Page 21 of Naughty Irish Liar

CHAPTER 6

Five years ago

Ronan

I craved her.

There was no time frame of it happening, no pinpoint of recognition I thoughtah, yeah, my dick likes her but so does my head.It just always felt that way. Only now I tasted the craving as soon as I saw her waiting for me on the steps of her father’s four-story mansion. It was a sprawling estate and I’d gotten used to being greeted at the gate by the security guy letting me through and then finding her waiting somewhere close with her mass of red hair and endless shy smile.

She was the one I saw on my first day standing on the steps to the house. She reminded me of the girls back home, but better, you know?

Instant attraction hit me in the solar plexus. But messing with the bosses daughter even in my book was a no-no and I’d done some shitty stuff up to this point, but I’d left Ireland for a reason and getting my neck broke trying to get under a girl’s skirt was not gonna help me achieve my goals.

So I’d stayed away as much as I could. But her smile, laugh and boisterous personality—ahh, they demanded attention, drew me in time and again. I let myself have a few minutes with her each day. I kept it simple. Safe.

So why was I walking toward the pool house to meet her for a fucking date?

She should be seeing rich college kids in her own social circle, not a common felon from the shores of Dublin.

I couldn’t help myself.

I selfishly wanted one last day with her.

And then maybe in the future if she was still single when I’d made something of myself? Then I’d knock on the door and ask her out without fear her father would chase me off with a shotgun.

I’dearnthe right to date her. To show I was man enough to deserve a girl like her.

My heart kicked in my chest and I wondered why it was so erratic. Nervous around girls was not my thing. Hell, they called me a player for years, even before I was out of my teens and at twenty-one my reputation was no better. I liked girls, but I respected them too. I didn’t promise shite. It was a mutually beneficial exchange.

I had a feeling it wouldn’t be that way with Catherine. She could have me hook, link and sinker if I allowed it. If I gave in to the craving.

“Hey, you’re right on time!” She greeted me. Cheeks her usual flamed red that I wondered did it go all the way down too? Lust in an instant punched a hard fist into my solar plexus and before I knew what I was doing I strode forward, grasped both sides of her head in my hands and lowered my mouth to hers.

She gasped and sort of sighed into my mouth, a dreamy noise. I took advantage of her open lips and flicked my tongue inside and I tasted heaven on earth for the first time.

Fuck me, I was in big trouble.

One kiss and I already wanted more.

It was me who untangled her skinny arms from around my neck and stepped back. She looked so damn lovely Iached.

“I shouldn’t have done that.”

“Why not? I wanted you to! I liked it, Ronan. I wouldn’t mind if you kissed me again.Please. I want you.”

The space between my ears began to buzz red hot noise and the ache in my groin intensified hearing how she wanted me in the same way. “Your da would wring my neck, princess. And I’d rather be a lot more living than dead, you get me?”

She gave me an uninhibited laugh before her expression turned to something flirtier with her lashes lowered and color staining her cheeks. The girl with her red hair and reckless freckles dotted all over her face laughed up at me and took hold of the front of my shirt. Fuck me I let her lead my head down again and when she wrapped her arms around my neck I felt every inch of her body pressed up against mine.

I wanted her.Desperately.

“Catherine…”

“Catie. Everyone calls me Catie.”

I never would. She was too serene for anything other than Catherine.

Her face softened as she tilted her head back.

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