He kisses me again, and this time there’s no holding back. Our hearts are beating right here together, bruised and broken, but still holding on for another shot at the love we let slip away. I kiss him to make up for all the time we lost, the years I spent hating him, blaming him, until I learned the truth. That this man has loved me better than I could imagine. Putting me first, every time.
We slam back against the wall, passion unleashed. My hands are everywhere, grabbing at his shirt and sliding it over his head to find his hot, bare skin beneath. Finn lifts me, wrapping my legs around his waist and crushing me against the concrete with every gorgeous inch of his body. I buck against the hardness in his jeans. I don’t care that anyone could open that door and find us here. I just need him more than anything. more than water, more than air.
“Eva,” Finn groans, ragged. He kisses my neck hungrily, running his hands over my breasts until I’m moaning for more. “My room… upstairs…”
But we don’t make it that far. I fumble with his belt buckle, and Finn pushes up my skirt. His mouth is hot and hungry on mine, tongue searching, probing as he pushes my panties aside. I’m so wet, so ready for him, I beg him in a wordless plea. Finn braces himself against the wall, and then his cock finally sinks into me, all the way to the hilt.
I bite down on his shoulder to muffle my moans of pleasure.
God, yes.
I want to savor the feel of him and take our time, but this restless hunger in me is clawing too deep to slow now. I arch against him, needing the impact of his thrusts, and fuck, Finn obliges. He slams into me, hard and deep, so deep, pinning me in place and making my body hum with wild sensation. I’m sobbing into him now, out of control, as over and again, he thrusts into me. Filling me up, claiming what’s his. Already my climax is rearing up in a rush. I can’t hold back, can’t do anything but hold on for dear life and let the ecstasy take me over.
I come apart with a cry, falling into his kiss as Finn carries me through the storm of pleasure. I feel him brace, the shudder of his release, and then we’re left panting together in the stairwell, joined in every way that counts.
He opens his eyes, and brushes my hair back from my sweaty cheek. “Hey,” he whispers.
I smile. “Hey yourself.”
He sets me down on the ground gently, but I still keep hold of him, trying to remember how to walk again. “Well that was…something,” I manage, still reeling from the force of my orgasm.
“Get used to it, baby.” Finn drops a kiss on my forehead and holds me, so close I can feel his heartbeat still racing in his chest. “There’s plenty more where that came from. I haven’t even started loving you yet.”
Twenty-Four.
Two weeks later, the rough cut of Finn’s album is wrapped and we’re back in Oak Harbor, packing up all my earthly possessions. Not just the housesitting gig, but everything at home too, crammed into boxes for the long drive north.
“New York!” Lottie bounces with excitement, and Kit coos in agreement in her arms. “Are you excited? I’m excited. This is going to be so awesome!”
“Calm down,” I laugh. “We’re not even there yet.”
“I know, but it’s perfect.” Lottie sighs happily. “Finn finishing up the record, you going back to drama school. You’re going to have the best time.”
“That’s the plan.” I throw another stack of books into a box, then pause. My old room here is looking even emptier now, and I give Lottie a worried look. “Are you sure you guys are going to be okay on your own? Mom and Dad are closer in Savannah, I know, but it won’t be the same.”
“Relax!” Lottie rolls her eyes. “I’m a big girl now. Me and this little dude will get along fine without you. Not that we won’t miss the babysitting,” she adds.
“Is that all I’m good for?” I tease, and she grins.
“Okay, okay, we’ll miss the Friday night pizza, too.”
I smile and look around. I feel a fizz of excitement in my stomach just thinking about the adventure ahead. Finn and I went over a dozen places we could call home, but something inside of me kept pulling back to New York. Last time around, I barely got started discovering everything the city had to offer, or what I could achieve following my dreams. Part of me is nervous, going back to face all the mistakes I made, but another, stronger part of me knows it’s the right choice. Things are different now. I’m different.
And I won’t be alone this time.
On cue, Finn saunters in, bearing more packing tape and boxes. “Just how many books do you have, woman?” he mock-scolds me, taking in the stacks.
“You can never have too many books,” I say, passing him another half full crate. “And you’re the one who said to bring everything!”
I offered to leave stuff here in the attic, packed away in storage like the last time I left, but Finn insisted. We’re building a new life together, a home, and that means taking everything I could possibly want.
“You’re lucky I love you so much,” he jokes, hoisting a couple of boxes like they weigh nothing.
“Yeah, yeah.” I give him a quick kiss and push him back towards the door, even as my heart sings to hear him say it. Although we haven’t spent a moment apart since I went to Nashville, I still can’t quite believe that everything worked out this way.