AllFreeNovel
Share Us
In this lighting, his hair appeared a little browner than I first initially thought. I wondered what it would look like in the rising sun, or what about high noon? Why am I thinking about what he looks like at different times of the day, like there will be more interactions with him?
I nodded, licked my lips again, then just stood there, because I had no idea what else to say. And although I had to assume he was just as nervous and felt just as awkward as I did, he seemed the epitome of self-control and complete composure. The only telling sign that this encounter was affecting him was the fact that his pulse beat rapidly beneath his ear.
If I placed my hand on his chest, right over his heart, would I feel it race under my touch? Would it beat harder because of me?
“Cillian McGowan,” he said in that panty-dropping Scottish brogue of his. It took everything in me not to swoon.
I blinked several times, trying to clear the fog that suddenly washed over me.
“Aoife Kelly.” I swore his nostrils flared, this pleasure washing over his face at the sound of my name. Surely I was imagining that.
“Ee-fa,” he sounded out my name slowly, and I pictured him moaning it while I was in his bed.
I nodded again like a fool, my voice broken, my mouth too dry to actually form words.
“Go out with me, lass.”
A sound left me… a soft moan I prayed he didn’t hear. But the way his eyes became hooded, this mask of arousal licking across his face, told me he heard me.
“G-Go out with you?” He took a step closer, and I was proud of myself for not taking one back. Back? I snorted internally. You mean step closer, into the hardness of his body? ’Cause that's what I want to do.
“Aye, Aoife. Go out with me.”
I stared into his eyes and got lost, so turned around I knew I’d never find my way. And you know what? I was more than okay with that.
“Okay,” I whispered, and he exhaled, this relief on his face. I wondered what he would’ve done if I said no.
I thought that, but a part of me knew he wouldn’t have given up. He would have chased me, because the hunt was in his eyes.
And I was his prey.
4
Aoife
It felt like saucers were slapped in place of my eyes as I took in the massive beauty of Deldune Castle. Duthmoore’s oldest standing structure, centuries old and sitting atop Mora Hill.
To say he outdid himself on the first date scale was a massive understatement.
Cillian picked me up and said he had a surprise for me.
“I didn’t know the surprise was you were taking me to a castle.” I looked over at him and saw he already watched me. He had a very satisfied grin on his face. “And not only a castle, but one we have all to ourselves?” I heard the incredulity in my voice as I faced the castle once more.
“Go big or go home, right? Isn’t that what Americans say?”
I snorted and grinned. “That they do.”
He stood there for long moments, not speaking, but I knew he was quiet, because he was letting me enjoy the view. Although I’d seen Deldune from a distance plenty of times since I moved here, I’d never actually visited the castle. Not yet, at least.
Deldune certainly wasn’t the biggest castle I’d seen—as far as magazines and movies went—but it was exquisite, nonetheless.
Sitting atop Mora Hill, it felt as if it was situated on a world of its own, almost like we were above the clouds.
Heaven itself.
I felt Cillian move next to me, and I glanced up, seeing he already had his eyes locked on me. “I probably look like a typical tourist right now, don’t I?” I felt my cheeks heat at my own words, but I was literally awestruck at the beauty of being this close to the castle.
The stonework, the detailing, and the immaculately kept grounds, it was all so breathtaking. I could picture the time long ago when this was a royal family’s home. I could imagine the staff waiting on them, the children playing out on the grounds.
“We really have this place all to ourselves?”
He nodded and gave me a big grin, one that had his dimple popping out once more.
My heart gave a flutter, and my belly tightened at the sight. He certainly was a gorgeous man.
He inclined his head toward the entrance. “Ladies first.”
I blushed harder and made my way toward the front. I took in every detail, categorizing it in my memory so I could picture it even if I was far away, even if years passed.
We made it to the front, which was far too modernized for it to have been part of the original design.
