Page 3 of A Temptation Too Great (Knights of Purgatory Syndicate #3)

As she gets closer, I see her erect nipples poking at her top. I remember the taste of those perfect little berries. Her hand lands on her hip as she cocks it to the side. Her long hair is pulled up, but a few loose tendrils brush across her face.

I move to put myself between her and the road. She notices, and I see the appreciation in her eyes. I can’t stop myself. I reach out, my fingers brushing her warm waist. She trembles, and I pull her in close.

“Spitfire, what the feck do you think you’re doing walking out here in this?” I wave my hand up and down her body.

Her spine straightens and she pushes away.

Here comes that fecking sass that turns me on every time she gives me it.

I wanted her so bad that night, but I knew she wasn’t ready for the fact that when I take her, she’ll only be mine, living in my house, and be my old lady, my woman.

I’ll fecking marry her if she wants. I’ll do anything to keep her.

I’ve never wanted a woman the way I want her.

But I know she isn’t ready yet. She needs to see the truth about her family and the law.

There is a reason that justice is blind, and it’s because of men like me.

“Don’t you spitfire me, arsehole. I’m clothed.

As a matter of fact, I’m wearing more clothes than I do at the gym.

” She places both hands on her hips, and I’m about to pull her in and kiss the hell out of her.

“I didn’t come out here to discuss my attire.

I told you once already, you need to stop coming by and following me.

I’m safe now. Nothing’s going to happen to me. ”

I reach for her again and pull her into my body.

“Baby, you let me taste that sweet-as-feck cunt of yours. I’m never leaving you alone.

I’m addicted. You’re my new drug. When I said you weren’t ready, it wasn’t because I didn’t want you.

Feck, I want you so bad it hurts. For you to be ready, you have to understand what it means when I completely have you.

You’ll be mine. No one else. No take backs. No changing your mind. Mine.”

With each statement, I lean closer until my lips brush hers. I can’t control myself and kiss her long and deep. When she moans, I plunge inside her mouth and plunder the sweetness that is all her. Her arms wrap around my neck and pull me down as I lift her onto her tiptoes.

“Moira! What the hell are you doing?”

I push her behind me and turn toward the threat yelling at my woman. Standing before us is her brother, Eoin, a fecking peeler dirtier than the bottom of my boots.

When I first saw her, I had Lex run a background check on her family.

I found out how her father and brother pay for their lifestyles and why they really don’t want her to become an officer.

Sure, they’re chauvinists who believe women can’t do the same job as men, but more than that, they don’t want her to find out about their pasts.

Or, in her brother’s case, his current secrets.

There’s too much about him I don’t trust. The way he’s looking at her right now is part of the problem.

He not only has the look of betrayal in his eyes, but there’s also jealousy, and that can’t be possible.

“Eoin.” She leans around me and starts to move, but something about him sets my teeth on edge. I know there’s more to him than what Lex found.

Moira pushes past me. But when he moves to grab her, I wrap my arms around her and pull her into my body.

“What are you doing here?” she asks him, her voice tight with frustration when I don’t let her go.

I know she hasn’t told her family about the kidnapping or that we’re seeing each other. That’s one of the reasons she doesn’t want to be with me, but I’m not letting her go. No matter what Aidan says. He told me to either get her in line or let her go. I can’t.

“What are you doing with him?” He spits the last word and swings his arm out.

“He’s a friend.”

“Boyfriend,” I clarify, and she stiffens.

“You can’t date him. Do you know who he is?”

“I’m Brody Tiernan. I own Knight’s Motorbikes and Purgatory Garage.” I smile but don’t offer him my hand.

“I know who you are.” He sneers, and I shake my head, unwilling to say more. He’s made his judgement of me just like I’ve already made mine of him. “You are also part of the Tiernan crime family. The Knights of Purgatory Syndicate. You are related to the Beast of Belfast."

I straighten my shoulders and stand taller, ready to pull Moira behind me to defend my brother. No one calls him that without learning the reason behind it.

“He’s also Fiona’s brother-in-law. He came by to give me a message from Fi.

” Moira struggles to pull away, but I’m not letting her near him.

“You remember my friend Fiona, right?” she asks, and he shifts his focus from me.

His nearly black eyes zero in on her with so much hate radiating from his gaze.

When she shivers, I know she sees it too.

“The friend who supposedly had a stalker. More likely it was someone wanting to get even with her for being with Tiernan. You’d think you’d have learned a lesson from her mistake and walked away from this filth.

But no, you’re out here in public, making out with him.

” He swings his arms wide, indicating the surrounding homes.

I’m done with this.

“You want to talk about filth? How about the so-called lawful who are dirtier than the criminals they chase? What about the fact that you’re the lead investigator on a serial killer hunting in our area, and you still don’t have a fecking clue who it is?”

Sex workers and dancers have gone missing, only to be found later, cut up in pieces.

We knew it wasn’t the same guy from last year.

Seamus took care of him and sent him to hell where he belonged.

But this new predator showed up not long after.

He doesn’t have the precision of the Date Night Killer.

This one is wild, uncontrolled, vicious.

“Brody.” She gasps.

“Moira, get in the house. Now. I’m arresting this man.”

“For what?” She pushes back against me. I look down at her, stunned, unsure if she even knows what she’s doing or how she’s trying to protect me. “There’s no reason to arrest him.”

“I heard you tell him to stop following you. That’s stalking.”

“No. You said it wasn’t a crime when Fiona had a stalker because intent couldn’t be proven. Besides, I haven’t filed a complaint.” She wraps her arms back, shielding me even more. I place one hand on her hip and keep the other loose, ready to move her fast if I have to protect us both.

He spits and sputters for a moment, upset she threw his words back at him. When he advances on us, I’m ready to push her out of the way. This arsehole is willing to fight me with her in the middle, putting his own sister in danger.

She holds up a hand to stop him. “Don’t make me fight you. You’d have to take me in instead. I’m not going to let you do something stupid that could get you in trouble.”

He stops staring me down and looks at her. That glint in his eyes is sick and twisted. His gaze slides over her body in a way that isn’t right. I can’t stop the grumble rising in my throat. It’s almost a growl.

“Eoin, just leave. I’m okay.” She tries again.

“I won’t leave until he does. He’s the criminal.”

I want to tell him to look in the mirror, but instead I step back and pull her with me, ready to get her away from him.

She twists around and looks up at me. “Brody, just go. I’m okay. He’s my brother, and he’s just worried about me.”

I meet his gaze as he eyes us both, his stare lingering on parts of her no brother should see. I cup her arse, showing him who it belongs to.

She places her hand on my cheek and pulls my face to hers. “Please, Brody.”

I lean down, keeping my eye on him as I whisper in her ear, “Moira, don’t make me leave. I don’t trust him.” I’m practically begging.

“Please,” she says, her voice low and urgent. “I swear.” She pauses, and I look her in the eye. But she isn’t looking at me. Her gaze is fixed on something over my shoulder. “He won’t hurt me.”

She’s lying, and I know it.

“No.” I stand firm and turn to face him. “I’m free to spend time with my girlfriend. You leave.” I nod at him.

Eoin grinds his teeth, his jaw tightening. I struck a nerve calling Moira my girlfriend. He moves toward us again, and once more I counter by stepping back.

She turns her head to watch him.

“Eoin, please just leave.”

“No,” he says, holding his ground. “I’m calling for backup.” He reaches into his pocket.

Aidan is going to be pissed that I’m being hauled in, but I don’t care. I’m not leaving my girl with this arsehole.

But then Moira doubles down. I see the tears in her eyes when she looks up at me.

“Please, Brody. Please. I’ll call you later. Just leave. I work tonight,” she whispers.

As soon as the first tear drops, I’m stuck. I want to protect her, but she’s insisting she’ll be safe with him. If I want to prove to her that I trust her and believe she’s capable of handling herself, I have to give in occasionally.

It goes against everything in me, but I drop my hands from her body before leaning down to kiss her forehead softly. “If he hurts you, I’ll kill him,” I whisper, low enough than only she can hear.

I step back and move to my bike, never turning my back on him. I hear sirens approaching. I don’t need to bring any more attention to the organization. Lex getting shot, the explosion at the office, and the destruction of the clubhouse were bad enough. We’re under a microscope now.

I slip my helmet on, kick up the stand, and fire up my Harley. I nod at her, then turn back to him, giving him a death stare. She doesn’t know it, but I still have eyes on her.

I ride until I’m far enough away they won’t hear me stop. I pull over, drop the stand, and pull out my phone. As I look down, I pace the sidewalk, burning with anger. She lied to me.