Page 17 of My Irish Stepbrother

“What’s wrong, kitten?” he asks.

“Nothing. I must look like an idiot,” I laugh. “I love you, too.”

He lifts me off my feet and carries me upstairs to his bedroom. He removes our soiled clothes and lays me down on the bed. He caresses me with his dirty hands leaving marks on my skin and I reach for his cock and stroke it as he kisses my face, my neck, and my breasts. He enters me and I wrap my arms and legs around him feeling each thrust into my core. I look at him tracing the shape of his face, his soft, red lips, square jaw, and big emerald-colored eyes.

“You’re the sexiest man I’ve ever seen, daddy,” I tell him.

“And you’re the most beautiful girl in the world,” he replies.

* * *

Several days goby and I’ve almost forgotten about the phone calls but it’s Friday now and I wake up late to find that Dex has already left my room. I get dressed for my shift expecting to find him in his office doing paperwork or in the kitchen accepting a delivery but when I come downstairs I find Bryce working alone.

“Mornin’, darlin’” Bryce greets me with a smile on his round, chubby face.

“Good morning, have you seen Dex?” I reply even though it’s the middle of the afternoon.

“He had some errands to run. He should be back soon,” Bryce tells me.

I collect my apron from the hook in the kitchen and go to work but I can’t help but wonder where he is and what errands he needs to run so I ask, “Is he out on pub business?”

Bryce shrugs and says, “I didn’t ask and he didn’t say, darlin’.”

I nod and go to work but my insides are reeling. I can’t help but think that somehow the secretive phone calls and his sudden disappearance today are connected. I peek at the clock every few minutes and jump each time a patron comes through the door hoping that it will be Dex.

It’s been over an hour and I’m ready to call him and ask where he is but the door opens and I see him come through. He looks over at me and smiles and I try to hide the hurt expression on my face. I expect him to come over to me and ask me what’s wrong but he goes to the bar and whispers something into Bryce’s ear. Bryce nods and peeks over Dex’s shoulder at me. I just can’t take it any longer so I summon the strength to march over to the bar to confront him.

“Good morning, Clover. I hope you slept well. I didn’t want to wake you when I left,” Dex says, kissing my cheek.

“Where did you go?” I ask him.

“I had some things to take care of,” he all but dismisses my line of questioning and changes the subject completely. “ I’ve asked Bryce to cover the pub tonight and he has someone coming to cover your shift so why don’t you change into something a bit warmer and come back downstairs when you’re ready.”

“Are we going out? Where?” I feel the color wash from my cheeks.

“I told you I was planning a surprise for you. Tonight is the night. Now, go change and make sure you bring a jacket,” he reaffirms.

15

The Viking Ship

Dex

Itake Daniela by the hand and lead her out of the pub to the waiting horse-drawn carriage parked just outside. She stops and stares at the enormous white and black speckled draft horse with his braided mane and says, “he’s beautiful.”

My mate Dylan is standing beside his carriage wearing his red riding jacket and tips his derby to us as we approach. He’s giving us this ride as a personal favor to me. The jaunting cars are a tourist attraction and rarely travel this far from the castle. Dylan takes Daniela’s hand and helps her into the car. “Good afternoon, my lady. My name is Dylan and I’ll be your jarvey.”

Daniela blushes and whispers, “Jarvey?”

“That’s the traditional name for the carriage driver,” I tell her. “This type of carriage, where we sit sideways, is called a jaunting car.”

She holds my arm as the horse’s hooves clip and clop on the cobblestones. I’ve seated us on the right side so that she has a perfect view of the winding Shannon all the way to Athlone Castle. The sun dances off the multi-colored sails of the tour ships on the river and she points to them and tells me she’s always wanted to go sailing.

When we arrive at the castle, Dylan helps her down and tips his hat to her.

“Thank you so much,” Daniela tells him. “I’ve never ridden in a carriage before.”

I escort her to the marina where our ship awaits. It’s a Viking longboat painted red and gold with six sail-covered masts. She stops and asks, “Is that a Viking ship?”

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