Page 61 of Haunted Nights & Savage Sins
Him.
Cormac has shown me more love and care than I’ve ever felt from anyone in my life. Sure, he’s got his jagged edges and his gruff moods, but I don’t think I’ll ever be able to see myself without him.
I wasn’t supposed to fall in love with the man I was pawned off to, but I can’t deny it anymore.
It hasn’t been very long, but I’ve gone from trying to find every which way of escaping to dreaming about the future Cormac and I will have together.
It’ll be hard, but it’ll be worth it. I’m sure of it.
He’s changed so much since I’ve been here. And I’m not the only one who thinks so.
Killian came by for a visit yesterday and he was astonished at what had come of his brother. At one point he was counting, and after he got to fourteen I stopped him just to figure out what he was counting.
Killian looked from Cormac to me and back again, “I’m counting the times you’ve smiled in this conversation, Big Mac. Fourteen times so far and I’ve only been here about twenty minutes. Who the hell are you?” The both of them laughed hard at each other. It warmed my heart to see them bonding.
Cormac has been more than open about nearly every aspect of his life. We’ve even gotten to the point where we sleep in the same bed, and the other night when I broached the subject of how he got his scar he was open enough to tell me what had happened with his mother and that it was his father who had marked him so savagely.
I cried holding him through the night.
He makes me feel so secure and so wanted. I never have to question any of his motives. He’s open about everything except what he’s got in the upper rooms on the east side of the house.
It’s the last secret, hidden between us. The last mile to traverse, and as much as he doesn’t want me to know whatever it is he’sgot up there, I need to know if I’m going to lay the last of my doubts to rest.
“You ready?” Cormac knocks on my room door and pokes his head in. He frowns slightly when he sees that I’m still not dressed. “What’s wrong? We’ve got a meeting to go to, remember?”
I make a show of rubbing my nose, “Do I really have to come with you today? If you really need me to, I’ll endure. I’m not feeling the best today and would actually just like to stay home and get some rest.”
“You’re sick?” I watch as the panic flourishes in his eyes. “What do you need? I can cancel. I’ll stay here and take care of you.”
“No, go handle your business. I just need to get some rest. Not a big deal.”
He hesitates, staring at me for a moment, probably trying to decide if I’m playing down my illness. In actuality I’m playing it up. I do feel a little fatigued but nothing I’d take some medicine for.
“Are you sure?” he asks again.
“Yes, Cormac, absolutely. Go on and get there so you can hurry back.” I push him gently and he nods once. I watch him from my doorway as he makes his way down the hall. He turns once to look over his shoulder, giving me a small wave. It almost looks like he wants to say something.
I have a feeling I know what it is.
He wants to tell me he loves me. I’d say it back. I do love him. We haven’t said the words yet, but it’s obvious anytime we are neareach other. The sex is out of this world, but even just relaxing with each other is peaceful.
I wait until he’s out the door to go back into my room. Patiently, I listen out for the sound of the truck driving off to let me know that he’s truly gone from the property.
Just as I am about to beeline out of my room, the in-house line rings. I pick it up, “Yes?”
“Mrs. O’Sullivan, Mr. O’Sullivan has let me know that you aren’t feeling well this afternoon and asked me to look in on you and make sure you had everything you needed.”
A warm feeling fills my chest. Even away, Cormac is trying to take care of me.
“I’m just fine, Maxim, just need some uninterrupted sleep.” I say, hoping that will be enough to make sure he doesn’t come in.
“As you wish. If you wake and discover you are feeling worse or are in need of anything, I’m just a phone call away.”
“Thank you,” I reply.
“Of course.” He hangs up the phone and I’m left with the silence that is the house. The dogs have free rein to come in and out, but for the most part they stay outdoors where they have space to move about.
It’s just me in here. For the first time, I’m alone.
