CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
Finn handed me a glass of red wine. “I’m sorry that took so long.”
I chuckled and sipped from my gifted drink. “I spent the rest of the day exploring your house. It was very relaxing.”
He poured his own glass of wine, the liquid streaming down into the glass, and glanced over his shoulder at me. “Was it relaxing when you broke my favorite vase?”
I choked on my wine, covering my mouth so he couldn’t see the wine spitting past my lips. “How did you know?”
I’d been clear on the other side of the mansion when that happened—to his favorite vase.
“I heard the crash.” He turned to face me completely, pressing his hips back against the kitchen counter by the refrigerator. “It must have been something, for the sound to carry so far.”
My cheeks warmed, but I still understood how it would have looked to an outsider. “It was a magnificent blunder that I’m sure you and your friends would have enjoyed witnessing.”
I had even fallen down a couple of stairs trying to catch the beautiful piece of ancient artwork as it tipped from my fingers…and fell over the side of the railing to the tiling far below.
Finn’s lips trembled. “Were you even going to tell me?”
“Maybe?” I hedged slowly, my forehead wrinkling in my own confusion if I would have told him—at a much later date.
That vase had been centuries old, after all. And in pristine condition. I was almost certain I’d seen a reference to it in one of my culture studies at the university.
“So that’s a no.” Finn chuckled so hard his massive shoulders trembled. He shook his head, humor lighting his gaze. “You are something else.”
“I hope that’s in a good way,” I grumbled.
“Don’t worry about the vase, Mina. It was only a material possession. I’m just happy you cleaned up the mess and didn’t hurt yourself.”
I nodded. I probably shouldn’t tell him how I twisted my right ankle during the fall, still swollen and sore.
His eyes narrowed, and then he growled, “Show me whatever you hurt.”
My eyes widened. “I didn’t even flinch! And I’m excellent at keeping thoughts to myself. How did you know?”
Finn flicked a finger at my glass.
I peered down at it. Stared.
The liquid inside was vibrating—barely.
“Good grief,” I muttered. But I lifted my right leg and lifted the pant leg to my calf. “It doesn’t hurt too badly. It looks worse than it is.”
Finn placed his wine glass on the counter. “You should have said something earlier. I could have had a doctor swing by the house to double check.” He glanced at his bracelet. “It’s late, but I could call someone who owes me a favor.”
“No, it’s really okay. It’s not broken or fractured.”
He bent his knees, crouching down in front of me. The white tiger lifted my bare foot in his left hand and examined my ankle with his right palm. I held still and kept hold of my pant leg with my free hand, attempting not to recoil when he pressed too hard in one spot. He asked, “It’s tender there?”
Of course, he noticed. “Yes. I think that’s where the bruise will form.”
He nodded. “I agree. But we should still have it looked at tomorrow morning to make sure it’s nothing more serious.”
“Fine.” I sighed in aggravation. “But I’m not particularly fond of doctors’ offices.”
His head dipped further, and he placed a gentle kiss on my swollen ankle. The grin he graced me with was adorable as he peered up at me. “Did the kiss make it better?”
“It’s positively healed. There’s no need for a doctor now.”
Finn chuckled as he released my foot and stood to his full height. “You’re not getting out of going to the doctor that easily.” His head cocked, considering me. “Is there a reason why you don’t like doctors?”
I took a large drink of wine, lifting the glass to my lips and enjoying the perfection that poured into my mouth. “Maybe I fear them finding something wrong with me one day.”
The white tiger procured his own glass from the counter, asking candidly, “Are there any hereditary illnesses that run in your family lines?”
“Actually, there aren’t. It’s simply an irrational fear I have. I like living. And I want to be healthy until I’m old and wrinkled.”
His white brows furrowed over his stunning eyes. “I can’t imagine you with wrinkles.”
I grinned, my teeth flashing as I chuckled. “You’re supposed to say, I will be beautiful even when I become an old woman.”
“That wasn’t what I meant.” He shook his head, his brows still furrowed. “I think I’ve become more attached to you than even I’d realized. I hadn’t thought of the fact your body will grow old…and I will not.”
I ran my eyes over his features. They were drawn tight in consternation. I asked him honestly, “I know what will happen if I’m your mate. That is plain enough to see. But what will happen if I’m not? Is this an ordinary dalliance until I feel it’s safe to go home or is this more?”
His lips thinned. “I’ve never actually dated a human before. And I’ve certainly never married one. Humans are so fragile. They end so quickly.”
I appreciated his honesty.
“But…,” he continued, “I’ve never met a woman like you before, either.”
“Is that a compliment?” I sipped my wine.
“The best of them.”
I hummed and tapped my fingers against my glass. “You don’t know, do you?”
Brilliant blue eyes lifted from the floor where he was staring and connected with mine. “I think I do know.”
“You do?” I asked in surprise.
I hadn’t expected that.
“I want you to be my mate. I’m hoping that you’re my mate. And that’s a forever relationship—the good and the bad. Forever, Mina.” His brows rose as if I should have realized this by now.
He persisted, “Why wouldn’t I want to be with you, even if you age and die? You don’t throw away someone you believe is perfect for you, just because you’re scared of what mortality will take. Humanity would be lost if every human behaved like that.”
My jaw was gaping. “Finn…”
His smile was patient. “I know, I know. But I am much older than you are. I’ve seen love in others from the first spark. I know what it looks like. We’ve got that spark, and so much more.”
I sucked in a breath, and whispered, “Are you going to take me to bed now, Mr. Baker?”
Finn smirked and lifted my wine glass from my hands. He set both down on the counter, and then he turned and lifted me into his arms, holding me close. “Yes, Mina. I’m taking you to bed now.”