Page 20 of It Was Always You

AIDAN: Do we need to kill him?

LIAM: You doing okay? If you need anything, just let us know where you are and we’ll be there.

CORA: Aww look who’s missing me already lol

CORA: Everything’s good here. How about you put that energy into making it so I can come home, hmm?

Chapter 16

Waking up, the first thing I notice is how hot I am. It’s like a furnace is plastered against my back. Groaning softly, I pry my eyes open, only to freeze when my eyes focus on the arm around my waist.

The arm that’s currently pinning me against said furnace.

The tattooed arm that belongs to Owen. I’d recognise that lion and snake crawling up his arm anywhere.

So much for sleeping on the sofa.

Resisting the urge to move and wake him, I soak in his warmth and enjoy the comforting weight. Who knows if I’ll get this chance again.

Eventually, a chime bursts the peace, and he tenses. Cursing, he de-tangles himself from me, rolling away to check his phone.

Taking that as my opportunity to wake up, I roll over to face him. “Good morning, is everything okay?”

“Morning, yeah. Just Jonathan letting us know they got the guy circling your apartment. It was one of Graham’s men, but they’ve got him now, so that’s one less worry,” he replies, his voice raspy with sleep.

“At least that’s something. I see the sofa didn’t quite work out?” I tease him, as he twists on his side to face me with a playful expression across his sleep-rumpled features.

“Hey, that’s all your fault. I was all for sticking to my plan, but you’re like a Koala when you’re tired.” His laughter fills the room as he suggests we start the day with showers before continuing our training.

Soon, the days blur into a routine of training, taking turns to cook and picking something to watch while we shoot the shit before heading up to bed together. After that first night, he agreed it was pointless for him to sleep downstairs. Between waking up in his arms every morning and then spending half the day pressed up against him while we’re both sweaty, my imagination is running wild with other ways we could work up a sweat. The lack of privacy makes taking matters into my own hands restricted to the bathroom. However, my frustration has helped sharpen my focus during our sessions, and I’m getting good at holding my own against him, if only for a few minutes at a time.

Now, we’re both curled up on the sofa after a long day practising chin locks and working on my gun handling.

We had just been making small talk but as silence lulls between us Owen’s mood shifts; his expression growing serious. “I know Jonathan wants to shield you from some things, but I think you deserve to know why we’re here. What the real dangers are and why all this training is so vital.” At my nod, he continues, “You know we’re Irish mafia, yeah? There are other factions too, one being the Clan in Scotland. There’s bad blood between their leader, Angus, and Jonathan. I recently found out that shortly after your parents got together, your mother was attacked and almost kidnapped, which was why she left.”

“Which means she would have been pregnant with me,” I whisper, and he nods.

“Exactly. There’s supposed to be a code of honour. Women and children aren’t to be dragged into this bullshit. So of course Jonathan never forgave him for it, and has been trying to protect you and get back at them ever since.” He paces, fists clenched and the vein in his forehead visible as tension rolls off him in waves.

“But there’s nothing more you can do, is there? You’ve already done so much by volunteering to be here and sacrificing sleep to keep watch over my apartment,” I protest, watching him get more and more worked up, wondering what I’m missing.

“Angus has a son, Logan. He’s a few years older than us, but I used to know him through rugby camp. I tried texting him, but either he’s changed his number or he’s ignoring me. He’s the only person I can think of who could stop this and he’s decided now is the time to disappear.”

“Realistically what could he do though, O? Angus is a real piece of work and Logan’s hands are probably tied,” I try to soothe him.

“I can’t stand the thought of something happening to you, Cora. I’ve just got you back and some fucker wants to hurt you? Not on my watch. For years, I’ve tried to be the good guy and fight this, but fuck it.” His pacing stops as he suddenly turns, kneeling in front of me, his face inches from mine. He cages me in and rests his forehead against mine. “It’s always been you,” he whispers as he leans in to kiss me, and it feels like I’m finally home.

My heart sighs with contentment as we kiss, just a gentle press of his lips against mine, but soon, it turns into a tangle of tongues and teeth. I bury my hands in his hair to pull him closer. I would happily give up oxygen for this. Owen Jameson could take every last bit of air in my lungs if only I got to kiss him forever.

A moan escapes me as he bites down on my lower lip. Before he can get very far, I tighten my hold on his hair and steal another kiss before letting him go. He doesn’t go far.

“It was always you, Cora. Always. No one has ever or will ever live up to the way you make me feel. You asked me about my first kiss? Well, that was it, so how do you think it went?”

“Wait. What?” There’s no way a guy who looks like him hasn’t had a first kiss!

“That first day of high school? When I saw you in that courtyard and helped you find your class? I knew then that you were the girl of my dreams and no one else would ever live up to you. I felt a deep connection. I know how crazy that sounds but it’s the truth. I was also aware of what I was destined for and the thought of bringing you into this world, endangering you, scared me shitless. But it turns out you’ve always been a part of my world; I just never knew it.”

His green eyes shine with emotion. What he’s saying should scare me and have me running for the hills. Except, I know exactly what he means because I felt it too but was too young to understand the gravity of my feelings. Now, I have him on his knees before me, imploring me to understand, while my lips still sting from his kiss.

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