The music was throbbing and Emily had to lean in to hear Max. The man was rambling on about his friend, Finn. She was not surprised by the loyalty this man showed to his captain. Emily knew first hand how amazing it was to be part of Finn's inner circle.

Finn had asked her to stay. Hope had blossomed in Emily's heart. However, Max was proving an obstacle, monopolizing all her attention. She tried to get Finn in on their conversation, but the music was too loud. Besides, talking was not Finn's strength. As the tension rolled off of him, she could feel his frustration taking root in her own body. Trying to think of a way to engage him without offending Max, Emily turned to suggest they refill their drinks only to find Finn walking away.

Following him with her eyes, she relaxed when he headed towards the bathrooms. He was not leaving. Turning back to Max, she found herself enjoying the story Max was weaving, an escapade with vague details but Finn playing the hero. She smiled at the other man, remembering a time when had Finn been her personal hero.

"Why do you like me?"

They were sitting on the deck of the boathouse, Finn's sturdy chest made a warm place to rest her head as they watched the sunset.

"Because you're amazing."

Emily ran a finger across his stomach, t-shirt material bunching slightly under her touch. "No seriously. Why me?"

"Why not you?"

"Well... most men prefer," Emily had opened the door, she might as well walk through it, "women more like Mary."

Finn winced. "Not after they meet her."

"But you found her attractive when you first saw her, didn't you?"

As Finn paused, Emily found herself holding her breath.

"I suppose you could argue your sister has a pretty face."

Emily rolled her eyes. Pretty was putting it mildly. Men tripped over themselves when Mary walked by. It was about more than her face. "And a rocking body."

"Hmmm, I guess."

"C'mon Finn. I see how she attracts men's attention. Checking her out, drooling over her... chest."

"Em," Finn shifted so she was forced to look up at him. "Some men may prefer your sister and as far as I'm concerned, they can have her. As long as it means I can have you all to myself."

Finn reached out and stroked her cheek. "Your face is a thousand times more gorgeous than hers." His hand slipped down, tracing the slight curves of her neck. "I wouldn't change a thing about you. You light up any room you walk into. I don't know how, but you find the good in everyone and everything. Even a loser like me."

Emily opened her mouth to protest but Finn kept going. "You're like a summer breeze, warm and fresh and pure. An uncomplicated, classic beauty that makes me believe there might really be a celestial being making dreams come true."

His hand kept moving south, eventually fondling her breast. "And your chest is perfection."

She could not help but grin. Emily had not been fishing for compliments, was truly interested in what attracted him. This was the most talkative Finn had ever been on a subject, he was animated and genuine. It made her feel beautiful. Special.

Reaching up, she pecked him on the lips and thanked him for his honesty.

"Why me?" Finn asked in a low voice like he was afraid of the answer. Emily hated the self-doubt she saw in his fallen face.

In one fluid movement, Emily threw her leg over his lap, positioning her body so she was straddling him. His hands fell to his sides and he looked over her shoulder. Desperate to crack the tension in his body, she tried to make a joke. "That's easy. First, you're tall enough to reach the top shelf." It made Finn chuckle but the mirth did not meet his eyes.

Emily leaned in and whispered in his ear. "You're the bravest man I know." His head jerked in her direction amazement evident on Finn's face. "You're loyal and kind with a huge heart that's capable of so much love." Putting her hand on his heart, she tried to put into words what he meant to her. "When you look at me like you are now, I feel like I'm the luckiest woman in the world."

"Oh, and then there are your most amazing hands." Reaching down and picking up his hands in hers, Emily brought them one after another to her lips and kissed them. "I love these."

Finn smiled, bashfully. Emily continued, "And I love your neck." She leaned forward and planted a kiss on it. "And your mouth." Pressing her lips on his. "And I love you."

The words just slipped out.

She had wanted to say it before, but it felt too early. It could not be love so soon. Emily did not know how she knew, but this was real. To cover her blunder, afraid it might have scared Finn, she went back to kissing him.

Finn placed his hands on either side of her face and pulled her back, breaking the kiss. His ocean coloured eyes bored into her. "I love you Em."

"Prove it," she whispered.

Wrapping his strong arms around her waist, Finn stood up in a swift motion and took them inside. Emily clung to him like a spider monkey, enjoying being transported across the open room with those sturdy limbs supporting her.

When they got to his destination, Emily released her grip and he let her fall softly onto her knees on the bed. Never really letting go of her, Finn ran his hands over her body as he placed his mouth on hers, drawing her into a deep kiss. Emily felt the tug of her dress as Finn was quickly and efficiently undoing its buttons.

The flimsy fabric fell off of her with the lack of support, pooling around her hips. Emily felt Finn's hot hands slide across her stomach, up her bare back, into her hair. His touch sent shivers down to her core.

Breaking away from her mouth, Finn peppered kisses down her neck and shoulders. She leaned back to give him better access and a little gasp escaped her lips when she felt cold air hit her breasts. He had removed her bra.

Finn's kisses continued their slow trail south. Emily tried to reach for Finn's waist, to pull him closer and get the contact she wanted of their chests pressed together, but Finn inched out of her grasp.

She would have felt disappointed if what he did next had not rocked her world.

A warm sensation enveloped her left breast. The wonder of Finn's lips on her tender skin, his tongue dragging across her nipple sent a deeper wave of pleasure through her body. In a trance-like state, a low moan left her own mouth and Emily swore she could feel Finn smile.

The cold returned as Finn let her go. But warm air soon tickled her now wet skin and her body jerked in response as he continued blowing softly. Then she felt the heat of his hand, holding her breast as his mouth moved to the other.

It was almost overwhelming. Finn's strong arm holding her up as his hand and mouth worked their magic. It was like he had the key to every pleasurable spot on her body.

Reinforcing this theory, Finn's hand gave up its activities on her chest, travelled down her stomach and slipped inside her underwear. She called his name as his fingers found her feminine folds and the sensitive spot they guarded. Ever so slowly, he grazed the nub in lazy circles inciting molten lava to pool in her insides.

For a moment or an hour, Emily was not sure, she hovered there in Finn's arms in ecstasy, until her body could take it no more. A gush of gratification engulfed her, overtaking her senses, leaving her panting.

Finn looked pleased with himself, a lopsided smirk gracing his normally reserved face. Gently, he laid her down on the bed, removing her dress and underwear. Disrobing himself, Finn placed his naked body beside her.

Emily tried again to reach for Finn, to take his erection in her hand to offer him the same service he had recently so exquisitely performed. But Finn caught her hand in his and pushed it onto the bed on the other side of her. It brought his mouth within reach of her lips so she took what she could get, pressing her own against them.

It was a frenzied kiss as Emily felt Finn's passion wash over her. She felt treasured, adored. Meeting his desire with her own, the heat between them flared and flamed. Squeezing the hand holding hers, she tried to communicate how she felt.

As he moved between her legs, Emily marvelled at how amazing this was with Finn. With Josh she had disliked him being on top of her, pressing down. It felt like she was being crushed. But it was different with Finn, the way he covered her body, like a shield, protecting her.

She loved the taste of his mouth, exploring hers. She loved Finn's taunt skin scraping against her breasts. She loved how he felt inside her, filling her, completing her. They were one and nothing had ever felt more right.

Finn whispered in her ear. "Can you feel it Em? Can you feel how much I love you?"

And she could. With every nerve in her body.

"I don't know how he does it."

Max's words pulled her out of her thoughts. "Does what?

Emily followed Max's line of sight until her eyes hit upon Finn on the dance floor. He was bent over a skinny brunette in a skimpy dress filled to bursting, his tongue down her throat.

Emily's stomach turned and her heart stopped. One of Finn's large hands were wrapped around the waist of the woman who hung off him like he was the last life raft on a sinking ship. The other was making its way up her torso to her very ample bust.

"Always snags the hottest women," Max answered her question dreamily.

Emily had to look away, her heart could not take the sight anymore, a weak "always" escaping her lips.

"Oh, yes. Every port we pull into, Finn finds a companion. It's one of his special skills." Max was still beaming with admiration but Emily was not so interested in hearing more of his stories.

Here in this club, where she could see in full living colour how much and how far Finn had moved away from their once true blue love, Emily's heart shattered into a million little pieces. It wasn't pain she felt, she was used to that sensation. It was an empty void where her heart had once been.

Max was talking again. "You knew him when he was young. Has he always been this way?"

Emily forced her voice to stay steady. Years of practice aided her effort. "No. Finn was different back then."