Chapter 15
Vee
I scooted off the counter. As my feet hit the floor, Fin scooped me up and lifted me to his chest.
“Dinner can wait.”
Part of me wanted to argue. There was another part of me, the part that told him how tired I was of being strong, that kept my protests at bay.
That confession was the most honest thing I’d said all day, maybe in my entire life.
As he carried me through the condominium, I laid my head against his chest. The steady rhythm of his heart soothed my aching temples.
His warmth disappeared as Fin gently lowered me to the bed.
The mattress dipped as he sat at my side.
“I need to see you, Vee. I need to know you’re not truly harmed.”
I lifted my hands. “My hands…”
He shook his head. “All of you.” The intensity of his blue stare soothed and excited me in equal portions.
I didn’t object as Fin pulled my skirt down, the one he’d unzipped in the kitchen.
I lifted my arms as he removed my blouse.
His laser-focused vision scanned every inch of my exposed flesh.
I winced as he gently probed the skin of my left shoulder.
“I fucking hate seeing your beautiful skin bruised.”
I grinned. “Unless it’s my wrists.”
There was no humor in his expression. “Stand up for me. I want to see all of you.”
Sighing in resignation, I moved my legs and my feet from the bed to the floor.
As I stood before him, I was bathed in his concerned and possessive stare.
The ferocity filled me with confidence and I unclasped my bra, allowing the straps to fall down my arms. Next, I snagged the waist of my panties and allowed them to drop to the floor.
“Turn around.”
My hesitation was only for a moment before I did as he commanded. Slowly, I turned one complete circle and then a second. Fin reached for my hands, pulling me between his spread knees. He removed the tie from my hair, allowing my locks to flow over my shoulders.
Fin’s kisses began on my fingers, then over my sore knuckles. He didn’t stop, moving up my arms to my collarbone and lower. A trail of goose bumps formed in his wake. My nipples painfully hardened as they became the focus of his attention.
My head lobbed back.
This was a dream.
After the last few days, my mind had given up on reality. I was floating in a sea of sensations. My core twisted and my knees wobbled. I steadied myself by placing my hands on Fin’s shoulders. All at once, my world shifted, landing me back on the soft mattress.
The scent of sandalwood filled my senses as Fin spread my knees and his lips roamed from my breasts to my stomach, and lower to my pussy. Lightning bolts of electricity raced through me. My hips bucked and my back arched. I reached for his soft hair, wordlessly begging for more.
This was more than allowing Fin to take charge, it was a cleansing and rebirth all in one.
The emotions I’d worked hard throughout the day to subdue found an outlet as I shouted his name.
The bedroom filled with the sounds of ecstasy and desire.
My moans became higher pitched as fireworks exploded behind my eyelids.
I pulled him higher, wanting and needing this surrender—the closeness of two people so intertwined we didn’t know where one began and the other ended.
I called out as Fin filled me in the most delicious way.
As he moved, claiming me and recentering my world, I arched my back as his lips found mine.
For a moment in time, the despair of the world and the deception of my family was forgotten.
My every thought was consumed with the man above me, dominating me, and loving me.
The sounds we made were the same as those echoed through centuries of lovemaking.
High-pitched treble clef and guttural lower pitched bass clef.
Our bodies united with heady breaths, skin against skin.
Giving my mind and body over to Fin freed me of the weight I was required to carry.
Hundreds of pounds evaporated, opening my lungs to the warm air only he could give.
No longer a chorus clatter, Fin’s words of comfort and declarations of love filled a void my father’s passing had created. His phrases of confidence and knowledge of my dedication and commitment were like rain to cracked, dry soil. I drank them in—each one—as nourishment to my battered self-esteem.
Detonation after detonation set my nervous system ablaze. Fin’s movements came quicker, each thrust impossibly deeper as the air filled with his deep baritone growl.
He stayed above me, his weight over me as his lips found mine. With our noses only millimeters apart, his eyes swirled with emotion. “I fucking love you, Vee. I’ve been worried about you all day.”
I wanted to tell him that he needn’t worry, but instead, I pushed my reflex response away. “I love you. I’m so glad you were here.” I tilted my head. “I’m not used to anyone worrying about me.”
“Get used to it.”
My cheeks rose with a genuine smile. “I’ll try.”
Breaking our connection, Fin rolled to my side. I followed, lifting my head to his hard shoulder, my fingertips swirling his chest hair. “When did you take off your clothes?”
“I don’t know.”
The room filled with needed laughter.
“I thought you preferred the power play.”
“You relinquished yours when you said I was in charge.” He kissed my nose. “What did you and Daphne decide about your dad’s service?”
“It will be a week from today.”
“Tuesday?”
I nodded. “That way the coaches and team can attend. We have a bye the next weekend…” I sighed. “It won’t be open to the public, but Daphne and I agreed that Dad thought of the Coopers as family.”
Fin’s lips brushed over mine. “Now, I think you should soak in a warm bath. However sore you are now, you’ll be ten times worse tomorrow.”
I pushed out my lower lip. “I was hoping for a taste of that delicious-smelling lasagna.”
“Then you’ll have both.”
“Both?”
A few minutes later, I was submerged in warm water with muscle-healing bath salts.
Fin promised they worked, and as a man who got beat up for a living, I believed him.
Steam rose from the water as I lay back.
In front of me was a bamboo bath tray I hadn’t used in ages.
And on the tray was a glass of Dangerous semi-sweet wine and a Caesar salad.
The bathroom door opened and Fin entered with two plates and silverware.
A giggle bubbled from my throat. “I can honestly say I’ve never eaten dinner in the bathtub before.”
“Me either.” He set the plate and silverware on the tray. His meal was now on the vanity. “Your dinner is served.”
Quickly, I sat up, cut into the layered slice of lasagna, and brought the fork to my lips.
A hum of satisfaction filled the air. “This is delicious.” I looked up at him.
He was wearing basketball shorts and nothing else.
I knew that for a fact because I watched him dress.
“Did you actually make this from scratch?”
“I didn’t make the noodles, but I put all the ingredients together.” He came closer. “I think that tray is big enough for both plates.”
My eyebrows quirked. “Are you going to join me?”
“I’m fairly certain we’ll both fit.”
I watched Fin with overwhelming appreciation. “If this is what it means to let you be in charge, I’m signing up for more.”
“You may not realize it, but you signed up for a lifetime plan.”
Moving my plate, I made room for his and moved my wine glass to the counter at the side of the tub. It was as Fin began to remove his shorts that the doorbell rang.
“Oh,” I pouted. “I like watching you undress.”
“It’s probably your phone and bag.”
“How could I forget about those things?” Before he could answer, I replied to my own question. “I think it’s because you’re a master at distraction.”
“Hold that thought,” he said before slipping out of the bathroom.
I was suddenly ravenous. No doubt the garlicky aroma, variety of vegetables, noodles, and white sauce were at fault. Each bite melted in my mouth as I consumed the lasagna and salad. While I hadn’t thought about food during the day, I realized the last meal I’d eaten was breakfast.
My plate was almost empty when Fin returned. His earlier expression was gone. His muscular chest was covered with a gray t-shirt, and he was carrying my terrycloth bathrobe.
“What’s wrong?”
“A state police officer and a detective are here. They insist on talking to you.” Fin lifted the bamboo tray.