him tense and thicken.
“Masha . . . This feels . . . Oh, Masha . . . ”
Instead of responding with words, I lick his slit and flick my tongue over it. Finn’s hands are drawn to my breasts. He kneads them, pinches and plays with my nipples. He moans and closes his eyes as I add suction to my repertoire.
His rough touch is harsh but feels good. Soon my breasts will be so tender I won’t tolerate this strong touch. He’s no longer the only one moaning in pleasure. The sounds coming from me vibrate over him, causing his body to shake as he tenses and stiffens like a steel rod.
The sexual tension inside me continues to build, coming to a crescendo as he screams my name. Together, we entwine and become one as we indulge in a sexual rapture.
*
Finn pulls me to my feet and holds me against his body. He runs his hands over my hair and kisses me long and hard. When he pulls away, his hands frame my face. He bites his lip with a look of mischief in his eyes.
“What?”
“I’m glad Em and Erin are watching the kids because I want to focus on you and the look on your face as you take it all in.” I give him a side-eyed look. “Come.”
He leads me to the back of the house before I can get a good look at the kitchen and family room. The first stop is our bedroom. I’m surprised at the presence of a bed frame and dresser of drawers made of wood. The scent of the freshly carved furniture is wonderful.
Next, he shows me to two smaller bedrooms opposite each other. Ana’s has a smaller bed frame and mattress and a dresser half the size of the one in the master bedroom. The baby’s room has a cradle and a dresser the same size as Ana’s.
“Wow!”
“You like it?”
“I love it.” I squeeze his hand.
“Now for the good stuff.” He looks like there’s nothing better than showing me around. His excitement is that of a teenage boy who just found a brand-new Corvette gifted to him. I enjoy seeing the world through Finn’s eyes.
“Well? What do you think?”
I glance around our kitchen, shocked. Along with the expected wood counter and stools, it is equipped with a small oven, range, and mini-refrigerator.
I continue to take it in, open-mouthed. “How did you do all this in such a short time?”
“Em traded for some supplies, and with boots on, I can leave the forest and shop in stores. But we used as many natural resources as we could from the forest.”
“Everything smells wonderful. Like freshly carved cedar and pine. But how did you find the time to build the house so quickly, let alone carve furniture?”
“You’ve heard the term strong as a horse?” I nod. “In our horse form, kelpies are stronger than ten horses, so I could carry a lot at one time. And Em doesn’t sleep. Together, we worked long hours in the weeks after you were attacked.” His eyes drop along with his voice. “And when you wouldn’t see me.”
I place my hand on the side of his face. “Even when I wouldn’t speak to you, you never gave up on me?”
“No. And I never will. The idea that I was building a home for our family kept me going.” The sadness in his voice tugs at my heart. “Ooh, and here is the best part.” Just like that, the sorrow is replaced with excitement.
Taking my hand, Finn leads me into the adjoining room. Sunlight pours through a large skylight, lighting up the room and revealing two love seats and the fireplace. Above the fireplace hangs a flatscreen television. Finn put so much effort into our new home, I don’t have the heart to tell him these luxury items that I missed so much are just for show. But I have to.
“Finn, this all means the world to me. I’m so blessed to have you.” He looks disappointed. I run my pointer finger over his full, kissable bottom lip. “What’s wrong?”
He shrugs. “I thought you’d be more excited over the idea of snuggling on the couch and watching television together. Erin said you missed that. She also promised having appliances would make your life a little easier.”
“You are so sweet!” I hug him, then pepper kisses along his jaw. “This is all a huge surprise, and I love it, but the television and appliances need electricity to work.”
“That’s what the solar panels are for.”
“Solar panels?” My mouth drops. I let go of him. I had to have heard wrong. “We have solar panels?” My pulse goes on a jog through my veins. I don’t allow myself to get excited, afraid this is some sort of joke or misunderstanding. Ignoring my question, he heads back into the kitchen. “Finn?”
His blue eyes meet mine as he grips the refrigerator door handle. “Solar panels,” he repeats, opening it.
I fan my hands and jump up and down when I see the light glow inside it.
“Finn!” I rush to him and jump in his arms. Catching me, his face softens, and his smile returns.
“This is what I hoped for. You’re happy?”
“I’m beyond happy.” I kiss his face all over. “I never thought I’d find love or happiness ever again. I was so afraid that if I let you into my heart, something terrible would happen. I did everything I could to push you away. But you wouldn’t budge.” I press my lips against his, enjoying the feel of his hands caressing my ass as he holds me. “You wouldn’t budge! You silly, wonderful, man!”
His mouth captures mine while he carries me, backing me against a wall. My lips part, welcoming his probing tongue. I press my aching breasts against his rock-solid chest, knowing once my milk comes in, this will be painful, and he won’t want to press up against me in the same way.
His hips move, teasing me with his engorged member. How does he recover so quickly? He really is like a teenage boy.
“I love you.” He plants a kiss on my nose. “And you’re never getting rid of me.”
“I don’t want to. Ever.”
For the first time since I met Finn, I allow myself to relish in every terrifying emotion rushing through me.
“Good, because there are two things you should know. The first is I owe Em for helping with the house. He said we have about five or six months to build their house before the baby comes.”
“They’re having a baby?!”
“Yes, but you have to act surprised. Erin wants to tell you herself.”
Finn must be as amazing as I think he is, because he made it into Em’s inner circle, and Em doesn’t like many people. Sometimes, I question if he likes me.
“Okay,” I agree, thrilled that Ana and Nugget—until we agree on a better name—will have a friend to play with. “And the second thing?”
“I hope you meant it when you said you never want to let me go, because kelpies are stubborn asses. And there’s nothing in this world that will ever take me away from you.”
He rests his forehead against mine, and for the first time since we met, I breathe easy, convinced this time I get my happy ending after all.