Chapter 17
CHAPTER 17
Fiona
A gentle, featherlight touch along the bare skin of my back pulled me out of a deep sleep.
I sighed, pressing my cheek against Tommy’s chest.
His arms were banded around me and I’d never felt more secure in my life.
Not only protected, but cherished in a way I didn’t know was possible.
“Fi.” His voice was a low whisper, lips brushing against the top of my head.
“You need to go, darlin’.”
I murmured a protest, shifting against him.
I’d become a woman tonight and I wanted to lie here, our naked bodies entwined and just be his.
The world outside was still dark and cold, and it couldn’t reach me if I stayed right here.
“Just a few more minutes,” I groaned, snuggling against him.
Tommy chuckled softly, arms squeezing me.
“I know,” he murmured, pressing another gentle kiss to my head.
“Believe me, I don’t want you to go either. But it’s past four, and you’ve gotta get back before someone realizes you’re missing.”
Reality crashed over me like an icy wave from the Irish Sea and I actually shivered from it despite how warm I was pressed against my lover.
He was right, of course.
I had snuck out of my house to be with him and if I didn’t sneak back before first light, I risked being caught.
Another shudder ripped through me at the thought as I couldn’t even begin to imagine how angry my da would be with me.
I’m confident it would warrant a black-and-blue beating.
And after the way I shunned Brian at the festival, that wasn’t a risk I could take.
I had to be low-key with Tommy for both our sakes.
I exhaled, shifting to look up at him.
His dark hair was mussed, his blue eyes still heavy with sleep, but he was watching me with an intensity that tightened my belly and flushed my skin.
“Any regrets?” he murmured.
I shook my head, smiling at him.
“Not a single one.”
His lips curved, brushing against mine in the faintest kiss.
“Good.”
My fingers traced down his bare chest and I marveled at the feel of him.
I never would have thought about touching a naked man before but now that he’s mine, I want hours just to explore.
“When can I see ye later?”
Tommy caught my hand and brought it to his lips.
“You tell me, darlin’.”
Another shiver—a combination of lust and what I believed to be love.
I hesitated for only a second.
“Midday,” I whispered.
“I’ll bring a picnic. Just us.”
His grin widened, dimples flashing, and the sight of it made my heart swell.
“I’ll go in extra early today so I can take the time off.”
I loved that about him.
His work ethic and his loyalty to those who earned it.
So many things about Tommy that had my heart in a vise, and that was just but one.
He shocked me by rolling on top of me, his body warm and solid against mine.
His mouth found mine again, slow and lingering, hands exploring in a way that made me start to ache in places that I just discovered could ache.
“Tommy,” I sighed between kisses, “I have to go.”
“Mmm,” he murmured against my skin.
“I think you should stay.”
I laughed as my fingers curled into his hair.
“Yer not making this easy.”
“Not supposed to,” he said smugly, pressing another kiss to my collarbone before finally pulling back.
“But I suppose I should be a gentleman and let you get dressed.”
I huffed playfully, rolling out from under him before I lost my nerve entirely.
I found my clothes scattered around the room and quickly pulled them on, aware he was watching my every move.
I should’ve been embarrassed but the light was dim, only the faintest sliver from the barn lights peeking through the linen curtains.
When I bent to slip on my shoes, he groaned.
“Come back to bed, Fi. Just for a little longer.”
I shot him a smirk over my shoulder.
“And risk getting caught? Yer the one who told me I should go, and ye weren’t wrong.”
Tommy sat up, resting his weight on one elbow, and God, did he look so sexy with the sheets draped over his lean waist.
“One more kiss, then.”
I rolled my eyes but couldn’t stop the smile as I leaned down, pressing my mouth to his.
He kissed me so thoroughly that he stole my breath, and I was okay if I never breathed again.
“I should probably walk with you,” he said as I pulled away.
“It’s dark.”
“I’ll be fine. It’s safe here and there’s enough lighting to find my way. Besides, if I do get caught, I can just play it off as some wanderlust and a midnight bike ride. If yer with me, Da is likely to get the shillelagh.”
“Do I even want to know what that is?” he asked, one eyebrow raised.
“No, ye don’t.” I leaned in, gave him a swift kiss and pressed my palm to his face.
“I’ll be fine.”
I started to pull away but he caught my wrist, tugging me back just enough to press another kiss to my forehead.
“Midday,” he reminded me.
“I won’t be late,” I promised.
Then, before I could lose the will to leave, I slipped out into the early-morning darkness.
?
The bike ride back to Glenhaven was a blur, my heart still thrumming with the weight of what had just happened.
Every inch of me felt alive, my body still tingling from Tommy’s touch, from his kisses.
It boggled me that he wanted me the way he did.
It was like a fairy-tale dream and I was secure in my choice.
And I had never felt so free.
The manor loomed in the distance, its stone walls bathed in moonlight.
I slowed my bike, coasting silently up the back path and eventually hopping off to walk it closer.
My nerves kicked into overdrive and I swear I could feel my father looking down at me from his window, even though it was pitch-black inside and he was most likely sleeping.
Holding my breath, I crept toward the back entrance after leaning my bike against a tree.
Paddy’s lay a few feet away, discarded carelessly on the ground.
I winced when the door creaked as I opened it and gently toed off my shoes once inside.
My heart hammered so hard, ye’d think I was riding steeplechase.
It felt like it would burst out of my chest with every stair up.
I paused every step, listening intently, and was rewarded with silence.
The house was completely still.
At the top landing, I couldn’t stand the suspense of making my way to my room.
I released a shaky breath and darted down the hall, slipping through my door and pressing it closed behind me.
My chest rose and fell in rapid bursts, my hands trembling slightly from the rush of adrenaline.
“Where were ye?”
I nearly yelped but managed to muffle it with my hand over my mouth while pressing my other to my chest.
“Jesus, Mary and Joseph, Siobhan, ye scared the life out of me.”
My sister sat up in my bed and turned on the bedside light.
She rubbed her eyes and then took me in.
I just stared back at her.
A knowing grin spread across her face.
“Ye were with Tommy, weren’t ye?”
I bit my lip, my cheeks warming as I approached the bed.
“I… yes.”
Siobhan let out an excited but muted squeal, launching forward and grabbing my hands.
“Oh, tell me everything! Was it everything ye hoped?”
I giggled, dropping onto the bed beside her.
“It was… perfect,” I admitted, my voice breathless with the weight of it.
“I think… I think I’m in love with him.”
Siobhan’s eyes widened, her grip tightening.
“Oh my God, Fiona, that’s so romantic. Yer in a fairy tale.”
I sighed dreamily, flopping onto my back.
“I feel like I’m floating.”
Siobhan grinned but then sobered slightly.
“Wait a minute… what happened to Brian? Didn’t ye go to the festival with him last night?”
I filled her in on the evening, eliciting more giggles when I told her how Tommy won the prize for me on the first try.
But her expression turned serious again.
“Da is going to be mad when he finds out. Are ye going to tell him?”
Reality crashed down, unwelcome.
I exhaled heavily, rolling onto my side to face her.
“I don’t know,” I admitted honestly.
“I’m thinkin’ until Da brings it up, I shouldn’t say a word.”
“That won’t last forever. Ye know he’ll find out.”
I swallowed, my stomach twisting.
“I know.”
She studied me for a long moment.
“And what are ye going to do when he does?”
I hesitated, staring at the ceiling.
“I don’t know,” I whispered.
“But I’ll handle it when the time comes.”
Siobhan breathed out slowly and squeezed my hand.
“Ye’re brave, Fi.”
I wasn’t sure about that.
But I knew when I went to sleep tonight, it would be filled with the memory of Tommy’s arms around me, his whispered promises, his lips on mine.
I clung to the hope that somehow, I’d figure it out.
“Don’t make me go back to my room,” Siobhan said with a yawn, snuggling down under the blanket.
I should’ve kicked her out.
When she was younger, she’d often sneak into my room when she had bad dreams, but she had a propensity to kick and steal the covers.
Instead, I quickly changed into a nightgown and crawled in beside her, because I loved her and it meant a lot that she was my champion on this new journey.
I didn’t know what was coming, but I was afraid it could eventually cause a rift between us if I was forced to make hard choices between Tommy and my family.
I held on to her hand as we drifted off to sleep, cherishing the time we had together.