It was reassuring to see how Oscar took to Hollis. Hollis’s calm nature probably had something to do with it. She had no idea where they were, but she knew he was safe and well cared for. And that, for now, was enough. It had to be.
The last few days they’d flown in a strange series of loops and layovers before renting a car and traveling through San Francisco, north to Mendocino, a bustling wine and arts community. Brown had checked them into a small motel on the outskirts of town. She had a view of the bay and not much else. Instead of being caught up in the beauty of her surroundings, she was lonely and worried.
She’d skimmed a novel and watched the news, but she was too wide awake to consider sleeping. A long shower helped, even if the hot water had run out. She brushed out her hair and slipped into the shirt she’d stolen from Finn. She wrapped her arms around herself and buried her nose against the sleeve, but it didn’t smell like Finn anymore.
She paced the room, so restless she wanted to scream. She slid the balcony door open, knowing she was breaking Brown’s rules and not caring. She needed fresh air. She needed to stop feeling so damn trapped. She stood, sucking cold air deep into her lungs, fighting back frustrated tears.
“Jessa?”
She froze, peering into the dark below her. In that instant, she felt pu
re terror. Her fingers tightened around the bannister before she pushed off, stepping into the shadows and hoping she hadn’t just sentenced both herself and Brown to a painful death.
“Jessa?”
She knew that voice and responded to it instantly. “Finn?”
He was moving toward the door. She spun and went inside, running to meet him.
He met her on the stairwell, shoving her against the wall as his mouth found hers. She gripped his hair, tugging him close, devouring his kiss, his mouth, his tongue. She swayed into him, but he caught her. “You’re safe. Oscar is safe,” he whispered against her lips.
She lost herself in the feel of his hands and mouth, his taste and smell. Her head fell back as he nipped her neck, dropping hot, wet kisses all the way to her ear. He sucked her earlobe into his mouth, his teeth making her shudder. He inhaled, the groan that tore from deep in his throat making her tighten with want.
He gripped her hips, lifting her off her feet to carry her inside. She wrapped her legs around his waist, holding on to him. He carried her up the stairs. When they stumbled into her room, he kicked the door shut and pressed her against thick wood, his lips merciless and hungry. She wanted more—all of him. She needed him.
Her hands slid between them, unfastening his pants and pushing them open.
“Wait,” he said, pulling a condom from his pocket, tearing the packet, and rolling it on. He kissed her, pinning her to the door with his arms as he thrust into her.
The noise he made. The look on his face—raw, desperate, vulnerable. She couldn’t breathe. Her heart tripped over itself and her lungs constricted. She watched the muscle in his jaw bulge, his nostrils flare, watched the heat in his eyes as they bored into hers. As he bored into her.
“I missed you,” she whispered, turning into his kiss. “Oh, God, Finn.”
His hold tightened, almost bruising. His hands eased, but the yearning in his eyes told her the truth. He needed her touch just as much as she needed his. She arched into him, moaning as he slid deep.
“Jessa,” he ground out, crushing her against his chest and spinning them.
In seconds, she was on the bed.
He was stripping, tossing his clothes hurriedly.
She sat up, watching, waiting. When he was naked, she frowned. His body was covered in deep bruising, several wide scratches scouring his right side. “Finn—”
He shook his head, tugging her shirt off. His hand cupped her breast, his thumb raking over its peak.
She lay back, stretching her arms over her head to grip the far edge of the mattress.
He crawled onto the bed, his tongue licking the sensitive spot behind her knee, his mouth sucking her soft inner thigh. The sweep of his tongue against her tight, aching nub was too much. A few strokes and she was out of her mind. Two fingers slid inside her, teasing, working her into a frenzy. His tongue was magic, his mouth demanding her submission. She surrendered, her body bowing off the bed, tightening with the power of her climax.
His lips traveled up, over her hip, lingering over her scar before latching onto her nipple. His lips traveled up the swell of her shoulder, silky neck, slender throat and jaw. His tongue slid into her mouth as he pushed inside of her. A shudder racked his body, rock-hard as he slammed into her. His hands gripped the edge of the mattress, covering hers and pinning her in place. Pure sensation swept her away. She was lost in his blue eyes at the urgency of each thrust. Her release crashed over her, her scream broken and hoarse.
Watching him come apart, the incredible strain on his face as he powered into her, took her breath away. The sound of his growl, his hands gripping hers as he came, was incredibly empowering.
When he rolled onto his back, he pulled her against him. His arms were steel bands, holding her tightly. She placed a hand on his chest, stroking the place over his thundering heart and burying her face against his side.
It was enough for now that he was here, safe in her arms. Any questions she had could wait.
“Jessa.”