Page 36 of Temptation at His Door

His tone suggested that she not argue, so Joa sighed, then nodded. Ronan picked up Sam and led Joa into the hallway and up the fantastic hundred-year-old staircase. Joa passed huge paintings on the wall, taking a moment to slide her free hand across the satiny wooden banister.

“Your family seems nice,” Joa said as they hit the landing of the first floor. Ronan turned right and looked over his shoulder to send her a smile.

“They are nice. And I’m really happy that my boys are going to have a cousin to play with.”

“Apparently, you were right about something sparking between Carrick and Sadie.”

“It was pretty difficult to miss since they’ve only had eyes for each other since the day they met. I knew for sure when he got all flustered when I teased him about her that night I returned from China.”

The night they made love. The memories of that night were etched into her brain. Joa followed him into a room with two sets of bunk beds. The walls were lined with a bookcase filled with books for kids and teens. Another set of shelves held a bunch of boxes containing cars and toy soldiers and board games. The beds were covered in brightly colored linen. It was a perfect playroom for two little boys.

“Nice room,” Joa commented.

Ronan looked around and smiled. “This was the room Carrick, Finn and I shared from the time we were little until way into our teens.”

“You lived here?”

Ronan nodded. “All of my life until I got married. This was our family home.”

Joa looked at Sam and saw that he was fighting sleep. “Just put both of them into the bottom bed, it’ll be easier to haul them out when we leave,” Ronan suggested.

Joa bent over and gently placed Aron on the bed, pushing him over to make room for Sam. Stepping back, she allowed Ronan the space to do the same, and when he straightened, he looked at her. Joa sucked in her breath, astonished at the desire in his eyes. It danced between them, hot and tempting, and Joa felt that delicious, sexual heat sweep through, her skin buzzing and her stomach jumping.

Ronan flushed and, grabbing her hand, pulled her out of the room into the dim hallway, spinning her around so that her back rested against the wall next to the door. He placed his hand on the wall next to her head and when he leaned in close, she tasted his breath, whiskey and toothpaste. Warmth rolled through her system and fireworks erupted on her skin.

“Ronan?” Joa murmured his name because she liked the sound on her lips.

“Mmm?”

“Please tell me you are going to kiss me,” Joa whispered, entranced by the desire in his green-gold-blue eyes.

“In a minute.” Ronan’s other hand landed on her hip, trailed around, down her butt and up and under her skirt. He gripped her thigh, his big hand under her butt cheek, his fingertips on the inside of her thigh.

“This dress is dangerous,” he growled. “Do not bend over in it.”

“And what would you do if I did?” Joa teased, loving his sexy growl.

“Something like this...”

Ronan’s mouth covered hers and his tongue slid into her mouth, twisting around hers in a kiss that was as desperate as it was hungry. His fingers on her leg inched closer to her happy place and his other hand covered her breast, kneading her nipple into a hard point.

His kiss deepened, became more ferocious, more demanding, and Joa forgot where she was, forgot that there was a house full of Ronan’s happy relatives below her. She was consumed by his kiss, hankering for more.

For everything...

“Ro? Where are you?” Tanna’s voice drifted up the stairs and Ronan pulled back, with all the tension of a stretched rubber band.

He stared at Joa, his eyes intense in the shadows of the hallway.

“Ro? Carrick wants to make a speech. We’re all waiting for you, brother.”

Ronan’s hands left her and he stepped back, rubbing his hands over his face. He hauled in a deep breath, keeping his eyes on Joa as he responded to his sister. “Yeah, Tan, I’ll be there in a second. I’m just getting the boys settled. Give me five and I’ll join the family downstairs.”

His words hit Joa with all the force of a meteor strike. His family was downstairs, his family was sleeping in the room next to them.Hisfriends,hispeople.

People she had no connection to...

Hisfamily.

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