Page 32 of Stronger Than Love

“Why don’t I take you shopping after your interview and my meeting? I’ll even give you my opinion on what suits you.” I winked and gave her a carefree grin.

Oonagh shoulder bumped me. “Yeah, that would be great if I wanted to turn up in silk and lace.”

“Nothing wrong with that.” I bounced my eyebrows suggestively.

She sighed again, wrapping her arm through mine. “I’ve spent so long avoiding birthday parties, I guess I’m out of touch with what’s expected. They used to consist of cake with ice cream and jelly. Now, there are pre-cocktail parties and banners everywhere.”

A laugh rumbled free. “Your mum does love a good party.”

The sound of the waves lapping to shore greeted us as we wandered along the path that led to her house.

“I missed this,” Oonagh muttered, stopping to stare out at the waves.

“Me too,” I replied, peering down at the woman beside me.

That was the problem with this mess. I missed her easy friendship, and still, after all this time, I found myself wanting to share stories about what was happening in my life with her. I’d stumbled across my soulmate in a rockpool when I was five. That fact had never changed.

“Nowhere else in the world has this sound,” Oonagh said, closing her eyes and holding her face up toward the moon.

“Surely there are beaches in other places?” I teased.

“Not like this one,” she replied with a dreamy quality to her voice. “It’s as if this beach sings a different melody.”

She yawned, her torso stretching, and I fought against the urge to lift her and carry her back to bed and tuck her in.

“Come on.” I squeezed her arm linked through mine. “Let’s get you home, or you’ll have no sleep before your interview.”

I’d lost count of the number of times I’d walked along this beach at night, and it never felt the same as it did with Oonagh walking beside me. Her presence was a balm to the wound that I didn’t know existed on my soul. The problem was the time limit on what we had. One last summer before we walked away from each other forever.

The laneway to her house appeared too soon, the post box with squirrels carved on it illuminated by the light from the moon.

“What time do you need to be in Belfast?” I asked, scuffing the toe of my boot along the curb.

“Nine-thirty.”

“I’ll pick you up at eight and we can grab a coffee on the way.”

Her eyes were huge saucers staring up at me, her lips slightly parted. Fuck it! If all I had was one summer, then I would take every morsel of Oonagh and live off the memories. My lips found hers, my hands tilting her head to meet mine. The strange fluttering in my stomach was thereason I avoided kissing any other woman after Oonagh. It never felt right.

Her tongue met mine as her hands landed on my hips in the same position they always fell. My body aligned with Oonagh’s, and the rest of the world fell away until there was nothing left but us. I closed my eyes and allowed myself to just feel the connection that existed between us. Her lips caressed mine, her tongue swept along mine, and her hands slid up my back until they rested on my shoulders.

My pulse pounded in my ears, my heart beating double-time. My fingertips moved from her face down to her neck to hold her possessively. A beast roared deep in my stomach, demanding I claim Oonagh, to make her ours alone.

When we finally broke apart, we were both panting, and I tugged her tightly into me. “Get some sleep, and I’ll see you in a few hours.” I pressed one last kiss to her forehead and pushed her up the laneway to her house.

Even when she disappeared out of sight, I stayed there and mentally counted the steps until she was safely home.

On my way home, my heart thudded a low melancholy beat because I was once again alone. When Oonagh was with me, I felt alive and warmed by her affection. Right now, I shivered against the cold that invaded me. My thoughts were confused and scattered, and for the first time in years, I had no idea what to do.

***

Chapter Thirteen

Oonagh

Sleep was impossible after last night. I came back here determined to keep my distance from Liam, but there was a magnetism that drew us toward each other with a power that I couldn’t resist.

Every time I tried to hate him, I discovered another reason to love him.

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