Chapter 15

Chapter Fifteen

T essa

Shep’s wet tongue drags across my cheek, and I jolt awake with a startled laugh, my hand swiping at the drool he’s left behind.

“Shep,” I groan, half-heartedly trying to push him away. But the giant furball has already flopped onto his back, tail wagging as if to say, Welcome to the pack, lady.

“Looks like you’re officially in,” Finn’s gravelly voice rumbles from the doorway. He leans against the frame, his arms crossed over his broad chest, looking impossibly sexy for someone who just woke up. His hair is a tousled mess, his jaw shadowed with stubble, and he’s wearing nothing but a pair of gray sweatpants that hang low on his hips.

I swallow hard, suddenly too aware of the bed I’m still sprawled in— his bed. The sheets smell like him, a mix of pine and something darker, something that makes my heart race. “Is this his way of hazing me?” I tease, scratching Shep’s belly. “Because if it is, it’s working.”

Finn smirks, pushing off the doorframe and stalking toward me with a lazy confidence that sends a shiver down my spine. “Nah,” he says, his voice dropping an octave. “Shep’s smarter than that. He doesn’t waste time on people who don’t matter.”

The weight of his words settles between us, heavy and electric. I sit up, clutching the blanket to my chest, and try to focus on anything other than the way his eyes linger on me—soft, but undeniably hungry.

“Coffee?” he asks, breaking the spell as he jerks his head toward the kitchen.

“Yes, please,” I manage, my voice shakier than I’d like.

I follow him to the kitchen, the cozy warmth of the cabin wrapping around me like a blanket. He moves with purpose, grabbing mugs and filling them with the rich, earthy brew he must’ve started earlier. The simplicity of the moment—the smell of coffee, the sound of Shep’s paws padding across the floor—feels more intimate than I expect, like I’ve stepped into a life I didn’t realize I wanted.

Finn hands me a mug, his fingers brushing mine just long enough to send a jolt of heat racing up my arm. I take a sip, letting the warmth settle in my chest, and glance at him over the rim. “You always this good at hospitality?” I ask, aiming for playful but landing somewhere closer to breathless.

“Only for guests who don’t complain about my mining equipment,” he shoots back, his lips twitching into a smirk.

I roll my eyes, but the banter feels easier now, like a familiar rhythm we’ve fallen into without even realizing. “Fair point. I guess I’ll have to work harder on being a terrible neighbor.”

“Don’t bother,” he says, his voice softening. “You’re already the best damn thing that’s happened to me in years.”

The air shifts again, charged and heavy. He steps closer, his eyes searching mine like he’s trying to memorize every detail. “You’ve been living in my heart, you know,” he murmurs, his voice raw. “Since way back then. I didn’t know it at the time, but you were there, waiting for the right moment to come back.”

My breath catches, and I can’t look away from him. “Finn…”

He brushes a strand of hair from my face, his fingers lingering against my cheek. The tenderness in his touch, the unspoken promise in his eyes, undoes me. Before I can second-guess myself, I lean into him, my hands finding his chest as his arms wrap around me, pulling me close.

The kiss is slow and sweet at first, a gentle exploration that quickly deepens into something more urgent. His lips are firm and demanding, his hands sliding down my back to press me tighter against him. I can feel the steady thrum of his heartbeat against my palms, matching the wild rhythm of my own.

When we finally break apart, we’re both breathing hard, our foreheads resting together as we try to catch our breath. “You’re dangerous,” he murmurs, his lips brushing against mine with each word. “You make me forget everything else.”

“Good,” I whisper back, my fingers curling into his shirt. “Maybe you need to forget for a little while.”

He chuckles, low and rough, and pulls me into his arms. “You’re right.”

His words hit me like a punch to the gut, the weight of his vulnerability settling in my chest. “Finn…”

He shakes his head, his expression softening. “You’ve made me stop, Tess. Made me pause and actually think about what I want. And for the first time in years, it’s not just survival. It’s you.”

Tears prick my eyes, but I blink them away, not wanting to ruin the moment. Instead, I reach up and press a kiss to his jaw, letting my lips linger against his stubble. “I’m not going anywhere,” I whisper. “Not unless you want me to.”

“Never,” he growls, his arms tightening around me. “You’re mine now, my sweet girl. And I’m never letting you go.”

We spend the rest of the day by the fire, sipping coffee and talking about everything and nothing. Shep curls up at our feet, his tail wagging lazily as if he knows he’s finally got his family. And for the first time in years, I feel like I’m exactly where I’m meant to be.

Later that evening, the fire crackles softly, casting a warm glow over the cabin as the day winds down. Finn sits across from me, his gaze steady and intense as he watches me sip my tea. There’s a quiet contentment in the air, a sense of belonging that I didn’t know I was missing until now.

“You’re staring,” I tease, raising an eyebrow at him.

“Can’t help it,” he says, his voice low and rough. “You’re too damn beautiful.”

Heat rises to my cheeks, but I don’t look away. “You keep talking like that, and I might start to believe you.”

“Good,” he says, his lips quirking into a smirk. “Because it’s the truth.”

He stands and crosses the room in a few easy strides, pulling me to my feet and wrapping his arms around me. “Dance with me,” he murmurs, his breath warm against my ear.

“There’s no music,” I point out, though my hands are already finding their way to his shoulders.

“We don’t need it,” he says, swaying gently as he pulls me closer.

The world fades away as we move together, the only sound the soft crackle of the fire and the steady rhythm of our breathing. His hands slide down to rest on my hips, his thumbs brushing against my skin in a way that sends shivers down my spine.

“You make me feel alive,” he murmurs, his lips brushing against my temple.

I tilt my head up to look at him, my heart swelling at the raw emotion in his eyes. “You make me feel like I’m finally home,” I whisper back.

“Damn, right. Because I’m never letting you leave. Me and Shep are claiming you.” His lips find mine, soft and slow at first, but quickly building into something more urgent. He lifts me effortlessly, carrying me to the couch and laying me down with a tenderness that takes my breath away.

As he hovers over me, his eyes searching mine, I realize that this— he —is what I’ve been searching for all along. A love that’s real and messy and beautiful in its imperfection. A love that feels like coming home.

And for the first time in years, I let myself believe that I deserve it.