Page 132 of Fifth Avenue Fling

Every night, he leaves to sleep in his own bed. He’s never promised me more than a fling.

But here, under the lights of the pub with everyone I know in Queens looking on, this moment feels like something more.

There are a million questions I want to ask. A million answers I need.

Instead, I ask, “Do you want a pint, Killian?”

He opens his mouth, but before he can respond, Liam is in our faces. “I’ve done some digging on you, Quinn.”

“Back off, Liam.” I hiss, glaring at him. Bloody Liam cockblocking me. Seriously? Why is everyone in this bar so nosy?

Liam addresses me and ignores Killian. “Don’t do anything you’ll regret, Clodagh.”

I never lift my glare from Liam. “Do you want flowers stuffed in your mouth again?”

“You heard the lady,” Killian growls in a severe tone, flashing angry eyes at Liam. “Get lost.”

Liam’s undeterred. “You’re dangerous. I fucking know all about you.”

I stare at him, clueless as to what he’s blathering about.

“And now you’re after our Clodagh.”

“OurClodagh?” I hiss at Liam. The cheek. “Who exactly are you talking on behalf of?”

Killian’s arm tightens around me. “She’s not your anything,” he snarls, his voice dropping to a low growl. Conversations around us cease as eyes turn to us. “She’s mine. Now get out of my face before I do something we’ll both regret.”

But Liam isn’t done yet. My heart skitters as he edges closer.

I tug on Killian’s shirt to get his attention before things escalate out of control. His muscles tense, and his chest rises and falls as his anger threatens to boil over.

“Let it go, please,” I plead, trying to defuse the tension.

To my relief, Liam decides I’m not worth fighting for after all. He puffs out his chest but steps back, not looking so sure of himself. Perhaps because Killian is easily a head taller than him.

“Let me know when you come to your senses,” he hurls at me before marching away.

I huff indignantly in response.

“I’m serious, Clodagh,” Killian says in a low voice, his gaze fixed on me. I feel it right between my legs. “You belong to me.” The intensity of his words hangs in the air, overshadowing any trace of Liam’s outburst.

I bite back a goofy smile.

Before I can reply, his lips crash down on mine with a ferocity that takes my breath away. Every nerve in my body comes alive as I’m suddenly entangled in the most intense kiss of my twenty-five years on earth, right in the middle of The Auld Dog.

***

I wake up in a cage.

A sexy man-cage with a muscular thigh wrapped around my hip and a heavy arm draped over my stomach. Stubble tickles my shoulder blade, and a warm chest rises up and down against me. Warm breath caresses my neck, making my nipples pebble.

God, he smells good.

He’s fallen asleep in my bed. The last thing I remember was melting into his hot body and falling asleep naked in his arms.

He mumbles something near my neck.

“What?” I ask softly, confused.

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