Chapter Thirteen
I t was after midnight when Lorcan and I finally took our leave.
He’d rented the biggest room above the pub for the night.
My legs became shaky when we headed up the staircase.
I tried to focus on the positive, how incredible Lorcan’s touch had made me feel, how strong my orgasms had been.
I’d dreamed of them every night since the auction.
Today, I’d probably have at least another one before Lorcan fucked me.
No need to pretend it would be anything else.
My bravado disappeared when Lorcan closed the door behind us. It was a Gothic room, with dark wood and purple satin drapes over a massive four poster bed. The almost ceiling-high wardrobe reminded me of old confessional boxes and gave the room a foreboding sense.
A huge copper bathtub stood on four bear-claw feet in the room, right in front of the window.
The drapes were closed, but judging from the neighboring houses that was a good thing.
A door led to another room, the bathroom I assumed.
I didn’t see Lorcan’s bag anywhere, only my small suitcase leaning against the wall beside the wardrobe.
It held all my belongings I brought with me to the States.
I wouldn’t be returning to Gulliver’s house so I had packed everything.
I didn’t dwell on the fact that I’d have to live under the same roof as Lorcan.
The gothic nature of the room wasn’t one I would have chosen for a wedding night. It was better suited for a satanic ritual. Though, considering it was my wedding night with Lorcan Devaney, the latter seemed more fitting.
Lorcan headed for the wide armchair that seemed as if it had been transported here straight from an Irish manor in the countryside and then picked up a remote to turn on an electric fireplace.
“I prefer real fire,” I said for lack of anything else to say.
“Me too,” Lorcan said in a low voice. He was still shirtless and sat with spread legs, watching me.
I wondered what he wore beneath his kilt, but I’d surely soon find out.
My body reacted to the sight of his broad chest with a treacherous warmth in my core, but my mind replayed the events from the warehouse.
“I’ll have to freshen up,” I mumbled and hurried toward the bathroom door. Before I could enter and hide, Lorcan spoke.
“I’m sure you taste delicious either way.”
My mouth ran dry as I leaned against the door, letting his words set in.
I washed my face, then after a moment of debating I took a washcloth and freshened up between my legs.
I didn’t know what Lorcan had in store for me tonight, but if his comment was any indication, he might lick me in places I preferred to clean before such an endeavor.
Lorcan had bought a white nightgown for me for the occasion, and it hung from a hook on the wall.
I put it on, surprised at its modesty, and I released a shaky breath.
The idea of being with Lorcan didn’t evoke the kind of fear in me I would have expected.
Despite the brutal show he’d put on, and knowing he’d have no trouble disposing of me too, I was more curious than scared.
My body had reacted in such a way to Lorcan’s touch that made me crave more, even knowing that I shouldn’t.
He wouldn’t kill me tonight. Probably.
But the fact remained he was still one of the suspects when it came to Imogen’s disappearance. And who was I to say he hadn’t married Imogen a few months ago in the same manner, spent a few joyous hours with her, and then made her disappear. Nobody would have told me.
Maybe Gulliver was in on it. He thought Mum was a sinner, and Imogen too, and after the auction—if he knew about it—he must see me as a sinner as well.
I needed to stop thinking about it or I’d be a terrified mess tonight, and I didn’t want that.
I didn’t want Lorcan to know I was equal parts terrified and turned on by him.
And more than that, I wanted to enjoy my first time, despite who my husband was.
Patrick was probably enjoying himself tremendously, and I would too.
When I came out of the bathroom, Lorcan was in bed, propped up against the headboard, and he was considerably less dressed …
if my eyes didn’t trick me. A thin sheet was draped over his pelvis, revealing a trail of dark hair between his belly button and the hint of pubic hair peeking out.
He had a delicious six pack, wide shoulders and strong arms. He looked manly in a rugged way that sent a new wave of heat through my body.
“Come closer,” he said roughly, hardly giving me time to get over my shock and arousal at the sight of him.
Every sane fiber in my body urged me to take flight, but I wasn’t a runner and I wouldn’t back down until I found Imogen, or the person who was responsible for her disappearance.
However, after that I’d run as fast as my short legs could carry me and I’d hide with my family in the farthest corner of the world where even a Devaney couldn’t find us.
Nerves almost crippled me as I approached my beast of a husband.
He lounged against the headboard, his clothes carelessly strewn about the floor.
The thin blanket left absolutely nothing to the imagination.
The shape of a shockingly big penis was quite defined.
It wasn’t even erect yet, only resting on his left upper thigh.
I had seen Patrick naked a couple of times, and he had nothing on Lorcan.
And I had seen boys and men in swimwear before, so I had seen the outline of the occasional penis, and I’d even seen a few without underwear when drunk guys pissed out in the streets, but they looked comically small in comparison to what Lorcan Devaney hid beneath the covers.
In my white nightgown, I felt like a virginal sacrifice about to be slaughtered.
Lorcan watched me like a hunter as I moved closer to the bed.
My knees hit the mattress, and I stopped.
My heart was beating so fast and my pulse pounding so fiercely I was sure Lorcan could hear it.
Suddenly the thought that Imogen might have been in this very position not too long ago and then disappeared without a word pulsed through my head like a nerve-racking mantra.
He sat up and slid to the edge of the bed, causing the sheet to slip even lower, revealing his pubic bone covered in trimmed dark hair and the base of a thick cock, which was slowly filling up with blood. I took a step back out of instinct and cursed myself for it. Lorcan tilted his head .
“Like a little birdy about to take flight,” he rumbled.
I couldn’t stop seeing the blood splatter on his hands and face.
He parted his legs and set his feet down on either side of me, caging me in with his massive thighs.
Only the edge of the blanket now covered his cock.
His head came up to my chest. It was strange looking down at a man like him.
He didn’t seem to have any trouble looking up to me though. Lorcan didn’t lack confidence.
“Are you scared of me, Aislinn?”
The way he said my name in his deep drawl still gave me goosebumps.
“Is anyone not scared of you, Lorcan?”
“Mmmmm,” he hummed as he gripped the hem of my nightgown and began to pull it up over my head.
Even as anxiety gripped me, I lifted my arms to make it easier for him.
I had agreed to this. I couldn’t risk getting on Lorcan’s bad side if I wanted this to work.
This was for Imogen, for the truth, even for Mum.
“Your uncle assured me it’s God’s will for a husband to consummate the marriage on his wedding night. It’s the husband’s duty.”
Gulliver was such a bastard. Why did he care if Lorcan and I slept together?
“Are you as religious as your uncle?” he asked.
“I believe in God,” I said.
“So you would agree that it’s my duty before God to claim you tonight?”
I gritted my teeth as a wave of anger crashed down on me.
Mankind had used God’s supposed will on too many occasions to pursue their own desires.
“Do me a favor and don’t pretend you’re doing this out of piousness when we both know you don’t believe in God and are only doing it out of your own desire. ”
Lorcan smiled darkly. “Don’t tell me what I believe, Aislinn.
But you are right. I’m going to fuck you all night because my cock’s been calling for your sweet pussy from the first moment I saw you.
It’s only been getting louder after I made you come so hard, and it’s all the better if I’m following a priest’s advice by doing so, don’t you think? ”
He grabbed my hips, killing my comeback as I sucked in a startled breath.
Lorcan Devaney wanted to scare me because I’d talked back, and sadly he was succeeding.
He shoved aside my panties. His eyes roamed over the strip of red hair on my mound, and despite everything, the lust in his dark green eyes made my core tighten.
I could see his cock filling with blood under the thin fabric, growing from impressive to scarily big .
He was like an animal. Untamed, dangerous and wild. God, what had I gotten myself into? Still, arousal frolicked like a playful sea otter in the churning ocean of my fear. My body longed for more of what Lorcan had given me.
“Our church ceremony is only one part, our marriage isn’t official until we have consummated it. So if you don’t want this, we can still cancel everything. I won’t stop you.”
I peered down at him. He dared me to back out, to run from him.
I had a feeling he would chase me if I did, but even so, I had no intention of backing out, even if that meant I’d have to let Lorcan Devaney impale me with his huge cock.
I’d make sure to enjoy myself up until that point at least, and then I’d survive what came after.
He was a monster and would no doubt enjoy hurting me.