Page 97 of Broken Blood Ties

Awareness tingles behind me as the warmth of Kieran’s chest grazes my back. I continue to watch him as he narrows the distance between us, invading my space. My skin prickles, and my eyelids nearly flutter shut when his voice drops an octave.

“Do ye like it?”

I pull my lower lip between my teeth and nod. “I’m not sure where I’d wear something like this, though.”

He leans down, mouth hovering outside the shell of my ear. My breath hitches with the air he releases.

“A dress like this. On a woman like ye. I’ll find an event to take ye to.”

We study each other. Like we’re seeing each other for the first time. Actually seeing. The Irish mob boss and the washed-up Cosa Nostra princess.

Warmth spreads down my thighs and my pulse speeds up. What’s he doing?

Featherlight fingers trail up my arms, but I can’t look at where he’s touching me. I can’t rip my gaze away from his. The palm of his hand splays across my abdomen, and he pulls me into himself. I gasp when his hips press into my backside.

“Kieran, what …” But my words are cut off by my whimper as he circles languid strokes on my belly

“Ye’ll wear this dress for me. Won’t ye, Summer.” There’s a rawness in his voice. It’s riding on the undercurrent of his demand. Part of me wants to rebel, to push back and refuse the dress he picked out. A rush of exhilaration buzzes under my skin as I wonder if he’d punish me.

I nod, and he grips me tighter. “Good girl.”

“Oh god.” I practically moan the words as his hand climbs up my stomach and closer to my chest. Heat erupts in my core as his caress grows bolder under my rib cage. Those loose hands wander, creating a quivering so deep it aches.

Unsteady on my legs, my knees wobble, and I lean back on him, my head falling back where his shoulder meets his chest. My eyelids are heavy, but I resist the urge to close them. Still, I hold his stare.

A solo finger drags up the valley between my breasts and I want to grip his hand, directing him to where I need him to tweak and squeeze. But I don’t, and he doesn’t pause there. The rough pads of his fingertips trace my collarbone, sweeping back and forth while leaving goose bumps in their wake.

“Ye’re so beautiful.” He dips a finger underneath the thin strap, pulling it down.

Desire twists my insides, and I’m not sure I’ve craved someone so much in my life. I wrestle between wanting him to strip me naked right here and swatting his hands away to preserve any dignity I have left.

This burn unfurling within me to explore more with him, scares me. He’s reaching in deep, scooping out a pulsing need that rivals all others.

We don’t do this. We banter and irritate each other; we don’t make each other feel this trembling sensual frustration. Right?

My dress falls, the silk material now barely covering my chest. His lips brush against my cheek, the stubble on his chin skimming a path down my neck. I want more. Want him to press his lips into my neck. To nip and suck. I want to get lost in him.

But the moment is doused with his next words. “We have to go.”

I blink, stiffening as though the pleasurable seconds between us were merely a dream.

He pulls away, and the loss of his heat and his touch is downright angering.

“Sarah!” Kieran yells, the sound echoing off the walls of the studio.

The metallic sound of a door opening follows his shout and Sarah comes bustling in. “Mr. O’Donnell. Is everything okay?”

“Aye. Put all this on me account and have it packaged up to be delivered before the end of the week.”

“I’ll have it delivered tomorrow,” she touts, raising her chin. “Anything else?”

“Summer has access to me account any time. Whenever she needs. No limit.”

Her mouth drops open before she snaps it shut, and I can’t help the lungful of air I fill my chest with at her shock.

Perhaps I’m being petty, or maybe it has something to do with how Kieran’s hands expertly teased me, but I can’t help but hope it’sonlyme.

I look at her and smirk. Hopefully she’s annoyed, too.