Page 17

Daisy

The Paris skyline glows in the distance as I step onto the balcony of our hotel suite, the cool night air brushing against my skin. Below, the city hums with life, but up here, it’s just me, the twinkling lights, and the distant sounds from the arena where our daughter won her first World Championship gold medal tonight.

The thought makes my heart swell, pride so overwhelming it brings a lump to my throat. I still see her as the tiny toddler sitting in the stands, clapping for us. And now, she’s the one standing on top of the podium, gold hanging around her neck, just like we once did.

“You disappeared on me.” Finn’s voice is warm, amused.

I turn to see him stepping outside, two glasses of wine in hand. He hands one to me before wrapping an arm around my waist, pulling me back against his chest.

“Lily’s going out to celebrate with her friends,” he murmurs against my hair. “Which means we’re officially off-duty.”

I hum, taking a slow sip of wine, enjoying the way his body molds against mine. “Alone in Paris, huh? Sounds dangerous.”

His lips brush against my neck, and I feel his smirk before I hear it. “Oh, sweetheart, you have no idea.”

I laugh, tilting my head to the side to give him better access as his hands slide into my robe, warm palms pressing against my waist. “Finn, we are not twenty anymore.”

“And?” He nips at my earlobe, his voice full of mock offense. “Are you saying my stamina isn’t what it used to be? Because I can prove otherwise.”

I bite my lip, turning in his arms, wrapping mine around his neck. “No regrets? About retiring?”

His expression softens instantly, his hands tightening on my hips. “Not one. The best years of my life were spent skating with you, but this? This is even better.” He tugs me closer, pressing his forehead against mine. “Lily winning tonight, watching her chase her dreams? That’s everything I could’ve ever wanted. And I get to do it all with you .”

My chest tightens, love swelling so big inside me I think I might burst. “God, I love you.”

Finn grins. “Yeah? You wanna show me how much?”

I laugh, but before I can respond, he’s sweeping me into his arms, carrying me inside. I squeal, smacking his chest as he kicks the bedroom door shut behind us.

“Finn Sullivan, you are ridiculous !”

He tosses me onto the bed, climbing over me with a wicked glint in his eye. “Yeah, but you love it.”

He slowly removes my robe, finding nothing underneath, it’s mere seconds before his mouth is on me—hot, insistent, devouring. His tongue traces a slow path down my throat, over my collarbone, lower, until he’s sucking one aching nipple into his mouth, making me gasp.

“Jesus, Finn—”

“You taste so fucking good,” he groans, his teeth scraping before his tongue soothes, his fingers pinching my other nipple just hard enough to make me arch.

I thread my fingers through his hair, tugging him back up to my mouth, kissing him deep, licking into him like I’ll never get enough. “Less talking. More fucking.”

His grin is downright filthy. “Now that I can do.” He kisses his way down my body, between my legs, spreading me wide, his mouth right there .

“Finn!” I choke out, but then his tongue is on me, licking, sucking, stroking, and all I can do is grab the sheets and hold on. He devours me like it’s his last meal, moaning into me like he’s the one getting wrecked.

“Goddamn, I’ll never get tired of this,” he groans, his fingers sliding inside me, curling just right, his tongue flicking over my clit until I’m shattering, my cries echoing through the room.

Before I can catch my breath, he’s up, covering me, his cock pressing against me, thick and hard. “Tell me you want me.”

“I need you,” I correct, wrapping my legs around him, pulling him in, gasping as he fills me in one deep, slow thrust.

We move together, years of knowing each other’s bodies turning every roll of his hips into something devastatingly perfect. His hands grip my thighs, angling me just right, hitting exactly where I need him.

“Fuck, Daisy,” he grits out, his jaw clenched, his breath ragged. “You still feel so fucking good.”

“So do you,” I pant, raking my nails down his back, making him groan. “Finn— harder —”

He growls, slamming into me, taking me apart completely, his name falling from my lips over and over until we both shatter, clinging to each other, shaking.

After, he kisses me—soft, slow, reverent—before rolling us so I’m tucked against his chest, his heartbeat wild beneath my palm.

I hum in contentment, pressing a lazy kiss to his shoulder. “Still think you’ve got stamina?”

His laughter rumbles beneath me. “Sweetheart, I know I do, and I’ve got twenty years of experience knowing exactly how to ruin you.”

I grin, tilting my head up to meet his gaze. “And I love every second of it.”

His arms tighten around me, his lips brushing my temple. “I love you, Daisy. Always.”

I sigh, perfectly content, perfectly in love. “Always.”

And as the lights of Paris glow beyond the window, I know one thing for certain, after all these years, Finn Sullivan still makes my heart race.