Twenty-Three.

 

Eva

 

Standing in the alleyway, surrounded by garbage and dirt, I wonder for a moment if I’ve made a terrible mistake. It was meant to be a symbol, like the New Year’s Eve he showed up at my window and this all began. But now I’m struck with a terrible fear that I’m too late. I let him go, I couldn’t find the strength to start over. Now, what if he’s reconsidered our future after all?

Then Finn smiles down at me, that heart-stopping smile, and I know, everything’s going to be okay.

“What the hell are you doing?” he calls down, laughing. “Are you trying to get yourself arrested?”

“It’s an option, yes.” I grin back. There may be seven stories and a wall between us, but still, just being this close to him again makes my heart beat faster. “I had a whole plan. It’s supposed to be a romantic gesture, like—”

“New Year’s,” he finishes for me.

It feels like a lifetime ago, and yesterday, all at once. I was brand new back then, my heart open and untouched, filled with a desire for him that set the world ablaze.

Now, staring up at him, I feel it all over again, stronger than ever. Our love isn’t untested. It’s seen loss and struggle and redemption, but even after all the pain, there’s still a fire burning. And I know now, it won’t ever go out. Like a phoenix from the ashes of the past, we can start over again. Take every good thing, the love that binds us together, and leave the rest behind.

“Don’t move!” Finn orders me, and disappears from the window. But I can’t wait another second to be with him, so I race inside through the back exit and into the stairwell. My footsteps echo on the concrete as I hurry up, desperate to close the distance between us once and for all.

I’ve been frozen in place for too long, scared to move on and risk my heart again. I’ve been searching for something I can rely on and a guarantee he won’t leave me hurting again. But there are no guarantees in love, only a leap of faith. Sometimes the answer is waiting. You just have to choose.

This man. This moment. Forever.

I was in limbo back in Oak Harbor. He was offering me everything, and all I could do was see the future pain if it didn’t work out. I drove Lottie and Dee crazy with my indecision, but it didn’t take me long to realize the truth. Being without him even one week was an eternity.

I never want to be apart from him again.

Finn meets me halfway down. He doesn’t even pause for breath, just pushes me up against the wall, kissing me hard and reckless like it’s the very first time - the first time I knew the life-changing power of desire, and the freedom I could find in his embrace.

I melt against him, my hands in his hair, my body pressed and yearning against his hard, muscular frame. He claims my mouth, parting my lips and sliding his tongue deep to taste me, demanding more. God, I’ve missed him so much. Nothing in the entire universe is as perfect as this, right here. His touch. His body. His broken, beautiful soul.

“What took you so long?” he demands hoarsely when we finally come up for air. He cradles my face in his hands, those blue eyes blazing with passion. “I’ve been going crazy here without you, baby. I thought you didn’t want me after all.”

I shake my head, feeling close to tears. “I’m sorry. I was scared of getting hurt again. I love you so much, I don’t think I could take it if—”

“You won’t.” Finn cuts me off. He kisses me again, deep and fervent. “I’m not going anywhere, I swear. It’s you and me forever now.”

His words sink through me, so sweet I could cry.

“Promise?” I hold him tightly.

“On my life,” Finn vows, and I know that this is it. For real. Forever. “I’ll move back to Oak Harbor, whatever you want,” he continues, and I stare in shock.

“No!” I stop him, amazed he would even offer. “Finn, no. You were right. I’ve been in limbo there, hiding from everything. I want to start again, somewhere with you.”

“Are you sure?” he checks, his eyes searching mine. “Because I’ll be wherever you are. You don’t have to choose—”

“I do,” I say, meaning it with every beat of my heart. “I choose you, Finn. A hundred times over, it’ll always be you.”

He kisses me again, and this time there’s no holding back. Our hearts are beating right here together, bruised and broken, but still holding on for another shot at the love we let slip away. I kiss him to make up for all the time we lost, the years I spent hating him, blaming him, until I learned the truth. That this man has loved me better than I could imagine. Putting me first, every time.

We slam back against the wall, passion unleashed. My hands are everywhere, grabbing at his shirt and sliding it over his head to find his hot, bare skin beneath. Finn lifts me, wrapping my legs around his waist and crushing me against the concrete with every gorgeous inch of his body. I buck against the hardness in his jeans. I don’t care that anyone could open that door and find us here. I just need him more than anything. more than water, more than air.

“Eva,” Finn groans, ragged. He kisses my neck hungrily, running his hands over my breasts until I’m moaning for more. “My room… upstairs…”

But we don’t make it that far. I fumble with his belt buckle, and Finn pushes up my skirt. His mouth is hot and hungry on mine, tongue searching, probing as he pushes my panties aside. I’m so wet, so ready for him, I beg him in a wordless plea. Finn braces himself against the wall, and then his cock finally sinks into me, all the way to the hilt.

I bite down on his shoulder to muffle my moans of pleasure.

God, yes.

I want to savor the feel of him and take our time, but this restless hunger in me is clawing too deep to slow now. I arch against him, needing the impact of his thrusts, and fuck, Finn obliges. He slams into me, hard and deep, so deep, pinning me in place and making my body hum with wild sensation. I’m sobbing into him now, out of control, as over and again, he thrusts into me. Filling me up, claiming what’s his. Already my climax is rearing up in a rush. I can’t hold back, can’t do anything but hold on for dear life and let the ecstasy take me over.

I come apart with a cry, falling into his kiss as Finn carries me through the storm of pleasure. I feel him brace, the shudder of his release, and then we’re left panting together in the stairwell, joined in every way that counts.

He opens his eyes, and brushes my hair back from my sweaty cheek. “Hey,” he whispers.

I smile. “Hey yourself.”

He sets me down on the ground gently, but I still keep hold of him, trying to remember how to walk again. “Well that was…something,” I manage, still reeling from the force of my orgasm.

“Get used to it, baby.” Finn drops a kiss on my forehead and holds me, so close I can feel his heartbeat still racing in his chest. “There’s plenty more where that came from. I haven’t even started loving you yet.”