Finlay strips me of all my strength, and I slump down on top of her, crushing her beneath my weight. She wraps her legs around me, the movement making residual pleasure spasm through me. I ride the last of the wave, slowly pushing inside her and soaking in the feel of her wrapped around me.
When I stop moving, buried deep inside her body, I memorize every inch of her beneath me. “I knew you’d be the end of me.”
Finlay brings her hands to my face, her eyes loving me while her fingers follow the curve of my jaw. “And the start of us.”
Still one with her, I feel complete. “My soul.”
Her chin quivers, her eyes misting up. “My soul.” She shakes her head, a tear slipping over her temple. “You’re so much more than that for me. You’re everything, Ethan.” She sucks in a shaky breath. “You’re my everything.”
There’s no rush to pull out of her. Bracing my forearms on either side of her head, I lift my chest off hers. I stare at Finlay, my miracle, and I don’t think there will ever come a time where I can stare at her enough.
“How do you feel?”
A grin spreads over her face. “Full.”
I let out a burst of laughter, then her inner muscles clamp around me, stripping the smile off my face. “Fuck. Don’t do that.”
“What?” She squeezes my cock again. “This?”
“Temptress,” I mutter, lowering my mouth to her neck. “You’ll make me hard again.”
“That’s the plan,” she says, a teasing tone to her voice.
Three months later…
“I’m dying!” Finlay exclaims. She’s practically bouncing with excitement. “When can I open my eyes?”
“So impatient,” I tease her. With my hands on her shoulders, I position her where I want her, then say, “Open your eyes.”
I move to her side so I can see her face, and as her eyes sweep over our surroundings, they widen. Her mouth drops open, then her hands fly up to cover it as she gasps. “Oh. My. God.”
“You like?” I ask as I glance around. With Dad, Eli, and David’s help, we worked every day to get the store ready for Finlay.
We set up display stands for the instruments Finlay wants to sell. To the right, there are two rows for records, and to the left, there’s a counter. The back wall’s painted midnight blue with a small stage where Finlay’s piano stands for the private lessons she’s already giving.
“That’s why you asked me all the questions!” she cries, then she tackles me with a hug. “Oh my God. I’m going to cry.” Her words aren’t even cold yet when the first sob escapes.
Letting go of me, she darts to David, almost jumping him off balance. “Thank you, Daddy.”
“Anything for my girl,” he says, looking a little emotional himself.
With happy tears shimmering on her face, she hugs Dad and Eli, then she practically flies back into my arms. I lift her off of the floor with a chuckle, glad she loves her surprise.
It’s the only dream Finlay kept talking about, and I wanted to make it a reality for her.
“Happy?” I ask as I set her down on her feet.
Finlay’s eyes dart around the store. “It’s perfect.” She walks from one stand to the next. “I want a violin here and a cello here. Back there, I’ll put a set of drums.”
“We’re heading back to the hardware store,” Eli says.
“Remember this weekend,” Dad reminds us.
“We’ll be there,” David answers, a broad smile on his face as his gaze follows Finlay around the store.
After Dad and Eli head back to work, David comes to throw his arm around my shoulders. We watch Finlay living her dream, then he murmurs, “Thank you, Ethan.”
“You worked just as hard to get this ready for her.”
He shakes his head, his eyes locking with mine. “Thank you for giving me my daughter back.” Our gazes turn to Finlay, who’s smiling, her fingers gliding over every space in the store. “This is who she was before the attack. You brought her back.”
I shake my head. “No, she did it all by herself.” My voice brims with pride and love for Finlay. “She’s so strong.”
“She is,” David murmurs, giving me a sideways hug. “But you made all the difference.”
“This is the best day ever,” Finlay cries, and then she darts toward us, wrapping an arm around David and the other around me.
My life’s purpose?
Making every single one of Finlay’s dreams come true.
Loving her.
Protecting her.
Building a future with her.
The future I always wanted for myself.
Epilogue 1
ETHAN
Four years later…
“Babe,” I call as I walk down the hallway. “Babe!”
“Yeah?”
I find her in the kitchen, where she’s drinking some ice tea. “Help. I can’t get the stupid bow tie right.”
“It’s a clip-on,” she chuckles, setting the glass down and walking to me. “How hard can it be?”
“I don’t do suits and ties. You know this.”