Page 218 of Dirty Padraig: Dirty Dusters

She doesn’t attempt to stop me from walking straight into his office. She knows better after the last deceitful stunt she pulled.

The first thing that hits me is that spicy cologne of his, which lingers in the air, and almost stops me in my tracks. He’s talking on the phone, leaning back on his chair, with his perfect Italian leather-clad feet resting on top of the desk.

I just want to get this over with. I want to interrupt, but the professional businesswoman in me won’t allow it. So I wait. Impatiently. As I do, my eyes are drawn to his forearms which are on display thanks to his rolled-up crisp-white shirt sleeves.

Veiny. Strong. Deadly.

My eyes then scan his torso, pecs, abs, and biceps. All are perfectly displayed by the snug tailor-made fabric of his shirt. They then drift past that powerful throat, that full bottom lip, before resting on those aquamarine eyes.

Smug eyes. With one eyebrow raised as he catches me blatantly admiring him.

I turn to look at the images on the walls—the lineup of past mobsters. I can see my son’s eyes in every single one of their evil gazes. This is his future. There isn’t anything I can do to alter that. There isn’t anything Fin can do to change it, either.

I’m unaware that Eoin’s finished his phone conversation until he says my name.

“Jaine, to what do I owe the pleasure?”

I turn around. He motions his head to the seat facing him, but I remain standing. He knows exactly why I’m here. I just need to say what needs saying, then leave.

Simple. Or at least it should be.

I take in the eldest Duster, my eyes greedily drinking him in. His hair has gotten too long again, and it’s curling on his collar. My fingers itch to yank on it, but I know I can’t.

I walk forward until I’m standing in front of his desk. I stare at him. Does he realize how much I fucking love him?

Our physical bond flares up in such close proximity, but today, it won’t be sated.

“I just wanted to say that I’m sorry for everything that happened before. I know I said it then, but I’d like to reiterate it. What I did was cruel and damaging. We both know our relationship never recovered.” I pause. “Maybe I wasn’t meant to love you, Eoin, but I do all the same, and loving you means I want the best for you. That’s not me.”

He stares at me but says nothing. Standing, he walks until he’s on my side of the desk. His hand fists my hair and yanks my head back until my neck feels like it’s going to snap. And he could snap it. Quite easily. I swallow as his eyes worship my face before his gaze drops to my mouth.

“Thank you for theit’s not you, it’s mespeech. The delivery was exceptional, I have to say, but your actions betrayed your words.”

“What do you mean?” But I know exactly what he means. I can feel the heat of his breath against my lips, and it’s making me feel light-headed. What am I doing, allowing myself to be alone with him? I’m playing with fire, that’s what—foolish idiot.

“You were eye-fucking me the entire time, Jaine.”

I shake my head in weak denial. “I…”

My response is cut off as his mouth claims mine. Hard. Brutal. Demanding. I keep my lips firmly closed. He yanks my hips forward so our groins collide. I gasp at the connection, allowing his tongue to immediately take possession of my mouth.

He spins me so my ass is pressed against the desk. So, there’s no escape.

I don’t want to escape.

I bite his lip. Hard. He curses me as he devours my mouth, the copper taste invading both our senses. He eats me alive until I can’t breathe. Until I can’t think.

Until there is only him.

I groan before kissing him back in desperation.

Want. Need. Crave.

My core feels empty, clenching at nothing.

The hand fisting my hair drops to grace my throat. I want it there. Need it there. Crave it there. I groan against his mouth, faint with desire. He knows what he’s doing. The reactions he’s evoking. His arm immediately snakes around my waist to stop me from collapsing in a pathetic heap on the floor. He stops kissing me. His lips hover over mine, our breaths mingling. I don’t want him to stop. I want him to keep on kissing me.

Want. Can’t have.

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