Page 43 of Bargain with the Irish Devil

"If that's what it takes to have you in the bigger room with the better bathroom attached. I'll do it."

"But I'm not going to be here for long." The words are small.

She's not going anywhere. "Whether it's two weeks or two months, I don't care. I'll talk to Aoife so she can arrange everything."

A smile plays on her beautiful mouth. "You're so bossy."

"And you love it."

She giggles as she nods.

"Get dressed. No wandering around the house half-dressed. I don't need to kill Colm for seeing what's mine." I warn her with a smack to her ass. “I’ll be back in about twenty minutes or thirty minutes. They’re usually busy on a Sunday.”

“Okay, I’m going to take a shower now.” She sighs as she pushes off the bed.

I wait until she’s in the shower before I go downstairs.

Colm is downstairs. Since he’s on the phone himself, I give in to what I need to do and call Brenna.

“Declan, hi.”

“Brenna, I’m sorry, dear. I don’t see us making a match. I’m going to speak to your da tomorrow. I didn’t want you unaware before I did.”

“Oh.” She sighs. “If it’s about another woman. I told you, Declan. I’m fine with it. You can keep her.”

“You might not have a problem with it, but she would. And you deserve to marry someone you would care about.” I end the call. There isn’t more to say.

Colm’s eyes are wide. “The Beckett woman? She’s a civilian Dec.”

“I know what she is. So does she. It’s none of your fucking business.”

Miranda

In the shower, I study my body. There are small bruises from his hands on my hips. I’m not upset by them—they send an odd thrill through me. His lovemaking was amazing, awesome, spectacular, and every word I’ve ever thought to describe mind-blowing.

If I had known it could be that way, I would have given in the first night. I’m kind of annoyed with myself for losing out on a week with him.

I can't believe he really wants me to redo his room. Just so I'm happier in it with him—even though I won’t be here long. I'm in so much trouble.

I'm in love with him. I don’t know how or when it happened. But I am, and it’s scary as hell. Is there any way that this won't blow up in my face? What would tomorrow look like with a man like Declan? To go to work every day and come home to him feels like a dream—a dream that one day I’ll have to wake up from.

I don’t know if I’m built to have him coming home looking like he did last night. In his world, it’s more likely than not I will see him go through something like it again.

Getting dressed, my skin feels different. Almost like it's new. Every minor brush against it is a reminder of Declan's mouth on me. The way his tongue taunted, teased, and drove me mad. I wish he were here right now.

But no, he was out getting food for us because he didn’t want to hurt me by us making love again. I hadn’t expected to be sore this morning—especially when it felt so good waking up with him inside me.

Sighing, I go downstairs.

I’m not sure how I feel when I see Colm sitting in the living room watching television. Declan didn’t trust me not to leave? How do I tell him that Colm could go home because no one had to keep me here? I want to stay with Declan…forever.

The fear of the last word sends me into his office. But the door is locked. Annoyed, I give in and decide the least I can do is start the coffee.

I’m sipping my coffee when Declan walks into the kitchen with a bag.

“Smells good. I was wondering where you were.” I force a smile.

Ocean runs over me. “They were busy. I had a wait. Are you all right?”

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