Page 53 of Illicit Temptation

If her father doesn’t approve, then I will break my promise to Griffin and go straight to Lachlan, confess my feelings and my intentions as well as my blood oath to the O’Rourkes. Griffin is leaving. Surely Lachlan can use an ex-military warrior as a new second.

I hold Shea’s hand walking down the airstairs and into Griffin’s black Escalade. She sits quietly tucked into the backseat, but her perfume is anything but quiet. It strips my nerves and flames my ache for her.

A few minutes later, we’re at The Orchid, a dazzling venue with tuxes and gowns as far as the eye can see.

“The event organizers hired top security. Just keep your eyes on your charge,” Griffin says to me.

I’ll be keeping them on her ass.

Griffin saunters in and takes his place with Lachlan O’Rourke accompanied by his very pregnant wife. This is another complication. The man is too high-strung right now to deal with any betrayals. I’m Shea’s bodyguard in his eyes, nothing more.

I touch her. AndIdie.

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

Shea

My brothers and their spouses cluster together at two tables, one brother looking more handsome than the next with their elegant and graceful wives, most in dresses that my Erin helped them pick out.

I smoothmydress on both sides, my butt still sore. But every pinch of pain pleasantly reminds me of how Trace rained down blow after blow on my bare ass. The sharp sting of white-hot pain mixed with a deep craving in my core to have him inside me. I begged him for that orgasm.

He was teeming with angst over me locking him up. God, I know I’m about to give in and let him fuck me.

Pushing all that away so I’m not standing here perspiring with raging hard nipples, I search for Balor who’d made a vow to stay single. Although, I heard his new female assistant has him going crazy. Across the room, sitting next to Eoghan, the tension in Balor’s shoulders can be seen from space.

Ha! I laugh. Another O’Rourke man is going to fall in love. At least, I hope it’s love. He deserves it. They all do. All while I hide my infertility problem, making me ineligible for a husband. A powerful one anyway. A man who will want children to carry on his legacy.

Just as I step to greet my brother, a pale green dress steals my attention. Balor’s assistant. I make my move to get five minutes with him.

“She’s here?” I whisper in his ear.

He turns to face me, a calm storm brewing behind his eyes. “Aye.”

“And her father works for you, too?” I ask, curious about the dynamic.

“They came as a package deal before I realized who shewas. And considering what I did to her...” He rubs his forehead.

From his expression, it must have been intense indeed.

“Do you think her father would object to you dating her?” I gaze at who I assume is the father—older, dark hair, white beard. He’s handsome in a rough kind of way.

“Dating,” Balor huffs and spins me to face our brothers. “Have you not figured out that O’Rourke men don’t date? Theypossess.”

“So be different.” I nudge his arm, deciding I like matchmaking better than dealing with my own problems. “I can tell you like her. You didn’t blink an eye approving her shopping spree. And I saw just now how you looked at her.” I have a ton of money, but it would be nice if a man showered me for a change.

Who am I to give advice? My center throbs for Trace every night, and I don’t know what to do about it.

“Why are you watching me?” Balor sharpens his focus on my face.

“Maybe looking for the signs.” I shrug.

“Signs?”

“Of how a man who’s crazy about a woman is supposed to look at me.” My eyes beg to look at Trace.

“It will happen, Shea. When you least expect it,” he says with a kiss on my cheek.

Teasing my little brother calms me. I don’t think he knows about Trace and me. Or that what I’m looking for has already happened. Technically, I got married before any of my brothers. Except Darragh.

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