Page 27 of The Valiant Knight (The Ravensmire Chronicles #2)

Because she wanted to move on from the fear, she looked up at him, and smiled.

When she did, his heart skipped.

Because he owed her tenderness, he caught her mouth with his, and slowly kissed her.

Now, this was Finn.

Immediately, she could tell the difference between the kisses.

This one got her wet, and the other did no such thing. There was something about this man and she couldn’t imagine not taking the challenge and joining him on this adventure.

Gabby couldn’t help but kiss him back. His mouth was warm, and welcoming.

When he scooped her up, he sat on a bale of hay, and kept kissing her. The whole time, he was doing battle with his body, and libido.

Finn wanted her so much.

The heat in the barn went up, and it was so hot, it could have burned down around them, and he still wouldn’t have stopped.

When she slipped her hands into his hair, he moaned. That deep warm moan pulled them both from the magic and back into the moment.

When the kiss was broken, they were both rattled.

In that moment he knew.

She was the one.

Now, all he had to do was navigate this.

Somehow.

The dream had been one hundred percent right.

He was going to marry her. She was going to be his wife.

“I’m going to say something, and please don’t think I’m absolutely insane.”

She waited.

“I think I’m falling in love.”

Her heart raced.

That declaration surprised her, but it shouldn’t because she felt the same way. That was why she told him not to hurt her.

Finn continued.

“I know I shouldn’t be this invested, but I am.

It’s been a day, but I think I know here,” he stated, touching his chest. “I don’t know how that’s possible, but I hope I don’t screw this up.

I hope that I don’t scare you away, Gabriella, but I’m about to go in hard.

I’m about to stake a claim because I know if I let you go, I’ll never be the same again. ”

His words told her everything she needed to know. She felt the exact same thing about him.

She touched his face.

To be honest, she knew too.

“I’m so confused,” she admitted. “I don’t know you, Finn, but I somehow know you.”

He held her, and she felt right against him. He was about to make the biggest gamble of his life, and put it all on a pretty American who had a whole life outside of Scotland.

Here went everything.

“When this is over, don’t leave me. When it’s time to go home, please stay. Stay for me, Gabriella.”

It rocked her world.

Gabby said nothing, but instead, she stared into his eyes.

“I can tell you belong here. When we figure this out, and we solve all this, please care about me enough that you won’t leave me behind because I’m giving you my heart. It’s battered, it’s bruised, but it’s yours and only yours. After a day, I know that for sure.”

He was saying the words again.

It astounded him that what took two years to say to Rosie, took a day to say to Gabby. That told him everything he needed to know.

He was in love.

Because he asked her, she stared into his eyes and gave him the only condition. It would be the only thing she ever asked of him.

“Then every day, give me a reason to stay.”

Well, if that was what she wanted, he needed to make that happen.

Finn knew that he wasn’t going to be able to survive this if she left. So now, he had only two choices.

Walk away before it went further, or jump in and trust her. He was going with the second option. While they didn’t know each other well enough, he knew her heart.

She was a sweet, gentle lass, and he wanted to give her a chance.

Grabbing a blanket, he took her hand, and walked her out of the barn and toward the paddock.

Once there, he threw the blanket over Romeo’s back, and used the fence to climb onto the horse. Then, he held out his hand.

The sun was still up, but they wouldn’t have much time if they didn’t go now.

Dusk was going to hit soon.

“I want to share something with you,” he admitted. “Come with me.”

She didn’t hesitate.

Not.

At.

All.

When he took her hand, he pulled her up, and she swung onto the back of the horse. Then, he nudged the black horse with his heels, and it headed off through the pasture.

The whole time, she held on.

Her hands were around his body, and he had one of his bigger hands over hers. The other was in the hair of the black horse.

He grew up with animals, and he loved horseback riding. Now, he’d share more of him in hopes he could convince her to never leave his side.

Finn McKnight wanted his ride or die.

Together, they rode on, and when they went down a hill, into the trees, and by the mountain, he stopped the horse. They’d reached their destination.

Helping her down, he got off and took the blanket. Then, he led her through some spring flowers to where there was running water.

When she stepped through the trees, she gasped.

There was a cliff with a waterfall.

And it was gorgeous.

Gabby had never seen one up close and personal before. He was showing her reasons to stay in Scotland.

Horseback riding at dusk.

A field full of flowers.

And now this.

He was making a compelling case.

Throwing the blanket down, he turned, and took her in his arms.

If he was going to jump in, he was going to jump in without two other people in the castle to disturb him. What he wanted was her, and what he craved was showing her how much he valued her.

Together, they stood there, and he kissed Gabby.

Finn took that moment to give Gabby what her heart needed because that was the only way he would get what his heart needed.

LOVE.

His mouth found hers, and she stayed against him. The whole time, the water cascaded, and Finn was focused on one thing.

He was going to make Gabby his.

One way or another.