Chapter 4 #2
“I think ye owe the lady an apology,” Cormac growled.
He was a menacing figure and Jonathan looked worried as he hung in the air. Jenna watched him as his expression went from triumphant to terrified. She couldn’t help but smile.
“Cormac, man, put him down,” EJ ordered. “I think it would be best if you all left. I can’t afford to have any trouble in here.”
Cormac dropped Jonathan, who fell to the floor gasping for breath and trying desperately to steady himself.
“My apologies, EJ.” Cormac said.
“Come on, let’s go.” Jenna took Cormac by the hand and led him to the door. “Dylan, you coming?”
“I’ll catch up in a few minutes.”
As they headed for the door, Jenna was shaking. She was so angry that tears were pricking at her eyes. Jonathan was trying to humiliate her and she’d be damned if she was going to let him get away with it.
“Cormac,” Jonathan yelled as they walked through the door. “Watch your back, man.”
Cormac turned and scowled at Jonathan, who seeing he was in imminent danger decided to turn tail and run back to his friends.
Once outside, Jenna broke down, anger overtaking her.
She stiffened her spine as Cormac took her into his arms to soothe her as best he could.
He spoke soft words in a language she didn’t understand, but they were melting the ice she had been building up around her heart.
The whiskey she had downed warmed her insides, but Cormac was stoking the flames.
Jenna felt herself softening and enjoying the close contact with Cormac.
She really needed to get a grip here. She couldn’t let what happened in the bar affect her to the point where she might throw herself at Cormac just because he was there and she was undeniably attracted to him.
***
Cormac wanted to tear Jonathan’s head off and he knew that if the man did anything else to hurt Jenna, he surely would.
He stood with her wrapped in his embrace and did his best to calm her.
He knew Dylan would have a word with Jonathan and then he would join them outside.
Cormac moved to lean on a street post and he took Jenna with him.
She went along willingly, much to his surprise.
Jenna was a very spirited woman and because she was he knew how hard it was for her to let someone else take care of her, but he wanted to.
That thought surprised him. Cormac’s feelings for her were growing, despite her sharp tongue and cool demeanor.
He hadn’t had much hope earlier in the day, but he could see the softness in her eyes and feel it in her arms as she let down her guard and wrapped them around him so he could hold her close and protect her from the hurt she was feeling.
She needed him, even if she didn’t know it yet.
Dylan joined them moments later.
“Let’s go,” he said.
They headed off down the street and to another bar.
“Jenna, what about O’Reilly’s? How does that sound?”
Jenna sniffled a bit and wiped at her eyes. “Yeah, that should work. Cormac might like it better, too.”
Cormac smiled at her as her eyes met his.
They continued their walk in silence and he looked around him in amazement at the streetlights and the buildings all lit up from within.
At Breaghacraig, the clan didn’t go out at night unless it was absolutely necessary.
It was much too dark to be able to see unless one carried a torch.
Here, it seemed everyone was out with no worry at all for the dangers of the night.
The cars and buses constantly passing by were also a source of many questions for him, but he dare not ask.
As Edna had instructed, he wouldnae look shocked at anything he saw.
They reached the pub and went inside to the sounds of Irish music being played by a live band.
The atmosphere was loud and raucus in comparison to the karaoke bar they had just left.
Everyone seemed to be truly enjoying themselves as they clapped and stomped along with the music.
Cormac wasn’t sure why, but he felt more at home here than he had anywhere else he’d been all day long.
Jenna ordered more whiskey for the three of them, seeming determined to drink the men under the table.
They found an empty booth to sit in and Cormac became very aware of the fact that Jenna was quite into her cups.
If she were sober, she wouldnae be leaning into him and have her hand on his knee.
He wasn’t about to complain. Dylan winked at him and nodded in his cousin’s direction.
Cormac simply shrugged his shoulders. He wished there was something he could do to make this night better for her.
Drinking the amount of whisky she had was not going to help.
“Cormac,” Jenna was starting to slur her words. “I jush wanted to thank you for shticking up for me back there.”
“It was me pleasure, lass.”
“I like it when you call me lash. Did you know you are probably the mosh handsome man I’ve ever sheen?”
“I didnae know that.” Cormac chuckled.
“You are … really. I mean it.”
“I ken ye need to stop drinking, lass.” He decided it was time to intervene before she got sick.
“No … I jush want one more, pleash.”
“Jenna, Cormac’s right. You’re going to regret it in the morning. Why don’t you let Cormac take you back home. I’ve got some unfinished business I need to take care of.”
“Shtay away from Jonathan, Dylan. I mean it.”
“I’m not talking about Jonathan. I met a pretty girl earlier and we’re going to meet up at her place.”
“Oh … okay. Cormac lesh go.” Jenna swayed as she tried to stand up and Cormac steadied her before she fell over. “You’re so sweet.”
“She’s pretty drunk,” Dylan observed.
“I ken it. Dinna fash. I’ll be sure she gets home and to bed.”
Dylan gave Cormac a questioning look.
“Alone.” Cormac reassured him.
“I’ll get you guys a cab.” Dylan offered and then headed outside to flag one down.
“Come, lass, let’s get ye home.”
As they hit the fresh air outside, Jenna swayed even more.
“Wee,” she cried.
Cormac was concerned she was going to fall, so he did the only thing that made sense at that moment and picked her up and carried her to the waiting cab.
Dylan paid the driver and told him where to take them. He handed Cormac his key.
“Here, you’ll need this to get into the house.”
“And what of ye? How will ye get in?”
“Don’t worry. I’ve got a spare,” Dylan winked as he prepared to close the cab door.
“Thank ye, Dylan.”
The cab dropped them off in front of Jenna’s house and he lifted her into his arms again and carried her up the stairs to the front door. Opening the door, he carried her across the threshold and she began to giggle.
“What’s so funny, lass?”
“You carried me like I was a bride.” She continued laughing like it was the funniest thing ever.
Cormac looked puzzled, but Jenna was in no condition to notice. Closing the door, he found the light switch and headed for Jenna’s bedroom. Chester who had been soundly sleeping by the front door, lifted his head in greeting and then went back to sleep.
Jenna was resting her head on Cormac’s chest and she reached up to caress his face with her hand.
“Cormac … would you kiss me? Please?”
He nearly dropped her at the sound of her sweet voice requesting something that he never dreamed would happen. She looked up at him with such longing that he couldn’t speak. He reached her room and put her down by her bed.
“Come on … kiss me.” Jenna stood of tiptoes and brushed her lips across his.
Fire shot through Cormac, from head to toe and all the places in between.
He let her kiss him and found that he could not resist kissing her back.
He wrapped his arms around her and let his hands wander over her back and hips.
They slid up her sides and brushed her breasts.
Jenna moaned softly. Her lips were soft and warm and he wanted more than anything to crawl into bed with her and explore her beautiful body.
Being a gentleman, he would not allow that to happen.
Her breath was mingling with his and the kisses were becoming more and more impassioned. He had to end this now, because if he didn’t he wouldn’t be able to stop.
“What’s wrong?” Jenna asked when he abruptly stopped kissing her and placed her away from him.
“Nothing is wrong, lass. Ye’ve just had too much to drink and I dinnae want to take advantage of ye.”
“But I want you to make love to me.”
“Not tonight, Jenna love. When I make love to ye, I want ye to remember it.”
She giggled at that.
“Will you lie down with me? Just for a little while.”
“Aye. I will happily do that.”
He helped her take her boots off and then got her into bed. He pulled the covers up over her, so he wouldn’t be tempted and then he lay down next to her.
“Whoa! The room is spinning.” Jenna cried.
He pulled her in close and she rested her head on his chest.
“Close yer eyes and try to sleep. I’ll be right here. I promise.”
She did as he told her and drifted off to sleep almost immediately.
Cormac took the opportunity to examine her, while she was unaware and didn’t have her guard up.
She was truly beautiful. Her skin was soft and smooth and her lips were pursed into a pretty little pout.
Her golden tresses lay strewn across the pillow and he couldn’t help curling a lock around his fingers.
She was perfect in every way as far as he was concerned and he knew that starting tomorrow he had a chance with her.