Chapter 5
CHAPTER FIVE
SULLY
Iwas an impatient bastard, and I knew it.
I had sensed a story last night and, from her fumbling phrasing, knew it was one I wanted to hear.
From the way she tensed simply talking about where she lived, I knew it involved something personal.
I had no right to ask her—except I wanted to know. I had to know.
Now.
Her expressive eyes widened at my one-word inquiry, and she struggled to remain relaxed. But I felt the tremor that went through her that had nothing to do with the temperature and everything to do with a memory.
“It was time to move.”
I shook my head. “Part of my job is knowing when someone is bullshitting me. Like you are now.” I took her hand. “You’re a terrible liar, Autumn.”
She sighed, breaking our gaze.
I squeezed her fingers. “I know I don’t have the right to ask, but I’m asking. Why?”
She tugged at her bottom lip with her teeth, worrying the flesh.
“Tell me, please.”
“I started seeing a guy. We met one night when I was out with friends. He was too, and we all sort of paired off. He was charming, nice. He asked me out and I said yes. But there was no spark, no chemistry. After a few dates, I told him I wasn’t interested in anything but friendship. He said he understood.”
“But?” I asked, already knowing where this was headed.
“He started stalking me. At work, home, the grocery store. If I went to the movies with friends, he’d be in the theater.
It got so bad, I filed a restraining order, not that it did much good.
The house I lived in was owned by my roommate’s family.
Amber got scared by his constant appearances, his demands to see me even when I wasn’t there, and the threats.
She finally asked me to move out. I couldn’t blame her.
It was awful, knowing you were being watched, followed.
And there was nothing I could do about it.
He would bother her, asking for information, demanding that she give me letters he’d written. I couldn’t stay.”
“So, what happened?” I asked, feeling rage building. Simply talking about it upset her. She had paled, her voice dropping as if speaking too loudly would conjure him up.
“I stayed in a hotel close to the office for a week, staggering my times so he couldn’t see me.
A couple of the people at work walked me to the hotel to make sure I got there okay.
I didn’t want her to know what was going on, or for him to start bothering her, so I told my auntie Lynn I had the flu and called her every day to check on her.
I snuck over once, but I was so pale, she believed I was sick and insisted I stay home.
” She sighed, the sound low and unhappy.
“I knew that I couldn’t keep going. Then this offer came up.
I jumped at it, hoping if I disappeared, he’d forget about me.
” She drew in a deep breath. “So, when I get home, I have to look for a place.”
I couldn’t respond for a moment. I was furious at the unknown man, angry at a system that did nothing to help the victim, and irritated at the roommate who asked her to leave, even when I understood her fear.
The thought of Autumn scared, worried, and upset bothered me more than I could explain.
I tamped down my fury, keeping my voice level.
“So you’ve been left alone to deal with this arsehole?”
She shrugged. “I spoke with Amber, and she says he stopped coming around. My friend at the office says she hadn’t seen him either after the first few days. I’m hoping my plan worked and, when I get back, I can find a new place quickly.”
“Where are your things?”
“In storage.”
“I want to kill him,” I stated simply.
She laughed. “Highly illegal.”
“So is his behavior.”
She sighed. “Unless he physically hurts me, there is nothing I can do.”
“Does this shite have a name?”
She frowned. “Why would you want it?”
I lifted an eyebrow, waiting. Finally, she huffed a sigh.
“Alan Blane.”
I nodded, planning on getting in touch with Niall as soon as possible. He’d find out what I needed to know and help me if needed. One way or another, this piece of shite wasn’t going to bother her again.
She turned to me. “I need you to know last night wasn’t how I usually act. I don’t—”
I touched her mouth, silencing her. “I already knew that, mo fhiadh beag. It was very out of character for me, but I don’t regret it.
There is something between us. We both feel it.
We’re adults, and we’re exploring it. I think you are incredible.
Sweet. Warm. You’re gentle and giving. My admiration for you didn’t change—if anything, it grew. ”
“What does that mean?” she asked. “Those words?”
I smiled. “Mo fhiadh beag loosely translated means my little deer. With your dark eyes and tawny hair, you remind me of a little fawn.” I cupped her cheek. “And the rest of my words mean I think highly of you. I like you. I want to know more about you.”
“To what end?”
I shrugged. “Who knows. Maybe a sexy weekend we think about when we’re old and gray. Maybe something else. I’m not questioning it. I simply want to enjoy what we have right now. If you want that as well.”
She smiled. “I do.”
I pulled her close so she straddled my lap. I kissed her, holding her face and stroking her cheeks with my thumbs.
“I’ve been here before,” she murmured, indicating my lap.
“Yes, you have. It worked out well, if I recall,” I replied, grinding into her.
“I need you to refresh my memory.”
“Not a problem.”
I plugged in the heater, pleased when it started up—a bit noisy, but it began warming up right away.
I stood, brushing my hand down my sweats.
Autumn was in the bathroom, combing her hair.
After another round on the sofa, I’d taken her to the shower, shutting the door and letting the heat of the steam warm the room.
If I’d thought she was sexy this morning, the image of her on her knees in the shower with my cock in her mouth blew my mind.
She was artlessly erotic, with her doe-like eyes and her full lips wrapped around me.
I returned the favor, pressing her into the tiles with one leg draped over my shoulder as I used my tongue and fingers to bring her to orgasm. Then I lifted her effortlessly and drove into her, wild and frenzied. I had never known such intense desire for a woman.
But she brought that and a protective instinct out in me full force. I suddenly understood the mind-set of my cousins Finn and Niall and the way they watched over their wives with an intensity I had never comprehended until now.
And considering I had only known this woman for less than a day, I was shocked at my feelings.
Autumn came out of the bathroom, already dressed, her hair still damp from the shower earlier. I smiled at her, feeling my heart lift when she returned my grin with one of her own.
“This will help. We can probably sleep in here tonight. More comfortable.”
She lifted her eyebrows. “We? Pretty sure of yourself.”
I grinned. “You can’t resist me anymore.”
She tilted her head. “I didn’t try very hard.”
I wrapped her in my arms and held her. I liked how she felt there. The perfect height for me.
“I’m glad you didn’t.”
We were back on the sofa, and I turned to her. “Can I ask you more questions?”
“About, ah, him?” she asked, looking pained.
“No.”
“Okay, then.”
“You said your mom died. How old were you?”
“I was young. Eighteen. She was in a car accident and never recovered.”
“And your dad?”
“Left us when I was young. I never knew him. After Mom died, her friend, whom I call Auntie Lynn, sort of became my second mom. She’d always been in my life, you know?
My mom’s older best friend, the cool aunt.
I lived with her for a while until I went to school and lived in the dorm.
She’s been there for me through everything.
She had a stroke a few years ago, and we had to sell her house and move her into a care facility.
She likes it there and is well cared for.
But I see her as much as I can.” A smile pulled on her lips.
“She’s always lecturing me about getting out and living.
Pushing me out of my comfort zone. Encouraging me to travel and see the world the ways she did when she was young.
She backpacked through Europe and the UK for almost two years, working her way through the countries.
She loved Scotland and Ireland the most and was so excited about my chance to come here. ”
“She sounds like a great old lady.”
She laughed, a fond look on her face. “She is that. And she is my only family. I love her.”
I nodded, thinking of my aunt Roisin. I felt the same way about her. She had been a second mum to me for so long, and I adored her.
“What about you?” she asked. “Are your parents alive?”
“No. They had me late in life, and they died when I was in my twenties. My mum went and my da not long after. We lived close to my aunt Roisin’s house, and she stepped in, sort of like your Lynn, but I think a bit more, ah, Irish.”
Autumn looked confused. “What does that mean?”
“Vocal, happy to put me in my place and remind me who I am. She’s bossy as hell, and we all love her for it.
She can drink me under the table, knows all my sordid past, and likes to remind me she changed my nappies and she’s seen what little gift God gave me and I need to be sure to work on my personality since I haven’t much else to impress the lassies. ”
Autumn laughed long and hard, and I joined her.
“I think your aunt missed a growth spurt,” she said with a cheeky grin. “I’ve seen your gift, and it impressed me.”
I leaned over and kissed her. “So good for my ego.”
For a few moments, there was silence. I took a sip of coffee, and I cleared my throat before asking my next question. “You said you can’t have children.”
She shook her head. “Severe endometriosis. The doctors said my chances were slim to none. I was diagnosed in my twenties.”
“Was that difficult for you?”