Page 9

CHAPTER NINE

FINN

I woke, loath to leave the pleasant dream I was having. Una was beside me, stroking my hair the way she knew I loved, and humming. It was such a real dream, it lingered, even after I blinked open my eyes.

Her lovely green irises looked down at me. She smiled, her voice quiet in the room.

“Hello, Finn.”

I sat up, dragging her into my arms. I didn’t care if we were alone or what else was happening in the room. I needed her close. I needed to know she was real. That I wasn’t hallucinating.

Her low gasp seemed genuine. The feel of her pressed against me was equally compelling. But it was the sensation of her mouth on mine, the taste of her, that convinced me I wasn’t dreaming.

No dream, no matter how good, could possibly be this incredible.

I kissed her with all the emotion I was feeling. The fear and worry. The isolation and loneliness that had been building, being away from her. The love I felt.

And she kissed me back, her fingers buried in my hair, holding me close and whimpering as I tugged her as tight to me as I could.

Panting, I drew back. “Una, mo chroí —how?”

“Roman helped me. He arranged everything.”

“I owe him.”

She looked at me, her lips swollen, her cheeks flushed, and her hair messed from my hands. “You needed me. I could hear it.”

“I always need you.”

She ran her finger over my cheek. “More than usual. You were looking after everyone, and you needed someone to look after you.”

“There is no one I would rather look after me.” I gathered her close, swaying us. “Thank you.”

She sighed, resting her head on my chest.

“I won’t be able to let you go again. You know that.”

“I know.”

“And you’ll stay?”

She looked up. “I’m done punishing myself. Hurting you. I’m sorry. I—I was scared.”

I cupped her face, the torment in her voice deep. “I know. We move on together now. We’ll sort it out. All of it.”

She nodded. “Together.”

I kissed her again, a gentle press of our mouths.

“Have you seen Roisin?”

“For a moment. I met Sully.”

I chuckled. “Lucky you.”

“Handsome man.”

I growled. “Not that handsome.”

“He looks like you, but older.”

“Well, he is a decent-looking bloke, I suppose.”

She laughed, little puffs of air against my neck. “Jealous?”

I pulled back, looking down. “I want you to see only me.”

She smiled, looking beautiful and tired at the same time. “I do, Finn. My eyes are always on you when you’re in the room.”

I liked that. More than I should.

There was a discreet knock, and Niall peered in. “Mum wants to see Una before you drag her to the hotel and ravish her.” He grinned. “Her words—not mine.”

I chuckled. “The queen has spoken.”

Una slipped from my arms and stood, swaying a little. I knew she was tired. The trip over was exhausting, no matter how comfortable the plane was. With the time difference, she’d only be able to stay awake a few more hours.

She went ahead of me, and I sent a brief text to Roman.

The package has arrived. Thank you.

He was quick to reply.

No thanks needed. I charged the plane and everything to the hotel. Your woman—your expense.

I chuckled at his dry wit.

No problem. I am still in your debt.

I laughed at his final words.

And I will never let you forget it.

Somehow, I was okay with that.

* * *

Una sat with Roisin, spooning her some soup and talking to her quietly. Sully had found a shop close by and brought the soup as well as some decent coffee. The three of us sipped the dark brew, not saying much. Roisin was still pale and weak, but better. Talking easier. Eating in addition to all the sleeping.

“I have to get back,” Sully said, sounding regretful. “The practice is busy. I have a huge caseload.”

Niall nodded. “We appreciate you coming. I know Mum did as well.”

“I’ll keep close tabs when she is released.”

“We’re arranging around-the-clock care,” I muttered, my eyes locked on Una. Her hair gleamed in the dim light, and the sound of her voice was like a balm to my soul.

Roisin was eating up her attention, having given me a pointed look when we had walked back into the room. I had bent down to kiss her, and her whispered, “ Not so complicated now, eh, boy? ” made me grin.

I knew Una and I had a lot to talk about. The past, the future. Our relationship. Her damn brother.

But for now, she was here, and I was content.

“Okay, Finn?”

I shook my head, looking at Niall. “Sorry, was lost in thought.”

“Sully and I are staying here for the night. You take Una to the hotel. Come back in the morning, and I’ll go there then. Sully is heading back to Edinburgh tomorrow afternoon.”

“Are you sure? I can stay and you take Una to the hotel and make sure she gets to my room.”

Niall and Sully chuckled. “Right.”

I rolled my eyes. “We are both here for Roisin. She didn’t fly all this way to be ‘ravished,’ as you stated earlier. I am quite capable of controlling myself.”

Sully laughed. “Then yer blind, mate. She keeps eyeing you from under those lashes. Imagining, no doubt, what you’ll do when you’re alone.”

Just then, Una began to sing. Perched on the edge of Roisin’s bed, holding her hand, she was singing one of my aunt’s favorite Celtic songs, her voice low and sweet in the room. Roisin’s eyes were shut, and she smiled, looking peaceful and content. My heart swelled in gratitude for Una’s tender care toward her. The three of us tried, but we failed at the gentle stuff.

“Jesus, never mind,” Sully muttered. “I’ll take her to the hotel.”

“Feck off,” I replied. “She’s mine.”

“She looks like that, sings, and loves you?” He clapped my shoulder. “Lucky bastard.”

“I know.” I shut my eyes, listening to the beauty of Una’s voice. The way she wove the lyrics and music, making it almost swirl around the room.

“I think I’ll take you up on that offer,” I announced.

Niall smirked. “As if there was any doubt.”

Sully groaned. “How about you and Niall go to the hotel? Leave me the singing angel. I could listen to her all night.”

“Nope,” I replied, staring at Una, suddenly needing her alone. “She’s coming with me.”

Sully sighed. “Like I said, lucky bastard.”

He was right.

* * *

Una sat back, cupping her cheek in her hand, resting her elbow on the arm of the overstuffed chair in our hotel room. While she’d showered, I’d ordered some sandwiches and tea, grabbing my own shower once she sat down to eat. I pulled on some sleep pants. She wore the dressing gown the hotel provided, her red hair an explosion of color against the white terry towel.

“Have you had enough?”

She smiled. “The tea is lovely and the tart delicious.”

“You only ate half a sandwich.”

“I had some food earlier. Really, Finn—don’t fuss. I’m fine.”

I leaned close. “I get to fuss now. I get to do anything I want, right, Una?”

She laughed. “No. I am not giving you free rein. You’ll have me locked in your suite, spoiling me, no doubt pregnant, married, and chained to the stove before I can even blink.”

“Not true,” I replied, my eyes dancing at her teasing. “I’d get you a cook.”

She smiled, reaching out and tapping my nose. “Funny man.”

I grabbed her hand, kneeling in front of her in the chair. “You’re here. I’m thrilled. We’re going to sort out the situation here, then head back to Canada and figure out how to entwine our lives again. I am perfectly fine with you moving in right away. I love the thought of marrying you…and, frankly, thinking of you pregnant with my child? I want to throw you down right here and start.”

Her eyes widened to the point of hilarity.

“But,” I added, “I know we need to take it a step at a time. As long as you are part of my life, Una, we’ll figure out the steps. I want you happy.”

“I want you happy too.”

I turned my head, pressing a kiss to her palm. “ Mo chroí , I have you back. I am happier than I’ve been in a long time.”

“I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I was so scared after what happened. So sure we were better off without each other. That I wouldn’t have to carry the guilt of being the reason for your death.” She swallowed. “I couldn’t even admit to myself how much I missed you. It felt as if you had died at times. It felt as if I had as well.” Her voice trembled. “And I was so selfish, Finn.”

“How?” I asked tenderly.

“I let you give me my dream. Working in the hotels, the singing.” She shook her head. “Even putting up with Brian.”

“I was equally as selfish. I could keep you close. Make sure you were okay. See you on a daily basis. Listen to you every week and pretend it was me you were singing to.”

Tears began to glimmer in her eyes. “I hate myself for hurting you.”

I drew her closer. “Enough. You’re here. You made the decision to come when you knew I needed you. Even when you left me before, you refused to go until I was able to care for myself. I knew then you loved me.”

“I do. I love you so much,” she whispered, tracing my scar with her finger. “Seeing this makes me scared again.”

“Don’t be scared. No one is after me. You are safe. Tell me you know that.”

She ran her fingertip over the mottled skin, catching her bottom lip between her teeth. Leaning forward, she pressed a kiss to the scar, her lips soft and warm against the imperfect blemish. I groaned low in my throat as she slipped from the chair so our knees pressed together. Her lips stayed on my skin as she kissed her way along my shoulder and up my neck. I grabbed her arms, hissing her name as she nipped at my earlobe, drawing the skin between her teeth and nibbling.

“Una,” I warned as she pressed on my thighs and nestled between them.

“I’ve missed you,” she whispered in my ear. “Let me show you how much.”

I let out a curse as I pulled her into my arms, covering her mouth with mine. She tasted of tea and sweet tart. Una. Her mouth was heaven, and I kissed her with everything I had in me. Our tongues twined, tasting and seeking. Exploring and reacquainting ourselves with each other. I grabbed at the sash of her robe, yanking it open and pushing it off her shoulders. Her skin was warm and silky under my fingers. Her hair was a heavy mass in my fists as I ravished her mouth. She ran her hands over my back, up through my hair, tugging and pulling as she pushed herself closer. I dragged her up my thighs, splitting her legs wide, my cock trapped between us. I cupped her rounded ass, loving how she felt against me. Her tight nipples rubbed against my chest, and I felt the heat of her as I slipped my fingers between her legs, feeling her slickness.

“Oh God,” she gasped as I teased her clit, already hard and throbbing for me.

“Not God,” I growled. “He has no place here tonight with what I’m going to do to you. Finn. Call my name when you come, Una. Scream it. Always my name.”

I worked her, feeling her orgasm approaching. Desperate to feel it, to feel her, I lifted her up, freeing my cock between us, settling her back, then nudging it against her entrance.

“Tell me you want me.”

“Yes. Please. Finn, yes .”

Inch by inch, I sank into her. Her head fell back as I reclaimed what was mine. What had always been mine. Locked inside her, I was home. She surrounded me like a raging summer storm. Drenched and warm. A deluge I never wanted to escape. She begged me for more. To move. To make her come.

“Finn, Finn,” she chanted.

“Yes, mo chroí . Listen to your body sing for me,” I praised her as I thrust as deeply as I could. She rolled her hips, matching my rhythm, whimpering my name. I covered her mouth with mine, unable to stop kissing her. Needing her taste in my mouth to ground me to her. I shifted, changing the angle, and she moaned as I went deeper. She flung her head back, arching her back, once again taking more of me. All of me until our bodies were flush. I groaned in satisfaction at the intensity of the feeling. Her soft body against my harder one. How her breath felt on my skin. The way her hands caressed me. Lingering, light, her touch perfect. The hot, tight grip she had on my cock. I lowered my head, taking one hard nipple in my mouth, then the other. She gripped my arm that banded her to me, whimpering. I slid my fingers along her folds, gathering her desire, teasing the tight ring of muscle of her sweet ass. I loved her reaction when I did that, the small pucker reacting to my touch, almost quivering. She shivered as I played, dipping in my smallest finger, caressing and stroking, finally sinking the digit in, feeling the muscle clench and contract. Una went rigid, coming hard, tightening around me, more wetness making me move faster, the feel of her muscles clenching and spasming around my cock too much.

I buried my face in her neck, kissing the damp skin, growling her name. Praising her. Feeling another tremor race through her as she orgasmed again, her keening cry another sort of music to my ears.

We moved until we were exhausted. Sated. Once again complete. I gathered her close, holding her tight. For a moment, there was no sound but our breathing and the distant noise of the traffic out on the street. We were locked in our own world—one I never want to leave.

Wordlessly, I rose to my feet, keeping her wrapped around me. I carried her to the bed, slowly disentangling our joined bodies. I gazed down at her, a smile pulling on my lips, before heading into the next room. She was half asleep, already curling into the pillow, her bright-red hair spread around her. I returned with a cloth, cleaning her gently, whispering adoring words. Then after cleaning myself, I slipped into bed with her. I pulled her into my arms, feeling the peace she brought with her. All the noise in my head stopped with her beside me. My body relaxed of its own accord, having her close. I pressed a kiss to her head.

“ Tá mé i ngrá leat ,” I whispered. “ As amhrán mo chroí.”

“I don’t know what that second one means,” she admitted, sounding sleepy.

I kissed her softly. “You, Una, are the song of my heart.”

“Oh, that’s beautiful.” She sighed. “I love you too,” she added, then fell asleep, safe and content in my arms.

Where I planned on her being every night for the rest of my life.