Chapter 5
Sully
I was 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 are a terrible liar, Autumn.”
She sighed, breaking our gaze.
I took her hand. “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. It got so bad, I filed a restraining order, not that it did much good. The house I lived in was owned by my friend’s family.
Amber got scared by his constant appearances and threats and 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 loud 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.
But I knew that 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 does nothing to help the victim, and irritated at the roommate who asked her to leave, even when I understood her fear.
The thought of her 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 asshole?”
She shrugged. “I spoke with Amber and she says he stopped coming around. My friend at the office says she hasn’t seen him either after the first couple of 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 fhia 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 of you didn’t change—if anything it grew. ”
“What does that mean?” she asked. “Those words?”
I smiled. “Mo fhia 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 of 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.
“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, brushing her hair.
After another round on the sofa, I took her to the shower, shutting the door and letting the heat of the steam warm the room.
If I 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 mindset 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, rubbing her wet hair with a towel. 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 said looking pained.
“No. 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?”
“For a while. But I have friends with kids and I love my job, so it’s enough.” She paused. “You?”
“Sporting accident. I didn’t even know until my, ah, girlfriend at the time tried to get pregnant without me knowing it. She got angry when it didn’t happen. We broke up but I got checked out. Like you, I was told the chances were slim to none.”
“I’m sorry for her deception and that you had to find out that way.”
I shrugged. “Better I found then than after we were married. I never had dreams of kids, really. I wanted to be a solicitor. Make lots of money. Travel. I felt sad for a while, but I came to terms with it. Much like you did. We find other joys, right?”
She nodded. “Sometimes I wonder if I would have made a good mom, but most times I’m happy with my life.”
“Me too.”
I studied her. “You bring me joy.”
She laughed. “You hardly know me.”
“Doesn’t matter. I look at you and I feel…” I shrugged unsure how to express it.
“Horny?” she said with a grin.
I pulled her close and kissed her. “Without a doubt. But happy too. If this happened with anyone else, I’d be trudging to the village, demanding someone find me a way back to Edinburgh, but with you I’m very content to stay here. Ravish you. Eat and relax. Let the fecking snow fall all it wants.”
She giggled. “You are one diverse man, Sully Black. Oddly romantic but so…”
“Manly? Sexy?”
She stroked my jaw. “All of the above plus down to earth. You throw out curses making them sound delightful.”
“You should see me in the office. Nothing delightful when I’m cursing then. People cower. Run as if an ogre was chasing them.”
“I doubt that.”
I lowered my voice and deepened my brogue. “You want ta see? I can be a horny ogre and chase you around like the fair maiden terrified of how I’ll devour you if catch you.”
She glanced around the room and I leered at her. “I’ll give you a head start.” I pushed her off my lap. “But I’m coming for ya in five…”
“There’s nowhere to run!” She exclaimed, panicked and laughing at the same time.
“Four.”
She ran down the hall, slamming the bedroom door. Which had no lock on it. I chuckled as I stood and stretched. “Three,” I called, tearing my shirt off.
I wasn’t going to need it.
My sweats followed. “Two!”
I opened the door, wearing only my boxers, a smile and the hard on I couldn’t control around her. I was constantly needing inside her. She was like my own Viagra.
She was easy to find, huddling under the covers as if I wouldn’t spot her instantly. I threw back the blankets and grinned down at her.
“One.”
Autumn
I woke, wrapped in Sully. The man was huge and took up a great deal of the massive bed in the room. And had an affinity it seemed for draping himself around me.
And I loved it. I felt safe, cared for.