Page 49 of Until Ireland

“Mack, do me a favor and don’t do anything stupid,” Cobi warned. “And don’t drag Wes into this.”

“Stupid how?”

“Like maybe you decide to take a drive to Nashville with our mutual friends and try to find Edgar Lux to get justice for your girl? I’m telling you right now, Mack, don’t do it. I’ll be talking to him in the next couple of days, and if I find out you left a mark on him, I’m goin’ to haul your ass off to jail quicker than Usain Bolt ran the 40-yard dash,” he promised. “You get me?”

“You got it.” I grunted in agreement before turning and heading back into the front end of the garage, intent on finding Ireland and getting us home.

I took a deep breath before going in, well aware I had to bury the anger raging through me. Ireland needed me, and she’d get me. Later, when she was asleep or calm, I’d take it out in the gym in the basement of the ranch house.

Out of Ireland’s sight.

It didn’t surprise me to find her waiting for me when I got back to the office. The satchel I’d watched her pack on more than one occasion, filled with all the shit women carried, sat on the desk. Ireland carted the bag back and forth to work every day. It also held her water bottles, a thermos of coffee, and snacks she might feel like eating during her shift.

“Give me,” I said, taking the heavy bag from her. To my shock, she let it go without any fuss or argument. That action alone told me how fragile my girl was at the moment.

Placing my hand on the small of her back, I led her from the office through the garage and over to my waiting vehicle.

After she was all secure in the front seat, I slammed the door, walked around to the driver’s side, and slid in. The drive to my house was silent. Ireland leaned back against the headrest, her head tipped toward the window. I couldn’t tell if she was awake or asleep, so I kept silent, even lowering the radio in case she was resting.

After pulling into the garage and turning off the car, she stirred, sitting up and rubbing at her eyes. When I ushered her from the passenger seat, I let her in on my plans. “Come on, cupcake. We’ll get you into my tub then set you up either in our room or downstairs on the couch.”

She rubbed at her eyes again. “Wherever you are,” she said softly.

“I’m going to be where you’re most comfortable, babe,” I promised.

She gave a sleepy nod as we made our way upstairs into the master bedroom. I left her on our bed while I took care of getting the water running. When I returned, she was sitting where I left her, naked, and I fought down my urges to get her in my bed on her back and with my dick buried deep inside that sweet pussy of hers.

At least for the time being.

I lifted her into my arms, and she snuggled into me as I her carried into the bathroom, not putting her down until her feet were in the bathtub. I nuzzled her hair with my lips. “Water temp good?”

“Perfect,” she said on a yawn and sank into the filling water. Her hand on my leg stopped me from leaving her side to find her some soft pajamas. I looked down, catching her hopeful gaze. “Join me?”

I fucking hated the hesitation—the worry—in her tone. “Absolutely. Need to get my suit off and hung up. I’ll be right back,” I assured her.

I did just that and returned to the bathroom naked and ignoring my dick, which was always hard when I was near Ireland. I crawled behind her, pulling her onto my lap.

Of course, she noticed, and I didn’t miss the flare of desire in her gaze. We’d deal with that later. Ireland Banks was a strong woman. She handled her brothers, and I suspected at some point in our relationship she would try to do the same with me. To have her sobbing, broken in my arms did something to me that I just couldn’t put into words. Aware she needed this emotional release, I held her, letting the warm water and hopefully my touch calm her.

Later, when she was asleep, I’d plot and plan out my next move. Edgar Lux was going to regret not only laying a finger on the love of my life but being in the chop business, period. He’d fucked with the wrong person this time.

Chapter Ten

Mack

Ireland rousedin my arms hours later after I’d carefully carried her to my bed. The bitter coldness that settled in her limbs while at the garage had finally relented, and her body was pliant and warm over mine. Her breath fanned out across my chest with each exhale, causing goosebumps to form in its wake. I extended my arm and cupped her ass, squeezing as she adjusted herself against me.

She was the embodiment of temptation. My hard dick fit to the curve of her hip, throbbing. The tip was covered in precum. She could drive me to delirium. I’d been tempted to call her name, waking her up more fully than she currently was, but I didn’t want to break the spell of peacefulness surrounding us. The minute the bubble exploded was when the reality of what happened today would consume her once more.

I couldn’t have that.

Her eyes fluttered open, and dazed arousal shone bright in her emerald eyes. Fuck, she was perfect.

“Hey.” The rough tone of my voice caught me off guard.

“Hey, yourself,” she whispered, extending her arm across my chest. “We’re both naked.”

“We are.” Humor lit my words. “From the tub to the bed. I only dried us off minimally.”

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