And his personal life hadn’t been a priority, in any sense of the word. His brother and the pub had been his entire world for a damn long time, which meant that Pru had been right when she’d told him that first night in the bar that he hadn’t been living his life. It had been living him.

He wanted to change that. He wanted what he’d been missing out on. He wanted a relationship.

And he wanted it with Pru.

“Are you even listening to me?” Sean asked, clearly pissy now. “I need you to get your ass down here and help me with this shit.”

“No,” Finn said. “You’re in charge.”

“But—”

“Figure it out, Sean,” Finn said and disconnected. He filled a bowl of water for Thor, and since the little guy was looking a little waterlogged, he wrapped him up in a blanket and made him comfortable on the couch.

Thor licked Finn’s chin and closed his eyes, and was snoring in thirty seconds flat.

“If only your owner was as easy to please,” Finn said.

Thor smiled in his sleep and then farted.

Pru stood under Finn’s heavenly shower until she’d thawed. Then she wrapped herself up in one of his large, fluffy towels and went looking for him, hoping he had a pair of sweats she could wear while her clothes dried.

She found Thor asleep in the middle of Finn’s comfy-looking couch. The sliding glass door was open so she left the dog to his nap and poked her head out. The deck there was small and cozy and completely secluded by the two stucco walls on either side.

There was a tiny table, two chairs, and an incredible view of Cow Hollow, and beyond it, the Golden Gate Bridge and the bay.

Finn came out. She heard him set the pizza and drinks on the table and then he came up behind her where she stood hands on the railing staring out at the view. His hands covered hers. She could feel the warmth of his big body seeping into her. And something else. Hunger. Need. He always invoked those emotions in her, and if she was being honest, far more too. “I was hoping to borrow some of your clothes,” she managed.

“Anything.”

He had her caged in and she liked it. When he lowered his head to nuzzle the side of her throat, she nearly turned into a happy little kitten and began to purr.

“I like you like this,” he said huskily. “Just warm, soft, delicious, naked woman in my towel.”

“How do you know I’m naked under here?” she heard herself ask daringly.

Taking the challenge, he slid a hand up her thigh, letting out a low, sexy, knowing laugh when she squeaked.

“Clothes,” she demanded.

“Sure.” But instead of backing off, he lifted a hand to point to Fisherman’s Wharf, where if she squinted, she could just make out Jake’s building. “Sometimes I stand right here and look for you,” he said.

She closed her eyes and let her body follow its wishes, which meant she rested her head back against his chest.

Finn brushed the hair from the nape of her neck and slid his mouth across the sensitive skin there, giving her a full body shiver of the very best kind.

“You always smell so damn good,” he murmured against her skin, his mouth at her jaw now while his hands slid over her body, revving her engines, firing up all her cylinders. “And now you smell like me. Love that. You make me hungry, Pru.”

“Good thing we have pizza,” she said breathlessly.

“It’s not pizza I’m hungry for.” His hands skimmed over her towel-covered breasts, skipping her nipples which were dying for his attention.

She made a little whimper of protest and felt him smile against her neck.

“You’re teasing me,” she accused.

“No, if I was teasing you, I’d do something like this . . .” And he dragged hot, openmouthed kisses down her throat, his hands continuing to tease until she whimpered in frustration. “Finn.”

“Tell me.”

Stay strong, Pru. “I need you,” she whispered. “I need you so much.”

“Right back at you, Pru.” And then he whipped her around and lifted her up onto the rail. “Hold on tight,” he said against her throat.

Not having a death wish, she threw her arms around his neck. This had the towel loosening on her. But left with the choice of holding onto it or Finn, she did what any red-blooded, sex-starved woman would do—she let the towel fall.

Finn kissed her and then pulled back just enough to take a good, long look at her, letting out a rough groan. “You take my breath, Pru. Every fucking time. You’re so beautiful.”