“You looked like you needed a hug.” I shrug with as much nonchalance as I can muster.

  Both sides of his lips curl this time and he rests his arm over my thighs. “If this is the kind of hug I get, then I could get used to them.”

  “I also figured if you can’t get away, we can talk.”

  Aidan arches an eyebrow. “I’m not complaining in any way, but you don’t have to become a delectable lap decoration just to talk to me.”

  My cheeks become even hotter. “What if it’s about the wedding?”

  His head draws back slightly. “Are you breaking up with me already and you’re trying to let me down easy?”

  “What? No. I thought that, well, since it’s real and all, we should consider setting a date.”

  Beneath my butt and hips, Aidan’s body actually relaxes. How had I not noticed how tense he’d become?

  “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. I have always 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.”

  CHAPTER 21

  Aidan

  It’s not only because 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.

  “Aidan said you got to spend time with Nora today. Did you have fun?”

  Aisling untangles herself and shoves the paper at Sorcha, who takes it gently. “I drew this for you.”

  “Wow, look at this. You did such a great job,” she praises her. “Is that you with Nora in the kitchen?”

  Her younger sister nods. “Uh huh. I helped make shepherds pie for lunch. It was delicious, too. Even better than Glen’s. But don’t tell him I said that.”

  Sorcha chuckles. “I promise I won’t tell him.”

  “Okay good. I’m going to my room,” Aisling says before she walks away and down the hallway leading to it.

  “I guess someone didn’t miss me too much.”

  I stand up and hug her from behind. “She missed you. But she also trusts that you were going to be back so she didn’t need to worry about you being gone.”

  Sorcha turns in my arms and loops her arms around my neck, the paper crinkling in her hand. “I suppose you’re right. I’m so used to always being available in the pub if she needed me.”

  “It’s good for all of you to have a little freedom from each other. It helps her”—I glance over her shoulder—“and the boys develop a bit of independence.”

  “You always somehow manage to put things into perspective.”

  “It’s my superpower.”

  “Oh, I think you have a much greater superpower than that,” Sorcha says low enough that there’s no way either Kellen or Carson can hear and glances downward before meeting my eyes again. Then she winks.

  “You’re trying to torture me, aren’t you?” I say just as quietly.

  “What are you two whispering about over there?” Carson calls out.

  We jump away from each other, both of us clearing our throats, while Sorcha swipes her free hand across the top of her thighs and her other clutches the drawing tighter. She turns to face her brother. “Boring grownup stuff. Nothing that would interest you.”

  He doesn’t look like he believes her, but just shrugs and picks up the game controller that had been discarded next to where he’s sitting. Kellen’s gaze darts between his sister and me and then he gets up from the couch to turn on the television and the gaming system. Seconds later, they’re both ignoring us and their attention is on the game.

  Sorcha darts a glance my way and her eyes dance with amusement. I thread my fingers through hers and tug her out of the room. “C’mon, let’s go for a walk.”

  “I need to drop this off in my—our—room first.” She flashes me the piece of paper. “I’ll be right back.”

  She hurries down the hall and returns a minute later. Taking her hand again, we leave the boys and stroll through the house with no real destination in mind. It’s like I’m trying to make up for the far too infrequent times we were able to see each other over the years by keeping her close.

  “Have you given any thought to going back to art school or opening that art gallery?” I squeeze Sorcha’s fingers.

  “Yes and no. I’ve thought about it, but I’m not sure where to even start. Besides, opening a gallery isn’t as simple as you seem to think,” she says with not a small amount of sarcasm.

  “What does it take?” Whatever it is, I’ll make sure she gets it.

  Sorcha darts a glance in my direction and widens her eyes, not in surprise, but as though I should already know the answer. “First of all it takes a location. Then I have to reach out to the artists of the type of art I want to showcase and see if they’d be interested in a collaboration. None of whom I actually know where to find. But most importantly, it takes the single thing I don’t have.”

  “And that is?” I raise an eyebrow risking her annoyance with my ignorance.

  “Money. A lot of damn money.”

  I stop her outside the library and wait until she looks at me. “It’s a good thing then that I do have it.”

  Sorcha lets go of me and crosses her arms with a glare. “Didn’t we have this discussion before. I’m not taking your money, Aidan.”

  I close the fraction of distance between us until I tower over her. She tips her head back, but the fierce expression doesn’t lessen.

  “That was before you knew who I was and didn’t think I had any,” I point out. “We’re getting married. My money is your money. And we have a lot of it. If you want to open a gallery, then open it. We—you—can afford it.”

  That stubborn tilt in Sorcha’s jaw only sharpens. “It doesn’t feel right.”

  I throw up my hands and spin away with a growl before I pivot and crowd her against the wall. Her eyes widen. My chest bumps up against hers and her head is caged in between my forearms. I lean in until my forehead rests against hers. Her lashes flutter before closing. “This is an argument you’re not going to win against me. If you really don’t want to try and open your own gallery or go back to art school, then that’s one thing. But if you’re only refusing because of the cost, then you need to get over it. You don’t have to do everything yourself anymore. Opportunities you and the kids have never had before are open to you. All you have to do is take them.”

  Sorcha’s takes in a shuddering breath. “You know, it’s really not fair of you to use my weakness against me. And I’m an idiot for admitting I have one.”

  I caress her cheek with my fingertip. Her skin is soft and smooth. I rub the end of my nose against hers and she trembles. “What weakness is that?” I murmur and run my lips over the side of her face and along her jaw.

  She tilts her head slightly and I kiss my way down her neck.

  “That,” she whispers, her voice breathy and sexy as fuck.

  “You mean this?” I suck lightly on her skin, nip it with my teeth, and soothe the sting with my tongue.

  Sorcha murmurs something unintelligible and moans. A sound that goes straight to my cock. I grind against her and slip my leg between hers. The voice inside my head reminds me where we are, but an overriding need is much louder. She shudders and one of us must have some sense, because she’s whispering in my ear.

  “We have to stop.” Except her actions are saying something entirely different as she rubs her sweet, hot core against my thigh. “Aidan.”

  Finally, her words penetrate the haze of lust. We’re dry fucking in the middle of the hallway where anyone could walk by. Sorcha would be mortified if she’s seen. With every ounce of control I have, I pull myself away. Her face is flushed and the skin along her neck is even redder, either from my facial hair or my mouth. Beneath her shirt, pebbled nipples tempt me. I adjust the throbbing hardness behind my zipper.

  How the hell am I going to lie in the same bed with her tonight and not fuck her?

  I brush the hair off Sorcha’s face and she stares up at me. Slowly, her lips turn up. “You’re an evil, evil man tormenting me like that. But you win.”

  “You’ll do whatever it is you want with the money we have, then?”

  She nods. “Yes. I’m still not sure what direction I want to go, but you convinced me to at least try.”

  “I’m happy to convince you to my side of any other future debates we have as well.” I drop my voice suggestively and Sorcha snorts.

  “I bet you will.”

  CHAPTER 22

  Sorcha

  I finish brushing my teeth, dry off my mouth, and walk into the bedroom, turning the bathroom light off on my way out. Aidan is meeting with his Da so I’m alone for the moment. I read Aisling a bedtime story and checked on the boys earlier. It’s still hard to believe we’re in Dublin and living in this place. It doesn’t feel real.

  Once I’m under the blankets, I prop myself up against the headboard with some pillows and get out Aidan’s laptop again. All the open tabs mock me. There’s a lot more to operating an art gallery than the few things I mentioned to him apparently. Considering the terrible job I’d been doing running the pub, I’m not sure I’m cut out to be a businesswoman.

  There’s a single knock on the door before Aidan steps in.

  “Still researching?” he asks as he takes his wallet out and tosses it on the desk.

  “It’s a bit overwhelming to say the least.” And frustrating. “Out of curiosity, I searched for storefronts to let. I know you said not to worry about the money, and I’m trying not to, really, but some of the rent these people are charging is outrageous. Nauseating, in fact.”

  He reaches up and tugs the neck of his shirt, dragging it over his head—mussing his hair—and exposing every glorious inch of his tattooed chest. The jerk is distracting me whether intentionally or not. Judging by his expression, it’s not. Just ignore it. Better said than done. I force my eyes back to the computer. “Like this one here. Yes, it’s in the center of the city on what I’ve discovered is a well-traveled street by tourists, but rent is four digits a month. And not four small digits, either.”

  Aidan comes over and sits on the bed, his knee angled toward me, and his gaze focuses on the information on the screen. The woodsy scent of his cologne hits me and heat radiates off his body. His finger rolls across the touchpad as he scrolls through the listings. “Jaysus. You should just buy a building. That way you’d own it outright and wouldn’t need to worry about monthly rent. One of the families in the organization runs a construction company. They did all the renovations on the casino for us and charged us a fair cost.”

  I glance at him. “You don’t think buying an entire building is excessive?”

  Aidan’s eyes meet mine. “Not at all. Think about it. You’ll be the owner. If the space is bigger than you need or want, put up some walls and create a couple extra storefronts. Then you become the person who lets it out to people. Plus, any commission you make from the sales is pure profit, aside from the day-to-day operating expenses you have to pay out, which can’t be that much. Utilities, cleaners, a couple employees. I also know that, with your talent for picking out brilliant work, you won’t lack for buyers.”

  Barely a second passes and I lean over to kiss him. “Thank you for always knowing the right things to say that make me feel better.”

  The two dimples on either side of his mouth appear. “You’re welcome. I’m being serious about owning your own building, too. I can make a call tomorrow if you want.”

  “Let me think on it.” I don’t want to make any rash decisions. Especially when there are so many other things I need to learn. Which gives me an idea. “Do you think your brother would be willing to teach me about managing books and running a business? I had no idea what I was doing with the pub. We survived the past month on pure luck. Although, considering you had to pay off Da’s debt, any luck we might have had would have run out soon.”

  “I can’t speak for Finn, but I’ll ask him.” Aidan palms the back of my neck. “Although, I’m not sure how well I’ll be able to deal with you in such close proximity as him if he says yes. I’d hate to have to kill my brother because he flirted too much with you.”

  I breathe out a laugh. “He’s harmless. His charms have no affect on me.”

  He growls. “You think he’s charming?”

  I poke him in the center of his chest. “That’s not what I meant and you know it.”

  “Hmm, I’m not sure I do. Maybe you should show me exactly what it is you meant,” his tone drops suggestively.

  My pulse spikes and heat settles in my belly. An ache grows from my core and spreads through my body. Without looking away from me, Aidan manages to close the lid on the laptop and toss it toward the end of the bed. A dull thud follows.

  “You probably broke it,” I whisper.

  “I’ll buy another one.” That’s the last thing he says before his lips claim mine.

  Every kiss brings new sensation with it. Each one swirling around inside me, spreading, until I’m consumed with nothing but need. Desire. Want. Aidan kisses me like it’s the last time he’ll be able to. It’s too much and yet, not enough. The heavy weight of his hand caresses my spine sending shivers dancing down it before he settles it along my shoulder blade and carefully guides me to lying on my back.

  He breaks the kiss and his eyes meet mine. He palms the side of my face, his fingers threading through my hair, and rubs his thumb gently along my cheekbone. His touch brings with it more heat and fire that sizzles through my veins.

  “You’re beautiful. I’m not sure if I’ve ever told you that,” his voice is a gruff whisper that vibrates through me.