Corrupted Union

25

“I’m going to f**k you against this wall,” I informed her, sounding half savage even to my own ears. “I do something you don’t like, I expect you to f*****g tell me.” She nodded quickly. Greedy lust coiled at the base of my spine as I tugged down my joggers and freed my c**k. When I released her arms, she draped them around my shoulders. I lifted her, securing her legs around my waist and her back against the wall. My c**k throbbed insatiably when it made contact with her warm folds. “Already so goddamn wet for me.” I was about to plunge deep inside her when three loud knocks sounded on the front door. “Go away!” Rowan called. “You okay in there?” The man sounded uncertain. One of my neighbors must have heard us arguing. It pissed me off that someone would think I’d ever hurt her. An angry retort died on the tip of my tongue when Rowan beat me to the punch. “Seriously, f**k off!” Goddamn if I didn’t grin as I thrust inside her. Jesus, this girl. Rowan let out a guttural moan that made me want to lock her in my bedroom and spend every damn day for the rest of my life coaxing that same sound past her lips. “Oh God. This feels so good.” She sounded incredulous. Just wait, princess, it gets better. I buried myself inside her, one voracious thrust after another. It was a miracle we didn’t put a damn hole in the wall. I kissed and nipped down the column of her neck. She tugged at my hair and arched into every movement, welcoming my body into hers. When I reached between us and pinched one of her n*****s, her inner muscles squeezed me so hard I saw f*****g stars. “Oh s**t! Keir, I think I’m gonna come.” “You better, baby, because I’m right behind you.” I was so damn close it was a struggle to speak. Every ounce of my blood had migrated into my d**k, clamoring for release. “No, I…I haven’t…oh!” She gasped, then cried out as her entire body began to shudder and shake, her thighs squeezing so tight they almost kept me from moving. Fortunately, that didn’t matter because feeling her come undone in my arms shoved me over the edge with unexpected force. Like a teen unable to control himself, my orgasm exploded without warning, from deep in my balls to the base of my spine and outward to every extremity. I held her in my arms for countless seconds. She relaxed into my hold, and a piece of my soul shifted deep in my chest. Rowan was changing me. She carved out a place for herself within me until the boundaries between us blurred and overlapped. “That’s never happened before,” she murmured absently, her lips close to my ear. “You’ve never come before?” “I’ve come, but never during sex.” Equal degrees of smugness and violence fought for dominance in my head. I liked knowing I could give her something he couldn’t, but I f*****g abhorred thinking of that worthless piece of s**t inside her. Instead of saying something I’d regret, I carried her to the bathroom. Reality slowly trickled back in, leaving us both silent. I lifted her shirt over her head and unclasped her bra. When my gaze lifted to the mirror, I discovered she had a vine tattooed the length of her spine. Again, not what I expected. Would I ever begin to know this woman, or was it in her nature to keep everyone guessing? My need to find out overwhelmed me. “Is that ivy?” I asked, moving close enough to trail my fingers down her spine, watching the movement in the mirror. A full-body shiver overtook her. “Yeah,” she said softly. “You have so many tattoos, it would take a lifetime to identify them all.” Her hand hesitantly grazed my chest, drifting along the trunk of a Celtic tree of life tattooed over my heart. A constant reminder of my roots. “Not quite that many, but yeah. I’ve spent some time under the needle.” I could stand there and let her touch me all damn night, but I didn’t want her to freeze to death. “Let’s get you showered. Then we need to talk.”

I didn’t correct him. Better he thought I was cold than know it was his attention on my tattoo that had shaken me. Keir turned on the water, which was instantly a perfect steamy temperature. He guided me inside but didn’t follow. Instead, I watched through the glass while he used a washcloth at the sink to clean himself then disappeared into the closet. The hot water was ineffective at warding off a cold uncertainty that settled deep in my bones. I’d just had s*x with Keir Byrne. No, I’d just been f****d by Keir Byrne. There was a difference. Hell, we hadn’t even used a condom. I was on birth control, so I wouldn’t get pregnant. And what about STDs, Ro? If I got a disease, I deserved it. I probably deserved that and more. I scrubbed myself clean with his body wash, trying to ignore what the familiar scent did to my insides. I hadn’t planned to wash my hair when I stepped in the shower but found myself stepping back into the stream of water and letting the liquid heat soak my head. Heavy rivulets poured down my face. It was too bad they couldn’t take my shame with them. Maybe if I quit trying so hard to do the right thing, it might happen for once. It’s not all that bad, whispered that inner voice. We’ll figure a way out of this. God, I hoped so. It would be a little easier if I had the tiniest clue what Keir was thinking. Not that it should matter. We weren’t in a relationship and never would be. The best thing I could do for myself right now was accept that I had a big problem and would have to find a way out myself. My life hung in the balance. I couldn’t sit back and hope Keir or anyone else would jump into the burning building to save me. I willed all weakness and doubt to drain away with the water at my feet before getting out of the shower. Keir had placed my clothes on the vanity. I chided myself when the sight triggered a degree of disappointment. You’re allowed to be a little hurt when every sign says he’s ready to send you on your way. Wham, bam, thank you ma’am is so not cool. “No, I’m not allowed to be disappointed. That indicates I’m still counting on him to stick around, and that’s a big mistake.” I was suddenly unsure I’d made the right choice seeking out Keir. “Am I interrupting?” His low rumble startled me. I whipped my head around toward the door, wincing when I pinched a nerve with the quick motion. “No. I sort of have a habit of talking to myself.” I hung my towel on a rack and prayed he hadn’t heard what I’d said. On second thought, maybe it was best. I didn’t want him to think I was some simpering girl who couldn’t take care of herself. “I put some food together. Come eat.”