Page 129 of Brutal Obsession

I’ll have to go the rest of the way on my own.

My heart jackhammers against my ribs, the reverberation bouncing down my legs and rattling my knees.

Once we’re in the car, Cian turns the engine over and hits the AC.

“Um…” I brush my shorter hair behind my ears once, twice, three times because I can’t comprehend how I ever spoke to Cian to begin with. He’s so dazzling. How did I not fall for him the moment I laid eyes on him?

“Harper, what are you doing here?” The sensitivity in his voice weakens me, but I’m fighting to tap into the courage that brought me all the way here. “What’s wrong?”

“What’s wrong is I can’t handle it. I never cared before, but now that I do, it’s unimaginable.”

“Slow down.” He moves one hand to my shoulder and squeezes. “What’s unimaginable?”

“The thought of not seeing you anymore.”

His eyes widen, and his beautiful lips part. He’s gaping at me.

Great. This is off to a terrific start.

“What I mean is…” I backpedal as hard as I can. “Thank you for coming all the way to Hawaii to bring me home. Spending time with you there changed my life. And I want more time with you. I don’t even know if you want that, but I…”

My eyes well up. Perfect. Just perfect.

I’m becoming a one-woman crying machine.

Cian’s still staring at me like I’m nuts.

“I just didn’t know that you cared about me. No one ever has before, not like that, and if I’d known that, I… Look, I’m sorry for the way I acted that night at the bar. I’m sorry I didn’t call you.”

Cian grips the back of my neck and pulls me across the console for a kiss. It’s so fast that I nearly get whiplash, and for a moment I worry my stitches might pop again. But then his lips devour me to the point of deoxygenation, and any thought of discomfort or pain flees my mind.

Ironically, him kissing me this way is like I’m breathing again for the first time in days. I don’t know how I’ll ever stop.

He pulls away, leaving us both panting.

“I didn’t know you cared either.” Cian presses another savage kiss to my mouth, his hand sliding down to the back of my neck.

When he releases me this time, I know it’s now or never.

“I’m in love with you, Cian Mahoney.”

“Say that again,” Cian growls against my lips.

I’m probably going to regret this, but I carefully crawl across the car to straddle his lap. He already has one of his massive hands under my dress, yanking my panties aside. His fingers slide into me like they’re dipping into a honey jar.

I moan against his open mouth as our tongues tangle together.

I drown in his kisses, hips twitching as his fingers explore my hot, moistening body.

How did I get here? Who cares?

This man is all I need.

“I love you. So much that I don’t know how I ever existed without you.” My words come out in a muffled rush, but Cian growls at me anyway as he unzips his pants. He works until his velvety skin rubs up against me. “Ah.”

“I love you, too, Harper Brennan.”

My eyes snap open, our gazes locking. My heart actually stops beating.

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