Page 51 of Naughty Irish Liar

“You’re friends with Ronan?”

“Sometimes. Depends on what level of ass he’s being that day,” Ash told her with a side grin I was betting women fell over themselves for. I took a look at Catherine through the mirror and she hadn’t reacted at all.

That’smygood girl. I’d let her octopus the fuck out of me tonight in bed with her arms and legs.

There was no doubt in my mind I’d have her in my bed again later.

Why the hell else was I hanging around for?

“Ha, me too! He’s an acquired taste like sour gummy worms.” She nudged my shoulder and her eyes twinkled. I couldn’t help it, I snaked an arm around her tiny waist and drew her in to my side. She snuggled in like we’d being doing that for a decade. We hadn’t flaunted our relationship at work, but I knew everyone was talking about it courtesy of Dylan’s gossip circle.

I could give ten fucks, but I worried the staff would alienate Catherine because of me. So far she hadn’t said a word about it. I wasn’t above firing people. Ask me if I care about using my power that way.

“I’m not above putting you over my knee and smacking the sass out of you, Catherine.” I warned meaning every word. My blood was volcanic beneath my clothes and only the skim of her fingertips on the back of my hand reined me in. I pressed my fingers hard enough into her hip to make her aware of my presence and my instability where she was concerned whether I told her with words or not. She had me fucking unhinged to get my hands on her in any way I could.

Ash found it highly amusing. Catherine blushed.

“He reminded me of someone, but I can’t place the face, has he been in before?” She said once Ash took his leave. “You didn’t tell me you had hot friends.”

“Nor am I ever gonna tell you that. You’ve probably seen him on tv or YouTube, fucker is famous.”

“He’s a celebrity? Get out.”

“He writes books.”

“Ash…Ashton McKenna? Shut up, that was not! I read him. I have all his books in hardback and kindle!” I wasn’t prepared for the scream coming out of Catherine when I told her yes. Jesus Christ, I was deaf. Thank god the place had cleared of customers.

“That was… oh my god, I touched Ashton McKenna in real life with this hand! Oh my god. Do you think he’s busy on the 18th?”

I knew she was teasing.

Logically, I did.

Somewhere in the back of my brain. I understood her more in that moment than I ever had. Because though her eyes twinkled with her joke as she tried to rile me into smiling back at her. I saw just a hint of vulnerability.

That vulnerability I’d put in her eyes by being a fucking prick suggesting I could ever rid her from my system with a few out of this world fucks.

I swerved my body on the stool. Braced both feet on the floor and cupped her cheek.

She flushed all around her freckles but didn’t pull away. She never did. If anything she leaned in like a little cat greedy for affection.

“You’re about to pay so hard for that,acushla. You think because I let you crawl all over me like a slippery eel that I’ll take you talking about another man that way with hunger in your voice?”

I was gone. I was so far gone I’d missed the last train home. So when I leaned forward and caught her sexy-sweet scent she liked to wear, it was like being hit in the stomach with a baseball bat.

Jealousy, dark and hot stung my every breath.

“I don’t have any money,” she whispered, licking her lower lip suggestively with a direct line to my dick when it jerked hard.

The lust prowling like an animal inside my skin, begging for release, expanded to include a smear of darkness as I tugged her closer, palmed between her legs, using the heel of my hand I grinded down.

She gasped and swayed, clutched my shoulders.

“I’ll take it out on this and that bratty mouth of yours. Meet me in my office, Catherine. Don’t piss me off by dragging your feet.”

I couldn’t help crushing a kiss to her mouth. Her taste flooded into mine, calming my possessive jealously to mark every inch of her so she wouldn’t have the energy to fawn over anyone else, even in a joking way.

“Okay,” she breathed, licking her damp lips. “Okay, Ronan.”

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