Page 96 of On The Rocks

Her breaths evened out and turned heavy.

Chuckling softly, I tucked her hips into mine, pulled the comforter over us, and snuggled my face into her soft, floral-scented hair, thinking how it had taken years for me to find a woman I could stand to be around for more than an hour.

Now I had, I’d never let her go.

Maeve was mine in every way now, and we had everything to look forward to. The bar, the brewery, our marriage, and all our smart, ginger-haired babies who weren’t gonna be eejits like their da.

Smiling wryly, I shook my head.

I couldn’t fucking wait to get on with it.

CHAPTER 20

MAEVE

Awarm hand swept my hair from my nape, and soft lips kissed me there. I smiled as a shiver scattered down my spine, and a sweet ache pulsed between my thighs.

“You okay, wife?” my husband’s voice rumbled softly against my skin.

Twisting my head, I kissed his square, stubbled jaw, catching the scent of fresh laundry and the faint peppery hint of cologne on his skin, and whispered, “I’m grand.”

His dark blue eyes caught mine, and I blushed at the intensity swirling inside them.

Ever since we made love for the first time, we hadn’t been able to keep our hands off each other. It was like Callum O’Shea had awakened something in me, and now I was aware of how glorious he could make me feel. I needed his touch on me constantly, or else my bones felt cold.

I walked around in a thick sex fog, made even murkier by my brain getting more muddled whenever my husband came close. I’d read about body betrayal syndrome on forums and in book groups before but never really got it. Now I did, except it didn’t feel like my body was betraying me. On the contrary, it feltlike my body had finally woken up and seen the truth because nothing felt more honest than when my husband touched me.

We had sex all the time, in bed, in the shower, and in his office. We even got carried away in the bar once and had to hurriedly pull our clothing straight when Maureen (luckily) called our names out from the back hall on her arrival. Donny constantly muttered about the sexual tension in the air and how certain people should ‘get a room.’

I’d blush, and then I’d catch my husband giving me a loaded, sexy, dark, wild look. My clitoris would throb, my nipples would harden, and I’d feel my cheeks go red. It was like walking on a knife edge, and we were always ready to gallop up the stairs to the apartment and fall onto and into each other like we hadn’t touched for months, when in fact, it had been just hours, or even in some cases, minutes and seconds.

“Tea break’s over,” Donny called out from where he’d been furiously texting one of his babes from a stool at the bar. He had a bottle of the pilsner I’d freshly brewed in front of him, as well as a cup of Barry’s breakfast tea that Maureen had made while we worked. Still texting with his thumb, he mindlessly picked the bottle up and took a swig before pushing out a satisfied breath.

“This stuff’s gonna make arummyoutta me,” he muttered, nodding to his beer.

“It’ll make arummyout of all of us the rate we guzzle it,” Callum replied, taking a swig from his bottle. “It’s fantastic.”

I waggled my eyebrows playfully. “I’m hoping the cider will make arummyout of all the ladies in town, too.”

“It will out of Atlas,” Callum murmured, leaning down and kissing my forehead. “He was here again this morning buying more carry-outs.”

I laughed softly, not only about Atlas but also because Callum’s forehead kisses were thebest thing ever.“He’ll make us our fortunes before we even open. I love how supportive he is.”

Callum’s mouth twisted into a wry smile. “He wouldn’t be so supportive if the new booze was shit, baby. The man knows and loves his drink, so if it gets his seal of approval, then rest assured, you’ve done a bang-up job.”

My belly went warm and gooey. “How sweet,” I murmured up at Callum, my breath catching as his face lowered to mine.

“Not as sweet as your tight little pussy tasted this morning,” he whispered so only I could hear, his mouth touching mine before he gently sucked my bottom lip.

Donny cleared his throat pointedly from the bar, and I heard him mutter, “Jesus.”

I couldn’t stop the giggle bubbling up through my chest.

“Alright, alright,” Callum grumbled. “You can stop your whining. Come on, let’s get this done.”

Donovan got to his feet, raised his arms in the air, and stretched his muscles, letting out an appreciative groan. “Can’t believe the big day’s nearly here. Seems like it’s gone by in a flash. Have you got the staff all sorted for tomorrow night?”

“Yeah. I’m organizing the bar, you the door, Tadhg the floor. Maeve and Ash will cover breaks and go wherever there’s a gap. We’ve got Adam and Troy tending the bar. Laura, Frankie, and Meg are on the tables with Hayley and Brianne on the floor. They’ve all been in for their rosters, and their new uniforms fit.”

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