Page 152 of The Catalyst

“Okay. Calm down.” Judy sits beside me and takes my hand, rubbing soothing circles on my palm. “First off, when does the deal go into effect?” I explain that bit to her, and she nods. “We’ll have them delay the wedding until after you give birth. We’ll leave town before you start showing, and you’ll have the baby away from Grove Hill. I’ll take care of your baby until your deal is done.”

My heart gallops as I stare at her, baffled. “No, I couldn’t ask you to do something like that.”

“You’re not asking. I’moffering. You’re my friend, and what you’re doing isn’t easy, but I’m here to help you. No matter what you need, I’m here. I’ll be your secret keeper, your tear dryer, and your needs meeter.”

I laugh. “Needs meeter? That’s not a thing.”

“We’ll make it a thing! I’ve got your back, and…you look like you’re about to puke.”

Now that she mentions it, I do feel nauseous, but I’ll be fine. Judy is right. We’ll make it through this, and she’s my best friend. She’ll see me through everything, and I’ll do the same.

I have a small village at my back, ready to hold my hand and make a stand for me.

* * *

Sittingon the couch with a steaming cup of hot tea, I slowly stir the spoon covered in honey, enjoying how silent the house is at three in the morning. Ronan and Judy are passed out in his room. Perla and Charlie went out of town on a romantic getaway. Oisin and Arely are crashing at her place.

I have no clue if Ollie is here or if he left, and I honestly don’t want to know. The last time I got nosy about what he was doing was when I ended up hanging off a bridge.

I have three days until Nigel is freed, and then I’ll be preparing mentally to marry Michael Gray. There isn’t room in any of that for my love of Oliver Doyle. Using the L word where he is concerned doesn’t even make sense. Doesn’t part of being a psychopath mean they can’t feel those kinds of emotions?

Taking a small sip from my mug, I hum as the warm liquid slides down my throat.

“You’re up late.”

Looking up, I take in the sight of Ollie leaning against the edge of the hall, his arms crossed over his chest, his icy blues dancing up and down my body. I probably should’ve covered up, especially considering he’s staring at my tits nearly busting out of my camisole. My boobs shouldn’t be getting bigger already, right?

What does it say about me that I can’t detach my eyes from the bulge in his sleep pants or the way the bare V of his hips is like a neon sign directed at that massive joystick of his?

Fuck. I need to get laid. I haven’t had sex since before the accident, and it’s abundantly clear that my sex drive can’t take the lack of attention.

“Have you been in your room all day?” I ask, my breath coming out in sharp pants.

“Yup,” he mutters as he slowly walks toward me, his hands shoved in his pockets.

“Why?”

His chest rises and falls rapidly, even as he sits beside me and leans into my ear. “So I don’t rip off your clothes and seat you on my dick while you scream so loud the very foundation of this house shudders in pleasure with you. You’re still recovering from the accident after all.”

A moan falls from my lips without permission, but Oliver doesn’t touch me. He fills me with anticipation as his fingers barely avoid my skin as he teases me with his near touch, tracing the air that separates his skin from mine. His hand roams down my arm, over my stomach and my breasts, and my breath hitches at how hedoesn’tlay a finger on me.

“I can’t wait to touch you again, to feel you tremble beneath my fingers. It’s been sohardnot to put my hands on you, especially when you look at me like you want nothing more than for me to kiss you, to fuck you, to make youmine.” He growls the final word, and my core quakes in anticipation as I turn my head, gazing into his beautiful eyes.

“I always want that,” I admit, my breasts heaving with how full of lust I am for him.

When these next few days are over, there will be nothing stopping him from fucking me straight into my deathbed…until the wedding. Hell, maybe even after that. Nowhere in that contract stated that I had to be faithful to Michael, just that I don’t publicly embarrass him by causing a scandal.

That’s rather easy.

I’m good at keeping secrets.

“I know you do. I can taste how bad you want me, and…it’sfuckingdelicious.” His lips barely hover above mine, and I can taste the bourbon on his breath as his hot breath ghosts across my flesh.

“Oliver,” I whimper from how needy I am for him, for his touch.

“I want you to know, crazy girl, that I’m going to go back to my room. As soon as I’m in there, I’m going to whip out my cock and fuck my hand. I’m going to get off imagining your dick-sucking lips wrapped around my shaft and you worshiping me. I can see it right now, how enthusiastic you would be about sucking my cock.”

My thighs rub together because I really want to do that.

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