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Niall carried Cordelia without really looking where he was going.

He hadn’t expected things to go this way, or if he had, not quite so quickly.

But he wasn’t complaining. No, far from it. Niall could die right now and be perfectly content. He put her on her feet gently and then slid the zipper of her silly, adorable reindeer pajamas all the way down. She was completely naked underneath and Niall groaned again. His cock was straining to burst and she cupped him in her hands as the pajamas fell to the floor.

Niall eased her back onto the bed – she was beautiful, her skin like satin, her hair fanning out around her face. He knelt down so that her knees were even with his nose and kissed the tender skin of her inner thighs, feeling her shudder beneath his hands until his mouth reached her sex. Fuck, she was so wet already. Niall licked her in one long, slow line that had her gasping. And he knew this was no time for playing, no time for gentle teasing. This was pure, unadulterated need.

He released her only long enough to get the rest of his clothes off, then crawled across the bed to her side, his hand caressing her breast. Her hand slid between his legs, gripping his cock with sure, certain strokes, and he groaned as she slid one leg around him, angling herself.

“I need to feel you inside me,” she said and he was hers to command.

He gripped her ass with one hand, the other sliding to cup her neck so they were face to face on their sides as he entered her. She gave for him and his breath snagged as he felt himself consumed by her. He nibbled at her lips, her cheekbones, her chin, a deep heat growing, a heat that called to him, beckoning, and his cock swelled to greet it.

“Niall,” she whimpered and his willpower crumbled. He took her hard and fast and yet it wasn’t enough, and Cordelia cried out for more as he flipped her on her back and she writhed beneath him, her hands scrabbling against his skin.

He came like a dam breaking, felt Cordelia’s nails dig into him as she climaxed too, and everything felt far away as he was pulled into a vortex where nothing existed except Cordelia, the scent of her skin, the feel of her hair, the hot, dark, pulsing spot where the two of them became one.

He gave a last shuddering gasp and then fell still, his head resting on the pillow beside her, the warm shape of her body beneath him. Their hearts pounded against each other frantically. Her breath was a soft mist on his shoulder.

“Niall,” she croaked after a moment. “I think you’re crushing me.”

“Shit,” Niall said, springing up.

“No, come back,” she gasped, reaching for him.

“I’m here,” he said, cradling her against his chest. She twined her legs around his like she couldn’t hold him tight enough. The bright lights of the city spilled in through her windows. Cordelia angled her head and gazed up at him, stroking the line of his jaw with her fingers.

“I probably should have shaved,” Niall mused. “But I came straight from the airport.”

“You came here,” she whispered. “For me.”

“I did.” He kissed her softly.

“I was so sure you were having a great time in London.” She sat up so quickly it startled him. “Wait, but . . . but the restaurant! What happened?”

“Let’s not talk about that right this moment,” Niall said, pulling her back to him. “Suffice it to say it wasn’t what I thought and I quit. I’ll tell you the whole story, I just . . . I need a minute. To be here. With you.” He buried his nose in her hair, inhaling her bergamot-pine scent. “I never thought I’d get to do this again. Hold you like this. Christ, I never thought I’d see your face again.”

She was quiet for a moment and then he felt something wet trickle down his collarbone. “Cordelia, are you crying?”

She sat up again, tears in her eyes. “I never should have said what I said,” she burst out. “I’m so sorry, Niall, I didn’t mean any of it, I only wanted what was best for you. I – ”

“Hey,” Niall said, sitting up and cupping her face in his hands. “It’s all right. I understand. Thank god for Róisín. Don’t know how she managed to keep that in all these months.” He chuckled. “First time she’s ever kept a secret in her life.”

Cordelia laughed. “I miss her.”

“She misses you too. But hey, she’s very excited that she’s going to be in a book.”

He could feel the heat of her blush in the darkness. “You know about that?”

“I do.”

She groaned and fell back onto the bed, her hands over her eyes. “You know, my editor hounded me for weeks for more shots of you. Women love Niall, she was always saying. Like yeah, I know, I’m one of them.” She peeked up at him from between her fingers. “And now you’re here. Naked in my bed. It’s like . . . are you sure this isn’t a dream? I can have very vivid dreams, you know.”

Niall leaned down to kiss her. “This is not a dream. I promise, when you wake up tomorrow, I’ll still be here. I’ll be here as long as you want me.”

“I want you forever,” Cordelia whispered.

Niall took the hand where the grass ring he’d made all those months ago hung gently around her finger. He pressed his lips against it and smiled at her.