Page 36 of Twisted Secrets (The O’Malleys #3)

“You know, when I said you needed to stay out of trouble, that didn’t mean take a fucking vacation to the country.”

“The air out here helps me think.”

“You’re full of shit.” He cursed long and hard. “I need you in town, Cillian. I have the information we were looking for, but I need you to decipher it.”

He sat back in his chair and propped his feet up, trying to ignore the worry taking root inside him. “That was quick.” And Aiden sounded tired—really tired. It might be a necessary evil, but it’s killing part of him. “Everything went off without a hitch?”

“I don’t want to talk about it.”

Shit. That wasn’t good. That wasn’t good at all.

He frowned, trying to decide the best way to approach this.

“It might be a good idea to talk about it with someone, even if it’s not me.

” Otherwise, Aiden would end up like a volcano, just waiting for the right moment—or the wrong one—to explode.

That was dangerous under the best of circumstances, but with him now functioning as the leader of the O’Malleys on most of the day-to-day things, it could be downright deadly.

“Fuck off.”

Cillian rubbed the bridge of his nose. Aiden wasn’t going to talk to him and, if he kept pushing, his brother might actually hang up.

Since Aiden was right and no one could get to the bottom of this information faster than Cillian, he needed to not push him past his limits.

No matter how worried he was about him. “E-mail me what you found. I’ll get to the bottom of it. ”

“It would be better if you were in Boston.”

He knew that, but he’d have to make do. “I’ll get it taken care of. Just send me the files.”

“Why are you out there? Liam didn’t say a damn thing other than you took a few men and left town.”

Thank God for Liam’s discretion. Mark would have reported to him, so he’d know that Cillian wasn’t alone out here, but he’d kept it to himself. He understood why Liam had reported at all, though—there was only so far he’d put his neck out there. Far enough to have it cut off if this goes sideways.

He hesitated. Easy enough to come clean now and give Aiden a heads-up that Romanov might be a more active threat than they could have anticipated. All he had to do was open his mouth and say the damning words.

Instead he forced a laugh. “You know me, big brother. I had a lark, so I ran with it.”

“I thought you were past all this craziness.”

“Apparently I’m not.” Even hearing it now was a bone in his throat. He wasn’t that irresponsible dickhead anymore, but he’d play the part for Olivia. Right now the most important thing was making sure he could keep his promise to keep her safe. The rest would fall into place one way or another.

Aiden sighed. “Call me when you have the information I need.”

“Will do.” He hung up before he could change his mind. If, after he talked to Olivia, she was fine with him sharing with his family what she’d told him, then he’d call Aiden back. If she wasn’t…Well, it wasn’t like this would be the first secret he’d ever kept.

A board creaked, and he looked up to find her standing in the doorway to the porch, looking like heaven.

Her dark hair had started in a ponytail when he’d picked her up, but strands of it had come loose in the intervening hours, softly curling around her face.

Every other time he’d seen her, she’d been in her bar getup—ripped jeans and equally ripped T-shirts—but now she wore yoga pants that fit her like a second skin and a tank top that looked loose and comfortable. It made him want to hold her close.

Why not?

Still holding her gaze, he held out his hand in a silent demand.

She took a step forward, hesitated like she might change her mind, and then crossed the distance between them to slip her hand into his. He pulled her into his lap, the feel of her there settling something in his chest he hadn’t even been aware was broken. It felt good. Right.

And he was going to fuck it all up with what he had to ask her. “Sweetheart—”

She lifted her head. “I think we’ve talked enough for one night, don’t you?”

This close, it would be the easiest thing in the world to kiss her. And, fuck, he wanted the taste of her on his tongue more than he wanted his next breath. It was only sheer self-control that kept him from taking her up on the invitation blazing across her face right then and there. “Hadley?”

“She’s sleeping.” She made a face. “Though you’re right. I’d feel a lot better if there was a locked door between us and her.”

God, she was killing him. “Sweetheart, I didn’t bring you up here for this.” But he wanted it. Holy hell, he wanted it more than he’d wanted anything in longer than he cared to remember.

“I know.” She climbed out of his lap and tugged on his hand.

Still, he held off. “You’re sure?”

Olivia rolled her eyes. “Do I have to spell it out for you? I’m tired of waiting for our chance to come around again, Cillian. I want you. You want me. Life’s too short. Let’s do this.”

He pushed to his feet. “And they say romance is dead.” He picked her up and tossed her over his shoulder.

“Hey!”

“I said it before, sweetheart. We do this, we’re doing it my way.

” He smacked her ass for good measure, grinning when she cursed.

The nearest room with a door that had the ability to lock was the rarely used study.

He walked into it, locked the door behind him, and then shut the curtains.

The O’Malley men might be discreet, but he didn’t want anyone getting an eyeful of Olivia except him.

Only then did he set her on her feet. She opened her mouth, but he kissed her before she could get a word out.

Instantly, she melted into his arms, pressing her entire body against the front of his.

He ran his hands down her back and grabbed her ass, backing her up and lifting her onto the desk.

The extra height lined her up with his cock, the yoga pants a sad excuse for a barrier between them.

He thrust against her, holding her hips in place so he could get the same angle he’d had in the car.

She gripped his shoulders, her head falling back, and a moan escaping her lips. “Cillian.”

“Sweetheart, next time you say my name like that, I’m going to be inside you.” He skimmed off her shirt and tossed it to the side, quickly followed by her bra. She leaned back on the desk and lifted her hips, helping him get the damn pants off.

And then there was only Olivia, naked and waiting.

For him.

He cupped her breast, his cock so hard, it was a wonder he could string two thoughts together.

“You’re fucking perfect.” He stroked down the front of her body to cup her between her legs.

He traced her opening with a single finger, teasing her.

“So hot and wet and ready for me. I’ve been dying to taste you again. ”

“What are you waiting for, then?” She spread her legs wider, boldly meeting his gaze even as her body shook.

Fuck . She was such an intoxicating mix of attitude and vulnerability.

He stepped back, slowly pulling his shirt over his head.

The look on her face made the new distance worth it.

She devoured him with her eyes the same way he was devouring her, in an almost physical touch.

He started to unbutton his jeans but stopped.

Olivia pointed. “Stop teasing me and lose the pants.”

“I haven’t even started to tease you yet.” He went to his knees in front of her. “You might want to cover your mouth.”

“What— oh my God .” She slapped a hand over her mouth as he licked up her center, his gaze never leaving her face.

Watching the play of emotions there—shock, pleasure, a growing need—was almost as good as the taste of her on his tongue.

Almost. He gripped her hips and jerked her to the edge of the desk and then licked her again, exploring her slowly with his tongue and reveling in the little sounds coming out of her mouth, muffled by her hand.

He wanted her to come like this, against his mouth and spread out over this desk.

For him . Because of what he was doing to her.

He didn’t have a right to feel possessive of her, but he didn’t give a fuck.

All that mattered was being the only one she could focus on for the next few hours.

Cillian sucked her clit into his mouth, working her as she went wild around him, her cries growing more frantic with each pass of his tongue.

He’d joked about teasing her, but he could no more deny her an orgasm than he could deny himself the pleasure of giving her one.

He picked up his pace, flicking her clit, holding her thighs wide even as her body shuddered and went tight.

Jesus. He gave her one last long lick and sat back on his heels.

She stared down at him, her dark eyes wide. “I…uh…wow.”

He stood. “ Now , sweetheart, I’m losing the pants.”