My heart sinks, and try as I might, I can’t wipe the look of shock from my face. I also can’t shake the surge of jealousy I’m feeling. He must sense it because he starts rubbing comforting circles on the back of my hand with his thumb.
“We grew up together,” he continues. “Our parents always teased that they arranged our marriage at birth, and we had no reason to believe otherwise. Rhi was the life of every party. She thrived on attention and was always close with my mates. It seemed perfect at the time. Who wouldn’t want a girl that enjoyed spending time with the fellas? After school, I proposed, and she obviously said yes. We planned on marrying within the year. No reason to delay what everyone already knew was going to happen. About three months before the wedding, I could tell something was going on with her but figured she was just stressed from all the planning. She wouldn’t answer when I called or made up reasons not to stay over. We had a planned date that she canceled. Claimed she was sick. I decided to surprise her with soup and a movie. Since she couldn’t go out, I’d go to her. As I pulled into her driveway, I noticed a familiar motorcycle parked outside. My mate, Declan, owned this bike. I figured he was looking for me, so I didn’t think much of it. I let myself in and headed for her room. She definitely wasn’t sick, and Declan wasn’t looking for me.”
He pauses to inhale deeply before saying, “They had been sleeping together for over a year. My girl and best mate.”
“Oh my god, Eamon. How horrible. I’m so sorry,” I tell himsincerely while cursing Rhiannon for what she did to him. “Nobody deserves that, least of all you.”
“Thanks, lass. I’m not proud of how I reacted,” he says sheepishly while rubbing the back of his neck.
“What did you do?”
“I uh…I threw the soup at the wall, and it splattered all over them. Declan jumped off the bed, trying to cover himself, telling me to just calm down. That was the wrong thing to say. I beat the shite out of him that night and never talked to Rhi again. Less than a year later, I was flying to the States,” he concludes.
I’m not a violent person, but I can’t seem to find an ounce of sympathy for Declan.
“What about your Mom?” I ask.
“I miss her terribly, but I just couldn’t stay. Ireland isn’t that big, so there was nowhere I could go that was far enough away from them. Especially when I found out she was pregnant with his kid a couple of months after I caught them. My Mam understands, but she keeps hoping I’ll come back after graduation.”
“You won’t even go to visit?” I can’t blame him for wanting to leave, but surely, he wants to see his Mom and sister.
“I know I should, but Rhi and Declan are living in her parent’s house. Next door to Mam,” he explains.
“Ah. Makes sense. I wouldn’t be able to handle being that close to…Ashton.” I shudder at the thought, and Eamon releases my hand to slide his arm around my shoulders, tucking me in close to him.
“I can assure you that I will never let that fucker near you again. And if I’m ever within range, he’ll receive the same attention Declan did.”
He sounds like he plans to be around for a while and I think I like the sound of that.
Reaching my house, we walk up the front steps and stop in front of the door. I turn and place my hand on Eamon’s chest again before looking into his eyes.
“Thank you for sharing that with me,” I tell him. “I imagine that was reallydifficult to relive, and I hate that the two people you cared for most did something so horrible to you. You deserve so much better.”
His brows furrow and his gaze moves to my mouth, then back to my eyes. I feel his hand slowly move up my arm to my neck before cupping my cheek.
“I think I’ve found it, lass,” he breathes, then shocks me by asking, “Can I kiss you, Norah?”
I freeze, not from fear but anticipation. Tingles spread from my head to my toes, lingering in my belly. He feels me tense up, but misinterprets it and starts to take a step back.
“Shite. I’m sorry. Too soon. I should have…”
“Eamon,” I whisper, wrapping my hand around his wrist. “Yes. Kiss me.”
His eyes widen in surprise but quickly blaze with a heat so strong, I can feel it radiating from him. Threading his fingers through my hair, he slowly lowers his mouth to mine, pausing briefly before his lips brush mine softly, tentatively. Eamon kisses me like I’m something precious. I’ve never been kissed like this. Every kiss I’ve ever experienced has been the other person taking what they wanted.
Eamon touches the seam of my lips with his tongue, silently asking permission for more. Without a shred of hesitation, I open for him, granting him access. A small grunt of surprise sounds in his throat that sets me on fire and emboldens me. I press myself into him, deepening the kiss. I explore his mouth with my tongue before it sets into perfect rhythm with his. He untangles the fingers of one hand from my hair and snakes it around my waist, crushing me to him. A moan escapes me as I dig my fingers into his hair. I’m losing my mind; my body is burning with need. I’m about to climb this man like a tree.
All too soon, Eamon slows, kissing me softly—once, twice, a third time—before leaning his forehead against mine. He chuckles. “Easy, lass. As much as I’d love to see where this goes, I told you I’m not rushing anything with you.”
I blush violently, realizing just how close I was to rushing things significantly.
“I…wow…I can’t believe I just did that! I’m sorry!” I blurt out, averting my eyes.
Gently grasping my chin between his finger and thumb, he lifts my face to his. “Absolutelydo notapologize for the best kiss of my life.”
I blink at him in surprise. “Really?”
“Without a doubt.” He nods, and I bite my bottom lip to keep from beaming.
