Chapter Nineteen
Maeve
Imade a man come in his jeans.
Not by having to use my hands or my mouth on him.
Aidan came because I made him so turned on by grinding on his crotch that he couldn’t hold back.
I rode him to climax, and I’m not even a teeny, tiny bit embarrassed about it. Such a powerful feeling, and I haven’t felt that way before. I certainly never did with Colin.
Even now, days after I left Aidan that morning in his stables, I can’t stop thinking about how powerful he made me feel, but what’s more, he didn’t act strange afterwards.
He took care of me.
Even though he could have brushed me off right away, he didn’t, and that speaks volumes about his character.
The sound of my phone vibrating snaps me out of my daydreaming, and I pick it up.
AIDAN: When are you going to let me taste you?
A slow smile spreads across my face. I slap a hand to cover my curving lips to try to hide it and look down at the file on my desk.
I flick the locket hanging from my neck with my pen and move restlessly in my seat.
Aidan’s text sets off a low throb between my legs, and I squeeze my thighs together, trying to quell it.
The only problem now is that I still want more of him.
While the orgasm he gave me was more than I could have hoped for, my thirst has not been quenched.
I’m definitely not in love with him.
More like in lust, but I don’t know how smart it’ll be to seek him out again, asking for more.
I’ve been half-dizzy ever since, thinking of how easily he made my head swim with desire.
How he worked my nipples with his tongue and teeth, spurring me on, making me wild for a release.
It’s a heady feeling, even though it might be a little irresponsible.
I start to type a reply, only my desk phone rings, interrupting me, and I reach for it.
“Detective Sergeant Gallagher.”
I wait for the caller to start talking, but I’m met with silence.
“Hello?”
I give the person a chance to speak, waiting a few seconds, but nothing comes.
I frown and lower the phone, stopping short, my hand hovering in the air. I half expect the line to crackle back to life, even though the rational part of me knows it isn’t possible. My pulse races, but nothing happens. I set the phone back and stare at it, willing it to start ringing again.
Something doesn’t sit right with me, and I make a mental note to check with Franny what name was given when she transferred the call to me.
When the phone starts ringing a second time, I snatch it up. “Detective Sergeant Gallagher.”
“Maeve, is that you?”
I release the tension in my shoulders at the familiar voice this time. “Hi, Mrs. McCarthy. How are you?”
“To tell the truth, not my best. Harry is in my garden again.”
I groan and push my chair back. “I’m on my way.”
“Thank you.”
I stand up and put the phone down. It seems like my time for fantasising is well and truly over. With a last scan of my desk to make sure I have what I need, I set out for another bout with the village menace.
Only this time, I’m determined to win.
“I can’t believe I’m back here again.” I wince and glance at Mrs McCarthy. “Sorry. I didn’t mean that the way it came out.”
She puts a hand on my shoulder, squeezing it once. “Not to worry, pet. I know what you meant, and you’re not the only one.” She tucks her lavender shawl around her middle and leans into me. “You’re always welcome here, of course.”
I give her a small smile in thanks. We stand side by side and watch Harry back in her flowerbed. It’s bizarre.
“That’s it. This has to end.” I reach for my mobile in my back pocket and swipe the screen. “Murdoch will have to come fetch Harry himself this time.”
“Are you sure phoning him is a good idea?”
I glance at her. “There’s no way he’s going to get away with this for a second longer.” I soften my voice. “It’s for the best, Mrs. McCarthy.”
With one last look at her, I turn my attention back to my phone and find what I’m looking for. I place the phone up to my ear and settle in to wait.
Lucky for me, I don’t have to wait for long before the real culprit answers my call.
“Murdoch.”
“Detective Sergeant Gallagher here.”
“What do you want?”
The sourness of his voice makes me grit my teeth.
“Your bull has gone astray again, Mr. Murdoch, and you need to come fetch it before it causes more damage than it already has.”
“I’ve got work to do.”
I don’t miss a beat. “So do I, and I’d rather spend my day solving real crimes than phoning you.”
“Harry’ll come home when he’s ready.”
I squeeze my phone tight, praying for patience.
“Mr. Murdoch, I already told you that if you didn’t get your bull under control, there’d be consequences.
And said consequences won’t be the good kind for a bull.
I had hoped I’d made myself clear, but if that’s not the case… well, I’m sure you know what I mean.”
“You’re heartless!” he sputters.
“Not heartless, Mr. Murdoch, but I am determined to make sure the residents in this village don’t do things that’ll get them into trouble. Right now, you’re about to cross a line that mustn’t be crossed. Have I made myself clear this time?”
There’s silence for a couple of seconds. “Where is he?” he grumbles.
“Mrs. McCarthy’s flowers. I trust you know the address already.”
With that, I end the call. I cross my arms on a deep breath and watch the bull from a safe distance. “He’ll be here soon.”
Mrs. McCarthy steps into my line of view, chin held high as she peers into my eyes. “I think you’ve just accomplished the impossible.”
I raise my eyes at her, fighting to keep a straight face. “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. The war’s not over since he hasn’t fetched the brute yet. It’s too early to rejoice.”
Her lips twitch. “My money’s on you, that’s for sure.”
“I thought the people of Cloonmara didn’t mind Harry doing his walkabouts?”
She chuckles. “We don’t, but we don’t want to get into trouble with the law, either. We understand that times change and that we have to adapt to them.”
She squeezes my hands once before she back away. She raises her head, her attention caught by something behind me. “Well, if it isn’t Lord Cloonmara himself who’s come calling.” She chuckles.
Lord Cloonmara?
I whirl on my heel, my breath catching when I see Aidan walking up the path towards us.
I’m not ready to see him again, and yet I can barely look away from his tall frame. His lips pull up in his signature crooked smile, and my belly whooshes with delight when he stops close to me.
“Mrs. McCarthy.” His smile brightens, and my legs turn to jelly. “Maeve. What a coincidence.”
“We’re waiting for Murdoch to come for Harry,” Mrs. McCarthy explains. “What brings you out my way today?”
“I’m running low on your tea. Any chance I can purchase a few bags?”
She smiles, clearly pleased. “Of course you can. Anything for the lord himself.”
Aidan ducks his head and rubs his neck, and I watch him even more closely. He shakes his head. “Don’t start.”
I press my lips together, fighting a smile, but I know I don’t get away with it because he groans.
“Jesus.”
Is that how they see him? Like the village protector or something?
Somehow, I’m not really surprised, but now’s not the time to press him.
I open my mouth, but before I get a word out, a loud mooo sounds from behind us, and the three of us turn to face the beast at the same time.
Aidan shakes his head. “I’m having the strangest sense of déjà vu right now.”
I snort and grin up at him. “You’re not the only one. But at least you don’t have to pull me off the ground this time.”
He steps a fraction closer to me, our shoulders almost touching. “I don’t mind rescuing damsels in distress.”
I huff. “You didn’t rescue me.”
He raises his hand and tips it back and forth. “Hmm, that’s not how I remember it, but if you say so...”
“I do.”
“Right.”
“I didn’t know the two of you knew each other.”
Mrs. McCarthy’s voice almost makes me jump. Aidan being here made me lose my focus. I was so lost in sparring with him that I forgot where we are.
And that we’re not alone.
The realisation is sobering, and I take a step away from him. I open my mouth, but I really don’t have a clue what to tell her.
Especially not since the images that immediately spring to mind are ones of when we got each other off.
Thankfully, Aidan recovers sooner than I do.
“We’ve met a few times, Mrs. McCarthy. I’d say we’re fast becoming friends.”
Aidan coming to my rescue unfreezes me from the spot, and I move slightly to the side, angling my body to stand between the two of them instead of only next to him.
“Friends, yeah?” Mrs. McCarthy looks at me, then back at him. “That’s nice, pet.” She purses her lips, and how I wish I knew how to read minds, because the wheels are turning in hers.
“Actually,” I try to steer the conversation back on safer ground, “we’re waiting for Harry’s owner to come get him out of here.”
He furrows his brows. “Murdoch is coming here? Voluntarily?”
I bore my toe into the ground. “Words of caution about what would happen if he didn’t might have been said.”
He huffs out a laugh. “Really?”
“You know I can’t go into details.” I can’t stop the wide grin from slipping into place. “Shouldn’t you get going?”
Mrs. Murdoch puts her hand on my arm. “Ah, not yet. I’ll go fetch the tea for you, Aidan.”
“Thank you, Mrs. McCarthy.”
I watch her retreating back until she’s behind her closed door before I give Aidan my undivided attention. The longer he stares back at me, the more butterflies take flight inside me.
“You shouldn’t be here.”
“Why?”
I want to slap him, then kiss him. Maybe do both at the same time, but, more importantly, I need him gone before Murdoch gets here.
“Because…”
I search for the right words and narrow my eyes when he chuckles.
“What, Mae? Afraid I’ll kiss you in public if I stay?”
I glance down at his lips. “No, of course not.”
He shakes his head. “Then why?”
“I’m working and I don’t need you here distracting me, okay?”
His eyes crinkle at the corners. “Am I distracting you?”