“I say next month there’s a ring on her finger,” his dad said, tossing a pile of bills on the table.
Finn stood. Well… He went to the table and scooped up their money. “You’re all idiots. But I’ll take your money and put it toward the ring.”
“Hey!” They all objected, but laughed in good humor.
He stuffed the money in his pocket and headed to the kitchen. All the women were either working at the counter or sitting at the table. Samantha was sitting with Mallory. He shot his sister-in-law a look that promised retribution. Mallory’s brows rose and he took it as a sign of exasperation.
“Hey,” he said, softly, settling into the chair beside her.
She smiled and said through her teeth, “I’m going to kill your sister-in-law.”
Sammy gasped. “I can hear you.”
“I know. You should probably lay low for a while,” Mallory warned.
Sammy looked a little scared and got up to help the others. Finn leaned in and kissed Mallory’s cheek. “How you holding up?”
“Well, I just had to give my life summery in ten minutes and that old woman keeps staring at me.”
“That’s Italian Mary. She’s a bit overprotective of us McCulloughs.”
“Should I be afraid?”
“Nah. Maybe a little. I’m sure you’ll be fine.”
“All right, you two love birds, it’s time to eat,” his mother said, holding an enormous bowl of ham and cabbage.
Everyone filtered out of the kitchen and into the dining room.
His mother yelled into the den. “Come on, boys. Get off your arses and carry something to the table.” His nieces and nephews charged down the stairs and rushed into the dining room.
He pulled out a chair for Mallory, and they settled in. Colin had a large dining room built in their house, because he often hosted events for the church. Everyone quieted as his older brother tapped his fork to his glass.
Colin cleared his throat and bowed his head. “Lord, we thank you for this amazing feast and for bringing Mallory here to meet everyone. We hope that she enjoys herself and blesses us with many more nights filled with family, laughter, and tradition.”
As Colin went on with grace, Finn reached for Mallory’s hand under the table and squeezed. He hoped the same.
After dinner they sat at the table and he suffered many stories—mostly of the embarrassing sort—of his childhood. They got out of there around nine. All in all, the night wasn’t too bad. Mallory seemed to hold up well. His parents had pulled him aside before they left to tell him how much they liked her. His brothers took every chance they had to make him feel whipped and rib him.
As he parked outside of her apartment he shut off the truck and waited for her to invite him up. “Did you have fun tonight?”
“It was definitely an experience. You weren’t kidding when you said your family’s like locusts.”
He laughed and rubbed her knee. “That wasn’t even all of them. Wait until you meet all the cousins.”
“Your sisters are nice.”
He eased back in his seat and looked at her. She had such a pretty smile. “You’re nice.”
Her cheeks darkened and she grinned shyly at him. “Would you like to come in?”
God yes. “Sure.”
They walked up the steps and she unlocked the door. Once inside he waited to see what she wanted to do. They both stood in the living room as though waiting for the other to suggest something.
Their eyes met and the energy crackled. Two seconds later, they were wrapped around each other, kissing fiercely. She tugged at his shirt, tearing open the buttons, and his hand slipped under her shirt and found her breasts.
They shuffled into her bedroom, never once taking their lips off each other. They laughed as they toppled to the bed. She spread his shirt wide and bit his chest. He jerked and tugged her shirt over her head. She wore a purple, lace bra and he stilled. Her breasts were magnificent.
“God, you’re beautiful.”
She froze and lowered her lashes bashfully. “No, I’m not.”
“Yes,” he said, sternly. “You are.”
His fingers pulled the cup of her bra down and out popped her soft nipple. Leaning up, he pulled it into his mouth and she moaned, her thighs tightening on his hips. She braced her arms at his shoulders and he cupped her breasts, filling his palms, and tasted her flesh.
She rocked over him as her moans grew. Suddenly, she sat up and scooted lower. Her fingers worked the buttons of his jeans and the zipper came down in a fast zip. Her warm hand curled around his flesh and pulled him out. Then her mouth was on him.
Breath sucked deep in his lungs. He arched and folded his hands behind his head, eyes shutting in bliss. “I love this.”
“Mmm,” she said, her muffled reply vibrating along his flesh.
Her hand pumped as her mouth suctioned up and down over his length. Jesus, she was good at that—a little too good. His hips bucked and he felt himself getting close.
“Hold on, Philly, I want inside of you.”
She tightened her grip and worked him faster. He was going to come. His spine tingled and it was too late. His release filled her mouth and she never stopped. No one had ever done that to him so enthusiastically, so perfectly.
He panted as he came down from the sudden rush of endorphins and she came to rest by his side, her fingers trailing over his pecs and sending shivers and chills up his arms.
“Marry me.” The words fell out and she laughed.
“What is it with guys and blow jobs?” she asked.
“You’re incredible at that.”
“Well, I usually don’t like doing that, but with you it’s different.”
That’s how he felt about her too. Everything was going so fast with them, he wondered if it was a bad thing. His family broke his stones, but none of them seemed overly concerned.
Once he caught his breath, he turned to her and smiled. “Your turn.”
She squealed as he undid her pants and yanked them off her legs. His hands spread her thighs and his thumbs opened her. She was all pink and glossy and plump. He dove in for a taste and she cried out. He gave as good as he got, rushing her to climax until she was shouting his name.
He scrambled up her body and reached for the condoms, but his cock made contact with her sex and they both froze and sighed at the incredible feeling of skin on skin. She moaned and wiggled her hips. The tip of his erection settled at her opening and their eyes met. Fuck, she felt good.
They breathed and she lifted. Heat engulfed his length and he was halfway in. He’d never had sex without protection. He should be the sensible one and pull out now, get a condom on, and get back to business, but then she did something crazy with her internal muscles and he nearly came out of his skin.
“My period’s due tomorrow or the next day. I think that makes us safe,” she said under a sweet pink flush.
His breath shook. Maybe just a little. He pressed deeper and they moaned. “You feel incredible right now.”
“I’ve never done it without…”
“Me neither,” he confessed.
“I trust you, Finn.”
“We shouldn’t.”
“Okay,” she said softly, but he thrust again and she made a sound of absolute pleasure.
Again. Just a few more times in and out and then he would grab a condom. Her body tightened around him and he continued. He couldn’t seem to find the will to leave her heat. His body began to tingle and he knew he didn’t have much time. The fact that she made him come once, bought him some stamina, but she was so incredible it wouldn’t last.
He let his mind go. Filling her, loving the way she tightened around him, they went at it. Nails dragged over skin. Hair was pulled. His name on her lips was pure poetry to his ears.
Before he knew what happened he felt his release bursting out of him. She tightened and cried out her own release. In the last second, he had the good sense to pull out. He spilled his release over her so
ft tummy and breathed hard. As he stared down at her, he saw perhaps the prettiest expression he’d ever seen her make. She was so damn sexy.
The only thing that broke his mood was the crashing realization that he might have just majorly fucked up. “I’m sorry. That was my fault. I shouldn’t have done that.”
“Finn, it’s fine. I’m sure it’s fine. You didn’t finish in me and, I told you, I’m not ovulating right now.”
He felt terrible. He was usually responsible. “Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
He kissed her. “Let’s take a shower together and I’ll clean you up.”
Her expression shuttered. “I’ll just take one by myself real quick. I don’t mind.”
He frowned. “But I want to take one with you.”
“I don’t do that.”
“What, shower?”
“Not with others. Gravity is not my friend.”
“Stop. I’ve seen you naked. You’re naked now. What’s the difference? I’ll be naked too.”
“No.”
He saw there was no convincing her otherwise and he was disappointed. He wanted to touch her and play under the water, but this was one of those silly hang-ups she had. He didn’t feel like getting into how ridiculous that was, so he let it go and kissed her on the cheek. “Fine. Hurry up, though. I’m not done with you.”
Chapter Fourteen
The following weeks, Mallory knew, would forever be categorized as the best time of her life. She and Finn saw each other every day. He had become a necessary part of her life.
The parts of her life that didn’t necessarily include Finn were doing wonderful also. She loved her job, had forgiven Sammy for setting her up with the family dinner, and, on October seventeenth, something incredible happened. She got on the scale and read a number she hadn’t seen since her early twenties.
Since then, she had dropped another eight pounds. It was insane to her that she would soon be a weight she hadn’t seen since she was a teenager. Her body was still a work in progress, but she felt incredible.
She could carry groceries up her apartment steps without getting winded. She could dance for hours on end. And she was becoming quite the acrobat in the bed sport department.
She and Finn went climbing often. Today she was determined to ring that bell at the top of the tree.
She laced up the boots Finn had surprised her with last month and grabbed the flannel he’d left at her apartment. It was her flannel now. She wasn’t giving it back. As she ran down the stairs he was waiting in his truck. It was damp out. Rain misted in the air, too insignificant to form actual drops.
She hopped in the truck and buckled up.
“Ready, champ?” Finn asked as he leaned over to greet her with a kiss.
“That bell is mine,” she declared proudly.
As they drove to the lumberyard, the wipers swiped over the windshield every few minutes as mist gathered. The ground was muddy, but she was determined this was her day. Thanksgiving was just around the corner and, while the Rocky steps were on her bucket list, tree climbing came first.
Finn grabbed the equipment and helped her climb into the harness. He cupped the apex of her jeans and teasingly suggested he’d be ringing her bell later. She swatted him away, all business, and proceeded to buckle up her spikes.
She got the rope around the trunk on the first swing and took a deep breath. Her spikes cut into the bark and she hoisted herself up. Shimmying the rope and taking small steps, she was soon twenty feet off the ground. Getting down was the hardest part, but she’d learned not to look at the ground.
Her muscles shook the higher she climbed. Sweat gathered under the leather of her gloves. A strand of hair tickled from under her helmet, but she blew it out of her way.
It was November and the temperature had lowered quite a bit. That was why today was important. It would be snowing in Center County soon and she didn’t want to have to wait until spring to try and ring the bell again.
Unfiltered winds gusted at her, strong and steady, the farther up she climbed. She squinted through her protective glasses toward the top. It was difficult to see, since the misty air had started to form drops on her lenses.
“You’re almost there, babe!” Finn shouted from far below.
She dug in her spikes and took another step. Glancing up, she spotted the old rusted bell at the top. Winded, she took a few minutes to gather her wits.
“You all right?”
“Yes,” she shouted back.
Once she caught her breath, she whipped the rope up and took two more steps. A little closer. She breathed and grunted as she whipped the rope up again. Two steps and she reached, but she wasn’t there yet. Bracing herself, she shimmied the rope again and shut her eyes. The treetops were a daunting reminder of how far she was from the ground. Step. Hoist. Kick. Step.
Looking up, she spotted the weathered tail of the frayed rope hanging over the sprout of an old branch. She reached and her leather-clad fingertips teased the threads closer. Her fist closed over the rope’s end as her weight leaned into the harness. She tugged and the loud clank of the rusted bell echoed through the forest.
Finn whistled and clapped and cheered and a rush of pride had her blinking back tears. She did it!
Taking a deep breath, she stood there for a moment. Her gloves wiped across her glasses and she took in the magnificent view. The green horizon met blue sky. It was likely the closest she’d ever come to flying.
Peace settled over her and she suddenly felt very close to God. As though she had His ear for that brief moment in time, she whispered to Him. She could have asked for something, but that wasn’t what she wanted. Rather, she stared at the heavens and told Him, “Thank you.”
As she climbed down, she focused on making it to the ground safely. By the time she was below the canopy of trees her legs were practically numb. Her steps grew clumsy and her fingers were slowly starting to slip.
Sweat beaded at her forehead and trickled into her eyes. There was nothing she could compare to the rushing sense of relief she felt the moment Finns arms closed around her.
“I got you,” he whispered and her limbs nearly gave out as he helped her down.
The ground met the bottom of her cleats hard and she suffered the quick bite of vertigo as her equilibrium reacquainted itself with the earth. She turned and pulled off her helmet and glasses. “I did it!”
Just then the sky opened up and cooling rain began to pelt her shoulders. Finn smiled and hugged her tight. “Yeah you did!”
They spun in the rain, laughing and kissing. She was so proud of herself.
“I knew you could do it,” he said, his lips pressed to hers. “You’re amazing!”
She sealed her lips to his and pulled him tight. She had yet to catch her breath. The kiss slowed and excitement bubbled in her belly. Her clothing clung to her body, damp from the rain.
“Come on, let’s get out of the rain,” he said, taking her hand and running toward the truck.
Thunder cracked and she jumped. “Wait. I can’t run in these spikes.”
He stopped and pulled her under a nearby tree. Bending to one knee, he quickly unlatched her spikes. She leaned into the trunk of the tree, her legs still burning from exertion.
He glanced up at her, his face wet with rain, a smile splitting his face. “I want you, Philly. Now.”
Breath sawed out of her lungs. How could she say no to him? “You have me.”
He reached up and undid the leather harness around her hips and thighs. His fingers pulled at the buttons of her jeans until he had the zipper flayed wide. His warm mouth pressed into the silk patch of her panties and he tugged the denim down her thighs.
Rough bark bit into her palms as she braced herself. Once her hips were exposed she shivered. The rain was cool and although her skin was hot, the temperature was low.
His thumb followed the seam of her panties and tugged it aside. He lifted from his heels and brought his mouth to her sex, piercing he
r folds with his tongue. He growled. “You taste so fucking good.”
Her head fell back, her hair catching on the bark of the tree. She breathed fast as he licked, kissed, and fucked her with his tongue. Thunder rumbled followed by the unmistakable rip of silk. He used both hands to part her folds and teased at her clit. Her knees bucked, but he held her there, pinned to a tree, in the middle of the woods as rain pelted them from every direction.
Her voice echoed through the forest over the shelling sound of rain. He pressed a finger into her sex, then two, and she tightened. His mouth was relentless. Heart racing, she shook and shivered as the first wave of her climax crashed over her.
“Finn!”
He continued to draw out her orgasm until she could take no more. As she caught her breath, he stood. “I need you now, Mallory.”
She yanked her pants somewhat back in place. He laced his fingers in hers and tugged her toward the truck. It was really raining now. Their clothes were drenched and she struggled to yank her soaked jeans over her hips as they ran.
Every few steps Finn glanced back at her from over his shoulder. She knew she’d always remember the way he looked in that moment, happy, intense…in love.
They reached the truck and he spun her so her back pressed into the metal. His lips tasted of her. Her fists closed over his saturated shirt. “Fuck me, Finnegan. Now.”
He growled and threw open the driver door. The keys were still in the ignition and the mechanism made a repetitive ding. He tugged her wrist. “Here, lay down. No, on your stomach.”
She rested her arms under her chest as she bent over. He yanked her jeans down and rain spattered over her ass. She heard him fumbling with his own clothes and then he kicked out her booted feet. She could only spread her legs so much with her jeans twisted around her knees.
“Shit. No condom,” he suddenly said.
“I don’t care.” She needed him.
“Me neither.”
His lips pressed into the cheek of her ass and then the blunt tip of his erection parted her folds and filled her in one deep thrust. She went up on her toes as he thrust again and again, taking her hard.