Finn broke the kiss first, but only to whisper against her lips. “Sam … is this what you want?”
She nodded fervently, her lips longing for his again. “Yes.” She pulled him close again and this time her kiss was hungrier. Finn groaned softly and she could feel the hard length of him pressing against the soft warmth of her lower stomach. Thoughts of what he’d do to her made her shift closer to him so that he shuddered under her touch.
“Sam.” His voice was hoarse, gritty. “What are you doing to me?”
She ran her hands down his back and kissed the side of his neck. “What do you want me to do to you?”
“Come with me,” he murmured, kissing her again before taking her hand. “Let’s go somewhere quieter.”
Sam nodded, breathless as he led her around the corner to a dark doorway in a side street. He held her hand, caressing the back of it with his thumb as they waited for some people to pass them. She could sense his frustration as another couple, laughing and joking, walked by. She dragged him further down the side street until they were completely out of sight of anyone on the main thoroughfare. She giggled as his eyes widened as she pushed him against the wall, her breath heavy with want. Then she was in his arms again, kissinghim deeply while her fingers fumbled with the closings on his ski pants.
He growled, his hands reaching for hers. “Sam, stop.”
She pulled back, dizzy and captivated by the moment.
“Sam,” Finn groaned, pulling her into his chest, his arms holding her tight. He whispered into her hair, “Not here.”
She pushed against him. “Not here?”
“No.” He grasped her hips, then spun them around so that she was against the wall. Leaning down, he kissed her deeply again. Sam wrapped her arms around him, her body weak as his scent enveloped her. His hands ran down her sides, making her shiver and press against him. His skin was warm where his hoodie opened at the neck, soft and tantalizing against hers. With his hands on her waist, he carefully steadied her as she swayed against him.
“God, Sam.” His breath was ragged as he touched his forehead to hers.
Sam nodded gently, afraid to break contact with him. She smoothed her hands down along his chest and stomach, reveling in the hardness of his body. Wanting to rip his clothes off. He groaned as her fingers began loosening his pants again. His hand, warm and big, took hers again.
“Come on, Sam. Not here. Not in public.” He swallowed and Sam blushed. He was right. This was not a good idea.
“Where then?” She bit her lip, watching him carefully for his reaction.
He looked down and shook his head before shoving away from the wall, his hands in his hair, a look of torment on his face. Her stomach plummeted as he looked at her and shook his head.
“Oh, Finn,” she breathed out, her voice unsteady.
“Sam?” His voice was quiet but firm, a raw edge to it. He stood back, putting space between them as she stepped forward. “You’ve—we’ve really crossed a line here. Tonight—the other night … what are we doing here?”
“I-I didn’t mean—” Sam started but her voice cracked. She reached for him, but he was already a step away from her. “Finn … I just wanted to take some control. No, that sounds wrong. I didn’t mean it that way.”
“You don’t have to explain.” His voice was tight, but gentle. He rubbed the back of his neck, turning away from her. “Sam, I’m sorry—and it’s not that I don’t want to. I can’t.”
“What?” Sam was at his side in a flash. “If this is because of that stupid promise we made, I don’t want to hear it! I think it’s nonsense and Iwantto break it. I do.”
Finn grasped her hands and kissed them. “Me too, Sam. I swear to you that I do. But not tonight. I just want it to … to mean something.”
Sam’s heart twisted painfully, and for a moment, she thought she might collapse. But Finn pulled her in again, tucking her head beneath his chin like she belonged there. And God, she really wanted to belong there. Her thudding heart slowed down as his arms held her, his warmth seeping into her. For a while they just stood there, in the quiet hush of the night, the hum of the town muffled by falling snow. Sam breathed him in, her mind going over the whole thing. She felt his lips press a kiss to the top of her head, and she pressed her face closer to his neck. He was right. They’d already had the passion—the shower—and she still achedfor more, but this … this was different. This was choosing not to lose herself in the moment. All she had to do was to kiss him again and he’d give in to her. It was a powerful feeling, but it wasn’t control. It was the opposite.Thiswas restraint,notrejection.
“Walk me back?” She eased herself out of his embrace, smiling as the crease between his brows smoothed away. She slipped her hand into his, letting their fingers twine together as they started walking. His hand felt right in hers, and as they stepped out into the street, Sam felt a rebellious streak rise up within her. This was taking control, this moment. Holding hands with the man she loved on the street—in front of the world—and tomorrow … tomorrow she was going to take back the dream she’d allowed to slip away from her these past few days. One thing was for sure, no one was going to save her from anything—if she wanted to win, she was going to have to do it herself.
17
Finn
Wednesday, 11th February
From his hunched-up position against the barriers, Finn watched the women’s qualifiers for the halfpipe snowboard. It was bitterly cold. The sky was gray and threatening snow, and yet, judging from the crowds in the stands, everyone in Livigno seemed to be there. He wrapped his hands, cold even though he was wearing gloves, around a hot coffee and took a look around. His stomach was in knots, but he still took a huge bite of his brioche. Something had come over Sam last night, and it was both electrifying, thrilling and making him worry. She’d been fearless on the walk back to her hotel, with her chin raised and a steely determination in her eyes that he’d never seen before.
Gabriel’s commentary infused the snow-filled event space as huge screens flickered on high stands. Finn scanned the closest screen for Sam’s form. As usual, she was at the back of the group, but unusually, Jake Harrington wasn’t hoveringaround his daughter. Instead, he was talking animatedly to Becky while Leo stood nearby nodding and smiling. The camera just caught Sam’s calm and set face before Gabriel’s chiseled face filled the screen. Finn shoved the rest of his brioche into his mouth as the camera zoomed out.
Gabriel’s co-commentator, five times Olympic Gold medal winner Seb Whittaker appeared, wrapped in a tight, shiny yellow puffer jacket and an overly long vivid fuchsia scarf that clashed horribly with the yellow jacket. The jacket caught the lights most unflatteringly, highlighting the tightness of the jacket around the man’s slightly paunchy middle. The material bunched awkwardly around his shoulders as the end of his fuchsia scarf flapped dramatically in the wind. He fussed with it, tossing the end over his shoulder as if he thought he was Lenny Kravitz. His face, haggard and red, was set in a smug expression, as he posed for the camera. A strand of graying hair flopped across his forehead, and he flicked his head back before beaming a gallant smile directly at the camera.
