That’s the main issue, I realize only halfway there—there are already feelings.
That’s an insane thought to have, and I’m definitely not going to voice it. Eian keeps going from “I’m going to kill you” to “let me show you what a real kiss is,” and then throws me some “you’ve been having sex wrong all your life.” I can’t even think about what actual sex with him would be like, because then I’d forget that’s not something I’m supposed to want.
Aside from saving my life, being honest with me, and kissing the fuck out of me, he hasn’t really shown me anything real about himself.
Sure, by now I know he’s not the worst kind of man in the world. I’d like to think that’s why I’ve been letting him get all up on me, but I can’t be a hundred percent certain of that.
My mind is still a complete mess when the car stops and Eian opens his door.
“I think we should set up in the library,” he says super casually.
“You have a library?” I demand, and scramble to climb down.
“Yes,” he says simply and keeps walking at an unreasonably fast pace so I have to basically jog behind him to keep up.
“I’m going to need a completely wiped laptop,” I tell him, suddenly remembering the rules of the game.
“It’s waiting there for you,” he says, and dammit, it shouldn’t be so sexy how competent and one step ahead of me he is. “But you should go spend the rest of the morning with Maggie, and after lunch, we can start. I need to get to work.”
He walks into the second door on the left off the foyer and closes it behind him with a definite click.
Man, if he ever shows me even a little bit of humanity, I’m going to bescrewed.
10
EIAN
“I know you’re not going to like this, but I’m going to need Seamus to help soon.” At the marked pause on the other end of the phone, I let out a sigh. “Probably in the next few days, Declan.”
“I knew it was coming,” he mumbles. “That boy’s too smart for his own good.”
“I’ll protect him with my life,” I promise, and he knows it’s not an empty one. I’ve protected Declan all his life too, just like Da protected his father.
“I know you will, and hell, he won’t see any real action.”
“He won’t. You know his office is ready here, set up exactly the way he needs it.”
“And he’s a grown man.” Finally Declan sighs, and I knowhe’s not going to resent me for this, in fact, I think he’s grateful that I waited until now.
At twenty, Seamus is technically an adult, though in my eyes he’ll always be that bright-eyed, five-year-old boy who took apart any device you put in front of him.
“I’ll tell him to get his ass on a train. He staying with you?”
“He can visit you and Kelly for a day, then yes, I think it’d be best if he stays here for a while. If we only need him for a few days, then he can go back to school, and if not...” I trail off, knowing this could be a potential problem.
He didn’t need to go to school to learn anything, but both Declan and I thought it would do him some good, maybe even teach him some humility.
It has been good for him from what Declan’s reported over the past two years, but if anything, he’s even cockier now.
Perfect grades, runs circles around every single classmate and most of his professors... I’m hoping he’ll know to showsomehumility around me, though.
“He’s been telling us how he can finish his degree online.” Another resigned sigh, and I feel for him, I do.
Declan always knew his son would be part of the family. Unlike me, he wants his son to have the protection of the Dempseys and never shied away from bringing him in, but this is different.
This is . . . official.
“That’s a good option to have, though I don’t know if it’ll be necessary. I’ll talk it through with him when he gets here.”
