Page 25 of Kissing the Kelpie

So many thoughts and emotions flood through me, it’s all I can get out. His arms slip around my waist and hold me against his chest as my feet leave the ground. After kissing my belly, he slides me back down until we’re mouth to mouth, and his warm, salty lips crush mine.

Happy tears streak down my face. His hands cradle my cheeks and brush the wetness with his thumbs.

“You had me worried.” He says before meeting my mouth with his once again.

My brain short circuits the way it always does when he’s around. I don’t care. I’m in Finn’s arms. All I can do, all I can think about, is kissing him back and holding on to him so tight I’ll never let go.

*

“Thank you for saving me.”

“Thank you? You’re joking, right?”

“Not at all.” Finn looks at me like I’m a curiosity as we sit together on the couch. My legs lay draped across his lap, one of his hands rests on my thigh, the other on my belly. This is a life I can get used to. A life I want. “I’m sorry Em almost killed you.”

Finn shakes his head, circling his hand over my thigh and sending a shower of sparks through me. “He made me stronger. I don’t know if I would’ve been able to save you otherwise.”

“Em had nothing to do with you coming after me.”

“He gave me battle scars.” Finn lifts the hem of his shirt to show me a lash mark marring his left flank. Waves of guilt and sadness overwhelm me. Em’s brutality harmed him, and I was the excuse to do it. “My magic was strengthened. That includes the magic in the bracelet. It’s why you were able to not only breathe underwater, but get away once I sank my teeth into him.”

I can’t process what he’s saying. There was another terrifying moment starring Finn that I want to forget. Instead, I focus on his injury. “Does it still hurt?” My fingertips ghost over his skin as I trace the raised pink line.

“No.” His eyes twinkle like blue diamonds. “That brimberry is amazing!”

“Em allowed you to have some?” Boy, have things changed. Hardly ever is anyone outside of Em’s inner circle, meaning Erin, me, and Ana, allowed brimberry. Once in a blue moon, Em will allow an animal to have some, but only the ones closest to him.

Finn wraps a ribbon of my blonde hair around his finger and twirls it. “He insisted I have some while we kept you hydrated and watched over you. When I was well enough, he allowed me to hold you as he fed them to you.”

My eyes double in size. “Really?”

Finn nods. “He loves you and Anastasia very much. I’m sorry I resisted him. I didn’t understand what he was or his role in your life.”

I shake my head. “I handled everything so wrong. I should’ve told you about him and him about you,” I shrug. “But a part of me liked keeping you my secret. It sounds stupid and childish. But I didn’t want him to freak out and do exactly what he did.” I sniffle. “When the hell am I going to get a handle on these damn emotions!? I don’t think I ever cried so much. I was nothing like this with Ana.”

I shoot Finn a death glare as he chuckles.

“I had plenty of opportunity to explain myself and my intentions to Em before he lashed me. I didn’t. That’s on me. But I’m glad you have someone willing to defend you so fiercely. Now, you have two someones.” He leans in, touching his forehead to mine. “You are so very precious to me. I’ll do anything to keep you safe. It’s nice to know if I should fail . . .”

“You didn’t. You won’t.”

“Masha,” His voice holds a warning. “I’m still new at this.”

“New? Haven’t you always been a kelpie?”

“I started to explain, but we were interrupted . . .” He looks away, probably wanting to forget the sequence of events from that moment on. “Yes, I was born a kelpie. Because of that, my parents kept me hidden for most of my life.”

Because he was born a kelpie? I’m sure I’m misunderstanding. “Because you’re different.”

He nods, looking very serious. “Do you know why I’m different?”

“You’re a vegetarian.”

He smiles, his eyes betraying his surprise. “You remember,” he sounds awed. “I am. But why don’t I eat meat?”

Tension builds in my body. I feel my shoulders rising up to my ears. Since he isn’t telling me straight away, this can’t be good. I hold my breath, waiting for what Finn hasn’t said.

The look of fear on his face sends a shiver through me. Tiny bumps prickle my skin.

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