Her hands slide out from mine and go slack at her sides.
I love you, Maeve.
The words won’t form on my tongue, but I still dare to caress her hair.
I’m a coward in all the ways that count.
“I hid my family ties because I hate that my father’s business is part of my life. I’m desperate to free myself of him, and I didn’t want to put you at risk by dragging you into my mess. I didn’t deliberately scheme or plan to deceive you.”
“I know.” I just want to hold her. Kiss her.
“Are you… I know you’re with the Irish Kings in New York, but is there any chance you also work for Zenith? Was any of this…” She trails off and drops her head on my chest again, settling her hands on both sides of my waist.
She’s exhausted, not that I blame her. I just thank the fucking heavens she’s touching me and hasn’t run from the room.
We’re not over yet.
Though my next revelation won’t work in my favor.
“I’m friends with the people who own the investment group, but no, I don’t work for them.”
Maeve laughs bitterly. “So what? You slept with me to extract information for some distant cousin? What exactly are you after?”
“I want to tell you everything, I promise.”
“I’m listening.”
I don’t know where to begin.
In the subsequent five seconds of silence, I watch her exhale a shaky breath and give up on me. “You’re no better than my father.”
Her barb burns, and her visible devastation guts me.
“I’m not your father, and I planned to confess everything. Still plan to. I just need a little more time.”
“Well, take all the time you need, Kellin, because I never want to see you again.” She shoves off me and marches toward the door.
I reach out, grab her, and pull her against my chest. She struggles, but I refuse to let her go. I’m an animal, marking her with my scent, claiming what’s mine.
“Maeve.” I growl when she squirms. “Be as furious as you want with me, because again, I deserve it, but you should know that I won’t let you cut me off.”
She struggles a little more before her body relaxes and her arms encircle me.
A sob breaks loose against my chest. Her pain slices through me like a hatchet as her tears mix with the blood from my nose.
“Darlin’.”
She tips her head back to meet my gaze.
I swear, I can see my whole life in those soulful, tear-filled brown eyes.
Our life. Together. And we will fucking have one, even if I need to abduct and imprison her until she agrees.
I kiss her, bloody broken nose and all.
And she succumbs to me completely, our tongues starved for each other.
But after a minute—after I’m literally erect again and ready to take her—she wakes up to our twisted reality and breaks free from our embrace.
