Page 35 of One Vow

She kissed Felicity’s cheek. “How is super-hot bar guy,” she winked at Dakota who was standing behind the bar, “supposed to slip into the stool if you’re still sitting on it? Go home.”

Felicity nodded and staggered to her feet. “Thanks, Sofe. For everything.”

“Have fun.” Sofia nodded and winked as Felicity staggered out of the bar in front of me.

I led her to the car and helped her into the passenger seat. As I slid in behind the wheel, she leaned her head back and stared at me. “Finn, I have to tell you something.”

I nodded unsure my morals would stand up to a soul-bearing confession from her, but sure I wanted to hear what she had to say. If she loved me, or if she didn’t, I needed to know so I could decide what to do with the information, cherish it or not. Because loving her back had never been my choice. “I have to pee.”

I laughed. “Well, let’s get you home.”

When I pulled up, she ran into the house and was waiting for me by the time I convinced myself to go inside. I considered not going in. No matter what she said, there was no way I would be a good enough man to walk away from her and let her get on with her life.

She stood just inside the bedroom door and crooked her finger. “Come here.”

“Are you sure?” But I was already on my way.

“You’re married to me. That makes you mine. Unless you’re mad I burned the divorce papers, then…” I stopped walking. Was she looking for an excuse for us not to be together tonight? “Yes or no. Are you pissed that we never got divorced, and it means you’re more mine than hers?”

I took too long to answer, and she pushed the door shut. I leaned my head against it. “I wish I would’ve known sooner.”

I don’t know if she heard my whisper or if she changed her mind about letting me decide, but she flung the door open, grabbed me by the shirt, and pushed me against the wall. Her hands slipped to my chest and around to clasp behind my neck as I circled her waist and kissed her like I’d been waiting my whole life to do it.

Her lips parted, and I slipped my tongue inside. It was explosive, enchanting and she was so fucking delicious. She was everything I ever wanted. But I couldn’t sleep with her. I had to end things with Beth first. And before I could do that, I had to tell Felicity the ramifications of denying Beth this wedding. And Felicity needed to be sober enough to understand first. That wasn’t going to happen tonight. Nothing was going to happen tonight.

I pulled back and held her against me. Let my heart and my breath slow before I tried to speak. “Let me hold you tonight, okay?”

She looked up and smiled, and I almost didn’t finish speaking. “Just lay beside me, and let me... We can dream about each other.”

She nodded. “Okay.”

And we spent the night cuddled together, not talking, not kissing, just being together. And it was almost as perfect as sex.

By the time I woke in the morning, she was already awake and staring at me. “Hi.”

I pushed my hair back so I could see all of her face and smiled. “Hi.”

“I’m not drunk anymore.” I nodded because I didn’t know where she was going with it.

“I’m hungover. And tired. But not drunk.” Her eyelashes fluttered against her cheeks. “Thank you for not taking advantage of me last night.”

Oh. I wasn’t expecting that.

“It’s okay. Holding you was enough for last night.” Great, now I sounded like I expected more. And while I wanted more, so much more, I didn’t want her to think I expected it. “I mean…I like holding you and sleeping beside you. Listening to you breathe.”

She closed her eyes and blew out a breath as she ran her finger over my lips. “Shh.”

Another breath. And I knew this was going to suck. “You’re getting married, Finn. And I can’t…you’re marrying someone else. And that’s okay. I get it. It’s hard being alone. But you can’t stay here anymore.”

She swallowed hard. “I’m not…strong enough to…you have to go.”

“Because you want me?” I wasn’t taunting her. Hearing her say the words would give me the strength to tell her the truth or set her free depending on which way this went.

Her sigh was long and deep. “Because my claim to you is expired. Because Beth Cooper wants to marry you.”

Her voice cracked. “Because I have a memory of our time together before that is so…perfect and so…exquisite…this is never going to be that. It’ll never live up to it. It’ll just end up ruining both then and now.”

This was a hold my beer kind of moment. A challenge extended. “What if it’s better?”