Page 36 of Protecting Lainey (Broterhood Alliance #7)

She didn’t mean to stare.

Honestly. But she did.

Watching Finn wash out their coffee mugs at the sink, the sunlight catching red and bronze highlights in his dark hair and his forearms flexing as he moved, was its own kind of sin.

He turned just as she opened her mouth to say something, but the words got stuck in her throat.

“What?” he asked, a smile tugging at one corner of his mouth.

“Ummm.” She cleared her throat, cheeks warming. Busted. “You look different.”

He raised a brow. “Good different? Or bad different?”

“Most definitely good different. There’s more of you,” she added.

He laughed. “I would hope so. I’m ten years older, and I work out.”

“Yeah, there’s that, but all those muscles look good on you.”

Finn smirked.

Lainey grinned. She wrapped her arms around her middle. “I look different, too.”

The words slipped out before she could catch them. She didn’t mean to say that. Oh God. Could the floor open up and swallow her? Like right now.

Finn’s smile faded. He crossed the room slowly. When he reached her, his hand rested on her arm.

“Lainey.”

She tried to be casual. “It’s just … after Luke…” She shrugged. “I’m not…”

He didn’t let her finish but touched her cheek gently. “You are the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. Then and now.”

Tears pricked at the back of her eyes. This was her Finn. The man who always made her feel cherished.

She reached for him before she chickened out. His mouth met hers in a kiss that was deep and reverent and full of everything she hadn’t said out loud. He cradled her against his body.

They stayed like that for a moment, just soaking in the memory.

Finally, she stepped away. Finn frowned and cocked his head.

Not giving him a chance to ask why, she reached out for his hand. He took it and laced their fingers together.

“Are you sure?”

“Oh, very.”

She led him upstairs to her bedroom, noticing she hadn’t made the bed yet. Not exactly the fantasy setup. But she didn’t care, not when he was looking at her like this.

She hesitated at the edge of the bed. Her hands trembled as she lifted the hem of her shirt.

Finn stopped her, covering her hands with his. “Let me.”

He undressed her slowly, touching every scar, every stretch mark, every inch of her body. He kissed the inside of her wrist, then each breast. “You made a life,” he whispered. “That’s not something to hide.”

Her chest tightened. No man had ever said that to her. Not that she had many men in her bed.

She tugged at his shirt. He helped her pull it over his head, revealing a chest and arms much broader than she remembered.

Lainey looked at him and nodded. “You really filled out.” Then she looked lower at his cock, which was pointed straight at her. “Oh, God. Did it get bigger too?”

Finn’s eyes got big. He swallowed a laugh but couldn’t hold it in.

“That’s not funny,” she said.

“Oh, Lainey. It’s not bigger.” His eyes were twinkling. “I mean, if I were bragging to someone, maybe I’d say yes, but the truth is”—he started laughing again—“it’s the same size.”

“Humph, it must have been dark in that motel room,” she replied cheekily.

“Not a chance, sweetheart.”

He pulled her closer.

“I missed this,” she said, pressing her palms against his chest.

He kissed her again. Deeper, thrusting his tongue in her mouth. She met his with a soft moan, her body already arching toward him, hungry for more.

Then he laid her on the bed and followed her down. He kissed his way down her body until he got to the juncture between her legs.

For a moment, Lainey panicked. She wasn’t a vain woman, but she couldn’t remember if she had trimmed down there or not. She didn’t know if Finn liked his women bare or bushy.

“Stop thinking,” he murmured. He pushed her legs apart and sighed. “You are so beautiful.”

He looked up at her. “Relax, Lainey. I’m going to be here a while.”

The sheets felt cool on her body, but her pussy was heating up. He inserted two fingers and found her G-spot, and Lainey nearly came off the bed.

“I think you like that,” he murmured. “Then you’re really going to like this.”

She felt his warm tongue circling her clit. Blowing on it. Sucking it. She couldn’t stop the moan that escaped from her mouth.

He worked her pussy with one hand, sucked on her clit, and reached for her breasts.

“God, you’re multi-talented,” she whispered.

Then she shook her head. What the hell was wrong with her?

Making jokes while the man she loved was working hard on making her come.

But then she remembered they always laughed and joked around.

It felt familiar. Comfortable. With that, she totally relaxed.

“Oh, sweetheart, you have no idea,” Finn said. He pulled out his fingers and moved up her body. “I need a taste of these beauties,” he said as he took one nipple, then the other in his mouth. Lainey moaned harder.

“I think the girls are super sensitive,” he quipped. “I love it.”

He sucked on one nipple as he reached down and rubbed her clit. Lainey reached around and held him tight. The pressure was building.

Finn rubbed and sucked harder. She opened her mouth to say something, but the orgasm hit her like a tsunami, and she screamed his name as she bucked against him.

He didn’t stop rubbing and sucking. Lainey wasn’t sure she was capable of coherent thought, let alone words. Her body was boneless, floating. So many sensations.

Finally, he stopped and held her. Kissing her gently as she came down from the best orgasm ever.

“Oh my God,” she whispered. “That was fantastic.”

Finn smiled and tucked her closer. “There’s more where that came from.”

She reached down and rubbed his still-hard cock, fingers teasing. “Let me…”

But he removed her hand. “Lainey, I will stop if you want me to,” he said, his eyes serious. “But I really want to be inside you. Making love. I have a condom in my wallet.” He hesitated, brow furrowing just a little. “But if you’re not ready for that, I understand. We don’t have to rush.”

“Only one?” she quipped.

Finn smirked. “I can buy a box or two later. Or five. Whatever you need.”

He stood and reached for his pants, giving Lainey the perfect eyeful of his gorgeous, very naked backside. Her breath caught in her throat.

“Stop ogling me, woman. I’m getting a complex.”

Lainey giggled. It turned into a full-bellied laugh. When it finally tapered off, she shook her head, cheeks flushed. What the hell was wrong with her? Sex wasn’t supposed to be funny.

She peeked up at Finn, half embarrassed, only to find him watching her with an amused expression.

“If I had known this would finally make you smile,” he said, rolling his eyes, “we could have done this a while ago.”

Lainey huffed. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m not laughing at you. Us.”

Finn returned to the bed and climbed in beside her, brushing a piece of hair from her cheek. “Lainey,” he murmured. “Seeing you laugh reminds me of everything I’ve missed.”

Her breath caught. But then reality pushed at the edges like it always did.

She reached for his hand. “Finn, I want you. I do. But we have to talk to Luke first.”

His smile faded. “I know.” He leaned in and kissed her. “And we will. Together. No matter what happens, we’ll face it together. Okay?”

She nodded.

Finn grinned, some of the teasing light back in his eyes. “Then come here, sweetheart. I have a condom, and I know how to use it.”

Lainey giggled. “That was … so cheesy.”

“Cheesy but true.” He rolled the condom on.

Then he kissed her deeply, thoroughly, and Lainey melted in his arms. She was soaked. Dripping. Her body was aching with need.

“Now, Finn,” she breathed.

He looked deep into her eyes. Saw what he was looking for. Rolled on top of her, bracing himself on his elbows, and he slowly pushed inside. Stopping to make sure she was okay.

Lainey huffed. She tightened her legs around him and pulled him in closer.

“So, it’s gonna be like that, huh?” he said, grinning.

“Move it or lose it, cowboy.”

“Your wish is my command, sweetheart.” He pulled out all the way, then slammed back into her. Again. And again. Their bodies found a familiar rhythm.

The sensations washed fast over Lainey. Too fast.

“Finn, I’m gonna…” But the words dissolved into a cry as she came hard, her whole body shuddering. She screamed his name. He groaned her name as he followed, burying himself deep one last time before stilling.

They lay there for a long moment, their breath ragged, their hearts beating.

Eventually, Finn moved off her, kissed her once more and got up to take care of the condom.

When he came back, he slid in beside her and smiled. “You are so beautiful when you come. I can’t wait to see that for the rest of my life.”

Then he frowned a little. “That is, if everything goes okay with Luke.”

Lainey sighed and sat up. “Luke’s a good kid. Smart. He’s going to love you.”

“I hope so. I know it’s going to take a while.”

He glanced at his watch. “We’ve got a little more than an hour before school’s over. Let’s clean up, take a breath. Then when you’re ready, we tell him the truth as best we can.”

She curled into him, letting the moment settle.

She didn’t know exactly how Luke would react. But Lainey knew this: Finn was part of her life now.

And she could see the future. It included Finn.