He gives me the most withering look, which only heightens my shame. I never thought she would be at the door listening. I only said what I did to make my mother leave me alone. Knowing that Cullen is important to me only puts her at risk.
Maybe I was stupid not speaking to her first, but I never expected that surprise attack.
I glare at him. “None of your business. Take me to Cullen. Now.”
Chapter Eighteen
Cullen
This is not a main road and despite my phone’s insistence that I am ten feet away from my Uber, I am standing in front of a giant patch of trees in front of an enormous dark green pond. I went the wrong way again – but I don’t even know how and I don’t recognize this forest as the same one that I got lost in before.
I know there are bears in that forest, but I am genuinely disoriented and it’s crazy how you think you know what’s going on until you don’t. I’m about to give up and call Padraic, but I hear a loud voice echoing from the darkness behind me.
“CULLEN TYLER,” he roars. “IF YOU ARE OUT THERE, GET BACK HERE RIGHT NOW…”
There’s only one person who would ever speak to me so arrogantly after everything. But I’m strangely excited to hear his voice. I can murder him when we’re face to face.
“Padraic?” I call out to him, scanning the hillside behind me for wherever he must be standing. He’s tall and cuts a formidable figure, so if it weren’t totally dark out, it would be easier to spot him. I desperately stumble forward towards what I believe to be the sound of his voice.
“CULLEN. TYLER. WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU?”
I think I spot him and instead of walking towards Padraic’s voice… I run. I must be stupid to run back towards the man who spoke like that about me but sadly, it’s better than getting eaten by a bear. My heart leaps into my throat with aggressive fervor as I race towards his voice and finally I see him. He looks outrageously tall from this perspective.
He must see me by now. I watch him run his hands through his hair in frustration and then he sticks them out towards me as I run and plant myself firmly in Padraic’s arms.I don’t know what I’m doing…He wraps his arms around me and squeezes me with immediate force.
“You troublesome woman,” he growls, burying his nose into my hair before kissing the top of my head. “If you were ripped limb from limb, I would have never forgiven myself.”
His grasp on me tightens. I must have tried to wriggle away slightly just to breathe, but Padraic interprets this as an effort to escape his grasp. He won’t let that happen and no matter how hard I try to force his arms apart, this large man is much stronger than me and impossibly fine.
“I know what you heard,” he says. “I’m sorry. I would have never said those things if I knew you were there…”
“But you meant them,” I whisper. Well, I mean to whisper it, but my voice emerges forceful and strong. I don’t even know why. Padraic pulls away from me and grips me by the shoulders, keeping me just far enough away from him that I have to stare into his eyes. There’s nothing else to look at but the distant crescent moon or light from the big house several hundred yards away.
“Of course I didn’t mean them. My mother is a psychopath and if she suspected even for an instant that I live and breathe for you, she would stop at nothing to destroy you. I wanted to protect you.”
“But you didn’t.”
“I know,” Padraic murmurs. He pulls me close for another hug. “I’m sorry. I will never fail to protect you again, Cullen. I promise.”
He kisses my forehead. Then my cheeks. Then nose. His lips tease their way to mine. I let him give me a soft peck as I try to let the sting from his harsh words fade.
“I love you,” he murmurs. “I love you in a way I shouldn’t.”
Padraic kisses my lips again. It’s getting harder to say no to him. His hands drop to my hips and he clutches me with such possessive desire that I yield to his kisses and move closer to him, not just for his warmth but to enjoy the taste of his lips myself.
“Very good,” he murmurs. “Come home, Cullen. I want you home…”
We could have stood there kissing even longer and I would have allowed it to happen. Padraic and I kiss so long that our noses turn numb and when he can’t feel his straight, slightly more vulnerable nose any longer, his hand reaches for mine. “I’m taking you home,” he says. “Come.”
I follow his large stride up the hillside, our fingers intertwined. My heart pounds as we return home together. Should we talk more about his mother? Is there anything left to talk about?My feelings.What about those?
I wish the answers could come easily to me the way they do for Padraic.
Chapter Nineteen
Padraic
Isense her distance, but I know her heart. It’s unfortunate to have this deep understanding of her loneliness and how deeply that provokes uncertainty. I lead her home with plans to take her to our bedroom, but Zack intercepts us in the doorway. My brother looks somber, but pleased to see Cullen. Neither of us bring up the tracker, although I expect Cullen will figure it out once she’s less shaken up.