He lifts my chin with his finger and kisses me gently. “I knew I couldn’t knock and I didn’t want to go home until I knew you were okay, so I paced the pavement outside of your building.
“Oh,” I whisper unsure of what to say. I wrap my arms around him. We stay still, our cheeks together. Both silent, both lost in a horrible, distant memory.
“Anyway, I was going to go home the other night, but I must have fallen asleep. I woke the next morning when Vanessa opened the door.”
My eyes hold his.
“I just knew I had to at least try and stay away from you.”
I raise my eyebrows. “By sleeping on the floor of an apartment hallway?”
He kisses me again and shakes his head. “I don’t know. I felt better being out the front of your apartment than I felt at home.”
I smile softly. “You are crazy, Alastar O’Shea.”
“You know it,” he whispers. We are interrupted by a knock on the door. “That will be my annoying brother.” He turns back to his frying pan. “I think the door is locked. Could you let him in?”
“Sure.”
I open the door and Thomas beams a beautiful smile. “Hello, Emmaline.”
His smile is contagious. “Hello, Thomas.”
He grabs me in an embrace and twirls me around off the floor. “The angel has come back to rescue my heartbroken brother,” he teases loudly.
I giggle as he twirls me around.
“Hands off.” Alastar smirks from his place at the door. Thomas throws his arm around me and we start to walk back to the kitchen.
“Welcome to the O’Shea clan, Miss Emmaline Mathews.” He smiles.
* * *
I walk down the street toward my office with my hand in Alastar’s. It’s Monday and we have just been out for breakfast before he drove me to work. We stop on the corner and he turns and faces me. “Goodbye.” He smiles cheekily down at me.
I smile goofily up at him. “Goodbye.”
He brushes my hair behind my shoulders. “I shall pick you up. What time?”
I should probably tell him I’m busy and at least try and act hard to get. We had an amazing day together yesterday. My stomach is sore from laughing, my body and mind are blown from orgasming, and my heart is full from loving. I smile an over the top smile.
He is the most beautiful man I have ever met, and I came to the conclusion in the shower this morning that I am utterly and hopelessly in love with every single inch of Alastar O’Shea.
We stand still, both looking at each other, and I just want to blurt it out and tell him that I love him. It just feels right, but after the hell he has put me through, he can say it first. I don’t know if I can hold it in much longer, though.
It’s not going to be me and I’m not saying it first.
“Move in with me,” he breathes.
I frown. “What?”
“Move in with me. Share my home. I don’t want to be away from you for a minute.”
“Umm. Oh, I… Isn’t it a bit early for that?” I stammer in shock.
He kisses my smiling lips. Oh my God, he is serious this time. I feel like jumping in the air and punching it.
“We shall talk about it tonight,” he breathes before kissing me softly again.
I stare at him, lost in some sort of alternative, dreamy universe.
“Emmaline.” He smirks down at me.
“Yes?”
“Will you be missing me today?”
“Maybe.” I smile cheekily. “And will you be missing me today Alastar?” I ask sweetly.
“Not at all.” He smirks.
I narrow my eyes. Cheeky bastard.
“Don’t forget to ring your mother and organize the weekend,” I remind him.
He nods and kisses me once.
“And don’t forget that you don’t have any food for Fraidy.” That ugly cat has seriously grown on me.
He smiles into my lips. “Aye,” he breathes.
“And don’t forget—”
He cuts me off. “Stop nagging me, woman.”
I giggle into his lips. “See you tonight.”
“I shall wait here, on this corner.”
“Okay, Mr. O’Shea. See you on the corner about five.”
I turn and practically float to my office. Holy mother of God. I put my hand over my heart in adoration. I have never felt like such a lovesick teenager. I get into the lift, smiling broadly to myself like a total idiot, certain that not even Stephanie could ruin my day today.
* * *
At 11am, I am at my desk when my phone beeps. It’s Alastar, it reads:
Boss lady, Trip to Ireland is organized.
Fraidy is well fed.
You will be pleased to know I take your nagging seriously.
I smirk. What can I reply? I narrow my eyes as I think. I type.
It will serve you well to take my nagging seriously.
My punishment isn’t pretty.
It bounces back almost immediately.
Do tell, what I will face if I do not adhere?
I smile and type.
I shall cook while I sing.
He writes back.
Heaven forbid!
What is the incentive for compliance?
I giggle to myself. God, I love this man.
You may blow in my mouth tonight, my faithful subject.
He writes back.
Compliance will be a given from here on in!
See you on the corner at five, my love.
xx
Oh man, I’m a goner. I smile to myself like a fool.
* * *