Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 83384 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 417(@200wpm)___ 334(@250wpm)___ 278(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83384 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 417(@200wpm)___ 334(@250wpm)___ 278(@300wpm)
“You can’t—can’t spank me and do all manner of torturous things to me, though.”
“Can’t I?” he asks, bringing his mouth to my ear and nibbling the lobe.
I make a noise that sounds something like, “unnngh.” I close my eyes, losing myself to sensation as he licks and nibbles and teases.
“I’ll have my way with you,” he promises. “And you’d best behave yourself as well, or I’ll be forced to find alternative methods of punishment.”
Wetness pools between my legs, goddamn him. “Hmmph,” I say, trying to pretend that I’m not turned on. I gather the scraps of my dignity.
“You act as if… you talk like…” my voice trails off. I’m at a loss for words.
“Like what, lass?” he says, bringing his mouth to my nipple, still covered in my pajama top. He nips me straight through the fabric. I gasp and keen with pleasure.
“Like you own me.”
“But I do.”
“I beg your pardon,” I say, trying fruitlessly to wriggle out of his grasp. “But I—”
“You wear my ring,” he says. “You bear my name. And now you bear my child. There’s no getting away from me, Aileen McCarthy,” he says, giving me a wolfish grin.
“Apparently not.” I keep a haughty air, holding onto my dignity, even as his words excite me. I feel as if I should protest this further, as if I should fight for my autonomy, but when I’m under his heated gaze, I forget exactly why. The air’s suffused with his ruggedly masculine scent, my wrists captured in his firm grip, the muted pain mingling with arousal a reminder of our lovemaking the night before. My whole world in that moment is Cormac.
He leans down and kisses first one cheek, then the next. I close my eyes when his lips meet mine, a gentle brush of warmth and possession, my body rising to meet his for a brief second before he pulls away.
“I know why you protest,” he whispers in my ear. I shiver when the vibration of his voice glides over me. “And there was a time when I’d have taken my time with you. Introduced you to the ways of The Clan slowly. Given you space to really process who you are here with me, what your role is here.” He brushes my hair off my forehead, bends down, and kisses my cheek. “But not when you bear my child, lass. You were mine to protect before, aye. But now it means so much more. You’ll be the mother of my firstborn.”
“It’s hard for me to understand this, Cormac,” I whisper. “I… I like how it makes me feel. I think? But it scares me, too.”
“Aye,” he says. He releases my wrists and joins me on the bed. He lifts his arm, and I scoot beneath it. He holds me to his side, and I close my eyes. I’m still tired, and it feels warm and comfortable here. He sighs. “I get that, lass. I do. You’re still in a place where you don’t know who you are, or where you came from, and I imagine that scares you a little, because what happens next is a mystery as well.”
I nod. “Hmm. Didn’t expect a guy like you to be so understanding.”
He gives me a teasing pinch to the arse.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
I can’t help but giggle. I sober quickly, though, at what I have to say next. “It comes back to me, you know.”
“What does?”
“The memories. Who I am. Where I came from. How I got here.”
“Aye,” he says. “Kinda wish it wouldn’t sometimes.”
Well that’s an odd thing to say. “Why not?”
“I want you to start fresh here. And the memories you take from your past aren’t good ones.”
I sigh. “Aye. What can you tell me about my parents?”
“You sure you want to have this conversation?”
“I do,” I insist.
“Why now?”
“Why not?”
He chuckles. “Jesus, you’re persistent. Alright. Truth be told, I don’t know much about them. Your mam and dad had six girls and one boy. The girls were all given away to various clans, including the one you came from, as payment for various jobs.”
I flinch. I knew this, I suspected it anyway, but to hear him confirm it makes me want to cry.
“Aye,” I whisper.
“You were the last to go. Your parents profited immensely by giving your sisters to the Martin Clan to use. And this is why I won’t allow you to go back home. This is why I tell you you’re mine now.”
I’m quiet for long minutes. I listen to his heartbeat and our quiet breathing in the stillness of the room. He gets a notification on his phone and swipes it aside.
“You have to go?”
“No.”
“Who was it?”
“Just Keenan. Meeting.”
“And you don’t need to attend?”
“Actually, I do need to, but I’m having them come here. I’m not leaving your side. Not today.”
I practically jump out of bed. “Cormac. I’m not dressed!”