Page 40 of Stronger Than Love

We all filed out of the conference room and into the main office. Dermott’s son was friends with Michael. They stopped at his desk on the way to the elevator.

“You’re punching above your weight,” Eamon said, nodding toward Oonagh.

Michael’s ears went red as he blushed. “Nah, Oonagh’s my future sister-in-law. Liam would kill me if I went near her.”

“Congratulations!” Eamon’s father Dermott slapped me on the back. “Have you picked a date?”

Oonagh stared at me for several seconds while I stood like a rabbit caught in the lights of the oncoming train.

“Thank you so much, we haven’t named a date yet since Liam only proposed recently. I haven’t even got a ring yet!” She waved her left hand in the air and wiggled her fingers.

My eyebrow arched at her troublemaking. “That’s because you keep changing your mind, baby. We were thinking about Halloween since Oonagh loves it so much and goes overboard with the decorations. A theme definitely helps with the planning.”

Her gaze locked with mine in challenge. She had no idea how stubborn I could be when I put my mind to it. If she walked into this pretend arrangement, I would ensure it was permanent.

“Well, let us know when you arrange your engagement party. Our company would happily do the catering for you as a gift.” Dermott grinned at me like a benevolent uncle.

A teasing grin formed on Oonagh’s mouth, her head canting slightly to the side as she turned her attention to him. “My schedule’s clear at the moment. We’re just waiting for Liam to find space in his calendar.”

“When did you meet Liam?” Dermott asked. “I’ve known him for years in business and never once seen him with a woman. I was beginning to think he preferred men.”

Oonagh stifled a giggle behind her hand, her eyes filled with mischief. “Definitely not gay.” She gasped, her hand on her stomach as she laughed. Today was like the twilight zone and I was alternating between wanting to laugh and cry.

“I met this woman on the beach when I was five years old. She stole my heart and never gave it back.” My eyes came up to meet hers. “I knew back then she was the only woman I would ever marry.”

Oonagh would think I was joking, but I meant every single word.

“See?” Michael chimed in. “Who could stand a chance against the power of fate and the force of destiny?”

If I didn’t know better, I would think my brother was deliberately playing cupid in my life right now. Callum had obviously contaminated him with his hairbrained schemes.

I knew I was being an asshole, but I deliberately stood between her legs. It was a subtle move but every male in the room would know that I’d just staked my claim on her. It was a dominance thing—no man would stand there unless he owned what was between her legs. The fact that Oonaghdidn’t flinch or move put a cocky grin on my face that just confirmed my point.

“Well, I better take my fiancée dress shopping.” I rolled my eyes in mock exasperation, tugging Oonagh beside me. Her hand slid into the waistband of my trousers.

Dermott smiled, slapped me on the back again, and headed to the elevator with his group. I glared at Michael for several seconds until he put his head down.

“Come along, sweetie,” Oonagh cooed. “I need to grab my jacket and bag from your office before we go.”

As soon as the door closed behind us, I quietly slid the lock in place before grabbing her and spinning her around to face me.

Her hands were in my hair, mine on her hips in a second as we crashed together. The magnetism between us was instantaneous, the smouldering fire bursting into a raging inferno. My hands slipped under her ass to lift her hips up to meet mine.

Her back hit the window of my office, the place I stood most days contemplating life. There was no gentle persuasion, no murmured words, only the scorching hot passion that burned an incandescent trail through my veins.

My hand fisted her ponytail to drag her head back. We stared into each other’s eyes, our chests rising and falling in tandem.

“You’re driving me in-fucking-sane,” I hissed.

“Then do something about it,” she retorted, her legs contracting around me.

There was something about having Oonagh in my domain, the place I’d created from the ground up, that turnedme on even more. I was king in this castle, and every achievement I’d attained in my life hung in certificates from the wall. The boy who had nothing to give her was long gone, replaced by the man who’d worked his ass off to be worthy of her.

“Tell me what you want,” I demanded.

“You,” she breathed in nothing more than a sigh. “Only you.”

My lips twitched in a half smile. “You had me and walked away.”

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