Page 45 of Finn

He turned to me, taking my hand. “Sullivan Black at your service. Finn is a lucky man. You are ravishing.”

I frowned. “You’re full of it, aren’t you?”

He chuckled. “Witty, too, I see.”

Niall walked in, shocked to see me. He recovered, allowing me to hug him. “He’ll be pleased to see you.”

“Where is he?” I asked, feeling anxious.

He opened the door, escorting me across the hall. “Here.” He put his hand on my arm, pausing. “Tell me you’ve come to your senses, Una. That you’re not going to hurt him again.”

“I don’t want to.”

He drew in a deep breath. “You’re a smart girl, so I have never understood your decision. He would die rather than see you hurt.”

“I don’t want that to be on my conscience.”

He huffed a low laugh. “First off, it’s his decision. And second, do you think that you walking away has changed that?” He made a clucking noise. “You are either blind, or I gave you too much credit.”

“I was too afraid to make that choice.”

“If you needed him, he would burn down the city to get to you. Don’t you realize you are safer with him than without?”

“I don’t want to be a distraction.”

He leaned close. “Open your eyes, Una. He’s safer when you are with him. Less distracted. More focused because he knows you’re okay.”

I stared at him. “I never thought… I didn’t know⁠—”

He cut me off. “Now you do.”

“I love him,” I whispered.

“Then tell him. He needs you, Una. He always has.”

“I need him too.”

He opened the door. “Go get him.”

CHAPTER NINE

FINN

I woke, loath to leave the pleasant dream I was having. Una was beside me, stroking my hair the way she knew I loved, and humming. It was such a real dream, it lingered, even after I blinked open my eyes.

Her lovely green irises looked down at me. She smiled, her voice quiet in the room.

“Hello, Finn.”

I sat up, dragging her into my arms. I didn’t care if we were alone or what else was happening in the room. I needed her close. I needed to know she was real. That I wasn’t hallucinating.

Her low gasp seemed genuine. The feel of her pressed against me was equally compelling. But it was the sensation of her mouth on mine, the taste of her, that convinced me I wasn’t dreaming.

No dream, no matter how good, could possibly be this incredible.

I kissed her with all the emotion I was feeling. The fear and worry. The isolation and loneliness that had been building, being away from her. The love I felt.

And she kissed me back, her fingers buried in my hair, holding me close and whimpering as I tugged her as tight to me as I could.