Page 46 of Ever After Between the Lines (Montgomery Ink Legacy)

“Okay, I love him. I can’t believe you just kissed another man public.” Dean grinned.

“Was that weird? I’ve no idea what I’m doing.” I blushed.

“It wasn’t calculated, it was new. So damn happy for you.

” Dean hugged me tightly as Rosalie wrapped her arms around the both of us.

The three of us stood in an odd hug, and yet it felt like home.

These two were part of my family, and the world would never understand. But I had a feeling Finley did.

“You deserve this,” Rosalie whispered.

“It’s only been a few hours.”

“And yet you had a lifetime before this moment. And I see the way you look at each other. It’s like no time has passed. Maybe I’m sappy because I’m about to marry the love of my life, but I want my best friend to be happy too.”

I bit my lip before we were summoned by the Wilder wedding planner, and I was saved from having to answer.

By the time the rehearsal dinner was done, I was exhausted, exhilarated, and wondering if I was about to make one of the biggest mistakes of my life.

“We have security up for the area, and the press hasn’t caught wind yet. The night team is on, and Finley will be with you.”

I froze at Ben’s words and looked up at him while we continued our way to my cabin.

“Is he working then?” I asked, trying to sound nonchalant and clearly failing.

His lips twitched. “No. He and I are both off for the night. You have the rest of Trace’s team on patrol.”

I raised a brow even as my stomach clenched. “So I take it you and Laura will be able to have the night off?” I asked, teasing.

Ben blushed. “I don’t know if that’s any of your concern.”

“What if it is?” I asked, teasing. “Either way, I’m happy for you.”

“I would say thank you, but then you would think you won this argument.”

“Maybe I did,” I said with a laugh. I let out a deep breath before I made my way inside. “I love Laura. She’s one of the best people I know. And she deserves happiness. And so do you.”

“You’re saying all these things, and yet, I don’t know if you believe them for yourself.”

I froze, running my hand over my chest. “I’m just trying to figure things out.”

“I know you are. And you deserve to be happy. Also, if he hurts you in any way, I will murder him. Don’t worry.”

“I’m oddly worried now.”

Ben’s lips quirked into a smile before he led me inside.

My heart raced as anticipation washed over me.

Finley wasn’t there yet, apparently having to complete his outtake paperwork for the day.

The wedding was the next day, and I had tons to do, and yet all I could think about was tonight. And what would happen.

Or maybe what wouldn’t.

I didn’t know why I was putting so much pressure on myself. It was just one evening. One meeting with a man I had thought had been out of my life for far too long.

A hand brushed against my shoulder and I flew around, a scream ready to rip from my throat.

“It’s just me,” Finley whispered as he ran his hands down my bare arm.

“Scared the crap out of me. I didn’t even hear you come inside.”

He raised a brow. “Lost in your thoughts then? I knocked. Said your name.”

I blushed, shaking my head. “Apparently. I’m usually better about that.”

“I’m not going to let anyone hurt you.”

“As my bodyguard? Or somebody that wants to be in my life.”

“Whatever you want me to be.”

“I don’t have answers yet. But I’ve missed you. I’m still angry.”

“Be angry. I deserve it.”

“If this happens, no matter what this is, the press will find out. Any skeletons you have they’re going to dig out. It’s going to be relentless. I’ve never wanted to force that on anybody. Nobody deserves that.”

“What about you? What do you deserve?”

“Does it matter? This is the life that I chose.”

“You chose to act. To live in a job that thrills you and fulfills you. You didn’t ask for anything else. They don’t deserve anything else.”

“That’s not how things work.”

“I’m game for anything. I walked away before because we needed time. And then I walked away because I thought you’d already found your place. I was wrong. So I’m here.”

“For how long?”

“For however long you need me.”

“What if this is too much for you?”

“Then it is something we should face. Together.”

I knew it was stupid. I knew too much time had passed and our lives were completely different, but it felt as if my heart had finally found what had been missing all this time. It was ridiculous and made no sense. And yet all I wanted was the man in front of me.

In answer, I went to my tiptoes and wrapped my arms around his shoulders. He bent his head, pressing his lips to mine.

And I was lost.

He tasted of coffee and Finley. It was all I could do not to lean into him and let him take me. Or maybe that’s exactly what I needed.

He lifted me by my thighs, and I wrapped my legs around his waist. His slight beard was rough against my face and I shivered. I moaned into him as he walked us to my bedroom, his arms so strong that I felt safe. He would never drop me.

It wasn’t supposed to be like this. Wasn’t supposed to be this quick.

Or maybe it was.

He gently laid me on the bed as both of us moaned into one another.

And then he was stripping me, taking his time as he kissed up my sides, between my breasts.

When he stripped my bra from me, I moaned as he licked my breast. Then he took one nipple into his mouth and sucked, using his hand to roll my other nipple between his fingers.

I felt too many emotions, and I couldn’t think. All that mattered was him.

He continued to strip me, raining kisses down my stomach, between my thighs. I when I was bare before him, he studied me, taking his fill.

“I’ve wanted to taste this pussy for years. Every time I tasted something sweet, I thought of you.”

I blushed, my hands on my breasts. “That must make dessert quite interesting.”

“I’m about to have my dessert.” And then he lowered himself, sucking on my clit.

I nearly shot off the bed, but he pinned me down, taking his fill.

He licked and sucked, exploring every single inch of my pussy as he brought me closer and closer to the edge.

When he speared me with two fingers, I was done for, clamping around him.

“You’re so beautiful when you come,” he whispered.

I couldn’t think, couldn’t do anything but feel him against me as I continued sliding through my orgasm. My toes curled and I sucked in a breath as I nearly went over again. Then he removed his fingers and sucked them clean, making me squirm.

I sat up quickly and stripped off his shirt. He smiled down at me, those eyes darkening into pools of emotion that I couldn’t read, and I knew exactly what he was thinking.

I was his, just like he was mine.

And when I pushed him down on the bed and stripped off his pants, he smiled. When he slid his hands underneath his head to watch me, I gripped the base of his cock.

“Now that’s a picture.”

“You rarely ever let me do this before.”

“I’m not going to stop you now.”

I licked up his shaft and he groaned, lifting up his hips.

I opened my mouth for him, letting him slide inside. And then one of his hands was in my hair, and he was fucking my mouth, my tongue lapping against him.

I could taste the salt of him, and I bobbed my head, moving through the motions as he was the one who set the pace.

I let him take control and let him take me. And when he tightened beneath me, he pulled out, and I whimpered.

The sound of a crinkle of a wrapper filled the room, and then he sheathed himself and lifted one of my legs. I arched into him, and then he moved. He entered me slowly, his cock stretching me in the best ways possible.

“Finley,” I breathed.

“That’s it. Take me, my Ever. You’re so damn tight.”

“I need you to move,” I whispered.

“That I can do.”

And then he was pounding into me, thrust after thrust as each of us breathed into one another.

He had me on my stomach, coming in from behind with my legs pressed together so it was tighter than anything I’d ever felt before.

And then I was on my back with my legs wrapped around his waist as he slowly arched into me, the motions sending me over the edge and into bliss.

I kept my eyes open, and my mouth parted as I came.

And as he captured my lips with his, he followed me, his hips stiffening just for an instant as we fell into one another.

We had been everything to each other before. When we hadn’t even known who we were.

And now?

Now I knew it had never truly been over.

He was the man I had always wanted. The man I had thought I left behind.

Now he was the man I wanted to keep.