Page 92 of The Irish Redemption

“Agreed.”

“Won’t we get into trouble?”

Cormac’s brows pull softly together. “For?”

“I don’t have a passport, remember? Isn’t it illegal for me to leave here and fly to Ireland?”

Cormac laughs deeply, tilting his head back and looking more relaxed than I’ve ever seen him. “You know who I am. The life I lead. Everything you’ve seen, and flying without a passport is where you worry about the law?”

“Don’t make fun! I don’t know how serious these things are!”

“I’m sorry.” He chuckles. “Trust me. It will not be an issue.”

“You’ll protect me?”

“Always. Now come to bed.”

I linger near the glass doors leading to the small balcony attached to Cormac’s bedroom. The city twinkles below us like a thousand scattered stars, but something about it all feels different.

“What’s wrong?” Cormac asks when I don’t move.

“Don’t you think the city looks different?”

“Different how?”

“I don’t know. Just… different. Maybe it’s me. I feel different.”

“You’ve been through a lot. More than anyone should go through.”

“Isn’t it common in your world, though?” I glance back up at him. “Danger?”

“Yes. But what you’ve witnessed and experienced in just a month is intense for anyone.”

Casting one last look at the city, I turn toward the bed and finally slide on it and into Cormac’s waiting open arms. “Can you teach me to be like you?”

“Like me?” Cormac winds both thick arms around me, cuddling me close and nuzzling into my hairline.

“Yeah. I want to know how to shoot a gun. And how to fight.”

Cormac pulls back slightly and angles himself so we’re face to face. “Why?”

“I… when I was with Noah, all I felt was powerless. There was nothing I could do against him.”

“You weren’t the only one,” Cormac assures me softly.

“I know, but I couldn’t try. I don’t want to feel like that again. I want to be able to defend myself for me. I want to feel stronger than I was in that moment.” His body radiates heat, and there’s slight concern hidden in his eyes, but to my relief, Cormac nods.

“Of course,” he says. “I understand. Although I am the only protection you need.”

“Oh, really?” My lips pull into a warm smile and I reach up to caress his cheek. “And just how do you plan to do that?”

“Easily.” His voice drops to a low whisper and he tilts his head down.

The moment his lips press against mine, a deep pull of relaxation moves through my body. I melt back into his hold and kiss him back just as deeply while stroking his cheekbone and the coarser hairs of his well-kept beard. One of Cormac’s hands skims down my body, following the seam of my nightdress to where the lace hem sits loose against my thigh. In the same movement, his hand slips underneath the material and presses firmly between my legs. He cups my heat and uses that grip to pull my hips back against him as I gasp softly into his mouth.

“And who will protect me from you?” I whisper, staring deep into his eyes when the kiss breaks.

The tips of our noses brush together as Cormac tilts his head, and he holds my gaze as two thick fingers press between my folds, lightly caressing my vulva as he replies, “The other me.”

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