A bell sounds in the distance, and she sits up quickly, her eyes wide and alarmed.
“What the bloody hell is that?”
I chuckle, gently pushing her off me so I can get to my feet. “You don’t recognize a dinner bell when you hear one, Aisling?”
“Seriously?”
I push out of bed and tug some clothes on. “Better straighten up that ‘just fucked’ makeup and hair, lass.”
Her fingers fly to her hair, making me laugh again.
“Oh, God.”
“You’re fine,” I say, tossing her clothes to her. “But I do want you to come with me to meet some of my old teachers, alright? We’ll come right back here after, though.”
She nods. “Oh, aye. Let’s do that. Jesus, my stomach’s fucking growling.”
“Aisling.” My tone is hard, capturing her attention.
“What?”
“You can’t use language like that around the students, lass.”
“Language? Like what?”
“Curse words, love.”
She claps a hand to her mouth. “Oh, right.”
I wag a finger at her. “If you do, I’ll notice. I want you on your best behavior.”
She rolls her eyes. “Suppose you’ll give me a spanking, hmm? Always looking for an excuse to beat my arse.”
“You’d better believe I am.”
She bites her lip and flushes. “Then I’d better watch my goddamn fucking mouth, hmm?”
I swing at her arse, but she dodges and laughs, reaching for her shoes.
“Course I will,” she says. “What do you think I am, a heathen?”
“You don’t want me to answer that question. I saw the way you sleep, thrashing about like a woman possessed.”
“Not my fault you’re a human volcano.”
Can’t help but tease her. “You think I’m hot?”
She rolls her eyes at me. “Everything else about you is… big.” She lets her eyes rove over my body. “You think I’m going give you a big head, too?” She playfully smacks back at me, and I dodge her, laughing. I love how down-to-earth and unpretentious she is. “But the answer, you twat, is yes, or I wouldn’t have lost my knickers over you.” She smirks. “Damn near would’ve done it when I was younger, too, but I didn’t want to affect things with Fiona, and you barely knew I existed.”
I scratch my chin thoughtfully. I did have many other more important things on my mind back then, and I viewed Aisling like another little sister. A wild thing with wild hair and a temper that matched my sister’s.
“Had bigger things on my mind back then.”
She sobers. “You did. Like learning how to fight. Taking care of your family. Learning how to be inducted into the McCarthy Clan.”
“How do you know all this?” I tug on a shirt and zip up my trousers.
“Because you’re a man of a single mind, Tiernan,” she says, tugging on her own top. “And when you put your mind to something… well, you get what you want, don’t you?”
I prowl over to her, tug her hair, and pull her head back so her mouth parts. I kiss her until she sighs.
“I do get laser-focused on what I want, Aisling. And what I want, lass, is you.”
“Right,” she says, when I release her. “Gathered that.”
I give her a teasing swat to the bottom, and this time I don’t miss, as we head out to dinner.
Chapter 14
Aisling
I know I’m holding back from him. I know he wants more than this. Like his other Clan brothers, I’d bet he doesn’t casually date or spend time with a woman just for laughs. The men of the Clan are all in or all out, and I’ve known this for a while. The other women told me, too, so I had at least a little warning.
When the men of the Clan set their sights on a woman, they get what they want.
And he was the one who told me, what he wants is me.
Can I give myself to him?
I’m barely out of the throes of addiction. Though the worst has passed, my body still aches for relief, and when I’m stressed, I want it worse than ever. How could he care for a woman like me… damaged and broken? But he saw me at my worst. At my absolute worst. And still, he wants me.
“You’re off on another planet, Aisling.”
I am. I know it. But how can I tell him what’s on my mind?
“There’s just a lot I’m thinking over, Tiernan. I don’t want to bring any more trouble to the McCarthys.”
We walk along a path lined with brick-colored stones, hand-in-hand. Around us, boys of all shapes and sizes and ages head to a large, brightly-lit brick building. Ahead, Malachy waves to us, and the young boy we saw outside the headmaster’s office waves shyly when he sees us as well. Tiernan gives him a big grin. My heartbeat quickens. He doesn’t grin often, and it’s a damn good thing. A girl could lose her knickers over that grin. Fuck it, this girl already has.
“Hope you’re hungry for goulash,” Malachy says at the door.
“Oh, aye,” I say with a smile. “Smells delicious.”
Malachy grimaces. “You could’ve warned her, son.”
Tiernan smirks and whispers, “Don’t get your hopes up too high.”
We take a seat at a table with a few teachers, and some of Tiernan’s brothers join us as well. I note Lachlan and Tully at one table. Lachlan’s come for protection? I used to think he was an arrogant jerk for his overprotective ways with Fiona. Now, I’m happy he’s here to help us.
Tully’s talking animatedly to a young teacher. She’s hanging on his every word, and I realize it isn’t just the children here who worship the McCarthys.
I can see why, though. Every one of them is strong and powerful. Even the youngest among them’s built, muscled and strong, with McCarthy clan ink. They carry themselves with conviction, every one of them leaders, and even though we know who they are and what they do, they have a charisma about them that draws us to them. Fearless leaders, like the Vikings and Celts of old.
At least, that’s my theory.
The goulash isn’t the worst I’ve ever had, and the slices of garlic bread are thick and hearty. The salad’s plain but fresh, and I tuck in with gusto.
“Love a girl that can eat,” Tiernan says, helping himself to a third bowl of goulash.
I give him a wink.
Night’s begun to settle as we take our leave, dusk falling over us in mesmerizing shades of blue. Tiernan takes my hand.
“Wasn’t half bad,” I say to him. “It’s no gourmet meal, but it’ll do.”
He chuckles. “Aye, lass. It’ll do.” His voice lowers. “I like that about you.”
“Like what?”
“I could never be with a woman that needed… high maintenance.” He grimaces. “It’s not who I am. Not how I was raised, or my experience, and I… well, I like things simple.”
“I’ve noticed this. I’ve seen that monk-like room of yours, Tiernan.”
He smiles, but his smile fades when he checks his phone right outside the door to our room. “No word from Keenan. That’s odd.”