Page 148 of Deceived Wrath

Or spiraling.

“Sorry I missed dinner. I didn’t expect the meeting to run so long.”

“I was going to bring you some food, but I didn’t want to interrupt you.”

Cormac’s expression softens as he comes to sit on the bed.

I suck a breath as he reaches out to tuck a loose strand of hair behind my ear.

“I’m sorry for not giving you or Scout nearly enough attention.”

Part of me wishes he was still the Cormac who treated me like crap during my first few days working atSullivan Investmentsbecause it would make it so much easier to shut off my feelings for him. But this version, the one who looks at me as if I’m his whole world, makes me feel like my heart is being ripped out of my chest.

“I think Scout was more upset that Brennan didn’t come over purely to play video games with him,” I say, and Cormac chuckles.

My eyes flutter closed as I savor the sound. I wish I could bottle it up and listen to it on repeat.

“What are you thinking about?” he murmurs as he strokes my cheek.

“How much I love it when you laugh.”

“Yeah?”

I reach out to stroke my fingers along his stubbled jaw. “You’re so serious all the time. It makes it even more special when I see you smile.”

“You have yourself to thank for that.” He leans in and brushes his lips against mine.

This is the last thing we should be doing.

After what I heard today, being with Cormac almost feels like torture, knowing that it could be the last time. But that only makes me need him more.

So, I kiss him back, silently begging him to take it further because I need more than just his lips on my skin.

We don’t talk. Instead, we slowly peel away our clothes until there’s nothing between us.

I lie back against the pillows and spread my thighs so Cormac can settle himself between them.

The small amount of light casts his face in shadow, and I trace the hard lines of his jaw and cheek as he slowly sinks inside me.

He swallows my gasp of pleasure with his mouth, slowly stroking his tongue against mine as he starts to move.

His thrusts are slow and unhurried, as if we have all the time in the world. But that only makes it more torturous because I know that can’t be true.

Our time is running out.

“Cormac,” I choke.

“I’m right here,” he murmurs against my mouth. “You’re safe.”

I bury my face in his neck as he pumps his hips faster, trying to hold back tears at the thought of letting this man go. But despite all the pain I know I’m going to put both of us through, I wouldn’t change the past because it all led me to him.

When I finally climax, my skin is slick with sweat, and my breathing is ragged.

Cormac sinks his hand into my hair and holds me against him as he spills inside me.

Once he slides free, he moves onto his side and pulls me against him, enveloping me in the warmth of his body.

“That was perfect.” I take his face in my hands and kiss him softly.