23. Cormac
Chapter Twenty-Three
CORMAC
It turns out honoring my promise of treating Fiona better is a lot harder than I thought. Not just because I hate not being the one in control, but because I love the way she gets all riled up.
Her cheeks flush with color as she bites back at me the same way they do when I’m buried inside her, and I’m left aching and hard.
But since we’re currently living under the same roof, and she’s technically meant to be looking after my son, I’ve refrained from crossing that line, no matter how badly I want to.
Maybe forcing her to move in wasn’t the best idea because there’s something about seeing how good she is with Scout that makes me want to tear her clothes off.
After settling Scout in his room with his tablet for some quiet time before bed, I head back down into the living room to find Fiona curled up on the couch, reading a book.
I pause on the stairs, enthralled by the sight of her looking so at home.
I’m used to seeing her all made up at the office.
And while those tight skirts and heels are what started this in the first place, something about Fiona in a pair of sweats with her hair tied back and her face bare is making me feral with need.
It doesn’t help that the last time she was on that couch, I had my face buried in her pussy.
I quickly adjust myself as I jog down the stairs.
I clear my throat. “What are you reading?”
Fiona startles as she quickly slams the book shut. “You scared me!”
“Must be a good book,” I tease as I try to sneak a look at the cover, but Fiona quickly buries it beneath the cushion.
“Is Scout all right?” She avoids the subject, though from how red her cheeks are, I have a feeling that I might be interested in the contents of that book.
I take a seat on the couch beside her. “He’s fine. How’s your niece doing?”
I might as well have asked Fiona to scrub the toilet with her toothbrush from the look she gives me.
I frown. “What?”
“How did you know I have a niece?”
I hold up my hands. “You took a call during your interview, remember?”
“Clearly, I don’t,” she mutters.
“Well, I do. It was the reason why I thought of you first to help with Scout.”
Fiona’s blue eyes widen, but she doesn’t say anything.
“How is she doing?”
“Oh, right… She’s doing okay.” But the way she’s fiddling with her sleeve tells me that’s not the entire truth.
“Touchy subject, I see,” I say, half-teasing her but half wanting to know more.
On one hand, Fiona is an open book. Her face is beautifully expressive. Yet, when it comes to her personal life, I know very little, and for some reason, I want to change that.
“Like you can talk. Every subject is touchy for you,” Fiona retorts.
Ouch.
Her words sting, but only because there’s so much truth to them.
I can hardly have a go at her for shutting down when I do exactly the same thing.
Settling into the cushions, I throw my arm over the back of the couch.
My fingers are barely an inch from her hair, and I fight the urge to tuck the loose strands behind her ear. “Fine. Ask me whatever you want. I’m an open book.”
“More like an encrypted hard drive, but okay…” Fiona mutters, and I roll my eyes.
“I’m being serious.”
“I can ask anything I want?”
“Only this once.”
“How generous of you,” Fiona mutters.
She thinks for a moment, her eyebrows pulling together in a frown, before she glances sidelong at me, and I brace myself for whatever ridiculous question is about to come out of her mouth.
“What happened with Scout’s mom?”
And there goes Pandora's box of questions.
“Scout’s mother isn’t around anymore,” I say gruffly.
“I gathered that much.”
When I don’t elaborate, Fiona narrows her eyes but continues to force the subject.
“It must have been hard for you, raising him alone… And, of course, for Scout. Not having his mother around must be tough for him?—”
Even after all these years, any mention of Nadia has all those old wounds ripping open.
“It’s none of your business. You’re here to take care of Scout, not grill me on his family history.”
“You literally just told me I could ask you anything I want. If there was a topic that was off-limits, you should have said so. Don’t take your bad mood out on me.”
“Maybe I wouldn’t be in such a bad mood if I didn't come down here to find you sitting around reading smut. I’m paying you for a reason, and I would appreciate it if you would find things to do around the place when you’re not looking after my son.”
Fiona’s cheeks turn crimson as she glares at me.
“I’m going to bed,” she says, getting to her feet and tucking her book beneath her arm. “Unless, of course, that’s not allowed?”
I wave a hand. “It’s fine.”
Fiona stomps off, leaving me to dwell on how spectacularly I managed to fuck that up.
It’s my own fault for giving her free rein to ask me anything she wanted.
I should have known she would have been curious about Scout’s mother, especially after the comment he made at dinner last night.
Maybe next time, I should think twice before offering Fiona a free pass into my personal life.
I get the call from Kieran around ten a.m. on Wednesday morning, letting me know that Riley has given birth to a healthy baby girl last night, who they’ve decided to name Aubrey.
Apparently, Riley is desperate for all of us to meet the newest addition to the Sullivan family as soon as possible. So, Scout and I are heading over to the hospital to meet her.
I’m still not fully comfortable with the big family events, but I’m trying.
Not just for me but for Scout too. I could see it on his face how much he enjoyed having everyone over for dinner the other night, and at the first mention of his new cousin, he ran straight upstairs to get a bunch of things from his room to bring to the hospital.
“Scout, hurry up!” I call up the stairs.
“I want to show my dinosaur book to Aubrey!” Scout yells back.
I fight the urge to yell that Aubrey is barely twenty-four hours old and that she doesn’t care about dinosaurs, but it’s sweet that Scout is so excited to meet Aubrey.
Fiona is laughing in the kitchen, but when I glance her way, she quickly turns her back on me and continues tidying up the breakfast things.
“We’ll be back in a few hours.”
“Don’t worry, I won't be sitting around doing nothing while you’re gone.” She doesn’t even look at me.
I bite the inside of my cheek to stop from smiling.
Clearly, she’s still mad after my little outburst last night.
I know I should feel bad, but how can I pass on an opportunity to bait her?
“I’ll be checking the cameras to make sure.”
Fiona spins around, almost dropping the glass of water she’s holding, as she stares at me, eyes wide.
“Cameras?”
Fiona’s eyes narrow, as if she’s trying to figure out whether I’m joking or not.
I fight a smile as Scout comes barreling down the stairs, and we head out the door. “Have a good morning.”
Kieran stares down at the bundle in his arms. “It’s strange how three out of the four of us now have kids. God help us when Brennan decides to procreate.”
Scout looks up at me. “What does procreate mean?”
“You can deal with that,” I mutter to my brother, and Riley laughs.
Kieran places Aubrey back in the crib beside the bed so Scout can see her. “You’ve got quite the backpack full of supplies there, Scout.”
Sneaky bastard is hoping to change the subject.
“I brought some things to show Aubrey.” He places his backpack on the end of the bed and dumps out most of the contents.
“Sorry,” I mouth at Riley, but she seems thrilled that Scout is so excited.
“So… Ciara mentioned how nice Fiona was when she stopped by earlier,” Riley comments as Scout starts lining up his toy cars on the bed by Riley’s feet.
“She’s great!” Scout exclaims.
“Inside voice, buddy. We don’t want to deafen your new cousin,” I remind him.
“Oh… Sorry.” He glances nervously at Kieran.
He winks at Scout. “She’ll have to get used to the noise eventually.”
“So, Fiona?” Riley presses. “Ciara also mentioned that there was some serious chemistry between you two.”
Scout looks up at me. “Are you and Fiona doing experiments? Because I want to join!”
Kieran looks like he’s about to collapse from how hard he’s trying not to laugh.
I shake my head at him. “No, bud. It’s just a figure of speech.”
“What does that mean?”
“Why don’t you get your book out to show Aubrey, huh?” My turn to try my best to steer Scout’s attention away from the conversation.
“You and Fiona better not be?—”
I shoot Kieran a look.
He clears his throat. “Mixing test tubes, if you catch my drift.”
Riley laughs. “That’s actually pretty good.”
“I’m being serious. It’s a lawsuit just waiting to happen.”
Riley scoffs. “Calm down. Plenty of coworkers get together, and it works out fine.”
“This isn’t just about coworkers, little dove. This is about the head of Sullivan Investments sleeping with?—”
I growl. “I suggest you don’t finish that sentence.”
“Would you rather finish it for me?”
Scout pouts as the baby starts wailing. “Uh, guys? I don’t think Aubrey likes dinosaurs.”
Riley takes in the worried expression on Scout’s face. “Don’t take it personally, Scout. Why don’t you come up here while I hold her, and you show both of us your book?”
Scout nods, so I help him up onto the bed as Kieran hands Aubrey to Riley, and the baby immediately stops crying.
“That’s better,” Riley says. “She just wants to be part of the fun. Now, which part were you up to?”
“The pterodactyls.”
“You’re kidding? Those are my favorite dinosaurs.” Riley grins.
“They’re mine too!” Scout exclaims.
I sneak a glance at Kieran.
He looks like he’s about to burst with pride as he takes in the sight of his wife and child.
I’m still not used to seeing this side of him. The Kieran I knew was like a ticking time bomb, quick to anger and even quicker to spill blood if someone so much as looked at him the wrong way.
It’s just another reminder of how much I’ve missed.
While Riley and Scout are occupied, Kieran takes the opportunity to pull me aside.
I was hoping that he would be too distracted to talk about work, but apparently, not even the birth of his daughter is enough to steal Kieran’s attention away from Sullivan Investments. I swear, he’s becoming more and more like Ronan with each passing day.
“I’m being serious, Cormac. Don’t go sticking your dick in places it doesn’t belong.”
“You’re one to talk. Pretty sure Ronan warned you to stay away from Riley.”
“That’s different. Riley wasn’t working for me.”
“No, but she was seeking our protection.”
“Stop trying to justify whatever the hell is going on with Fiona. It stops now.”
“There is nothing going on. And if there was, it would be none of your damn business.”
“You’ve made it my business because if the company ends up being sued because you can’t keep it in your pants?—”
“Lucky for you, Fiona now works directly for me, not the company.”
Kieran’s expression is murderous, and if it weren't for the fact that our kids were present, I’m sure he would clock me.
But I decide not to take that chance. “Scout, I think it’s time to let Aunty Riley and Aubrey get some rest.”
“But we haven’t finished the chapter yet,” Scout whines.
I’m about to argue, but Aubrey decides that now is the perfect time to start crying again, which has Scout leaping off the bed and hurrying to pack up his things.
When we arrive back at the penthouse, Scout drops his backpack on the couch and sprints over to where Fiona is setting down a plate of hot dogs on the table.
“What’s all this?” I look at the enormous spread of food that Fiona has set out.
There’s everything from a charcuterie board to hot dogs and fries. It’s enough to feed my entire family.
“Lunch.”
“Hot dogs are my favorite!” Scout snatches one off the plate.
“Sit your butt on a chair if you’re eating,” I warn.
Scout grimaces but does as I ask.
Fiona picks up a plate and loads it up with more food and sets it down in front of him.
“Thanks, Fiona,” he says with a mouthful of hotdog.
She laughs. “You’re welcome.”
I look at her. “So, this is just lunch?”
“What else would it be?”
“A way to prove a point?”
I swallow a laugh as Fiona scowls.
Scout is thankfully completely oblivious to our conversation as he tucks into his food, so I decide to push her even further.
“Do I get a hot dog?”
“You’re capable of plating your own food.” She refuses to look at me.
I walk around the table to pick up a plate of my own and start loading it with food.
Fiona’s breath catches as I lean over her to reach for the cheese, and I fight a smile.
I love how much of an effect I have on her.
“I’m aware, but I also know how much you like to serve me,” I murmur.
Fiona almost drops her plate.
My eyebrow shoots up. “Interesting… You don’t deny it?”
Fiona does her best to ignore me, but the way her cheeks flush pink give her away every time.
It’s part of why I can’t seem to stop pushing her buttons. Seeing how easily she responds not just to my touch but to my words has my imagination running wild.
But that’s not the only reason I do it.
Her moving in changes things. Especially, considering the step forward our relationship took before Scout’s arrival.
Getting mixed up with me never seems to end well, and now that Scout is in the picture, I need to keep things simple.
I can’t risk Scout getting hurt.
Or Fiona, for that matter.