Page 182

Triona

Saturday, 21 June 1823

Nearing North Wall Quay, Dublin, Ireland

Just as Finn promised, we spent the last fourteen days tangled in each other’s arms, discovering all the ways we could please one another.

As the days blurred into nights, the reality of our world faded into the background, overtaken by the way we had become so profoundly imbedded into each other. Within the walls of our cabin, we were infinite, unstoppable, and utterly consumed by one another. The lavender-scented air in our quarters felt sacred, a haven that only welcomed us.

I didn’t care what waited on the other side of the door. Not until the bell tolled, followed by the cry of “Land ho!”—which broke me from my reverie.

The faint light of dawn seeps through the edges of the cabin window, casting a soft glow over the small space. I’ve been awake for some time, nestled against Finn’s bare chest. His heartbeat is steady beneath my palm, a rhythm that soothes and ignites in equal measure. The warmth of his skin against mine feels right.

Careful not to wake him, I let my gaze roam his face. In sleep, he is unguarded, his brow smooth, his lips parted just slightly, his dark hair a tousled mess against the pillow. The soft glow of morning catches in the strands, and I can’t help myself.

I reach out, brushing my fingers along his jawline, memorising him, savouring him.

How had I lived without this? Without him?

It feels as if the universe has finally corrected itself, placing me where I’m meant to be—wrapped in his arms, with him always.

A slow, sleepy grin tugs at Finn’s lips, and without even opening his eyes, he murmurs, “How long are you plannin’ on watchin’ me sleep, lass?”

His voice is low, warm, laced with that playful charm that never fails to make my heart flutter.

I smile, my fingers still tracing his jaw. “Perhaps until the sun sets again,” I tease. “You’re far too handsome for me to look away from.”

His grin widens, and one eye cracks open, golden flecks glinting in the early light. “Good,” he whispers, his voice still thick with sleep. “It’s all the distraction I need.”

I furrow my brow, confused. “What dis—”

Before I can finish, Finn flips the blankets away in one smooth motion, the cool air hitting my bare skin just as he flips us, pinning me beneath him with effortless ease.

A startled gasp leaves me, but protest dies on my lips as his weight settles above me, strong arms bracketing my head, his mischievous golden gaze locking onto mine.

“Now tell me,” he murmurs, as his lips descend to the hollow of my throat, warm and unhurried, as though he has nothing but time.

“What were you thinkin’ while you were starin’ at me?”

His breath brushes against my skin, each exhale a whisper of heat, his lips dragging lower—teasing, tormenting—until every nerve in my body is strung tight, attuned to him and nothing else.

I part my legs, welcoming him in, a silent invitation he doesn’t hesitate to accept. His body sinks between mine, the thick, throbbing heat of him lingering above where I need him. It’s torture, the way he idles, the way I can feel every inch of him pulsing, teasing, taunting, keeping me on the edge of madness.

My body tightens, hips tilting, searching for more, but his grip is firm, his control absolute. A slow, aching fire builds deep in my core, desperate, insatiable, but he doesn’t move, doesn’t give me the friction I crave. He holds me there, making me feel every agonizing second of it, drowning me in the unbearable, dripping need he’s so effortlessly set ablaze.

He wants me to beg for it.

My breath hitches as his mouth drags along my collarbone, down to the tops of my breasts, lingering just to hear me gasp.

“The truth?” I manage, my voice trembling slightly. “It feels as though I loved you before I ever took my first breath.”

Finn stills, his lips hovering just above my skin, his breath warm against me.

“Aye?” he whispers, his voice thick with something deeper than desire.

I moan in response, already arching into him, already aching for more.

“As if a long forgotten part of me has carried you for so long that I can’t truly recall a time when you were not mine, and I was not yours.”