I shake my head as the tears continue to drip down my chin. “But Ilovedhim.”
“I know.”
“And Imisshim.”
“That doesn’t make you a bad person, just makes you human.”
I lean into his touch, needing to feel something other than the crippling emptiness that has taken up residence in my chest. “How am I meant to move past this?”
“You’re strong, Ciara. Stronger than anyone I’ve ever met. And you’re allowed to grieve, but more importantly, you’re allowed to be angry.”
“I wish you’d told me sooner.”
“I wish I had too, but I thought I was doing the right thing. I see now I was wrong.”
I let out a shaky breath. “I blamed you for his death, for keeping secrets, for all of it. But the truth is...he was a coward. He killed himself before the truth could come out.”
Ronan swallows hard. “Yeah, he did.”
“I feel so betrayed…and stupid.”
“You are not stupid.” He takes my face in his hands, forcing me to look at him. “You’re brave for still being here and for facing the truth. But also for letting me in, even just a little.”
I shake my head again. “I haven’t let you in.”
“You just did.”
There’s something in his voice, a rawness I’ve not heard before, that breaks me all over again.
“I need you to promise me something,” I whisper.
“Anything.”
“No more secrets.”
He leans closer until his lips are almost touching mine. “I swear to you,Tine Bhaeg, no more secrets. But that goes both ways, all right?”
I nod as the ache in my chest starts to ease just enough for me to take a full breath.
Ronan strokes his calloused thumbs over my damp cheeks. “You’re beautiful, Ciara. Inside and out.That’swhat you need to hold onto. Not the past, and definitely not him.”
I don’t know what possesses me to do it, but I lean in and press my lips softly against his. Maybe I just need to feel something other than pain. Maybe I just need to feelhim, feel his strength and warmth as he wraps me in his arms.
Ronan kisses me back softly at first, but then his touch becomes urgent, almost desperate.
Sensing exactly what I need, he wraps an arm around my waist and lifts me off the bar stool and onto the island, moving to stand between my legs as his fingers sink into my hair, tilting my head to deepen the kiss.
I wrap my thighs around his waist, angling my hips so that his erection presses against me. I moan into his mouth, a dull ache building between my thighs as he slowly thrusts his hips against me.
Ronan groans as he grinds against me. “I need to be inside you.”
I break the kiss to glance over his shoulder at the kitchen door. “Your brother could walk in.”
Ronan growls. “If he knows what’s good for him, he’ll walk away the moment he hears you moaning my name.”
A shiver runs down my spine at his words.
I’ve never been into the idea of getting caught, but that mixed with the feral need in Ronan’s eyes makes me so wet I’m certain one thrust of his cock inside me will bring my climax.
