I nod and stand up, pushing the covers off of me. The pajamas I wore to bed are just a plain t-shirt and shorts, but I can still hear Kerry’s audible inhale of breath. His eyes are hungrily drinking in my body when I turn around to look at him. “Not so easy to resist, is it?”
Kerry’s eyes snap to mine and he takes a step closer. “No, you’re right. It just…happens. And I don’t think either of us should apologize for it.”
I hold my hands up to block him from coming any nearer. “What happened to showering?”
Kerry growls. “We will be.” I shriek and laugh as he drags me into the bathroom, turning on the shower. He starts stripping the clothes he put on earlier. I follow suit, tossing my clothes to the ground in a flurry. I watch as he reaches in and checks the temperature of the water before looking back at me and gesturing for me to get in. The look in his eyes is as hot as the water, perhaps hotter.
I brush past him, feeling the glide of his fingers against my waist, as if he couldn’t resist touching me. I step under the water, trying to ignore the weight of his gaze on me. After all, I’ve been drooling over this shower since I first saw it, and I want to be sure to appreciate it as it deserves. The water pressure is delicious, although it’s not as hot as I’d like it to be. I consider adjusting it, but it seems complicated to use, and now Kerry’s stepping behind me, making all thoughts of water temperature flee my mind.
His hands find my hips as he leans in, lips running across the skin of my neck as the water flows over us. “These walls already know your name, leannán. They’ve been hearing me cry it for a long time now. I’m sure they’re happy to hear your moans returning my calls of my pleasure.”
His hand slides around to slither between my legs, fingers finding my clit and circling it. I exhale shakily as pleasure zips up my spine, my hands slamming on the shower walls.
“Christ, just like that, leannán.” I feel his cock, already thick and hard, pressing between my ass cheeks but not seeking out anything, just feeling. He grinds against me in time to his fingers’ rhythm. “So beautiful. What a gorgeous girl you are, my love. Just for me, all for me,” he pants, continuing on like that for several minutes until my clit throbs against his fingers and I cry out, clenching around nothing. He groans and I feel the hot splatter of his cum dripping down my ass cheeks.
I take deep breaths to catch my breath, mind hazy with post-orgasmic bliss, when I feel a washcloth rubbing down my sides, cleaning up his release on my skin. I stand straight again on wobbly legs, turning to look at him. His signature smirk is on his face, but his eyes are soft and searching, making sure I’m okay. I give him a small smile, just to reassure him. “I wish I could take my time again with you, leannán.” His voice is gravelly, low. His brows knit so tightly together that he almost looks physically pained by his inability to spend hours in here with me, bringing me to the brink over and over again.
I shake my head as he throws the washcloth over the shower door. “You don’t need to apologize. You…you manage to make me come so fast. It’s kind of impressive, and I wasn’t expecting you to do anything when we’re in a rush.”
Kerry scoffs. “Fecking whiny men, unable to please a woman,” he mutters as he squeezes shampoo into his hand and rubs it into his scalp.
I snicker. “I didn’t say anything about anyone else being unable to please me.”
His eyes narrow as he looks down at me. “You didn’t need to.”
I didn’t want to tell him he was right, that my previous sexual encounters had been brief and less than satisfying. He seems to see the ghost of my long history with disappointment cross over my features because he reaches out to grasp my hand, bringing it to his lips and kissing my knuckles gently.
He lets go of my hand, only to grab the shampoo bottle and squeeze some into his hand. “Turn around.”
I shiver at the gruffness of his voice but do as he says. His fingers immediately find my scalp and begin scrubbing, the most delicious massaging sensation makes my eyes flutter closed in bliss.
I could get used to this. Maybe I already am, more than I want to admit.
The comfortable silence falls over us again as we finish the shower and get dressed, but soft looks are often shared, tender and sweet, as if neither of us can quite believe that this is really happening. I towel dry my hair as much as I can, and before I know it, we’re heading downstairs, hand in hand.
As soon as we step into the kitchen, De Matteis slams down his fork and stands from his chair abruptly from where he’s eating breakfast at the island counter. “A ball!”
There’s an awkward pause as Kerry and I both try to process his words. My initial reaction is to think he’s upset over us taking so long, but his words make no sense with that assessment. I wonder if I even heard the man correctly. “Say again?” Kerry lets go of my hand to go make coffee at the espresso machine.
“A grand ball! It’s the perfect thing for all of our issues.” Alessandro sits back down. “The Irish breakfast is quite delicious. I approve. One of your men brought your chef in for me, very nice.”
Kerry chuckles in amusement. “I’m glad it’s to your liking.”
Kerry opens his mouth to continue, but Alessandro cuts him off. “Yes, you should. We Italians are quite particular about ourfood, you know. The finest sourced ingredients, fresh and local. Which, of course, you are at a disadvantage with since thebestingredients only comes fromBella Italia.But I can tell this meal is made with the best this country can offer, which is good enough, I suppose.”
Kerry pauses, a flicker of thoughts crossing over his face. I’m pretty sure I can only read him because I’m spending a lot of time with him. Which is good, because he’s obviously debating whether or not to fight the man about his opinions. I’m a little surprised that Kerry’s offended by such a thing, but he’s rather protective of his country, as a lot of Irish people are. Rightfully so.
Instead, Kerry decides to dismiss the comment entirely. “What were you saying about a ball?”
Alessandro snaps his fingers as he finishes chewing some food. “Sì,sì, A ball. A big party, fancy dresses, lots of good wine, you know. This is the correct word in English, yes?”
Both Kerry and I just stare at the Italian man for a moment. “What does this have to do with anything?” Kerry finally asks. He flashes me a look, clearly expecting what Alessandro had to talk to us about to be…more important than this. Just like I did.
Alessandro scoffs like Kerry personally offended him with the question. “Because! It will solve all our problems. You need to show your upcoming marriage isn’t fake? Solved! You could even get marriedsooner,before the ball. Your presence and hosting it will make everyone see how in love you are! Thepiccola signorina’sfriend needs to see her but still be seen with her husband, solved! The Nameless being seen as a united front? Solved! Other issues I will not yet trouble you about…solved! Boom, boom, boom, one falls after the other. I am a genius, yes?”
Kerry pauses pouring his coffee to stare at the man for a bit. I mean, the idea doesn’t sound half bad to me, but what do I know? It’s just a party, right?
Then Kerry just shrugs and continues making his coffee. “All right.” But there’s a smile on his face when he turns back around to stir his morning beverage. He likes the idea, he just doesn’t want Alessandro to know it.
