Page 58 of Pucks and Books

“Beast,” I murmur, leaning into his touch. Before I can stop myself, my curiosity gets the better of me. “Who were you talking to?”

“My mom.” He runs his thumb along my lip. “I told her I’m seeing someone special, and she wants to meet you.”

“Let me know. I’m there.”

His eyes burn for me, hooded and hot. “I need to go run some errands.”

I hate the disappointment that shoots through me. He has to leave me. Not only does he have a life outside me, but it’s his job. I can’t just keep him only for myself.

Unfortunately.

“When will you be home—er, sorry. I mean— Oh my God, I’m sorry,” I sputter, and his eyes widen a bit, as does the grin that covers his face. I groan inwardly and shake my head, feeling so stupid. “I mean, are you coming back here? Or going to your apartment?”

“I brought a bag.”

Giddiness wiggles its way to my heart. “Oh.”

“Do you want to eat out or eat in? I can pick something up on the way back.”

“Whatever you want,” I say, pressing my hands into his chest, and while I don’t say it, it’s clear that I’m down for whatever as long as it means he comes back.

“I vote for Chinese.”

At Eliza’s comment, we both look over at her.

She waves. “Yeah, we’re all here, and I do live here.”

My younger sisters all giggle as Ciaran chuckles, his eyes darting back to mine. “Chinese?”

“Sure.”

He leans in, kissing me hard and so thoroughly, I clutch his chest for balance. He squeezes my ass, his other hand cupping my ribs as he draws smaller, sweet kisses out of me. When he presses his forehead to mine, his eyes hold my attention, and I feel like he needs to say something.

Winded and not wanting him to leave, I ask, “You okay?”

“Yeah. Just gotta take care of some things.”

I’m stalling. “Anything I can help with?”

He nips at my nose. “Just be you.”

My heart swells, my stomach clenches, and I almost scream the words in his face. I kiss his lips then his nose before nodding. “Go on, before I kidnap you and only feed you muffins.”

His eyes dance with mine. “You make that sound like a bad thing.”

He smacks my butt and then winks at me as he backs away. He tears his gaze from me and then looks to my sisters. “Ladies, don’t tease her too much.”

Clara snorts. “Oh, it’s on.”

Elliot nods. “I’m gonna make her wish she never kissed you in front of me.”

Eliza laughs loudly. “Teasing is our love language.”

Ciaran only laughs, looking over his shoulder at me. “Bye, my love.”

My love.

I wave in a sparkly, Ciaran-induced daze before I exhale when he goes out the door. I feel three sets of eyes on me, and sure enough, my sisters are grinning at me before all talking at once.

---