“Can I help with anything?”I slide in next to Liam as he flips the French toast on the pan with ease most eighteen-year-olds don’t possess when it comes to culinary skills, especially those reared on a fully established estate with live-in staff.
With a side glance, he tosses me a wink. “Nah, I’m good. Take a seat, Bev and I have it covered.”
Our eyes connect, and flashes of his lips devouring mine rush to the forefront of my mind. We’ve yet to speak about the events of last night or what our shared past means for us going forward. Was it two people lost in the nostalgia of what once was, or was it a new beginning for all that could be?
All I know is that kiss kept me awake, daydreaming about when life was easy and carefree. Then, when my eyes finally closed and sleep pulled me under, those innocent touches we shared on the lake and the boy with whom I gave my first kiss…faded. In place was the man before me, covered in tattoos and piercings, his touch anything but innocent as his calloused hands caressed my skin.
His luscious kisses were accompanied by a wicked smile as he devoured every inch of my wanting body until his name fell breathlessly from my lips under the pressure of my release.
I woke with a pounding heart, gasping for the breath my lifelike dream stole and an ache between my thighs that only Liam could satisfy.
With Beibhinn’s presence, now isn’t the time to broach the subject of what it all means, and honestly, I am not ready to dive into anything other than easy right now.
So, instead of dragging up the past, I mirror his smile and playfully hold my palms up. “You don’t have to tell me twice.” My body rounds the large island, and I hike my arse into the high stool directly facing Liam.
For a moment, I watch in silence as Liam and Beibhinn hustle around the kitchen, their movements complementing each other to perfection.
Since I arrived in Killybegs, I have not witnessed their twin bond in action until now. First, without looking her way, Liam holds out his hand, and then Beibhinn wordlessly places a plate into his palm.
A smile slides onto my face as I watch them effortlessly serve breakfast, reading each other's next move like a pair of synchronised swimmers.
Finally, Liam peers up over his lash line and raises his brow at my amusement. “What’s so funny, free bird?”
“Nothing.”
A glass of orange juice appears in front of me as Beibhinn scoots onto the vacant stool to my left. “You seem impressed.”
“Well, I just didn’t expect you both to be so…domesticated.”
Liam lays a plate of French toast and bacon in front of me with a smirk. “It was one of the conditions of us moving out here after we turned eighteen.”
“We had to learn how to cook and clean up after ourselves. Mam threatened to take away the staff, but we were determined to break free. We wanted our space more,” Beibhinn adds before lifting her fork to her mouth.
“We still have dinner at the main house every night, per mam’s request, but the rest, we had to learn.” Liam holds up the crispy strip of bacon. “One burnt dish at a time.”
“Well.” I lean across the counter and snatch the piece of bacon from his grasp before popping it in my mouth. “Luckily for you both, I make a mean stack of pancakes. So, tomorrow, breakfast is on me.”
“We won’t say no to that.” They both mirror each other, making my smile tilt to the side.