Ronan didn’t stop chuckling when Keenan shot him a glare.
“And she’s so good with Tommy. She only moved in this week, and they already formed a bond.”
Keenan huffed a breath and said, “It scares the shit out of me. You all know why…”
What if Ryleigh decides this nanny gig isn’t her thing after all? Where would it leave Tommy? Or what if they would start a relationship and she would leave them? He can’t have his son’s heart broken again. Or his own.
They were spiraling from nibbling at each other’s earlobes; him opening up about his ex at the arcade, to almost kissing in the kitchen last night.
Even though none of this was shocking, it still freaked him the fuck out, as it had been years since he’d let someone in.
“We understand, Keen. I would probably react the same,” Declan said.
Keenan placed his sunglasses next to his thigh. He took the bridge of his nose between his thumb and index finger and took a deep breath. “He’s already fallen for her, man. She hangs the moon in Tommy’s eyes. And fuck if that ain’t a blessing and a curse rolled up into one big mess.”
“For what it’s worth; I think it’s good to see Tommy opening up to a woman. We know he has his issues after…” After expelling a sigh, Declan continued, “I know you don’t want him to get hurt. But think about this for a moment; what if you two are meant to be? Tommy deserves to be happy, and maybe if you’d let her, she could make you both pretty damn happy.”
Keenan let Declan’s word sink in for a moment. Declan nudged his knee with his knuckles and said, “You don’t have to dive right in… Take it slow. See where it goes.”
Keenan shot out of his seat to get away from the stares of his brother and cousins. “I’m going to get some drinks.”
He didn’t wait for their replies; he needed to think for a moment. In the past three years it had been just him and Tommy. And now Ryleigh was chipping away at their walls, getting dangerously close to their hearts.
He stomped into the kitchen and stormed into the walk-in pantry to get away from everyone. He skidded to a halt at the sight of Ryleigh reaching for the top shelf while standing on a step stool. His gaze roamed over her firm legs to where her thighs slid under the hem of her purple skirt.
“Oh. Eh, where do you keep the sprinkles for the cupcakes? Your mother said it’s here somewhere, but I can’t find it.”
Without an afterthought, he closed the door behind his back and locked it.
For once in his life, he was about to let his heart rule his actions. Maybe after tasting her lips, their attraction would fizzle out and he could finally get over his stupid crush and let things go back to normal.
Her cheeks reddened with each step he took. She stepped down to the lowest step and gripped a shelf behind her to hold her balance.
“W-what are you doing?”
Her eyes widened even more when he cupped her face in his hands.
“I wanted to kiss you from the moment you stepped into that cage to fight…”
He kissed her softly; testing if she was on board. But one sweet kiss wasn’t nearly enough to satisfy his need. Years without any physical contact from the opposite sex threatened to erupt in the narrow walk-in pantry.
He kissed her jaw, her neck and back up again. She cradled the back of his head with one hand and deepened their kiss. He could tell she loved kissing. The sensual way of their tongues sliding over each other made him moan into her mouth.
Her other hand must have slipped from the shelf because the next thing he knew, boxes of cornflakes tumbled down.
She giggled against his lips and hooked her legs around his waist. “What are we doing, Keen?”
He loved how she shortened his name like his family and friends did. It sounded right. He rocked his erection against her core and she arched her back. She bumped her head against the top shelf, and another batch of cans and boxes fell to the ground.
“Are you okay?”
“Don’t stop kissing me… please…” She rocked against him, searching for the right friction.
When she started kissing his neck he said, “Fuck. You drive me crazy.”
“Yes… same….”
His hands slid from her outer thighs under her skirt and rested on her naked globes. His finger slid under her thong and she lifted her hips in time for him to slip into her wetness. He pushed his finger deeper and faster, and erotic moans spilled from her lips.