Page 43 of The Valiant Knight (The Ravensmire Chronicles #2)

The Following Morning

The Village

Thursday

F inn and Gabby didn’t leave right away. Because they knew Graham would be in no position to do his job hungover, they helped. Finn chopped the wood, and carried it in in case they needed it tonight.

Gabby was more than happy to feed the animals and give them love. When she had a line of ducks walking behind her to the lake, it made Finn smile.

AND follow her because he wasn’t letting her drown on his watch.

Fuck.

No.

Together, they got the horses out in the paddock, made sure they had water, and then were on their way. They may or may not have given them a few apples too.

Why the hell not?

All of the way into town, Finn drove, and she held his hand in hers. Their day of spending time outside of the castle was about to begin, and he wasn’t lying when he said they needed to get away.

Already, he felt safer, and like he could control the situation a little better.

What he now needed was time to go buy her a ring without her knowing. That way, he could surprise her later and they could really jump in with both feet.

Finn wasn’t slowing down. He was so close to having his woman.

Now, he just needed to find the perfect time to do that, and to propose.

Oh, but he absolutely would.

Bet.

On.

It.

“Are you hungry?” he asked, trying to pick a place. There was a coffee shop with pastries, or there was a place that served a full breakfast. He would leave that up to her. She was experiencing the town for the first time.

“I could eat a small horse. A pony, if you will,” she said, teasing him.

He laughed.

“I mean, that’s not on the menu in town…how about some haggis?”

She snorted.

“Pass. I do like eggs and sausages though,” she admitted. “I’ll work up to the haggis. Give me some time on that one.”

That worked for him.

“Full breakfast it is. Can you text my sister for me?” he asked. “So I can drive?”

Picking up his phone, she opened it, and found Catherine’s name. Then, she saw the last couple of texts between them.

She shouldn’t snoop, but she did.

‘I’ve met someone, and I’m madly, stupidly in love. I want you to meet her. She’s going to be my wife.’

That made her pulse quicken, and she had no choice but to keep reading.

She read the response from his sister next.

‘Are you daft, boy? You met someone? You’re as celibate as they come. She has to be special if you’re settling down.’

No, he was not. Yesterday, he was anything but celibate. They’d broken that sexual fast more than a few times.

Now, Gabby wanted to giggle.

“What do you want it to say?” she asked, trying not to be too obvious that she was reading his texts, even though he told her she could.

“Tell her we’re meeting at Mick’s,” he said. “And that we’ll be there in five. She works at the jeweler five shops down. She’ll see us before we see her.”

Gabby began typing, and she also kept reading. Curiosity killed the Fed.

Sue her.

‘I’ve never met anyone like her. She’s beautiful, smart, and funny. I’m moving fast because for once, I know. Be nice to her, or I’ll tell mum that you are pregnant at your age.’

After reading that, she wanted to smile. How could she not be giddy? The man was head-over-heels for her, and she felt the same exact thing.

When it chimed, she had another reason not to put it down.

“Do you want me to read it to you?” she asked.

He patted her leg, and then downshifted.

“Aye, mo ghràdh,” he said. “I told you that I have no secrets. You can read them all if you’re up for some mind-numbing boredom.”

Oh, these were amazing. She was learning a lot about the man and his family.

And so far, she was loving it.

Because that was what he wanted, she read it to him.

‘I’ll be there in ten. I’m doing the books, and then I’ll come meet your lass. I can’t wait to meet her. Love you, little brother.’

He smiled.

“Catherine is the ringleader,” he admitted. “She is the oldest, and watched over us like a hawk when we were growing up. I have to tell her first because if I don’t, she’ll box my ears and kick my arse.”

She grinned.

The love in his voice told her how much he loved his siblings. That gave her a warm, happy feeling.

“It’s clear that you have a close family.”

He did.

Without a doubt.

“My mum and dad are older. I am the baby. My mum was forty when she had me. My dad was fifty. So they are seventy-five and eighty-five. The bet in my family is I’ll be a priest before I’m a married man.”

She was curious and excited at the same time.

“Oh, are we getting married?” she asked, wanting to scream in joy.

He laughed.

“I know most people are not Catholic in Scotland, but you found yourself a man whose family is. Eight children, Gabriella. That’s why I asked about kids.

My parents are going to ask you at some point how many children we’re going to have, and the answer is ‘whatever the good Lord gives us’ . That’s how you charm my parents.”

Honestly, she didn’t mind the idea of kids. She loved children, and it was clear that Finn did too. He was beaming as he spoke about having them.

“Well, we can discuss that when we figure out if your sister likes me.”

He glanced over.

“Uh, no, even if she doesn’t, we’re getting married. I don’t cum in a lady and not plan on marrying her.”

She was curious.

“What about your ex?” she asked.

When he didn’t answer, right away, she apologized for intruding into his private life.

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have asked that. It’s none of my business. I have a big mouth.”

Sensing her panic, he didn’t want her worried. He wasn’t offended. He was really just trying to figure out a place to do the deed—as in proposing.

Oddly, since finding her, talking about Rosie didn’t even faze him. It was like Gabby made him feel happiness again.

To calm her down, he explained.

“Mo ghràdh, relax. I’m not upset. I loved Rosie, but she had the wanderlust. I knew that.

She wanted to travel, and see the world.

Flighty, is what I think you Americans would call it.

After two years together, it was more about companionship.

I like to cuddle after work and still do.

I see now the difference between real love and desperation to have someone who would be with me. ”

She leaned over and kissed him on the cheek.

Then, she whispered in his ear.

“Is that all you like to do after work?” she asked, teasing his earlobe.

He laughed.

“Oh, I like lots of things after work, if it’s with you,” he said. “Trust me. I would have rather rolled around with you than cut wood. That wasn’t the only wood at the castle, Lass. I have perpetual morning wood.”

Oh, did he now?

Well, it appeared that Gabby had an idea.

Grabbing the front of his jeans, she flicked open his pants, and he stared down.

“Lass, don’t tease a man…,” he began, and then realized she wasn’t planning on teasing him.

Instead, she was blowing him.

HARD.

“Jesus H. Christ, Gabriella,” he muttered, trying to keep them on the road as she drove him wild with her mouth. When she took him to the base, his balls tucked up into his body, and screamed for release.

This was exactly what he craved about her. Not the blowjob, per se, but how spontaneous she was.

Shit like this didn’t normally happen to him.

EVER.

As she was giving him head, Gabby loved how he reacted to her, and how he was always a giving, loving partner.

He was being a gentleman earlier, when she wanted him to know that he could be spontaneous and have his wicked way with her.

They were starting something amazing, and she wanted him to have fun too.

“Gabby,” he moaned, when she added her hand, and worked him hard. “Keep that up, Lass, and I’m cumming. I’m weak,” he admitted.

She swirled her tongue around the tip of his erection, teasing him.

“Mo ghràdh, please,” he begged. “Have mercy,” he said, and when she dragged her teeth up his erection, he came so hard.

And fought to keep his eyes open.

Holy.

Shit.

His woman was wicked, and he liked that. His ex would never and that was why she was his ex.

To make room for the woman who would be his one and only.

HIS.

WIFE.

When she lifted her head, she grinned wickedly at him.

“Oh, I’m sorry. Did I just give you head in the car?” she asked. “I wonder where else I can do that.”

He pulled off the road, and she got scared. The minute he did, she backed up to put her back to the door.

And he saw it.

“Hey! No! I was going to kiss you. That was the best moment for today, so far. Come here,” he said, holding out his hand. “I will never hurt you, Gabby. I was going to kiss you stupid out of absolute joy! I swear, Lass.”

When she put her fingers in his, he kissed them.

He was dick out, but he’d scared her.

Finn was patient.

“Mo ghràdh, you can touch me whenever you want. I don’t mind. Trust me. That was amazing and the only punishment you’ll get is copious amounts of fun in bed. I swear.”

She blinked.

“I’m sorry.”

He pulled her into his lap, and held her. They just fit behind the steering wheel, and if cars passed by, they’d look silly, but he didn’t care.

She needed him.

“Don’t be,” he said. “It’ll take you time to learn that I’m not him. I will try to be more aware and not lunge at you. But by God, I just wanted to kiss you.”

She found his mouth, and he moaned in joy. His woman was in his lap, and she was resiliently his.

That was a miracle.

When he broke the kiss, he smiled.

“That was nice too. Now, I’m not sure which I like better. That kiss or the blowjob.”

She giggled.

“I like being in your lap. It’s a nice place to be, Finn,” she said.

He could see that.

“Do it more often, Lass. My lap is now your lap,” he admitted.

Oh, she planned on it.

He tucked some of her wild, riotous curls behind her ear, and enjoyed the view.

“You can touch me too,” she said. “It’ll take me a while not to be jumpy, but eventually I’ll relearn the behavior. I wish he didn’t make me like this.”

He did too.

But that wasn’t her fault, or his.

It was her ex’s.