Page 62 of Careless

Last night, Tiernan explained what happened. I forgave Rian, he drove me home, we kissed, and I gave myself to him. Oh, he took what I gave and more, and I loved every second of it.

“You here, Sorcha?” A knock sounds on my bedroom door, making me sit up quickly and Rian’s eyes snap open.

My dad is home.

Rian’s car is still outside.

And Rian is in my bed.

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

“Yeah, I’m here!” I call back, panicking when the knob starts to turn. “Don’t come in. I’m getting changed!”

When my dad said he wouldn’t be back until the morning, I didn’t think he meant first thing in the morning.

I flash Rian a stern look and his eyes shift to the door before cursing under his breath. He detangles from the sheets and climbs out of bed. I follow close behind him in my venture for clean clothes.

“Do you know why Rian’s car is outside? He isn’t in there, is he?”

My hand trembles as I clasp my bra. I look at Rian, anxiety swallowing me whole. I catch sight of Rian’s form and god, he looks so good, fixing his pants and pulling on the black button down from last night.

Jesus, Sorcha. Focus. Get sex off the brain. Your vagina can’t take more attention today.

“Rian? No! He’s not in here.”

Rian sends me a teasing smirk, which gets him a dirty look from me.

“He drank a bit after the party, and Tiernan gave him a ride home. He’ll probably pick up his car any minute,” I say loudly enough for my dad to hear on the other side of the door.

“Are you okay?” My dad's question is slightly muffled from behind the door. I yank on a tank top and a stray pair of jogging pants as quickly as possible.

Rian smirks and pulls me against his hard body. God, I’d love to get lost in him again, but I’ll be mortified if my dad finds Rian in my room, especially after I told him my forbidden fruit isn’t here. I’ve never lied to my dad before and it creates a strange feeling in my gut, but it's best if he doesn’t know that I had a wild night of sex with the man I’m supposed to be staying away from.

“You need to go.” I silently mouth the words to him right before he steals my lips in an intense, mind-blowing kiss that makes me want to say fuck it and drag him back to bed.Yeah, that’s not a good idea.With a clear head on my shoulders, I pull out of the over-the-top kiss. I push him toward the window and carefully unlatch it, hoping it doesn’t make a sound.

“Sorcha?” my dad calls again.

“I’m fine, dad. Just really tired and… hungover.” And I’m not now. I’ve never been hungover before. I’ve gotten drunk off my ass and made a fool of myself many times, but I always remember everything.

Our relationship has been strained for the past few weeks since Carmen revealed that he’s not my biological father. What makes it worse is my dad knew this the whole time. I can hold a grudge like no one else, and he’s been trying to get back in my good graces, but it's not going to work anytime soon.

“Okay, sweetheart. Are you hungry?”

God, just go the fuck away!

Rian raises the pane carefully before turning to me, and leaning into my ear, whispering softly. “I’ll text you later.”

I nod as he climbs out of the window with so much grace I wonder if he’s inhuman. He lands on the soft soil silently and strolls to the front of the house, like he doesn’t have a care in the world.

“No, I think I’ll just go back to bed.” I’m definitely going to need some Tylenol and a hot bath later, but for now, I’d rather fall asleep and dream about Rian while forgetting about my issues with father.

* * *

I didn’t wantto come off as needy or overbearing, so I didn’t text Rian. I left it up to him to reach out, but that doesn’t mean my eyes didn’t stay glued to my phone.

And I waited.

And waited.

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