Page 64 of Burn It Down
“Take you home, Sweetheart.” I let out a sound of agreement, then Finn was scooping me up.
My arms lassoed around his neck, and he quietly maneuvered us from the house in the darkness. Finn set me gently in the blazer, the snow light and pretty in the early morning light.
It was gray out so I knew it wasn’t yet morning. Finn pressed a lingering kiss to my forehead before closing me in. Seconds later, he was taking my hand and the car was warming up.
“Missed you, baby. I’m so tired, Finn.” I curled into a ball as he yanked my seat belt over me.
“Lot happened today, Sweetheart. We’ll go home and sleep all day.” I knew he couldn’t for some reason, work or something, but I smiled and nodded.
I barely felt the car moving and I was glad the condo was close to the cottage. In no time at all, Finn was lifting me back out, cradling me close. I loved him for being so sweet.
My face burrowed into his neck, smelling his soap and cologne. Warm lips pressed to my forehead and I smiled when he gave me a squeeze. I heard the door open and shut, and I smelled his place.
Lots of feelings shot through me. I felt like his home was more mine than the one across the hall. I felt safe and cozy, but at the same time, I needed something. Something to make me feel like I was, in fact, his and he was mine.
“Finn…I might not be tired now.” I moved my lips at his neck as he carried me down the hall towards his room.
“Mmm, no? I think you need rest. I’ll make you sleepy, baby.”
Warmth spread from my core out and my kisses changed. My teeth came out at his skin, my tongue circling the tattoo running up the side of his neck. Finn growled, and I fell backwards into softness.
My knees were shoved open, and my leggings yanked down. Before I could say anything, his face was between my thighs, and I cried out. Fingers spread me open, and his tongue circled my swollen lips, both of us moaning harshly.
“Please. I just need to feel you. Please.” Fingers raked at his shoulders, tugging at the shirt he wore.
Finn lifted up, licking his lips as I watched, and I whimpered. Within moments, we were naked and he was pressing close. I clutched at him, realizing as I did how scared I’d been today.
I didn’t know what Jordan was capable of, but I didn’t want to lose Finn. Not again. I didn’t think I could take it again. Finn thrust once and we cried out, the room quiet except for our lovemaking.
Finn seemed as desperate and afraid as I was. For what felt like hours, he pinned me to the bed and made love to me. One large hand held both of mine captive over my head. The other cupped my face and brought my lips to his.
He whispered over and over, the same thing. It might have scared me if it wasn’t him. Finn never scared me, though; even when he got intense or angry. Finn was what made me feel safe and whole. Complete. Like I was home.
“You belong to me, Sweet Girl. Only me. Only me.”
It didn’t scare me because it was true.
“No. Shit. This is amazing!” I was screaming, and Cage shot me a look.
“Hope my girl’s as excited as you. Thanksgiving is a big deal for our families so I wanted to make it special this year. I mean…. you don’t think it’s too much?” Cage was nervous, but Finn laughed, clapping him on the shoulder.
It was a sunny day, but cold and windy, and his life was about to change. It already had when he met Charli Dixon. We were at the Fire Station, to discuss my troubles.
Instead, Cage introduced us to Charli’s brothers. One of whom showed up with a ring. Because my big brother was going to ask Charli to marry him. Epic.
“That girl loves you almost as much as you love her. I think it’s sweet, bro-tato-chip.” Finn shot me a long look and yanked me close.
“Charli will think it’s perfect,” Maisie Dixon spoke up, bouncing in her boots, “redo the moment for her. I might have heard you doing some of that already.” Cage flushed, and I knew I was going to bond with Charli’s sister-in-law’s.
“I want the story behind that later. Cage, I don’t think Charli will care how you do it. Let me see the ring again.” Cage was being ultra-romantic and I loved to see this side of him.
They had exchanged books with sweet notes in them as they got to know each other. Charli loved just about all literature and had gotten Cage to read some of the classics.
Their first note was in Pride and Prejudice. I took credit for that because my rating scale sent him looking for ideas on what kind of women he should be finding. Led him right to the library.
Cage and Lola had found a rare early edition, and it was beautiful. Hooked carefully inside, beneath a sweet passage, was the ring.
It had been her mother’s ring, and Cash, her oldest brother, had brought it all the way from their home in Iowa. It was antique with a princess cut diamond nestled between intricate platinum work. It suited Charli just right.
