Their mugs were empty. The plate of bread and thin soup Anna had brought them long devoured. Cora alternated between watching the crackling fire and the television while Finn watched her. She seemed to be in a sour mood; had been ever since Lars had arrived. Was she that pissed that the man had so easily disarmed her?

It might have been the best thing to happen to her. The girl had this erroneous idea that she was a Mexican Xena. Confidence was good, but only if you had the experience to back it up.

She didn’t.

Whatever training Bailey had given her hadn’t been enough. She could barely handle a gun and she knew just enough moves to be dangerously cocky.

But it wasn’t his place to interfere. He wasn’t her father, her lover, her friend. Their relationship was a simple one—he protected her until he’d delivered her to safety.

Finn let out a harsh breath through his nose, leaning back in his chair and cracking his knuckles.

Where the fuck was Lars?

Cora turned her head a little, just enough so she could peer at him from the corner of her eye. One finger idly twirled a lock of black hair. There was a storm in her eyes. From the way her mouth twitched, she obviously wanted to say something, but decided to hold it back instead.

He wanted to touch those lips again. To feel them against his flesh. To have those sharp little teeth of hers grazing his skin.

And why? What on earth had made this girl latch onto his mind like a parasite? His skull already had a basement with a beast inside, he didn’t need another unwelcome presence. It wouldn’t like sharing that space with anyone.

We’ll share, came a quiet purr. We’ll keep her close. Burrow into her skin. Lick the inside of her bones—

Who was he kidding? Nothing about this arrangement was simple.

He thought back to what Lars had said. That, in a few hours, she wouldn’t be their problem anymore.

Finn almost laughed.

That’s what he’d thought Tuesday night when he’d arrived at Swan fucking Manor.

He had a feeling he and Cora Swan were far from done. Maybe all the shit he’d been through the last ten years had burnt cynicism into his bones, but he knew something would happen. Another blown out tire. A desperate scramble from watching eyes. Something would keep them together.

Cynicism…or something else?

You want to taste her again. Feel her moving under you, struggling, panting, begging for—

He pressed his thumb and forefinger into his eyes so hard, stars dashed his vision. There was an ache inside his chest. An urge to do violence. To destroy something—a delicate flower, a songbird, an enemy skulking in the shadows. He had to get out of this cramped room, away from Cora’s permeating citrusy scent.

Finn rose, pushing back his chair with the back of his knees. It drew Cora’s eyes, and a few of the closer patrons. He managed a strangled, “Gonna check if I can see—”

“Looking for me?”

He spun. A relieved breath whistled past his lips—one he didn’t realize he’d been holding. It could have accounted for that pain in his chest, for all he knew.

Lars studied him for a moment before flickering to Cora, the television, the fire, the other patrons. Analyzing the room, and comparing it with some internal checklist or something; fuck knew.

“Took you long enough,” Finn said, trying to sound casual, knowing it sounded too tight.

“You happen to notice all the fucking snow while you blasted through it?” Lars shot back, gesturing to someone behind Finn’s back. When his attention settled back on him, it was for a moment too intense, too direct. “What did I miss?”

“Nothing,” Finn said as he slumped in his chair again. The thing creaked a warning at him, but it held. “Cab should be here in an hour.”

“An hour?” Lars ripped up the sleeve of his parka, baring a skinny, blue-white arm. The man had as much military training as Finn had, if not more, but he’d never been able to bulk up. That despite twenty-mile runs each morning. Two hours of strength training. Several cross-fit sessions a week. His muscles became harder, but not bigger. “Jesus, fuck. And here I was rushing.” Lars grinned at him and then turned that grin to Cora, where it promptly melted. “You okay there, bunny?”

“Stop calling me that,” she said through her teeth.

Anna arrived with a steaming mug, and then hesitated. “Lars?”

“In the flesh,” Lars said, taking the mug from her and sliding into the chair between Finn and Cora.

“Why, I thought you and your friend were only coming out next month again?”

Lars took a noisy sip from the mug, and gave the woman a wide smile. “Had a few days off. Thought I’d hunt a little. Air out here does amazing things for the lungs.” He waved a hand at Finn. “And you finally get to meet ‘my friend’, Finn.” He put airquotes around the word, with another wide grin.

“Well, slap me silly.” Anna put her hand on the back of Finn’s chair, leaning around to see his face. It’s good to meet you, Finn. Lars here talks about you all the time.”

“All the time?” Finn repeated woodenly, throwing Lars a glare.

“All good,” Anna said with a laugh. “All good. Can I get you two another round?”

“Oh, no—” Cora began.

“Thanks, but—” Finn said over her. They both stopped talking.

“Bit of an acquired taste, I guess,” Anna said, sounding utterly despondent.

“I love your hot toddies,” Lars said enthusiastically. “And bring them another round—they’ll learn to love it too if I have to force another three down their throats.”

Anna chuckled as she walked away to fetch their order.

“Lars—” Finn said, but the man waved away his protest.

“Yeah, that’s what I’m talking about.” Lars took another pull at the mug looking as if he was actually savoring the boozy drink before swallowing it down.

Finn shook his head, and caught Cora watching him. He shifted in his chair, and let out a massive sigh when Anna brought another pair of mugs over to their table.

“So now we wait,” he murmured, taking a sip and wishing he hadn’t.

“Now we wait,” Lars said, and then turned that insufferable smile of his on Cora. “So, bunny, Finn ever tell you the story of how we met?”

Finn shot him an incredulous stare, but Cora was already shaking her head, golden eyes rapt.

“Lars, no.”

“Oh, it’s a good one.” The man grinned at him, completely ignoring the pleading look on Finn’s face. Then he reached under the table and gave Finn’s thigh a hard squeeze. “You’re going to love this.”