“You beat up my ex-boyfriend after that night in Chilis.”
Double uh oh.
He sighed. “True.”
“Finnegan.”
His name on her whispered sigh was both a question and an answer.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because I wasn’t going to disabuse anyone of the notion that Will was ready to throw down, Molly. It made him look good, and it kept douchebags like Johnny fucking White away from you.”
She placed her palm over his jaw and trailed it down his neck and chest, landing over his heart.
“It served my cause, MoMo.” He swept her waves back from her face and cupped her chin. “The more afraid of Will everyone was, the less likely it was that I’d have to watch you fall in love with one of my teammates.”
A smile tugged at the edges of her lips. “That’s quite the monumental cock-block, Finny.”
He dropped his forehead to hers. “I’m pretty sure watching you love someone I played with would have resulted in murder, or hard time in prison. If I needed to play the role of another over protective big brother, or have Will’s back when it came to keeping jocks and assholes away from you…” He shrugged.
“I should be mad at you.” She chewed the inside of her cheek.
“I figured if you ever found out, you’d tear me limb from limb.”
She nodded. “The feminists would demand the sacrifice.”
He smirked. “But…?”
“I’ve only ever wanted you, Finn. If I couldn’t have you, no other Snow Pirate would do.”
His heart swelled as he claimed her mouth with his, fingers threading into her hair. Dragging kisses along her jaw, he tugged her head to the side creating space to enjoy her neck.
Trailing his tongue down the curve of her shoulder, a shiver passed through her. “I want to tell him, Finn. After the party. I want to come clean to Will.”
Cradling her face with both his hands, he pulled back. “You do?” He frowned. “That’s not going to go well.”
“I don’t care. I can’t carry this weight anymore, Finn. I can’t…” She heaved a breath. “I can’t pretend I’m not happier than I’ve ever been.” She winced like the sentence physically hurt her to say. “Or that I’m not in love with you. I can’t keep it inside anymore.”
Finn grinned. “That pained you to admit, didn’t it?”
She wiggled her tongue like the words left a bad taste in her mouth. “Tell anyone you’ve driven me to romantic, flowery bullshit and I’ll kill you dead.”
“You’re hot when you’re mad.” He dropped his hands to her hips and placed a kiss on her lips. “But if you want to tell Will you’re my girl.” Another kiss. “Then we tell Will.”
She blew out another breath and smiled, a soft, warm, vulnerable smile that undid him at the core. “Are you ready for the world to know that I love you?”
“We’ve kept it to ourselves for too long.” He brushed his lips over hers, as she walked her fingers up his biceps and threaded her hands together behind his neck, tingles spreading under his skin with each movement.
“We should probably go back inside.”
He nipped at the sensitive skin along her neck and nodded. “We should.”
“I’m…”
He nipped at her again and her breath hitched.
“…Not wearing any panties under this dress.”
