Chapter 18

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

CATLIN

Finn’s family, with cute little Fiona belting it the loudest, sings Happy Birthday to me as Quinn carries a cake to the table.

Surrounded by the Evans family— half of whom were strangers no more than a couple of hours ago— I can’t help but think back on recent birthdays. Since losing Mam and Daidi , none of them have been like this. Every birthday passed like nearly any other day. Uncle Sean would ring me to bless my day, and Máthair Dhríonna would cook bangers and mash—because I still can’t bring myself to tell her it’s not my favorite meal. Until this moment, I didn’t realize just how much I missed having a family.

Expletive-fueled insults and laughter fill the room, both growing more rambunctious with every pour of whiskey. These boys are crass and loud, but it is obvious how much they all absolutely love one another.

Fighting back tears and falling apart at the table, I stare down at the flickering candles. They adorn a remarkably gorgeous cake frosted entirely in powder-pink roses and pearls. Finn rubs his hand over my back, bringing me back from my solemn thoughts. “Make a wish, piscín .”

After taking a deep breath, I blow it over the cake and extinguish each of the candles as I make my wish.

A family as lovingly dysfunctional as this one.

We finish dessert, with the Evans family treating me as one of their own. I try to help clean up but am quickly shooed out of the kitchen. “Guests don’t clean up,” Declan declares. “Especially when it’s their birthday.”

Leaving the kitchen before I’m scolded again, I wander out to the patio and stare over the rail to the ocean beyond. Small waves lap at the shore as the moonlight flickers over the dark water beneath it. It’s so mesmerizing that I don’t hear Finn approaching until his arms wrap around me from behind. His lips press into the crook of my neck, and my body melts into his.

“Come.” The lone word vibrates against my skin as he slips his hand into mine. With our fingers enlaced, he leads me from the patio and down to the beach. Slipping off my sandals when we step onto the beach, I toss them toward the patio steps. The sand squishes between my toes as we stroll along the shoreline to a more secluded area hidden by some rocks and out of his family’s sight.

This is the first time I have truly been alone with Finn since we met. Sitting on the sand next to him, my nerves cause my heart to beat a little faster, knowing that no one is watching us and there is no chance of getting caught with him . No reason not to do the sinful things I’ve been thinking about.

Except for that promise to God.

“Did you have fun tonight?” Finn asks as his knuckles drag along my jaw and his soft-blue eyes bore into mine.

“Yes. So much. Your family is just… They’re incredible.”

“They all adore you,” he shares. Hooking his arms around me, Finn pulls me into his lap. My heart thumps faster with every racing beat as I straddle his thighs with his hands resting on my hips. Slowly leaning forward, he pauses a breath from my lips and whispers, “ I fucking adore you.”

His lips press against mine, and I melt into their soft warmth. With my arms wrapped around Finn’s neck, his hands trail up and down my spine. He presses his tongue between my lips and massages against mine. Effortlessly, Finn drags me up his thighs, and I whimper into his mouth as he holds me tightly to him. Our chests heave in unison as we steal breaths between our needy kisses.

Finn’s hand rests on my bare thigh, dusting over my skin at the hemline of my dress. Inch by inch—as though he’s waiting for me to stop him—he works under the loose skirt until his fingertips are running along the edge of my panties. Shifting my weight, I brush against his growing length beneath me. I gasp at both the sensation of him and knowing that he’s hard.

“Do you like the feel of me against your pussy?” Finn grips my ass with both hands and pulls me flush against his hips as he flexes. The hardness in his pants rubs against my panties, and a whimpered moan spews from me at the pleasurable tingle. My hips grind against him, wanting more. Needing more . Firmly holding my ass, he helps me ride his gyrating hips.

My head falls back, relishing in the pleasure swelling at my core. Finn’s lips are immediately on my neck, traveling the length of it with his teeth and tongue. “Finn,” I breathlessly exhale his name, the growing ache becoming unbearable.

“Is my good little piscín going to let go? Are you going to soak those little cotton panties from rubbing against my cock?” he groans against my neck between wet kisses and teasing bites.

I shouldn’t.

We should stop.

But my body disagrees. Clawing at Finn’s shoulders, I need more. As though he can read my mind, Finn pulls me tight and lays me in the sand as he climbs on top of me. Hovering above me, his large, tattooed hand slides up my thigh until the skirt of my dress is bunched around my waist. He looks down at my body and groans, “I love how fucking wet you get for me. Those little pink panties of yours are soaked.”

His hand slides over my hip and his fingers dip beneath the waist of my panties, but I tense beneath him. He quickly withdraws his hand and places it back on my thigh. “We won’t do anything you don’t want. I’ll stop the second you say so. I told you, as long as it takes.”

“No.” I lightly shake my head and stammer through my confession, “It’s not that. Just… I’ve never. Not just with a guy. But… never.”

His eyes don’t leave mine as he whispers, “Until now.”