He’d always taken it well, and recently it seemed Justin had recognized she wasn’t interested in anything but friendship, so it was less uncomfortable now than previous interactions.
Daniel, for all his earlier prickish ways, bought everyone a round. It was a great evening, mainly because Justin never tried to flirt with her.
However, Bébhinn’s mind barely managed to stay at Murphy’s, already imagining calling Dagr. She laughed at something Mr. Todd said, but her smile was all for the evening to come.
thirty-one
THE WATCHER
It had beena pleasure and absolute torture to see Bébhinn at the pub. She was so beautiful it’d taken his breath away. Their time in Wales had brought them closer. He knew she had to feel that new closeness. Her bright eyes and big smile said it all.
She laughed when he’d told her a funny story, and her eyes sparkled. It had all been for him. He’d felt like a giddy teenager.
She joked with him and their fellow Ramblers members. She spoke to everyone and listened to their stories. She gave them the highlights of her Snowdonia hike, which he already knew most of, having walked the trail with her.
Even after they’d shared a few moments that evening, he could feel her pulling away from their table, wishing to leave. He tried not to take it personally. He was still tired from the trip as well.
He was soothed, however, when he’d asked her if she’d seen any lovely animals or plants and flowers. She admitted that there was a lot of purple saxifrage and that it was beautiful.
Bingo.She had secretly loved his bouquets. He’d known it.
Three hours had passed. It was now eleven o’clock in the evening, and he was resting against the headboard—the one he bought because of its similarity to hers—observing Bébhinn as she lay across her bed.
It was a relief to know she was alone. He hadn’t seen that prick she’d spent the night with in the cave again. She’d shown up at Murphy’s with her friends and family—no date in sight.
“My God, you’re beautiful.”
Her covers were thrown aside when she rolled to her stomach, her perfect ass framed by green lace with a matching pine green tank hugging her fit back and waist.
She had a notepad propped on her pillow and appeared to be making a list. He tried zooming the camera in, but the quality wasn’t the best and became too grainy to make out any words.
If they didn’t come together soon, he’d have to find a way to upgrade the camera in her room. He desperately wanted sound so that he could not only see her when she slept beside him but hear her soft breaths.
His breath caught when she rolled to her back again and propped herself against the cream cushion of her headboard. Her hair spilled over her shoulders and chest, so lovely that he didn’t mind that it covered her perfect tits.
He was planning to suggest an overnight hike to the club as soon as uni classes ended. Picturing him and Bébhinn sharing a tent sent an ache of longing between his legs.
He was surprised when she palmed her phone. She rarely made calls or texted this late. She lived with her best friends, and they’d already been in and out of her room that evening.
He cursed again over the lack of sound when she began talking animatedly to whomever she’d called.
“Damnit!” he yelled. He could feel his control slipping. He hadn’t needed medication for months, not since he’d been soclose to achieving everything he’d ever wanted. Now… Now, he could feel himself slipping.
“No. No, no, no!” he screamed. He would not go back. Only forward, and forward was planning an overnight hike to get Bébhinn alone.
Just the thought soothed him. He was smart. He would find an opportunity to bring them together organically. Screw the meds. He was slipping because of stress, stress he wouldn’t have the moment she became his.
He watched her speak to whomever was on the phone with sick fascination. She was an animated woman. The person on the other end of the line couldn’t see her, but that didn’t stop the grins and wild hand gesturing. Once they were a couple, he would know everyone she spoke to.
Whowason the other end?
thirty-two
DAGR
Dagr leanedback against his office chair’s soft, black leather, taking in the London skyline. He had finally finished a deal for one of his largest conglomerate clients, who had recently acquired property near a natural water source.
His focus was on ensuring that the clients understood the many conservation regulations and restrictions that owning the land entailed.
