Page 49 of Intense (Beneath The Blaze #3)

STEPHANIE

H olding a baby in my arms while feeling Finn’s stare burn into me does something dangerous to my body.

Is this the kind of life he wants?

Is this the kind I want?

I’ve never entertained the idea before. But here I am, married, at his family gathering. I suppose anything can happen when you least expect it.

I shift in my seat, and the cut on my thigh stings, a sharp reminder of who I really am. Of how his blade made me come alive.

“This is crazy, you being here with us. It’s cool, though,” Hallie says, lifting her diet coke.

“Yeah. It’s a lot to wrap my head around. Finn is… a force I can’t seem to keep away from.”

Both girls laugh.

“These Quinn brothers are built differently. Once they get under your skin, you can’t get rid of them,” Charlotte says, glancing at her husband.

I look across the room. The three brothers are deep in conversation, their similarities obvious, but each one carved by their own edges.

“Oh, I’m Lily, by the way.” The blonde smiles warmly.

“Stephanie. Are you with anyone here?”

She giggles, lifting her champagne. “God, no. I’m Hallie’s best friend. I’m too busy to date.”

I nod. “Yeah, I thought the same thing a few weeks ago.”

“We should do a girls’ night soon. Something fun,” Hallie suggests.

I’ve never had this. In medical school, I kept my head down and studied. Growing up in foster care, I never trusted people enough to let them close.

At work, I have acquaintances—nothing more.

This… might be good for me.

“That sounds good. Just let me know when, and I’ll work around my schedule,” I tell them.

The doors to the restaurant fly open, and two massive men walk in—identical twins, both wearing thunderous expressions.

They’re terrifying.

They remind me of the men Finn was speaking to in Vegas.

“Who are they?” I ask.

“The twins. Reggie and Rowan. The brothers’ right-hand men, really.”

I frown. These are the same men from the strip club—alongside an older blond man I’ve seen before.

“Right-hand men… for what?”

Hallie bites her lip. “Just work stuff. They’re all in business together.”

I nod, not believing her. I already know there’s another side to Finn. I’ve seen it.

But I let it go. He can keep his secrets. I’ll keep mine.

After greeting them, Finn makes a beeline for me. His hand lands on the back of my chair as he leans down.

“You holding Liam is doing things to me it really shouldn’t,” he murmurs.

My cheeks flush. “Oh yeah?”

He drags his lips across my cheek. “I think it’s time I showed you another kink of mine that I’ve just suddenly decided I have.”

I swallow hard, my thighs pressing together. “Now?”

“You wanna go?”

I hand baby Liam to him, watching as he cradles the baby with practiced ease. And damn… it suits him.

Daddy Finn.

Hot. As. Fuck.

I can’t stop watching him fuss over his nephew. And that smile—it’s the realest I’ve ever seen. Pure happiness.

I wonder how he would look at his own baby.

“Does that make you broody?” Hallie whispers.

“I think so?”

“Did I pass your test?” Finn asks.

I nod. “Let’s go.”

He hands Liam back to Hallie and offers me his hand. Standing, I take it.

“You know this is crazy, right? All of this? Us?” I say, my hands resting against his chest.

The room stills.

His brothers watch, like they can’t believe what they’re seeing. Finn covers my hands with his own, pressing them harder into him—making a point.

He doesn’t usually allow touch. The flinches, the faint scars beneath his tattoos—I’ve noticed them.

But now? He’s letting me in.

“I am crazy, Stephanie. You’ve told me that for years. Turns out you’re crazy like me,” he says, grinning.

“You really want to stay married to me?” I ask softly.

I’ve pushed him away so hard because deep down, I was terrified. Terrified of caring enough that he could leave me.

“Yeah, I really fucking do, Mrs. Quinn. I rather like you.”

A smile spreads across my lips. “Love and hate can walk the same line, I suppose.”

“There was never any hate, was there?” he murmurs, brushing his lips against mine.

I shake my head. “Annoyance and jealousy, maybe.”

“Admitting it is the first step.”

“Are you going to show me this new kink or…?”

“New?” His brow arches.

I narrow my eyes. “You better not be doing that with other women, Dr. Quinn.”

His finger presses to my lips, making my eyes go wide.

“You drive me insane, wife. Do you honestly think I have the time or patience to entertain anyone else?” He leans in closer.

“You’re the only woman who’s ever had her hands on me like this.

The only one who’s felt me fill her and drip down her thighs.

The only one who makes my heart skip a beat.

And you’re about to be the only woman I’ve ever let touch me back—look me in the eyes—as we both break for each other.

So no, temptress. You’re the only one who gets this side of me. Understand how rare that is.”

Holy. Fucking. Shit.

I slide my arms around his neck. “I understand, sir,” I whisper.

His body vibrates against mine. “Fuck, we gotta go.”

We say our goodbyes in a blur; he’s practically dragging me to his car.

He fastens my seatbelt before sliding in behind the wheel.

“I feel bad we weren't there long,” I tell him.

He laces my fingers through his and pulls my hand up to his mouth, pressing a gentle kiss there.

“They know I’m a busy man. There will be plenty of time for you to get to know them all. I’m selfish when it comes to you, love. Now I have you, I want to know everything there is about you.”

My eyes start to sting with tears. The weight of this whole relationship crashing down on me. How this man knows how to say just the right thing to settle everything inside of me.

“I think you know more about me than anyone else in my entire life, Finn.”

He smiles and places another kiss on my ring finger.

“Ditto,” he whispers as he turns on the engine.

“Now, I need to feed you before I feed on you,” he says with a grin.

“What kind of food do you like? Other than my pussy?”

“Caviar?” he teases.

I wrinkle my nose. “No, rich boy. Burgers?”

His tone shifts. “What have I told you about calling me that?”

“But you are rich,” I tease.

“Very. Obscenely. And it means nothing to me.”

I take a breath. “You know my money from the strip club? I donated every cent to women’s shelters.”

His hand lands on my thigh, squeezing. “Particular reason?”

I swallow. “I have a past, Finn. When I said I’d made sacrifices to get here, I didn’t mean studying instead of going out. I had nothing, and I did some… things.”

He grabs my chin, making me face him. “Things you do to survive aren’t mistakes. Our pasts make us. They can ruin us if we let them.”

That sadness in his voice tells me enough. I don’t press.

Between breaking his no-touch rule and these cracks in his armor, I know one day he’ll tell me what happened to him.

“So… burgers?” I say, changing the subject.