Page 239 of Dirty Padraig: Dirty Dusters

“You know what it did to the cat.”

I chuckle. “You forgot how blunt I am, didn’t you, Jaine? There’s no hiding from me. You know that.”

“This will take some getting used to, Irish,” she whispers.

She’s right. It will. “I know that, darlin’, but we have the rest of our lives together to figure it all out.”

Padraig’s Apartment, Hudson Yards, New York

Jaine’s silent the rest of the way.

She’s nervous as much as she tried to deny it. I mentioned that we’d be having sex. I don’t think Jaine’s much of a pre-planner when it comes to fucking. It happens spontaneously.

It’s been a while, and neither of us was at our best back then. It’s difficult to be natural when you have a camera trained on your arse the entire time. Getting out of the SUV, I walk around to her side, open her door, then take her hand to help her down. I don’t let it go. I’m a tactile fella. She knows that. If she’s forgotten, then she needs to get used to it all over again.

We make our way up in the elevator. It lets us know we’ve arrived on my floor at the same time as her phone vibrates.

“Who is it?”

“Roisin. She’s just letting me know that the kids are in bed and that everything’s fine.”

I take my phone out of my pocket.

“What are you doing?”

“I’m letting everyone know not to contact us unless it’s to do with the kids or an emergency. We’ll be otherwise engaged.”

She stares at me and swallows thickly. Jaine’s not used to someone taking control. I’m sure Eoin tried, but she enjoyed bickering with him way too much to do his bidding. That was part of their problem. It’s a different story with me and her. We’ve never bickered. She doesn’t quite know how to react.

We exit the elevator, and I unlock the apartment door. Once inside, I pull her straight into my arms before staring down at all of her perfection.

“Do you want to take a shower, Jaine?”

“I haven’t brought anything to wear.”

I kiss her gently on the lips. “I’ll get you a t-shirt and some shorts.”

I let her use the shower attached to my bedroom while I use the one in the guest room. Even though I got in at least ten minutes after she did, she’s still not finished when I’m done. I’m enjoying seeing this other side of her. The side that’s just a little bit unsure of herself.

Half an hour passes before she finally comes out of the bedroom.

I take her in from where I’m standing in the kitchen. My t-shirt reaches to mid-thigh on her, and I can’t stop my eyes from drifting up her slim legs. My dick twitches at the sight. I try to calm him down as I’m only wearing a pair of grey sweats.

“Do you want anything to eat or drink?”

She shakes her head.

I walk slowly toward her, her eyes drifting over me to take me in. She won’t be able to miss it since I’m now shirtless. Her eyes widen as they take in her name, which has been tattooed across my heart.

“When did you get that?”

I stand in front of her, and she traces the letters slowly with her finger. Jesus Christ, her hands feel so good on my skin.

“When we were in Rising. Your friend Gusto did it for me.” It seemed the right thing to do and the right person to do it, given he’s done all of hers. I haven’t got the heart to tell her that Eoin got exactly the same one.

“What if I’d said no?”

“It wouldn’t have made any difference. It wouldn’t have changed how I feel about you.”

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