Page 120 of Illicit Temptation

“Did Malone ask for my father?”

“Lachlan didn’t let Malone into the house. Saidhewas in charge.”

For a moment, I step outside myself and think about how Lachlan comes across to people who don’t know him. How terrifying he can be. God, what if he hadn’t come to Ireland? It all makes sense. “What else did Cormac say?”

“His exact words were: Get my fucking sister out of this country.” Trace puts on a new shirt and unlocks me from the bed. “Let’s eat, princess.”

Two days. Two days, we’re flying home. I’ll be safe. I’ll see my mother and hold my newest niece.

Another baby I’ll hold instead of my own. But Trace seems to be on the same page as me. I’m crazy about him. God, look at what he’s done for me. To be with me. We’realready married and he loves me.

Do I love him? God, yeah, I do. I hate the idea of being without him and only suggested going to Malone as a diversion, so he didn’t hurt anyone else.

The steaks Trace prepares for us are unbelievably fresh and delicious. I forgot what beef is supposed to taste like without all the hormones and chemicals the American meat industry uses.

As I clean up our dinner dishes, Trace comes up behind me and kisses my neck. I lean back and groan from his touch, the ache between my legs coming back to life.

The sun has set and the glow of a rare supermoon lights a narrow path to a lake in the distance and reflects on the water.

Catching my breath, I whisper, “It’s really beautiful here.”

Trace winds his strong arms around my waist. His velvety lips feel like wet pillows bracketed by a soft beard and mustache that tickles the sensitive skin behind my ear. “Would you ever come back here?” he asks in a husky drawl.

With a soft laugh, I say, “I didn’t have a choice to leave when we were young. Da whisked us all away. But... Maybe. Of course, not with a psycho warden after me.”

“He won’t be after you forever.”

I turn in his arms. “Once I leave, he’ll forget about me?”

“He won’t remember you without his head.”

“And how will his head leave his body?” I peer up into Trace’s eyes.

“I’m going to remove it.”

“How, if we’re leaving in two days? You’re not going back there, are you?”

He chuckles. “You let me worry about that.”

“How? Tell me?”

“You doubt me, princess?”

“With whose help?”

“Malone made a lot of enemies, and let’s just say we’ve kept in touch.”

“Trace...” I whisper.

“I don’t trust that once he gets his house in order, he won’t regroup and try to do what he couldn’t years ago.”

“What was that?”

“Kill me.” Trace takes my mouth, not allowing me to respond.

His greedy lips kiss me with a hunger that thickens the air. His fingers dig into my hip, his grip bruising.

With every whimper, he deepens the kiss.

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