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“Manipulator. Self-serving, self-indulgent user.”
My chin went up as tension thrummed through me. “You don’t know him.”
“I don’t want to. Actions speak louder than words. I know what I need to know.”
I breathed down the tension. “That’s pretty fucking inappropriate, Liam,” I said. “You don’t hear me making judgments about how you’ve lived your life all wrong.”
“I just call it how I see it. I didn’t mean to sound judgmental.”
“No? And I don’t mean ‘Liam, you arrogant, know-it-all bastard’ in a rude way.”
He rolled on top of me, leaning down to nuzzle my throat. “I’m sorry,” he said. “You’re right. You got my protective instincts all fired up. Emotions are running really hot, and stuff just comes out of my mouth. Sorry.”
“Um.” I stared at the ceiling, biting my lip. “Right.”
“I didn’t mean to be a dick. I can be way too opinionated.”
“I’m starting to notice that,” I murmured.
My face was inches from his bright, pale green eyes. So freaking beautiful. Then he started kissing his way across my collarbone … and then down to my breasts. Licking, suckling, stroking. Then my belly.
That slick bastard. I was embarrassed to feel my anger and tension fizzling away under the blunt force of his masculine allure. I had to at least try to push back.
“Liam,” I said. “You can’t win an argument by seducing me.”
“This isn’t me arguing.” He pushed my legs wide. “This is me apologizing.”
I let out a soft cry as he put his mouth to me. “Smart-ass,” I whispered.
His laughter vibrated against my clit, and then he started in with his tongue, melting me down into a helpless, writhing frenzy.
Chapter Twenty-One
Liam
The haunting sound of the Uilleann pipes woke me up. Nancy’s light weight on my shoulder gave me a jolt of startled joy.
I turned to look at the clock. 2:17 A.M. Eoin. That sneaky, sentimental little bastard.
Nancy murmured softly and raised her head. Moonlight flooded through the window, illuminating her big, shadowy eyes. She brushed her hair out of her face.
“That’s gorgeous,” she said. “‘The Soldier’s Vow.’ One of my favorites.”
“Yeah, Eoin goes for the real heartbreakers,” I muttered.
She cuddled up next to me. “It’s so romantic.”
“Yeah. It’s also two in the morning.”
She punched me in the shoulder. “Oh, give in! There’s moonlight, there’s music, it’s romantic. Surrender, already!”
“I already have. See?” I pulled her hand down and showed her the effect she had on my body.
She laughed. “Uilleann pipes are a real turn-on for you?”
“I like them fine, but you’re the turn-on, Nancy.”
“Aww. That’s sweet. Don’t you ever get tired?”