Finn Again (The Finn Factor Book 5) (10 page)

“I have big plans for our honeymoon,” Owen said conversationally. “It involves a lot of begging on your part and it’s going to take days. As many hours as you thought you needed to stay away from me before the wedding.”

Jesus.
Longer than their session at the cabin. “Anything you want, Owen.”

He felt a stinging smack on his ass cheek, and then heard a groan. “The honeymoon,” Owen repeated roughly. “Not now.”

Jeremy moaned low and long at the feel of the tongue between his cheeks. When it pushed inside with a growl Jeremy almost floated off the bed. “Yes,” he gasped. “Owen, God that’s…”

He couldn’t speak anymore. His cock was digging a hole in the bed and he couldn’t move with his hands tied. All he could do was take what Owen gave him.
Deeper. Fuck me, baby. I need more.
“
Please
.”

Owen lifted his head. “Where’s the—”

“Under the bed.”

He bit his lip when Owen’s mouth left him and then he heard rustling and wrapping paper tearing. “Who the hell gave you this?”

Jeremy pressed his forehead into the mattress. “Tasha. It was for us. For tonight.”

“Fuck,” Owen swore softly. “She does know her toys and lube. I’m going to use every one of these on you after the reception. It looks like she bought out the whole store. I hope to hell you caught up on your sleep.”

“I couldn’t sleep without you.” The honest reply was met with silence, then Owen was on the bed and cupping his face, kissing him like a man possessed.

“I need you,” he gasped, pulling back and shuddering. “I need to…” He untied Jeremy’s wrists and rolled him onto his back, reaching behind him for a small red bottle of lube. “I’ll take my turn later. I want to see your face.”

Jeremy arched his neck, writhing on the bed as Owen prepared him in silence. Then he was there, between Jeremy’s spread thighs as he stretched him with a slow, delicious pressure. “Finn.”

Owen gripped his wrists and held them over his head. “You’ll be a Finn soon.” His lips parted as he sunk further inside. “Mine.”

“I’m already yours.”
I’ve always been yours.
“Oh God…” Jeremy bent his knees and flexed his hips, needing all of him. Everything. Why was he holding back?

“Slow, Jeremy.” Something in his tone made Jeremy open his eyes. “Let me love you.”

And he did. Jeremy’s head was spinning as Owen kissed his neck, his chest, everywhere he could reach while keeping his strokes long and deep and achingly slow.

Jeremy trembled beneath him, sounds like whimpers and pleas escaping his tight throat as the man he loved worshipped his body with a tenderness he’d rarely shown in the bedroom.

“My Jeremy,” Owen whispered, pressing their foreheads together. “Always mine.”

He was killing him. “I love you so damn much. Please, Owen.”

Jeremy kissed him as if he were starving. It felt like he was. He was more on edge than any bondage or paddling session had ever made him. Strung out from desire with pre-cum coating the head of his cock, all he could do was wrap his legs around Owen’s waist and rock himself against his tight abs. “
Owen
.”

Owen groaned against his lips, his hand slipping between them to grip as much of Jeremy’s erection as he could. He changed position and slung his hips with more force—
Fuck, yes
—faster than he had before. He was close. So fucking close.

Love you, Owen. Love you, baby. Love…

“God, Jeremy.” Owen was groaning loudly now. “Come for me, babe.”

“
Harder
,” Jeremy cried. “Please, God, don’t stop. I’m going to—
Owen
.”

“
Yes
.” Owen’s lean, beautiful body quaked against him as they came together. Jeremy wasn’t sure where his orgasm ended and Owen’s began. They kissed and caressed each other, shivering with each pulse of release, whispering words of praise and love.

When he came back to himself, Owen was guiding him back into the shower, gliding soapy hands lovingly over his body. He touched him with a reverence that made something tighten in Jeremy’s chest. Owen rinsed him and dried him off with a towel, kissing him softly once more before stepping away to reach for his robe.

“I should go back to my room now.”

Jeremy frowned. “No you shouldn’t. I was wrong. This was a stupid idea.”

“Yes it was.” Owen laughed. “And I’m going to remind you how wrong you were until we celebrate our first anniversary. Maybe longer. But we don’t want to spoil your reputation as the responsible one in this relationship, do we? Besides, my tuxedo is in the other bedroom and we both need to get dressed.” He reached for the doorknob, pinning Jeremy to the spot with something painfully beautiful blazing in his Finn blue eyes. “I have a wedding to get to.”

He opened the door and Jeremy saw Ken and Brady break their embrace and look guiltily in his direction. “Sorry,” Brady mumbled. “You two done in there already?”

Owen snorted and walked past him without looking back. “The wedding is in an hour,” he called over his shoulder. “Don’t take too long with my best man.”

A flushed Ken caught Jeremy’s eye and sent him a stunning smile before dragging Brady away. “An hour? I can handle that.”

***

“Are you ready?” Jen was holding his hand as they stood at the top of the stairs, just out of sight, listening to old Irish melodies drifting up from the cellist Declan Kelley’s wedding planner had hired for the occasion.

Jeremy took a breath and squeezed her fingers gently. “I’m ready. That doesn’t mean I’m not nervous.”

Jen started sniffing and Jeremy shook his head. “If you start crying now, Little Finn, we’re not going to make it down the stairs.”

“Can’t have that,” Jen said with a watery laugh. “Owen would never forgive me.”

“And Trick and Declan would never forgive
me
for making you cry. You look great, by the way.”

Jen was wearing a gray silk dress layered with sheer silver. Her strawberry-colored hair was pulled back and tumbling in large curls down her back. She looked like an angel to Jeremy, and as she walked beside him and guests started turning in their seats to stare, she felt like one too. An angel saving him from facing this alone. He would always be a member of the Little Finn Fan Club.

From the base of the stairs, Shawn and Ellen were looking up at them, all smiles. When Ellen saw her daughter her eyes filled and she held her hand over her heart, mouthing the words, “So beautiful.” Then she turned to Jeremy and that hand reached out for his. Jeremy took it and squeezed it gently.

Jen lagged behind them as Shawn gripped his shoulder in a silent statement of affection and pride. Jeremy nodded and started to move toward the dais where Owen was waiting, pausing when he realized the three of them were still walking with him. Ellen hadn’t let go of his hand.

A few more steps and Stephen and Seamus were suddenly in front of him. Their identical smiles were supportive and encouraging. They didn’t say a word, just stepped aside, joining the small army of Finns gathering behind him.

Jeremy almost stumbled when he realized what was happening. The other guests—graphic artists, construction workers, pub regulars and longtime family friends—seemed to figure it out at the same time. They were all walking him down the wide aisle. Supporting him. It was the same thing they’d done after they’d found out about his relationship with Owen, only this time they were showing everyone there what they’d shown him that day. Finns stood by the people they loved. Always. No one who left here today would have any doubt that Jeremy was a welcome addition to the family. That all the Finns approved of the marriage.

Solomon and Rory showed up in front of him, patted his arm and nodded as they fell in line. Then came Noah and Wyatt. Jeremy’s vision was blurring by the time he saw James stand up beside his chair. He made no move to join them, gesturing to Sol sitting beside him, staring resolutely at his shoes. Jeremy felt Shawn’s hand—still on his shoulder—flex, but he didn’t pause beside his brother or stop the procession. In that moment he felt sorry for Sol. He’d forgotten what it felt like to be surrounded by this much love. Shielded from harm. Jeremy covered Shawn’s hand with his own, hoping he could share that feeling with Owen’s father.

He got the impression of a beautiful room filled with people sitting on pristinely white chairs. The runner was cranberry red and the garland lining the aisle was a lush green. There was a giant Christmas tree in the corner of the room glowing with warm fairy lights and overflowing with small white RSVP cards signed by all the people who’d come to the wedding. It was simple, but breathtaking. He hadn’t expecting anything like this.

He’d say he felt like a damn Disney princess, but Owen would never let him hear the end of it.

Owen. Jeremy looked up, but Tasha caught his eye first. She was sitting in a wheelchair wrapped with sparkling garlands, in a silver sheath dress similar to Jen’s. She was radiant and smiling through her tears as he got closer to his destination.

Jeremy blinked swiftly and sought out Owen. Standing beneath an elevated bower draped in holly, mistletoe and more small sparkling lights, he stood proud and tall and so handsome Jeremy caught his breath. Brady stood beside him, his head even with the arch and his hand clutching a leash attached to the dog at his side.

He let out a short, soft laugh. Badass was wearing a Santa hat and sitting obediently beside Brady. His tail wagged furiously the instant he spotted Jeremy and Brady muttered something to the excited dog, pulling a treat from his pocket for good measure. Leave it to Owen to make Badass a groomsman.

Somewhere through the fog in his brain he heard the music change and his heart started pounding in his ears, nearly drowning it out. Almost there. Almost where I belong.

He stepped up onto the dais, Tasha momentarily squeezing his hand affectionately, and then Owen was facing him. They twined their fingers together and Jeremy tried to remember to breathe. He glanced down and chuckled again, loving the man beside him as he saw the shamrock cufflinks glittering green at his wrists.

“You like?”

He loved.

The justice of the peace they’d chosen stepped forward and the music stopped. The room was momentarily silent as they waited for her cue. “Who gives this man in marriage?”

For less than a second he thought about the parents that had kicked him out for being different. The aunt who’d hardly noticed his existence when she’d agreed to let him sleep under her roof. The loneliness.

“I do.”

“I do.”

“We do.”

“I do.”

Shawn chuckled. “I think we all do. We’re his family.”

Jeremy heard several soft sobs at that, unsure of where they were coming from but agreeing with the sentiment. He couldn’t have imagined… But he shouldn’t be surprised. Nothing this wonderful family did could surprise him ever again.

“You may be seated,” the justice said, beaming at Owen and Jeremy as the family found their seats.

She set down the book she’d been holding and clasped her hands in front of her while Jeremy’s gaze clung to Owen’s. “We’ve come together today to join two souls together in marriage. But I think we’ve all just seen that this union is particularly blessed, and that there are more souls involved than we can count. The couple’s family and friends have shown their unconditional love and support with their actions and their words, and I know we all join them in their joy for this occasion. It’s hard not to root for Owen Finn and Jeremy Porter when you get to know them. The city has been captivated for weeks. Personally, I don’t think it has to do with Owen’s brother or the gender of his fiancé as much as it has to do with their story. A simple, but powerful story about two good men and the close, unflinching friendship they’ve shared for more than half of their lives. Without planning or expectation, that friendship blossomed with the fullness of time into so much more than either of them ever dreamed. And it brought them here before us today.”

Jeremy had dreamed. He’d just never imagined his dream had a chance in hell of coming true. Owen’s crystal blue eyes were dark with emotion that matched his own as she continued. “There are many kinds of love—each one a gift that makes life worthwhile. The love of a parent for their child. The love of siblings and friends. And a love like the one Owen and Jeremy share. A love that demands to be acknowledged and celebrated, because it cannot be denied when witnessed.” She smiled and turned in his direction. “I believe Jeremy has something he wants to say.”

Jeremy’s throat went instantly dry. He licked his lips, feeling a flutter of panic. He’d written something he’d thought was good and memorized it, but everything had flown out of his head the second he’d gotten to the stairs. After his proposal, Jeremy knew Owen deserved a public declaration of his own. Now he only hoped he hadn’t lost the ability to speak. And that his heart knew what to say.

“Owen—” He swallowed past the frog in his throat and started again. “Owen, I’ve loved you for as long as I can remember. And I remember everything. That first day you invited me over to your house after school, when your mother insisted on feeding me and got out her sewing kit without saying a word after she saw a hole in my shirt. I remember when you showed your dad my sketchbook at the dinner table and he told me I had real talent. That we were having so much fun you asked if I could stay the night, and when she realized there was no one I needed to call to ask permission, your mother said I was welcome anytime, whether you were home or not.” He saw Owen’s lips subtly wobble as he glanced down at his family and he knew Ellen was crying. “I remember that you gave me the world and you didn’t even know it. Proud parents who worried about me, a little sister who was more than happy to let me spoil her rotten, and two older brothers I couldn’t help but admire. And you, a best friend who is the star of every good memory I have. You taught me how to laugh at myself, never once judged me for my life choices and always had my back, right or wrong. How could I not have loved you?”

Jeremy took a breath, feeling Owen’s fingers clutching his. “But what I thought was love back then is nothing compared to what I feel for you now. After all those years of you being my constant, you suddenly turned everything upside down without warning and made me happier than I knew it was possible to be. You are the love of my life and you never have to imagine walking through this world without me. I’ll always be at your side and on your side.”