Page 62 of Bargain with the Irish Devil

“I’m not afraid of Declan. I was afraid of everything but him. Life made me afraid of feeling anything, certain one day I would lose it, or it would betray me. I felt safer being alone. There’s no controlling someone else, but I could control me. By being alone, no onecould make me love them then leave me. A part of the fear was he would be hurt by this world and he would leave me that way. Finally, I realized the only guarantee in life is that things end. It might be tomorrow or fifty years from now. But it will eventually. I’d rather have the memory of something good than nothing at all when it does.”

The dimple deepens. “I’m beginning to understand now. You are a strong, fascinating woman. I was under the impression he would need a gun held to his head to fall for a woman. As trite as it might be, I believe the bigger they are, the harder they fall. Especially when it comes to the men in this world. A gun is often more appealing than a beautiful woman. We know what makes the gun go off.”

The darkness around him shimmers when he speaks of love. My heart aches for him. He loved someone deeply. She’s gone now, and he would rather have had the gun go off. “Was it a gun held to your head that made you fall in love?”

He blinks, and the smile disappears.

“I’m sorry. Something tells me she’ll be back someday. I have no doubt you’re haunting her dreams. There’s only so long a woman could go without the real thing when she knows it’s out there waiting for her.”

Declan is back with a man who is clearly Dominic Sabatini, as he looks like his father down to the dimples and ice-blue eyes. “Dominic, this is my Miranda. Miranda, this is Dominic Sabatini.”

Dominic nods at me, although his eyes are on his father. “Lovely to meet you. I hear you’re a fan of the tiramisu. We might have a pan of it that won’t be used tonight I can send home with you.”

I shake my head. “Please, no. I’ll eat the whole thing and feel fat for weeks?—”

Before I blink, Declan’s finger is on my mouth. “We talked about saying shit like that.” His words are a hiss. He’s angry, and I’m fucked up because instead of scaring me, his anger makes me wet. “Now, thank Dominic like a good girl. So he can depart, and I can punish you.”

When he lifts his finger from my lips, I look to Dominic, who is smiling. Blushing, I drop my eyes. “Thank you for the tiramisu. That’s kind of you.”

“No problem. Enjoy your dinner.” Dominic nods at me before walking away.

Tony stands, a large hand falls on Declan’s shoulder. “You have a good one. Take care of her.”

He gives me a sad smile. “If you ever need for anything, please call upon me.”

“Thank you. I hope I don’t.”

“Me too.” His eyes are hard on Declan. Then he’s gone.

Declan stares after Tony. “What happened?”

I shrug. “I couldn’t help it. It was just clear he was sad. I hope I didn’t make it worse. I told him…I think she’ll be back. He’s not a man someone could easily forget or walk away from.”

Leaning back in his chair, he studies me. “I hope for her sake she doesn’t. Dominic will likely kill her if he finds her before she gets to Tony.”

“I don’t think he will. Not when he knows how much it would hurt Tony if he does.” His eyes scan the room as the couple who wereon the other side of the room leave. He’s in the corner with his back against the wall. “Now it’s time for your punishment.”

“Here, now?”

I’m not sure if I’m disappointed or not when the waitress brings our appetizers. I swallow down the last of my glass of wine. Declan refills it for me.

Once she’s gone, his smile is absolutely wicked. “Here. Now.”

“Please, no, Declan. I’m sorry. I won’t do it again. Please don’t spank me here in public. I’ll be good. Anything you want, I’ll do it. I promise.”

An eyebrow goes up. “Anything?”

Oh god, my throat is growing tight from the weight of his eyes on me. Thank god, I’m sitting because those eyes turn my legs so weak I would be on my knees for him. I want to be on my knees for him.

I’ve only taken him into my mouth twice since he had me on my knees after he spanked me in his office. I’m not sure why he thought this was a punishment because I love him in my mouth. It just wasn’t easy due to how thick and long he is.

“Anything.”

“Show me.” The words are full of smoke, reaching across the table, wrapping around me, and pulling me toward him.

CHAPTER 19

Miranda

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