Page 36 of Kissing the Kelpie

“Nugget?”

“It suits him, don’t you think?”

“We’re not calling him that.”

“Personally, I like Nugget,” Em chimes in. I shoot him a dirty look.

“Nobody asked you.” I wait for Erin to say something, but she remains silent. “This is why you need the fae magic?”

“It is.” Finn takes a deep breath, his chest rising.

“Will it hurt him?”

“No.”

I nod. “Okay, do it.” I take a deep breath.

“Once we start, we can’t stop. We have one shot at this. I need you to be strong and put your trust in me.”

“Go for it.”

Finn and Em kneel at my Nugget’s basket and chant words I don’t understand. My son screams and cries out. He’s in pain. My eyes tear as I lurch in his direction. I need to stop this.

I stop at the feel of Erin’s hand on my arm. I look at her, my heart hurting. She shakes her head, and I know she’s right. My instinct is to help him, but I can’t interrupt what is happening. Erin pulls me and Ana into a hug.

I close my eyes and breathe, waiting for this to end so I can hold my son again. This time, I don’t think I’ll ever let him go.

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.

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