CHAPTER 54
What are the puzzle pieces that make up one’s life story? What are yours?
I step out of the dressing room, and Finn’s right there, leaning against the wall, his arms crossed. His head is tipped back slightly as he waits for me. The second his eyes meet mine, he lets out a low, throaty groan that sends a ripple of heat through me.
“Woman,” he mutters, his eyes scanning me from head to toe. “I told you not to come out here lookin’ like that.”
I raise an eyebrow, giving him a teasing smile. “Like what?”
He pushes off the wall and comes toward me with purpose, his hands finding my hips immediately. His fingers flex, like he’s already fighting the urge to pull me into him. “Like sin, Lily. It gives a man ideas.” His gaze drops to my lower half. “Those jeans aren’t helping.”
I laugh softly, loving the way his possessive streak makes him frown like he’s frustrated. “You said the leather dress was too short,” I remind him, smirking.
“Yeah, and now I’m regretting it. These ripped jeans are just giving everyone a damn roadmap to check out your ass. Rips in all the wrong places.”
I laugh again, the sound bubbling up from deep inside as I roll my eyes at him. “Finn,” I say, as I slip on my new leather jacket. “You know you don’t have to worry about anyone else, right?”
He tugs me closer, his forehead resting against mine. His breath is warm on my lips. His eyes lock onto mine with that fierce look that always makes my heart flutter. “I know, but it doesn’t mean I like them looking.”
I grin and lean up to kiss him quickly, nipping at his lower lip just enough to feel him tense. “Yours,” I whisper, and the way his body reacts makes me feel powerful, cherished.
Hand in hand, we make our way out into the main room of Wet Tips, and the second we step in, I feel the energy shift. The HOCs are still here, drinking, partying, and enjoying the dancers, but the second they spot us, a ripple happens.
“The just fucked look looks good on you, G,” Bodie pipes up, grinning like the devil himself. He points a lazy finger at us, and I can already see the teasing glint in his eyes.
The rest of the crew erupts into laughter, their voices rising above the thumping music.
Finn tenses beside me, his arm slipping around my waist, pulling me into his side.
I can feel the heat of his body seeping into me, and despite the teasing, it’s grounding.
It’s Finn silently telling them, Yeah, she’s mine .
Griz adds his two cents, a grin spreading wide across his face. “About goddamn time. I thought I was gonna need to lock you both in a cell until you finally had your way with one another. Glad, it didn’t come to that.”
“As if I’d let that happen,” Finn mutters.
“Glad you two worked things out. Congrats.” Dozer tips his beer bottle toward us. His voice is thick with drunken approval.
Stone is sitting off to the side, nursing a beer, but I catch the way he looks at us, the way his jaw clenches. The resentment and jealousy pour off him.
“Alright, alright,” Finn grumbles, leading me toward the exit. “Enough. Got a woman to take home to my bed and a life to live. You fuckers have a good night, yeah?”
A few of the guys, including Bodie and Dozer, follow us out of the club. When we step outside, I glance around, confusion knitting my brow when we walk down the row of bikes and I don’t spot Finn’s among them.
“Finn,” I say, glancing at him. “Where’s your bike?”
“Right here,” he murmurs, grabbing my hand and pulling to the right.
The bike he brings me to is a new Harley, sleek and black, with a paint job that makes my breath catch in my throat.
The tank is adorned with an arrow and a beautiful dreamcatcher, feathers trailing down the tank.
It’s in masculine shades, with a few feminine details, like the small soft-pink feathers.
The seat extends and is large enough for two with a backrest.
“Finn…” My voice cracks, emotion hitting me hard as I take it all in. “Is this yours? You traded in your freaking bike?”
“Wanted to mark the occasion by doing something special, and I figured since you’d be riding with me quite a bit, I want you comfortable. Plus, new bike, new memories,” he says, his voice soft. “You’re not just along for the ride anymore. You’re a part of this life now.”
Without thinking, I jump up and he catches me effortlessly. My lips crash against his. I give him a heated, grateful kiss. He groans into my mouth, his hands gripping my ass and the back of my head and he stumbles one step before he rights us.
The guys erupt into wolf whistles and jeers behind us, but I don’t care. Finn deepens the kiss. My legs wrap tightly around his waist, and for a moment, it’s just us. Just me and him, tangled up in the kiss, the world disappearing around us.
“Get a room, for fuck’s sake!” Bodie shouts with mock disgust, but there’s clear affection in his tone.
Finn pulls back just enough to smirk against my lips. “I plan on it,” he mutters, his voice low. “Right after I take you for a ride.”
We go for a long ass ride and it’s glorious. I cling to him the entire time, and he shows me affection in small gestures—his hand over mine on his stomach, running his palm up and down my thigh. When we finally make it to his house, clothing starts coming off before we make it past the threshold.
Finn performs like the man is making up for lost time.
He’s insatiable, which suits me just fine.
His desire for me is the sweetest compliment, although it’s not just my body he wants.
He’s also constantly asking me things about myself, and no one listens quite like Finn.
He doesn’t zone out. He pays attention to all the tiny details, like he’s still cataloguing everything about me and committing it to memory.
We essentially fuck for three days straight. It’s only the need for food that drives us to leave his room.
On day four, we complete a puzzle together and venture out to his workshop, where he shows me a whole new side to him that I never knew existed. A soulful and artistic side. I immediately fall in love with his creations, and know that watching him create is going to be my new favorite pastime.
Mateo is the only person we let into our little bubble.
He hangs around one night when we order takeout, and it’s the first time the three of us relax on the couch to watch a movie together.
It feels surprisingly easy, even with Mateo’s walls still firmly in place.
I learn small things about him in these quiet moments, but he never lets much slip—his expression stays guarded, his thoughts hidden behind eyes that say so much and yet give nothing away.
Still, I’m determined to crack the code that makes him tick, to earn my way inside his world and, at the very least, become his friend. I know it’ll take time, but it feels worth it.
Because whether he realizes it or not, we’re a family now. And families don’t give up on each other.