Page 5 of Mated to the Kingpin

A blush roars over my cheeks at his implication. His stoney face turns sensual, a knowing smirk and darkened eyes send a thrill through me.

“Tomorrow night is a full moon, so we’ll marry as my tradition requires. Then I’ll claim you properly under its light, so our union will be blessed.”

I want to laugh at the idea that werewolves would believe such superstitions, but this is the reality of Liam’s world. The full moon is tomorrow. I’d read all I could about werewolves when Seth told me about him and his family. With how distant our parents were, the concept of packs and how family oriented they are made me long to be a part of something like that.

It’s why Liam not attending Seth’s funeral hurt so badly. They were so close and Liam’s absence was another cut in my already grieving heart.

I could have handled the production my business and political savvy parents turned Seth’s service into if Liam had been there to stand between me and the world. But he abandoned me.

Liam pulls a black box from his pocket and opens it, bringing me back to focus.

The ring is beautiful, clearly inspired by the Irish Claddagh ring. Its band, crafted from gleaming gold, twists elegantly, resembling delicate strands of vines to wrap around my finger like a lover’s embrace. Two golden leaves hold a golden heart with a large round diamond and three smaller, just as stunning smaller diamonds cluster together to create a crown. Each stone captures the ambient light of the cocktail bar, sparkling with promises of love and loyalty and woven through with tradition.

Promises that don’t ring true for us.

“Give me your hand.”

I obey, mechanically, and he pulls the ring free and slides it onto my left ring finger. The fit is perfect, like it’s always belonged there.

“There,” Liam says, then clears his throat. He’s looking down at his open wallet when I manage to look up at him. He pulls out two crisp hundred dollar bills, more than enough to cover the tab, and sets them under his empty glass. He moves behind me and grabs my blazer off the back and holds it open for me. “Let’s get you home. You have a busy day tomorrow. I’ll pick you up at 8 am.”

In a daze, I stand and slide my arms into my jacket. A shiver runs over me as his fingers graze the back of my neck as he eases my hair out from under my jacket. I grab my clutch from the table and peer at him. “I work tomorrow.”

Liam’s hand settles at the small of my back and I have to walk forward or look like an idiot fighting the pressure he uses. “You’re taking the next two weeks off. Your boss will understand and if he doesn’t, I’ll make sure he does. Keys?”

I don’t ask how he knows where I parked or how he got there as I dumbly hand him the keys to my crossover. The engagement ring catches the glow of the lamplight and he has to prod me to finally sit in the passenger seat of my own car.

All I can think on the way home is how the hell has this happened? It consumes me the entire silent drive home.

He walks me to my apartment door and when he unlocks it, it breaks me out of my stupor.

“How did you know where I live?” I ask, the accusation plain in my tone.

He gives nothing away as he dips his head and brushes a ghost of a kiss across my lips. “Remember, 8 am,” he says, as if he hasn’t stolen my breath for the second time that evening.

I stare at him from my doorway as he heads towards the elevator, hands in his front pockets. As if he feels my gaze, he looks over his shoulder and locks his eyes with mine.

“A bit of advice, mo chroí? Don’t try to run.” He cocks his head in consideration before his smirk turns feral. “Or, maybe you should. I’d love hunting you down.”

Chapter 4

Liam

Early the next morning, my thoughts are consumed by Claire.

Even under the hot spray of the shower, her scent haunts me. I can still taste her on my lips, the barest hint of sweetness mixed with the tang of whiskey. I can feel the curve of her waist under my palm and how it flared to her hips. How she’d fit so perfectly in my arms, like her body was created for mine.

I shouldn’t have kissed her last night.

It took everything inside me not to press her against the door to her apartment and take her mouth the way I’d been imagining since walking into the restaurant. It took every ounce of restraint I’d learned growing up an O’Reilly, especially when her lips had parted and her breathing quickened.

Instead, I’d settled for the barest graze of my mouth against hers. I’d felt the shudder that went through her body and smelled the spike of her arousal. I’d known that if she’d offered herself, even the slightest invitation, I wouldn’t have been able to stop myself.

My cock aches at the idea. It’s been too fucking long since I’ve had a fuck. Even then, no woman has ever made me feel afraction of the need Claire does. I know it’s because Claire’s my mate and the others were nothing but desperate distractions; attempts to scratch an itch.

Maybe choosing Claire isn’t the best idea. Now that I’ve settled on this path, my obsession with her refuses to be ignored any longer. I should be planning to speak with Connor later today after dropping Claire off with my mother. He and Declan have been hunting any leads that will prove Ronan was behind the attack on John O’Reilly. I know my father told me to set it aside for now, and that’s what I’ve done. I just had Connor and Declan, the two males I trust with my life, pick it up.

Instead, my dreams were filled with Claire and now my cock is thick and hard, desperate to sink inside of her.

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