Page 9 of Desired

“Take care, Moira.” He says.

I don’t look up as I fasten my seatbelt. “You, too.”

“Well, you’ve got a lot of nerve, coming down on me like that!” I say through gritted teeth, to my cousin, Stephanie.

“You’re a fool, Moira! I mean, you went on the date, got interrupted by a presumed murder, and then you just left him? What were you thinking?”

I left out the part about going back to his place and fucking against his pool house wall. “I was thinking that my life is too fucked up to be bringing in the carnage, Steph! What would he think, huh! Don’t be daft!”

“I think you’re confusing who’s daft here, lass! Come on! You know that this shit is just your way of avoiding being with a man that is perfect for you! You’re being a bloody coward is what you’re doing!”

“Stephanie, focus! I’m not perfect for him! He may be perfect for me but I’m exactly the opposite of what he needs right now!” I force my fingers through my hair. “Christ, he’s already got people trying to shoot their family and now friends of the family! The last thing he needs is me!”

I know that my cousin means well, but at best, she’s crossed a line. It’s not like I went home pining for Declan. Sure, I mentioned him once or twice, but I didn’t obsess.

“Please, Moira!” She argues. “This is the first lad you’ve mentioned in ages! I know you’re into him! I did you a favor since I know that you’d never ask him out!”

I’m exasperated. “Yes! What does that tell you!” I hiss, pointing to my temple, like she’s an idiot.

“Moira, this is enough! You need to start living your life, goddammit! What happened at home is over! It’s time to move on.”

That hits deep. My voice lowers. “That’s easy for you to say, Steph. But you will never know what it’s like to be in my shoes.”

She lowers her voice as well. “Look, Moira, I’m not going to tell you how to run your life, but you need to ask yourself…how many golden opportunities do you get?”

“That wasn’t a golden opportunity.”

“Well, did you two at least like each other? Because if you didn’t, then this discussion is over.”

The truth is I reallyreallylike him. I’ve never had that sort of attraction to anyone before. I won’t say that it was love at first sight, but I think it comes close. I hate lying to Steph, but in this case, I know she won’t back off unless I do.

“No. It wasn’t a match made in heaven by any means.”

We’re sitting on my balcony, and a big gust of wind comes in, pushing my dress way up, giving me a shiver up my spine, and showing off everything I own. Thank God Steph has seen it all before. But as I recover, pulling my dress back down and we both exchange a mutual look, she says. “Where’s your britches?” The way she says it, she’s on to me. Her eyes go to my chest. You could cut glass with my nipples. “And since when do you not wear a bra?” She clucks her tongue.

“I…took them off when I got home.” I lie.

She does a double take as I turn slightly, trying to avert my gaze. “Oh, and I see you’ve been branded there on your neck.” She frowns. “Either Declan Harris had his way with you today or that Dyson vacuum cleaner in your closet has tremendous sucking power if it took up your bra, panties and gave you a nice hickey.”

My face heats. I can’t look at her without smirking. Okay, she’s direct, but she’s so fucking funny when she is, and I can’t stand it. As much as I try to hold my breath, it’s for naught, as I exhale quickly, giggling as quietly as I can, but my shoulders vibrating betrays me. She snorts a laugh. “Well, the truth comes out. I don’t think that you’ve laughed like that in a while. You must have had all that pent up energy removed when he made you come like a fucking racehorse, Moira.”

I wave, but I can’t help the laughter. It’s not what she says but the way she says it. She’s so deadpan it’s hilarious. “Stop! I can’t catch my breath!”

“I bet that’s exactly what happened at lunch, too, Moira.”

A fart slips out I laugh so hard, and then she chuckles. “Wow, you’ve even lost control of your bodily functions. It must have been good.”

“Stop, or I’ll pee next, Steph!” I blurt, unable to do much else, I’m laughing so hard.

“Wow.” She nods, impressed. “So, you finally got laid properly.”

I wipe the tears from my eyes, mewling. “Oh, God, Steph. So I lied.”

“I lie all the time, Moira. How do you think I got you the date.” She sips her wine. “It was that good, huh.”

I nod. “You have no idea.”

“I think I do. For you to forget your bra and panties...that’s saying a lot. Why’d you leave them behind? Mementos?”

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