Page 17

CHAPTER 16

T aryn’s breath whooshed out, and she felt deflated. Leave it to her to get cozy with the one person who might not be who they seemed and was obsessed with an important artifact belonging to Fintan.

“Ya didn’t know, aoibhneas mo croí, ” he said, entwining their fingers.

“It still doesn’t mean I’m not a terrible judge of character. Christ! Anyone can look at a man I’ve dated, or plan to date, and they’ll see he’s a sleezy snake-oil salesman long before I do.”

She didn’t apologize when he winced and released her hand. Letting him off lightly for his past actions would teach him nothing. Forgiveness, for forgiveness’s sake, just to make oneself feel better, was ridiculous and not something she subscribed to.

Fintan was regretful—she didn’t doubt that—and his remorse put him miles ahead of any other man in her life with the exception of Damian and Trevor. Still, she refused to be a pushover.

“The only reason I’m not at home right now is because you asked me for an introduction, and I was curious.”

“Sure, and let’s back up here. Who is it you’re after datin’ that isn’t me?” His expression darkened, and he folded his arms across his chest.

Going into full avoidance mode, she sipped her wine and glanced down the table at those present. No one seemed to be paying attention to their conversation.

The weight of Fintan’s disapproval and hurt would drag Taryn under if she didn’t address it. She cleared her throat and put the glass down.

“Micha. We clicked on the video call, and when he asked me out, I accepted.”

He watched her like a wolf does a rabbit. His gaze felt predatory, with an underlying hunger. She also sensed his disappointment in her, but she didn’t want to be party to the expectation his love declaration brought. However, she wasn’t about tormenting a person when they were feeling down.

“The date was set up before you expressed your love, Fintan. I wasn’t doing anything to get back at you. It was me trying to get on with life.”

His response was forever coming. Or so it seemed. In reality, less than a minute had passed.

“I’m not expectin’ you to claim you love me when that’s not what you feel. But have a care with this Micha, yeah? While you’re beautiful and a worthy prize, it may not be the one he’s after, all the same.”

She locked eyes with him. “I haven’t dated since Morcant, but Damian has promised to investigate everyone I may be interested in.”

Shoving back his chair, he rose. “Grand. I’ll wish ya a good night, then.”

“I’ll call you when I can plan the introduction.”

“It’s best if you don’t. I’ll see to it meself.”

Her chest tightened as he strode away, and Taryn wanted nothing more than to run after him. To beg his forgiveness. But she wasn’t a young girl chasing a rising rockstar, so she let him go.

With a sigh, she tore her attention from his rigid back and met Creed’s understanding gaze.

“It’s okay to have boundaries, Taryn,” he assured her. “Smarter for your sanity.”

“Yeah? So why does it hurt so bad to reject what he’s offering?”

“Because you still care, even if you don’t want to.”

She cocked her head. “Is this a takes-one-to-know-one situation, Creed?”

“No. This is an observant man telling a friend she can never be too cautious.”

“I thought Fintan was your friend.”

An amused half-smile curled his lips. “He is. Probably one of the best I have. Certainly the longest. But I’m not blind to his faults or his problems.”

“So I shouldn’t apologize for wanting to date someone else?”

“Not if you truly want to date them. If it’s to rub it in his face, then yes. You definitely should apologize.” With that sage piece of advice, he stood and held a hand out to Narissa. “Time for bed.”

Her brows shot up, and a sly smile curled her full lips. “Why, Creed Caldwell! I declare, I didn’t believe you cared enough to ever sleep with me again.”

“I don’t, and I’m not. You’re exhausted and haven’t fully recovered from today. Stop with your games and get your ass upstairs.”

Narissa’s chin shot up, and the light of battle entered her eyes. “You’re not my caregiver. I’m capable of lookin’ after myself, sugar.”

With a frustrated huff, he drew back her chair and scooped her up.

“You’d cut off your perfect nose to spite your face, Narissa Sullivan.”

“It’s Wells. Narissa Wells.”

His mouth twisted as if he suppressed a laugh. “Oh, drop it already. Everyone knows you’re real name by now. You’re not hiding from Odessa and your mother anymore.”

“It’s my legal name.”

“This is probably the dumbest argument we’ve had,” he muttered.

“No, sugar. That would be the one where you wouldn’t believe I didn’t betray you.”

Creed’s features transformed into an icy mask.

“Time for bed,” he snapped.

After they left, Taryn rose and gathered the dishes. After witnessing the sad state of affairs between Creed and Narissa, she easily convinced herself to seek out Fintan and apologize. She didn’t want bad blood between them or for him to continue to avoid her whenever she visited Brenna.

“We’ve got this, love.” Eoin took the plates from her hands. “You’re our guest, yeah?”

“I can help.”

Brenna kissed her cheek. “Shoo. Go find Fintan.”

“How did you?—”

“Oh, maybe it’s the fact that everyone at the table tried to talk to the two of you at one point or another and were ignored?” she teased. “Seriously, though. It’s the first time I’ve seen him not actively hide from you, and he’s wearing his heart on his sleeve. That’s promising on many levels.”

“I don’t know what to do,” Taryn confessed. “I don’t want my heart broken by him again.”

“Again?”

Brenna and Eoin shared a confused look. “When was the first time?” she asked.

“When he was in a boy band.”

“It wasn’t a feckin’ boy band!” Fintan growled behind her. “And ya bleedin’ well know it, ya do!”

She grinned at her gobsmacked friends. “It totally was!”

“For feck’s sake!”

One second she was laughing, and the next, she was balanced over his shoulder, face to face with his perfectly muscled ass. Squealing in surprise, she clutched his hips for support.

“Fintan Sullivan, you put me down this instant!” she demanded.

“No. I’ve things to say, and you’re goin’ to listen, woman.”

“I’ve always listened. Manhandling me won’t endear you to me, by the way.”

He continued until they were in the ceremony room. Once there, he set her on her feet, held up a finger to indicate she should wait, and went back to slam the bookcase door closed. When he returned, he wove his fingers into her hair and drew her close. For the longest moment, he studied her mouth before meeting her wary gaze.

Inside, she was wild with anticipation. Outside, she tried to maintain a calm.

“You’re a feckin’ liar,” he murmured against her lips.

“Oh?”

“Aye. Manhandling turns you on and endears me to ya.” He captured her mouth in a bone-melting kiss. When he drew back, he was grinning. “There are stars in your eyes, Taryn-Taryn.”

“I’ll be the judge of that whole endearing thing,” she growled, dragging his head down to hers. “Now, shut up and get to snogging.”

Fintan laughed instead. Wrapping his arms around her waist, he lifted her against him and met her death stare. Earlier, when she was conversing with Creed, she’d forgotten to block him, giving full access to her thoughts and emotions. He’d felt her longing to be with him, and he was damned tired of the dance.

“We need to get this mess between us sorted,” he said.

“Why are we here, in the dungeon?”

He found himself laughing a second time and realized, despite the direness of the Bloodstone situation, whenever he was with her, he felt freer than he had in years.

“This room quiets the voices in my head,” he confessed. “There are two places I can go to escape the ancestors. Here, and the sitting room attached to my bedroom.”

“Really? You get a break from them?”

“Aye.”

She was stroking a finger along his brow in an absent-minded way. “Good. So the next time they hijack your mind, I’ll remember to drag you in here.”

“Sure, and a response like yours makes me believe you’ll be stickin’ around.”

“I’d like to, but I don’t want a repeat of the last time.”

When he would’ve set her down, she wrapped her legs around his hips. Eye-level, she captured his face between her palms.

“Don’t start something if you don’t intend to finish it, Fintan. If you don’t want a lifetime together, tell me. Because I can handle the truth, and I’m up for a few weeks of love making if that’s all you intend. But what I can’t and won’t tolerate are false promises.”

“I’d keep ya forever, and that’s the Goddess’s honest truth, aoibhneas mo croí. But know I’ll be fighting my ancestors every step of the way.”

“So what makes this time different from the last? How will you defeat them?”

“Bloodstone’s necklace.”

“But you gave it to Odessa.”

He nodded. “Aye. And I’ve a mind to get it back.”

“If you’re not going to kiss me, put me down and fill me in on the plan.”

“Who said I wasn’t going to?” he teased.

“You make me crazy on a good day, Fintan Sullivan,” Taryn muttered, gnashing her teeth together.

Again, he laughed. “You make me mad as a March hare, too, love, but I’m thinkin’ it isn’t for the same reason.”

“Put me down, you oaf. “

“When did ya resort to name-callin’?”

“When you left me on that platform.”

His blood cooled in the face of her continued hurt, and he released her.

“Then let’s get this sorted, yeah?” Stepping over to the chest, he removed a blanket and pillows. After laying them out on the floor in a circle, carefully skirting the casting area, he gestured toward the nest. “Make yourself comfortable, Taryn-Taryn. I think we’re in for a bit of a discussion.”

Though he wanted to cuddle her close, he sat opposite her. She should make the first move if she were willing. Her dark frown and the buzzing in his mind told him that she wasn’t happy about the distance. Smothering a grin, he lifted a brow and patted the spot next to him. With an arch look, she shifted closer, and he dragged her against him as he reclined back.

“Ya look knackered. Are ya wantin’ to sleep first?” He hated to wait, wanting to erase the misunderstanding of years past, but he’d follow her lead and allow her to rest if she preferred. The day had been a particularly long one.

“No. You told me earlier you loved me and always had.” Two heartbeats passed. “Is it another line?”

“I didn’t lie to ya then, and I’ll not lie to you now.”

“But you did.” She rose up, resting on one elbow to look him in the face. “You swore you’d be back.”

“It wasn’t an intentional lie, and you know it. I told you the why of it.”

She studied him, and during the pause, Fintan kept their mental connection open so she could see what was in his heart. “Feel through our bond, aoibhneas mo croí. Know that I speak the truth.”

Acceptance.

Not only was it reflected on her face, but it embraced him the moment she thawed. She tucked under his arm and snuggled down. “Okay,” she whispered.

Fintan closed his eyes and thanked the goddess Anu for small favors.

“What we shared in those first weeks was like nothin’ I’d ever experienced before, Taryn-Taryn. I was gobsmacked from the moment I saw ya. Sure, and I won’t say love at first sight, but I was infatuated all the same.” He kissed her temple, smiling when she released a happy sigh. “I was chuffed when you decided to stay in Ireland, then when you agreed to follow me around Scotland and England.”

“But after the Edinburgh concert, Peter died,” she concluded.

“Aye. And I told ya as much at the time. When I said I’d meet ya in a week in Liverpool, I fully intended to. But the instant I crossed the border to this estate, I was bound to it.”

She wiggled to rest atop him, and her frown was one of confusion. “Bound? As in, a slave to the property?”

“Aye. Close enough.” He swallowed in remembered torment. “The ancestors wouldn’t let me leave or use a phone to call you. Whenever I tried to sneak away, I experienced one of those grand three-hour naps like ya witnessed.”

“And you’ve already said they wouldn’t allow you to text me without retribution.”

“Aye, though I tried that, too,” he said. “It earned me electric shock therapy.”

“Ohmygod!” Her horror was justified.

“I was in love with you by then, but I couldn’t find a way around it. I was more tortured by the idea that you hated me than by what they unleashed on me brain.”

“Oh, Fintan.” Tears shimmered in her sad eyes, and his heart broke all over again.

“I’ve thought about you every day since. Wonderin’ what your life was like. Only when I agreed to avoid you did the ancestors give me a respite from their games.”

“But then I started coming here to see Brenna, so how did you manage to remain unharmed?” she asked.

“They were a bit more lax after all this time. Likely knowin’ ya wouldn’t have me after no contact for over twenty years, but I can’t say with all certainty.” He stroked her hair, her jaw, her neck, anything he could touch, trying to convince himself she was really here, in his arms. “I tried to keep the feelin’s buried, hidin’ them even from meself. Any other way was misery.”

“But you said you thought about me every day. How did they miss that?”

“When you came to visit, I’d duck into this room or the changin’ room upstairs, where they couldn’t access my thoughts.” He gave a half smile. “I allowed meself forty minutes, no more, no less.”

“You really do love me,” she whispered with wonder, almost as if she could hardly believe it.

“Aye.”

Her smile was the summer sun in winter. “Good. Now tell me about this plan to retrieve Bloodstone’s necklace.”

“You aren’t going to say it in return?” he asked, experiencing a small amount of outrage that she hadn’t told him she loved him yet.

“No,” she said archly. “I said I forgive you for leaving me waiting, not that I’m ready to lay my heart at your feet to be trampled again.”

“Ouch.” Fisting her hair, he rolled on top of her. When his nose was less than an inch from hers and his body was cradled by her thighs, he said, “At least promise you’re bammin’ me about dating that bastard?”

She giggled.

He growled.

“I’m not above chainin’ ya to me bed, Taryn-Taryn.”

“I’m not above letting you, Fintan Sullivan.” A sly smile curled her lips. “Now, maybe you should prove that five-note orgasm claim.”

With a bark of laughter, he pulled away. “Not until you tell me you love me. I’m holdin’ that one in check.”

“Rude.”