Page 15 of The Valiant Knight (The Ravensmire Chronicles #2)

Now, he wanted to see it all.

“Yeah, I know of a place that does good work. We can head there tomorrow on our date,” he offered.

He was going to keep using the word ‘date’ until she told him to stop—or flew back to the United States.

“Do you have a lot of them?” he asked, as he pulled on his pants to wait to use the shower.

“A few,” she said. “Do you have any?”

Oh, he was a giddy, giddy cop.

Now, he wanted to share with her something other than just her escapes from death.

He put his hand over his eyes, and stepped out from behind the wall so she could see him.

Immediately, she saw how magnificent his body was when it was hidden under his blazer and jeans.

His whole chest was covered.

And his one arm.

“Can I get closer?” she asked.

God.

He could smell her shampoo and his whole body rippled with that need. She didn’t have to ask him. He wanted her all over him.

In bed.

In front of a fire.

On the floor.

“On one condition,” he said, needing a cold shower before she saw what was going on in his pants. His lower brain wasn’t helping him out. Instead, it was fighting for control.

Now, she was curious.

“What?”

He took another shot.

“You let me borrow your shower and shampoo. I think I smell swampy. That lake water is a bitch to get out.”

That made her smile.

Oh, well, she wanted to see how this played out. Gabby was curious, and definitely attracted to the man. She was wet, and not from the shower.

“You can, and you can take your hand off of your face. I’m in a robe.”

When he did, he noticed she wasn’t kidding. The robe was a short satin one that came to the top of her thighs.

Her absolutely luscious and gorgeous thighs. What wouldn’t he do to have them on both sides of his head?

Jesus.

Save.

Him.

Slowly, she moved around him, and ran her fingers over his skin, admiring the ink.

“Old horror movies, huh?” she asked.

He stared at her in the mirror and fought for control. Her hands on his body…

He was struggling.

“That’s one of my ideas of a good time. Popcorn, a couch, a fire, and an old movie. Black and white, preferably. What do you do for fun?”

She was curious about what the other thing was, but from the bulge in his pants, she suspected she could guess.

Instead of going there, she shared.

“For funsies, I hack into things like the Pentagon, the CIA, and all kinds of places we can’t normally go.”

He stared at her.

That caught him off guard.

Did she just say she hacked?

For fun?

“Pardon?”

Gabby’s laughter filled the room.

“I’m a hacker. An ethical one. You know, the kind who works for governments or the cops. I do forensic deep dives into computers to find all the secrets.”

He stared.

Oh, well, this was an interesting development, now wasn’t it?

“Oh. So you’re smart-smart.”

That made her laugh.

“I mean, I get by.”

Oh, he was betting she did more than get by. She was a freaking hacker. He was betting she had all kinds of degrees.

“I bet your government pays you a lot to sneak into someone’s computer’s back door.”

She shrugged.

“Yeah, I guess. It’s more the challenge. I like to solve things, and that’s all it is. Evading detection is like you’re the killer trying to get away with the crime.”

He smiled.

“Well, now, you’re speaking to my heart. That’s my game. I love catching the bad guys.”

She bet.

Cops were a special breed.

Finn knew he needed to lock this down. Not only was she sexy, smart, and liked tattoos, but she wasn’t afraid to torment him.

God.

He loved to be dick teased by a gorgeous woman. The foreplay was off the charts hot.

“So tomorrow, we’ll get tattoos?” he asked, inviting himself because he wanted her to have a memory.

For when she went home.

He’d at least see the tattoo and remember the magic that happened when they were together. Honestly, Finn wondered if she’d remember him.

“You’re joining me?”

He raised his arm, and pointed.

“Frankenstein’s monster isn’t done. He’s missing his bride. Everyone needs their person,” he admitted, hoping she’d pick up on the not-so-subtle clue he was throwing down.

Did he sound desperate?

Yes.

Did he care?

No.

If he let this woman slip away, he was a bloody idiot, and he knew it.

“I’ll get some of it done tomorrow. What are you going to do?” he asked.

Gabby liked him. His body was incredible, and he had the sexiest blue eyes she’d seen in a long time. In them, she saw heat, passion, and gentleness.

Her shrink had been right. The more open she was, the better the chance of finding someone decent.

“I’m working on my back piece.”

He watched as she moved around him.

“What is it?”

“I’d have to drop my robe for you to see it. You can only see it when I’m naked.”

Oh, well, he wouldn’t say no.

“My loss,” he said, desperate to see that back tattoo. He wanted that more than anything in the whole world.

God.

He ached and was so desperate.

“Or you can ask to see it,” she said, realizing a gentleman wouldn’t go there without permission.

Oh, hell, yeah.

She found herself a good guy, and she wasn’t going to back away out of fear.

Like she vowed, she was charging full steam ahead.

It took Finn a hot minute. His lower brain was running the show, and his upper brain was slow with the words.

Who knew all he had to do was save the girl, and he’d get to see her naked? That icy dip was worth it.

“Can I see it?”

She nodded, turned around, and lowered her robe down her back.

He watched her lowering it, and he wanted her to take it all off.

And turn around.

Well, he didn’t get that wish, but he’d take this instead any day.

On her back there was a gorgeous angel falling from the sky, and all around her, there were black and white flowers.

It was stunning.

That was what she was finishing.

“Can I touch it?” he asked. “I don’t want you to be afraid of me touching your angel.”

She glanced over her shoulder.

It looked like Graham was right. Someone was a gentleman, and she liked that about him.

The last man who touched her did it in anger and rage. It would be nice to feel his fingers on her back.

“You can, and thank you for asking.”

He was honest.

“I don’t want you to think I’d ever be like your ex. I don’t hurt women.”

No.

They hurt him.

With Gentle fingers, he enjoyed the way her skin felt beneath his hand.

As for Gabby, the kiss of his fingers on her flesh was feather light, and she got goosebumps.

Her reaction overwhelmed him.

If he wasn’t mistaken, Gabby was enjoying his touch. In that moment, he knew he was screwed.

He was falling in love.

Hopelessly.

“I like your ink. I think I’ll enjoy getting a memento piece done with you.”

She smiled.

“You can shower now,” she said. “I’m sure Graham is worried about us, and shortly, Tony will be all over me.”

That last part didn’t sit well with him. Now, that proprietary feeling came over him, and Finn was willing to fight for her.

No offense to the man, but she was meant to be his. There was no doubt in his mind.

Needing that shower desperately, he waited until she moved around the corner before he dropped his pants and stepped into the spray.

The colder water wasn’t working. His erection was still there, and he was focused on her scent.

As for Gabby, she noticed that from where she was standing, the mirror gave away the person in the shower.

Oh, well, she’d return the favor.

If he’d watched her, she’d watch him. In fact, the mere idea that he’d likely checked her out didn’t upset her.

Oh, anything but.

It turned her on.

Because he had to know, he went there.

“What’s the deal between you two?” he asked. “You and the other man.”

She laughed as he washed up in the shower, and the whole time, she was staring at his hands.

God.

She wanted them on her.

“We’re just friends. He’s like a big brother to me, and nothing more. In fact, Tony loves everyone. He told me I should have fun while I’m here.”

His hands paused as he was rubbing soap on his chest. Did she just say…?

Dear God, his body ached.

“What kind of fun?” he somehow managed to say, getting the words out.

He turned in the shower, and she was willing to bet he knew she was watching him.

“All kinds,” she said, watching as he ran his soapy hand over his erection.

Yeah, Gabby had no shame.

She watched him and licked her lips.

The man had a nice dick, and it was up. Somehow, she was thinking it might be for her.

That made her giddy.

Her whole marriage, her ex made her feel like no one would ever love or want her again, and this man appeared to definitely be interested.

She could tell.

Finn was dying.

Touching his dick with her in the room was a dangerous thing. He didn’t want to stop, and in fact, he wanted to grab her, pull her into the shower, and show her the kind of fun they could have together.

But he didn’t.

As he continued showering, his dick only got harder as he was praying for the second time that day.

What wouldn’t he do to have some fun with her?

Honestly, he didn’t do one-night stands, but he’d make an exception, and hope that she would stay after the fact. He wasn’t sure how she’d feel about moving here, but he was curious.

He just craved a shot with her.

That’s all he wanted.

He wanted someone to stay and to choose him first.

Was that so hard to ask?

From where she stood, Gabby wanted to see more of him, but she knew she needed to ask the important questions.

To get to know him.

“So, who stole your cat and toaster?” she asked, moving to hop up onto the counter IN FRONT of the shower. She had a good view of his body, and he even turned his back to her so she wouldn’t have to see him naked.

Why did Finn turn?

Because her sitting there made his dick go rock-hard, and his balls ache. He loved a woman who didn’t mind taking what she wanted, and in that scenario, that was him.

It was clear that she was curious.

So.

Was.

He.

If she wanted an answer, he’d give her one.

“It was my last girlfriend. We were dating for about two years. She was Irish, and one day, I came home, and my cat, my toaster, and my plants were all gone.”

Oh, wow.