Page 44 of Aidan

“When were you thinking?” he asks.

I wiggle a little, trying to get more comfortable and he goes rigid. All tension that had left him returns and a bulge hardens beneath me.Don’t look down. Don’t look down. I keep my eyes on his. Both of our breathing has sped up. I clear my throat and swallow. “I’m not sure. Caitlín said she’s getting married in three months so we should wait until after that. She might think it’s rude to do it any sooner.”

“There’s always a late autumn or early winter option,” Aidan suggest, his voice gruffer than usual.

“Hmmm. Ihavealways loved autumn. We could do it near the end of September or beginning of October. Wait until after Aisling’s birthday.”

“Or…” his tone rises a bit at the end like it’s a question. “We don’t have to wait that long. There’s always just eloping. That way there’s no long, drawn-out fuss. Caitlín won’t mind, I’m sure.”

My own words come back to haunt me. “I mean, we’re both nothing if not pragmatic.”

“Hey.” Aidan gently taps my thigh. “If you’d rather wait until autumn and go all out with the big church wedding and reception, we can. The wife of one of the clan leaders owns a shop that makes cakes. Caitlín loves shopping so I bet she’d go dress shopping with you.”

Even when I was younger I hadn’t pictured—or wanted—a fancy wedding. There was too much fuss involved. Why then am I questioning his suggestion? “No, that sounds like so much trouble. You’re right. Why are we waiting? We should just do it and get it over with.”

“You don’t have to sound too excited,” he grumbles.

I nudge his chest with my shoulder. “You know what I mean.”

Aidan smirks. “But it’s fun giving you a hard time.”

I stick my tongue out and his gaze drops to my lips. He stares a second longer before leaning in and brushing a kiss across them. I bring my arm up and loop it over his shoulder while my fingers clasp the back of his neck. His tongue flicks out and coaxes my mouth to part. I open for him and he deepens the kiss. It’s not the claiming from the casino, but there’s a hint of possession in it.

I’m consumed with need as the kiss goes on. This is Aidan. Soon to be my husband. Something I never would have imagined or even hoped. I caution my heart. Don’t read more into this than attraction. It’s purely lust. At least we have this between us. Our marriage could be starting out with less than that. His woodsy scent fills my head. It’s a comforting smell.

The hardness beneath me grows and with a soft moan, I shift trying to ease the ache that’s building. A warning blares inside my head. Reminding me where we are and that any one of the kids could walk in any second. I stop moving, and Aidan groans against my mouth. The voice of caution speaks louder, and as much as I want to keep going, I slowly break the connection.

“We should probably resume this somewhere more private later,” I murmur against his lips.

He rests his forehead on mine. “As much as it pains me—in more ways than one—you’re probably right.”

Aidan doesn’t draw away. Instead we continue breathing in each other’s air until the sound of voices reach us and grow louder. With a sigh, I move to stand, but he tightens his grip on my hip.

“Stay.”

CHAPTER21

Aidan

It’s not onlybecause my cock is rock hard that I don’t want Sorcha to move. I love touching her. Having her close. She surprised the hell out of me when she sat on my lap. I’m not sure I ever want her to leave. Which terrifies me.

Kellen and Carson walk in. Their gazes land on us—widen—and they come to a standstill. They’ve seen us sitting next to each other on the couch hundreds of times, but never like this. Sorcha stiffens, but remains where she is. Kellen is the first to recover.

“You’re back.”

“I am. How’s your day been? Aidan said you’ve been outside exploring the property.” Her words nearly run together.

The twins move forward. Kellen sits on the couch while Carson takes the floor chair where Finn often sits when he’s playing a video game.

“There’s a cool hedgerow maze that we got lost in,” Carson says with some excitement.

“Yeah, and there’s this secret room built into one of the trees out in the woods. Well, it’d be secret if there was a door. But it’s really well-hidden. We also found a tree-swing,” Kellen adds. “Nora has this huge garden, too, where she grows a bunch of different vegetables.”

“Sounds like there are some neat things around here,” Sorcha says with an indulgent smile.

Running footsteps approach and Aisling bursts into the room. “You’re back,” she squeals and runs over.

With a quick glance, Sorcha carefully rises off my lap and Aisling collides with her, wrapping her arms around her sister’s legs, a piece of paper clutched in her palm.

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