Page 62 of Their Deviant Love
“I’ve never been to your house before.” She smiles at me, and my brows draw down in confusion.
“You broke in.”
“That doesn’t count. I wasn’t invited and I’ve never been in your bed.” Her eyebrows waggle up and down.
“Don’t worry. You will get plenty of time in that bed this week.” I laugh.
“How mad were you? That morning you woke up and discovered what I did?”
“I wasn’t mad. I was terrified someone was going to catch you—or had caught you. I had to rush to delete all the CCTV footage,” I admit. “I didn’t even want to think about what my father would do to you if he ever got ahold of you.”
Aurora’s eyes darken. She knows all too well. Because the bastard did get his hands on her.
“I’m sorry.” I wrap my arm around her shoulder and pull her against me. “I shouldn’t have let that happen.”
“You didn’t let it happen. It’s not your fault.”
“It is. I didn’t protect you. I failed you.” I kiss the top of her head. “It won’t happen again.”
“It’s okay. We’re okay. No one is going to break us, Connor. No one,” she says.
I really fucking hope she’s right. I hope she never lets her family talk sense into her, that she realizes I’m not even close to being good enough for her.
The rest of the ride to the house is silent. Patty went back to Boston. His father was starting to have a coronary about him being gone so long. Although they both now answer to me, there is still a level of respect. I’ve always liked Patty’s father. Unlike mine, he wasn’t an ass. He needs his son at home, and I can survive without Patty being my shadow.
The car pulls to a stop and I look up at the house to find that it feels almost foreign. Like it’s been a lifetime since I’ve been here.
I climb out and offer Aurora a hand. “Want the tour?”
“Sure.” She smiles and looks around. There are O’Malley men everywhere. “Are you sure it’s safe here? Are you sure these guys are Team Connor?”
“Team Connor?” I laugh as I guide her up the front steps. “I’m sure. I would never bring you here if I weren’t.”
The door opens and our house manager greets us with a huge smile. “Connor, darling, welcome home.” She takes my face between her hands and kisses each of my cheeks. Kathleen has worked for my parents for as long as I can remember and now she works for me.
“Kathleen, this is my wife, Auroa.” I gesture to my side. “Aurora, Kathleen is the house manager. Anything you need, she will make sure you have it.”
“Welcome, Mrs. O’Malley. It’s a pleasure to meet you.” Kathleen looks at the ground when she addresses Aurora, who smiles at the woman in return.
“Thank you, and you can call me Aurora, please.”
Kathleen nods. “Dinner will be ready in about an hour.” With that, she turns and walks away.
“She hates me,” Aurora whispers.
“No, she’s just nervous around new people. Always has been. Also, my mother was a bitch to her so she’s probably thinking you will be too.”
“Why would she continue working here if the conditions are horrendous?” Aurora asks.
“Because it’s better than the alternative.”
I turn to the right and take Aurora up the stairs. I don’t mention that the alternative would have been death, because Kathleen has seen and heard way too much to not work for the family—under my father’s rule anyway.
“You know, I was thinking… now that your brother’s dating a fed, you shacking up with an Irishman doesn’t seem so bad. Maybe your family will go easier on you about our relationship.”
“My family accepts you, Connor,” Aurora says.
“No, they don’t. They just don’t want to see you hurt. There is a difference. And I’m okay with that. I just want things to be easier for you.”
