Page 50 of Bartered Innocence

When Rian walks silently into the bedroom hours later, I set down the book I’m reading and wait. I’m sure he’ll acknowledge what happened in the dining room.

I can’t look away as he strips out of his shirt, covered in dried food, tossing it into the basket by the closet door. He rolls his neck and stretches out his shoulders, and my eyes roam over the tattoo on his back. The first night I saw it, I ran scared because I wasn’t sure if he would hurt me or not.

But now I see it and I realize how beautiful it is, how intricate and detailed it is.

“What do the words say?”

Rian looks up from the dresser as he pulls up the cotton pants he’s been changing into.

“Around the cross?”

I nod, folding my legs under me on the bed. I’ve never been one to wear pajamas to bed, but I’d found tons of pairs of matching silk sets, and I never want to wear anything else again. Deirdre assured me that they were bought specifically for me, that the men never bring women back to this house.

He walks toward me, his muscled stomach flexing and the tented bulge in his pants swaying with each step. I try to keep my eyes on his face, but my heated cheeks give away my thoughts as his lips quirk to the side. “It’s an oath.”

“To the brotherhood?”

Rian nods, climbing into bed next to me. “To the brotherhood. If we break the oath, may we meet a threefold death.”

I frown. “Threefold death?”

“We named ourselves afterDaghdhabecause he’s known astheIrish god, a jack of all trades you could say. Everything we do is in his name, seeking his guidance and protection while we serve our families. We swore an oath, a pledge of loyalty to him and the brotherhood with the promise of a threefold death if we break it.”

He glances at me, the corner of his lips lifting when he can see how intrigued I am. His fingers reach out to grab my hand, turning it over to run along the lines of my palm. “A threefold death is said to be reserved for heroes, kings or gods. Three simultaneous deaths of the worst kind, usually by suffocation, drowning, and a fatal wound.”

“That sounds…brutal.” And impossible, but I keep that opinion to myself.

“It’s a punishment for a betrayal that will never be forgiven.” Rian looks up at me, a dark promise burning in his eyes. “Má bhrisim mo mhionn, go n-osclaí an talamh chun mé a shlogadh, go n-éirí an fharraige chun mé a bhá, agus go dtite an t-aer orm.If I break my oath, may the earth open to devour me, the sea climb to drown me, and the sky plummet upon me.”

Shivers travel down my spine and I feel the weight of the words. I don’t believe in the gods, but Rian’s raw conviction makes me want to.

“I ran that first night because of the tattoo.”

His eyebrows raise. “You knew who I was?”

I shake my head. “No. Just the tattoo, and then I checked your wallet and recognized the name.”

Rian’s lips pull into a dark, sexy smile. “And you were scared? Of what? Me?”

I bite down on my lip but he reaches up, pressing his thumb to it and forcing me to let go. “My brother basically described you guys as assassins. I thought you would think I was there to spy on you or something.”

He laughs. “The way you fumbled with my clothes and where to put your hands told me how inexperienced you were. I would have never thought that.”

Slumping into the pillows, I try to bury my flushing face. “Don’t remind me! I was trying so hard not to seem like a virgin.”

“It was adorable. I wanted to see how far you would go.”

I peek up at him. “So if I had said no? You would have stopped?”

“Yes. Reluctantly, I admit. When I knew you were gonna let me in, I nearly blew my load putting on the condom.” He rolls closer to me, leaning up on his elbow as his fingers play with the waistband of my pajamas. “There’s something dark that stirs inside me knowing I’m the only one who’s been in that tight pussy.”

My stomach flexes when he slips into my shorts, and I open my legs as he teases up my slit. I let out a slow breath. “I wish I could say the same.”

Rian smirks, his fingers moving up to circle my clit. The low fire in my belly that I always have around him builds. “No you don’t. I would have been a fumbling idiot right next to you and we wouldn’t have had a good time.”

He leans forward, our faces a breath apart and my eyes drop to his lips.

“And I barely remember anyone before you.”

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