Deirdre gave Keelynn a nudge. “I’ve him well warned.”
“No, I didn’t stab him. But I should have.”
Yes. She should’ve. Or she could’ve let me handle him. Oh, the fun I could’ve had withRobert.
The conversation moved on quickly to our seaside venture. Ruairi took great pleasure in sharing all about it, including the fact that I’d been left chasing that feckin’ piglet.
“Like you could’ve done any better.” Ruairi was big, but he wasn’t exactly agile in his human form. “You had the easy part.”
“Easy?” Ruairi scoffed. “The little onebitme.” He showed us his arm as if the little one’s teeth would’ve actually left a mark.
Keelynn’s giggling was like a balm to my soul. “I would’ve loved to have seen it.”
“Tell you what,” I said, fighting a smile. “Next time we decide to go kidnapping, I’ll be sure to let you know.”
She looked at me as if I’d lost my mind. Then her head dropped. It took me a moment to realize my hand was on her knee. My palm started tingling as if I’d touched her skin. As much as I wanted to hold on, I let go.
But then her hand came over mine, keeping me still.
Deirdre muttered something about the time, and I knew everyone was leaving, but all I could do was stare at Keelynn’s hand on mine, relishing the burn.
Her wide gray eyes returned my steady gaze, her expression unreadable.
Her perfect lips parted, and I expected her to tell me to stop touching her, but she didn’t say a word. The invisible cord around my core twisted.
“Sorry they kept you up so late,” I managed, my fingers moving to trace the skin at her knuckles. My ring. “You must be wrecked.”
“I should be,” she breathed.
Time slowed as she leaned forward, her lips grazing mine. She tasted like cherries and fire. My new favorite flavor. Our tongues met, and the distance between us felt like too much. My hands knew what to do, finding her hips, pulling her on top of me.
“This is a terrible idea,” I managed even as our hips met and rolled and met again.
Her head fell back as she moved, chest thrust forward, breaths coming in gasps. “It would seem your body disagrees.”
“Yes, well, my body and I are rarely in agreement.” Except when it came to her.
She stopped moving and I wanted to scream. “I’m sorry. I thought you wanted to—”
“I did. I do.” More than I wanted anything else. “Shit. I really do . . . I just . . . I don’t think . . .”Dammit. My head felt like it would split open. I couldn’t sayI don’t think it’s a good ideabecause right then, it was the best idea I’ve ever had. “After everything that’s happened today, I’m not sure it’s what either of us need.”
She was only here because she’d been betrayed. Not because she cared for me. Not because she wanted to stay married. Keelynn was here because she had nowhere else to go. If she pushed it, I’d give her the best night of her feckin’ life. But I’d already given her enough regret.
She rolled off of me, falling onto the cushion at my side. My body screamed so loud I was sure she could hear it. The moment she fell asleep, I’d have to take care of myself in the feckin’ privy if I wanted any chance of sleeping tonight.
Keelynn’s perfect mouth pulled into a frown. I knew how to take her mind off of all her troubles but needed to stay the course for as long as I could resist. My newly awakened heart couldn’t handle more pain.
“You look troubled.”
Her eyes glistened with unshed tears. “I don’t know what to do.”
“About what?”
“Anything.”
She didn’t have to decide tonight. Or tomorrow. Or even this week. I’d be here for her until she figured it out.
I thought back to the other night when she’d held me. How good it had felt to be in another’s arms without the expectation of more. Without agenda.