Page 41 of Taming Irish

The words are barely out of her mouth when the first few drops hitus.

We make it about thirty feet from the shore when the sky opens, drenching us in a coldshower.

Makena squeals, the noise mixed with laughter as she pulls her hoodie over her head. By the time we reach the shore, we’re both soaked straightthrough.

“Get inside,” I say, helping her out of the boat and tying it off as she jogs toward thecottage.

I shake the rain out of my hair when I meet her just inside thedoor.

“That came in fast,” she says, rubbing her arms andshivering.

“It should pass soon.” I shut the windows that I’d left open, then start piling a few logs and kindling into the fireplace. “We can just wait it out in here. There should be some blankets in thedrawers.”

She follows where I nod, then pulls out two oversized wool blankets while I dig through another drawer to find somematches.

Once the fire has caught, I stand and turn just as she’s pulling her wet hoodie over her head. The t-shirt underneath gets caught up, exposing herstomach.

“Shit,” she mutters, fighting with the damp fabric that seems to have her in a straightjacket-likehold.

I chuckle, moving across the room. “Holdstill.”

Lifting her arms, I roll the hoodie up and over her head, accidently taking the t-shirt withit.

The pink satin bra that she’s wearing is slightly damp, and her nipples strain against thematerial.

Fuck.

Her eyes are wide, her breathing rapid as I stare down at her, and despite the chill in the cabin, heat races through my veins, straight to mycock.

“Shane-” I swear there’s a plea in that one word. A desperate hope that I’ll take her choice away fromher.

And I could. Hell, I want to. But there’s too much uncertainty in her eyes. And the last thing I want to be with her is aregret.

“Here,” I grab one of the blankets and wrap it around hershoulders.

“Thanks.”

“I told ye I’d get ye wet,” I say, playing off the intensity of the moment, and the embarrassment I now see in hereyes.

She gives me a small eyeroll.

“Are ye hungry?” I open the basket Tommy packedearlier.

She nods, pulling her bottom lip between her teeth as she approaches. There’s something different in hergaze.

“You must be freezing.” Her fingers fist in my t-shirt, then snake under the material, her palms resting on my abs. “You should get out of your wetclothes.”

“Makena.” Her name is a warning on my lips. I don’t reach out to touch her, waiting for her next move. A low growl forms at the base of my throat. “Ye know what’ll happen if I dothat.”

She nods, her palms inching up, pushing thematerial.

I’ve never claimed to be a saint, but as I tug my shirt over my head and toss it on the chair with her hoodie and t-shirt, I feel like the fucking devil himself because I know exactly how this willend.

I stand in front of her, chest bare, watching as her eyes roam appreciatively over mybody.

Gripping her chin between my thumb and index finger, I force her to look up at me. “Ye’re not making thisfriendthingeasy.”

“I know,” she says softly as her fingers brush across my abs, then lower, resting just above the waist of myjeans.

My cock strains against the fabric, but I feel the need to give her one last warning. “Just remember this wasyewho startedit.”

I feel her tremble. “I just…Ineed…”

“I know.” I crush my lips against hers, because I know exactly what she needs, and hell if I’m going to let her go off and find some other bastard to give it toher.

For tonight, she’smine.

---