“I was born to this life, Saoirse,” I tell her, taking a step closer. The blue in her eyes glitters with unshed tears. “It’s all I’ve ever known. Brody Murtagh may be the Kinahans’ Frankenstein, but that doesn’t make him stronger than me.”
“You don’t know what you’re up against, Cillian.”
I shrug. “I never have. I like it better that way. I’ll figure this out just like I always do.”
“They’ll be out for blood,” Saoirse presses desperately. “Especially Brody. You robbed him of years of his life.”
“It won’t make a difference,” I tell her confidently. “He’s not going to drive me away this time. No one can.”
She shakes her head and turns from me in frustration. This time, I won’t allow it. I won’t let her go. I won’t let her escape the tension of this moment yet again.
One way or another, this was always meant to happen.
Our fingers are still entwined. I tighten my grip on her and pull her into the circle of my arms. She slams into my chest, her eyes going wider from the sudden proximity.
She looks scared.
“Cillian. Let me go.”
“Make me believe you mean it.”
“I do mean it,” she snaps, but there’s no heat in her words.
The other heat is there, though. It’s there between us.
It’s never once been extinguished, no matter how hard we both have tried.
“No, you don’t,” I tell her.
“How would you know?”
“It’s in the eyes.”
I see her bravado start to crumble slowly as my hands snake up and down her back. The dress is soft, delicate. So fucking easy to manipulate.
With my eyes fixed on hers, I pull down the zipper. One tiny metal tooth at a time.
“Cillian…” she whispers.
But it sounds like a plea rather than a command.
“You can ask me to stop,” I tell her. “And I will. You just have to mean it.”
She closes her eyes as my fingers snake down her naked back. She’s not wearing a bra.
Lucky me.
She trembles slightly at my touch, and her eyes open again. The mistiness is gone now.
It’s been replaced by desire.
A desire that’s strong. Deep. Fucking indisputable.
I peel the dress off her shoulders as she continues to tremble. It puddles on the ground at our feet.
She stands before me in nothing but small black panties that set a stark contrast to her pale, milky skin.
I take a step back. I can’t help it.