Page 98 of The Moment He Couldn’t Walk Away

Her eyes locked on his, but Finch couldn’t read anything in her expression.

He slipped his fingers into her hair. “I want you, Nina—a lot. I have no idea what that means, but for now, it’s enough.” He then kissed her.

It started slow, careful, like he was giving her every chance to pull away. She didn’t. Her hands fisted in his shirt instead, dragging him closer, and the kiss went from careful to all-consuming in the space of a single breath, hot and open-mouthed, her fingers sliding from his shirt to his jaw to the back of his neck like she couldn’t decide where she wanted to hold on to him.

“Finch.” His name came out broken against his mouth. “I don’t want to think anymore today. I just want⁠—”

“I know.” He pulled back only far enough to look at her, to make sure this was real and not just exhaustion and adrenaline talking. “I know what you want. I want it too. But I need you to know I’m not going anywhere after tonight. This isn’t me taking advantage of a bad day.”

“I know that.” Her hand found his jaw again, steadier now. “I’ve known you my whole life, Finch McAllister. I know exactly who you are.”

Her eyes locked on his, and had he not seen the heat, he wouldn’t have done what he did next. Finch walked her backward, lifted her onto the vanity top, and then stepped between her thighs. He wanted this woman with a desperation that robbed him of every other thought.

His hands came to her breasts, and then he set about showing her exactly what she meant to him.

Kissing his way down her body, he worshipped every inch, and when he knelt between her thighs, Nina was panting hard, her fingers in his hair.

“I need you now, Finch.” The words were tight with tension. “Now!” She tugged hard on his hair.

He ran his tongue along the damp seam between her thighs, and she shuddered, so he did it again and again. Pushing fingers inside her he continued to torment her until she shuddered out a release.

“Get up here now,” she rasped. “I want to feel you inside me.”

As he was just about cross-eyed with need, he did exactly as she asked. After quickly removing his clothes and then finding his wallet, Finch pulled out the condom he’d replaced after the first time they’d slept together and ripped the foil. She took it from him and rolled it slowly onto his erection.

“Fuck, that feels good, Nina.”

She then reached for his hips and pulled him close. Seconds later he was sliding into her slick, wet heat, which drew a low moan from both of them.

Go slow, he told himself, easing out and back inside her again. The feeling of her muscles tightening around him was almost too much. Nina let him set the pace until she was ready for more.

“Faster. Harder,” she panted. Her hands were now wrapped tight around his back, her breathing warm against his skin.

“I’m never going to get enough of you, Nina.” He increased his speed. Steam filled the room as he drove into her again and again, her cries and his moans driving him on. When she cried out his name, her orgasm slamming into her, his followed two thrusts later.

Panting, Nina laid her head on his shoulder, her limbs wrapped around him, and slowly their heartbeats calmed down, and for the first time, the cold inside him was completely gone. No more knots of pain, confusion, or fear. He felt like he was beginning to feel whole again.

“I should be a wreck right now,” she murmured. “But being in here with you after great sex, I don’t have the energy.”

“That about sums up how I feel.” Finch’s fingers traced lazy circles against her bare shoulder.

She tipped her head back to look at him. “I think that’s on you because of what we just did.”

“I’ll take the blame for that one.” He pressed a kiss to her forehead.

Finch carried her into the shower and then lowered her to her feet because he couldn’t hold her forever, even if he wanted to.

They washed, and then he got out, leaving her to do whatever else women did, and headed to his room. After dressing, he went into the living area and loaded wood into the stove.

Crouching, he stroked Mabel’s head. The cat started purring loudly.

He heard the door to the bathroom open and the one to his room close. Finch liked knowing Nina was in his house—well, not technically his, but having her close felt good.

Should he buy the Burns land? The ideas Dan had given him had taken root, and the more he thought about them and the more notes he wrote, the bigger the small kernel of excitement inside him grew. Then there was the fact that Nina thought it a good move on his part. Not that she had any say in what he did. But maybe she would?

He hadn’t felt anything close to excitement in months.

Nina was changing him, or more importantly, what he felt for her was.