AllFreeNovel
Share Us
My control is not quite where I would like to be, so I never let go of her. Touching her helps centre me, and it helps me remain focussed in the moment.
Internally, my beast and I vow to make everyone pay. They’ll regret the day they ever fucking laid a hand on her.
Chapter 19
I’d helped Finn prepare dinner for everyone as he explained about my father being in New York and looking for me. I was surprised when he told me that it looked like he knew where I was and that was why Ronan and the other guys with him had rushed us all out of dress shop.
I’ve never been allowed to know so much information before, I’ve never been told anything, and knowing he’s prepared to tell me almost anything helps me relax a little. But I can’t help feeling guilty about what I said to him about Da and his right-hand man. I need to clear some things up, and I just hope he’s not mad.
With dinner cooking and ten minutes to spare before everyone arrives, I decide I need to clear the air now. I fidget on my stool at the counter, watching him check on one of the pans.
“Finn, can we talk for a minute, please?”
He turns to look at me and leans on the counter next to the stove, his bright green eyes fixed on mine. I feel like he can see into my soul right now and it’s a little unnerving.
At least he put a T-shirt on because I don’t think I could concentrate if he’d just been walking around in those low-rise jeans. His T-shirt is plain black and looks like it’s been painted on, it’s that tight on his muscles. I lick my lips, knowing what’s underneath. Shit. Focus. Clearly, having the shirt on does nothing for my concentration.
Looking up at his face, I can’t help but smile at the smirk he’s wearing. “Keep those thoughts at bay for later. Tell me what’s on your mind.”
“So…” I almost apologise, but the raise of his eyebrow lets me know this is not something he wants me to apologise for.
“I just… I need to clear some things up about my Da, about what I said earlier.”
When he doesn’t say anything, I continue. “When I said he slapped me, that was true, but it only happened maybe three times and hasn’t happened since I was seventeen… well, the night before my eighteenth birthday, actually. And the day his right-hand man grabbed me, that was only the once, and I’d walked in on them with some Italian guys, and I’d always been told to make sure that Da wasn’t doing business before just walking into his office. It was my fault for not following the rules…”
I rush out the words, wanting him to understand that it wasn’t a regular thing and that it was my fault. But the moment I stop speaking, he’s on me, spinning me in my stool so I have to face him, his arms either side of me on the counter, caging me in.
I look up into his eyes and they’ve changed from a bright green to a dark green. Hell, they are almost black.
He takes several deep breaths, and his eyes seem to be searching mine, but for what, I don’t know. His breathing evens out and he swallows. “None of those times were your fault. You could have walked in there and threatened everyone, you could have given away your Da’s secrets and they still should not have hit you. None of those times were okay, princess.”
His hands comes up and cup my cheeks, his thumb rubbing across my lower lip. “Do you trust me?”
Never taking my eyes from him, I answer without hesitation. “Absolutely.” And I’m rewarded with the most incredible smile.
“I wanna teach you so many things, including when it’s okay to hit a woman, and I’m not talking for abuse, I’m talking with her consent, for sexual gratification.”
My breath hitches slightly and I see his eyes change colour before they lower to my breasts. My nipples are rock solid right now, and painfully obvious, peeking through my dress. He licks his lips as his eyes focus once again on mine. “I see you like that idea, but all in good time, princess.”
He leans in, his lips connecting with mine, and I open, letting his tongue enter my mouth, and he gives me the most dominant, satisfying kiss I’ve ever had. I’m completely lost in it, and I didn’t hear anyone enter, and I almost fall off my stool when I hear someone clear their throat beside us.
“Kill, Bells, how you doing?” Finn and his brother have a quick hug and a back slap, then Finn leans in and gives Bella a hug and places a kiss on her cheek before moving over to the stove to check on dinner.
“Hey, Cara.” Bella wraps her arms around me in a tight hug, then moves to the seat next me.
“Bella, you look amazing,” I tell her as she gets comfortable and reaches for the glass of wine Finn just handed her. She’s wearing a black fitted dress that has a straight neckline and stops just on her collar bone. The length stops just above her knees, but teamed with her black Louboutin’s, it makes her legs look incredible.
“Thank you, so do you. I love the orange on you.” I give her a warm smile and grab the glass of water Finn has placed in front of me, when Killian comes up beside me.
“Hi.” I greet him nervously. I don’t know why, it’s not like I haven’t met him, and he’s always been nice to me, but I do find him a little intimidating sometimes––just the air he has about him.
He places his hand on my shoulders then looks down at me, a look of concern and care crossing his face, and I feel instantly relaxed. “How you doing, lass?”
“I’m okay, thank you.”
He turns to Finn. “You tell her?”
“Of course I told her. I wasn’t going to keep it from her, she has a right to know. I’m guessing you told Bells?”
