Page 89 of Twist of Fate
“Oh, you’re fucking telling Theo,” I nearly growl, dragging her back to my lips. He will not be scheming to win her back while I’m around.
And when you’re not?
I am not thinking about that right now.
I manage to open the door without breaking our kiss, and I hear her gasp. She pulls back, her eyes taking it all in. “Oh, my god, Finn. This is?—”
“Yeah, it’s pretty grand,” I agree. While the interior of my parents’ historic home resembles a damn museum, the grounds have always been something of a passion project for my mam and never fails to impress. The pool and the expansive gardens blend together seamlessly, with the rugged coastline providing a stunning backdrop.
“What was it like growing up here?” She walks down the patio toward the pool, taking off her socks as she goes. It’s a grand old thing with a fountain and marble statues, but recent renovations have added modern features like a sound system and lighting.
“Lonely,” I answer honestly, watching the steam from the water swirl around her like a thick blanket. “With my father never home and my mam constantly trying to fill the time with parties and events, I was by myself a lot of time alone. It made me jealous of my friends who had siblings.”
“I’ve always wanted a sibling, too,” she admits, glancing back at me over her shoulder. She dips the tip of one foot into the water. “I even did one of those DNA kits secretly, hoping I had a brother or sister out there that my dad never knew about.”
“No such luck?”
“None so far,” she says, but the corners of her lips turn up. “But I’m half Irish, if you wanted to know.”
I feign disappointment. “Only half? Sorry, darlin’. Not everyone can be perfect.”
I hear her laugh as I step behind her, but the moment my hand slides around her waist, it’s cut short, and her breath hitches. I lean into her, my lips brushing the tip of her ear. “There are so many things I want to experience with you,” I say softly. “Too many to fit into a lifetime, let alone three months, but I’m still going to try. Go for a swim with me?”
“We don’t have any swimsuits,” she points out.
“No,” I agree with a smug grin. “We don’t.”
She turns around, and her heated gaze meets mine. Taking a step back, she reaches for the hem of her shirt and slowly drags it up and over her head, letting it flutter to the ground. “Okay.”
With a wicked smile, she unbuttons her slacks, and I watch as her fingers slip under the waistband. Slowly and deliberately, she pushes them off her hips, and the fabric pools at her feet. She steps out and kicks the slacks aside, leaving only a satin blue bra and knickers.
I swear my damn heart stutters.
Her hands move to the clasp of her bra.
“Wait,” I say, my voice rough and ragged as I take her in. God, it’s like a fucking feast. I don’t know where to start. I want to lick, suck, and taste every fucking inch of her. “My turn.”
Her eyes darken as she watches me unbutton my black dress shirt and toss it to the ground. Her gaze wanders down my body, lingering on my abs while I reach for my belt buckle. I am so painfully hard that I nearly forget about the pool. All I think of is ripping the rest of our clothes off and taking her right here on this damn patio.
For two years, she is all I’ve thought about. For two years, I’ve denied this connection between us, and I just can’t do it anymore. I know I’m still not the perfect man for her. I know I can’t give her everything she deserves, but I also can’t walk away either.
So, while she’s here, I will be hers. Even if it destroys me.
I loosen my belt and unbutton my slacks, and as the fabric brushes against the cool tiles, I look up and find her staring. The heated gaze that was there just a moment ago has vanished, and suddenly, she looks…
“Why do you look nervous, Ash?” I ask, taking a tentative step closer. She bites down on her bottom lip as those bright blue eyes meet mine.
“I haven’t been with—” She struggles to finish her thought and exhales in frustration. “I don’t have a lot of experience.”
Understanding washes over me, followed swiftly by a wave of relief. “You haven’t?—”
She shakes her head. “Only?—”
I hold out my hand, stopping her mid-sentence. I don’t need his name on her lips while she’s standing half-naked in front of me. Besides, I understand what she’s trying to say. What I find more interesting, though, is the implication that she hasn’t been with anyone since.
“I haven’t been with anyone for a long time, Ash,” I tell her as I slowly slide my hand over the bare skin of her waist. “You see, I met this girl on a street corner in Dublin. One look, and I was a goner.” Her breath catches as my lips brush the side of her neck. “And even though I made a mess of things, I couldn’t seem to let her go.” Her nails drag down my torso, and I nearly groan.God, yes. Touch me.
“Are you saying you haven’t been with anyone since—” She swallows, hesitant to even finish her sentence.
