Page 16 of The Apprentice

“You know we can’t take this any further. I thought we agreed on that.”

“You’re kidding me, right?” He stared. And stared. And stared. The scalding look kept going until it became uncomfortable. He wanted me to say something, and while I was a master of words most times, this wasn’t one of those moments. The situation was too delicate, and there were too many emotions.

Fionn’s eighteenth birthday party felt like yesterday. The beginning of us.

Eight Years Ago

“Kiss me.” The words were whispered so softly I could barely hear them. Fionn’s warmth was all encompassing, drawing me in like a moth to a very hot flame, and I went, ready to deal with the consequences by stepping in closer to press him against the wall.

He tilted his head back and smiled.

Desire skittered through me, swirling inside my chest and across my skin like a thousand electric currents. When was the last time I’d felt like this? I couldn’t remember. Sex was about getting off, and I’d been attracted to people, but Fionn wasn’tpeople. He was something entirely different.

Beautiful.

Innocent.

Untouchable.

But here I was,touchingFionn’s smooth cheek and caressing my thumb over the corner of his pouty lips.

“Kiss me,” he murmured again, fluttering long dark lashes at me. He’d recently dyed his hair a sandy blond to match Sloan’s. I’d noticed he’d tried to be more like his uncle lately, and I didn’t like it. I preferred the version of Fionn which was true to himself, dark haired and sweet.

More like . . . Eoin.

Fuck. No. Bad choice of thoughts.

“I shouldn’t.” I exhaled sharply but didn’t move away. Instead, I shifted in closer and hooked my fingers beneath his chin, tilting his head up and ghosting my lips over Fionn’s. I wanted to devour and corrupt him. “You’re too young.”

“I’m eighteen,” he said breathlessly, cupping my neck.

“I’m too old.”

“You’re Sloan’s age. That isn’t too old.”

“You’re Eoin’s son.”

“You have a father, too. Any more excuses? Or are you going to kiss me?”

I did as Fionn asked.

“There’s nothing I can say that’ll give you what you want,” I said bluntly, taking a deep breath. “We shouldn’t be doing this at all. You’re Sloan’s nephew and his apprentice, the future of the Killough Company. It’s best to keep things professional.”

“Is that what you want?” Fionn snapped. “To go back to not fucking?”

“No.”

Fionn glanced away and stared out the window again, causing my heart to ache. I wished there was something more I could say to make it better, but nothing would. If I could go back in time, I wouldn’t have slept with him in the first place, no matter how much I’d enjoyed every second.

“I respect you?—”

“Don’t!” He huffed. “I don’t need you to say those things. I’m not a fucking virgin damsel who needs you to marry me. I would rather you not speak to me at all unless it’s about work right now.”

I held back the urge to slam my hand on the steering wheel. I’d fucked up, and I would live with my mistake, but I never meant to hurt him. Of course, he didn’t want to know that. I’d gone and broken his heart. How could I have been so stupid?

Instead of trying to talk, to tell him how I really felt, I kept my eyes on the road and stayed silent, exactly like he’d asked.

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