Illicit Temptation (Astoria Royals #3)

CHAPTER FIFTY-EIGHT

Shea

I feel sick.

“They... They left me?”

“Katya went into labor,” Trace explains softly. “That drove Lachlan’s crazy up to nuclear.”

“Malone let them leave?”

“Aye. He wanted you , not them. Just as I said. It was a standoff, but in the end, Malone gave in. Apparently, neither of them wanted to commit murder with dozens of witnesses. Malone is cruel, but he’s not crazy. He’s now looking for us. That’s why we’re laying low, not rushing to another airport. Malone still has a prison to run and has to hunt down dozens of escapees, or explain to the Director of Prisons what the hell happened there.”

“How did you find this out?”

“Cormac called me.”

“Did Malone ask for my father?”

“Lachlan didn’t let Malone into the house. Said he was in charge.”

For a moment, I step outside myself and think about how Lachlan comes across to people who don’t know him. How terrifying he can be. God, what if he hadn’t come to Ireland? It all makes sense. “What else did Cormac say?”

“His exact words were: Get my fucking sister out of this country.” Trace puts on a new shirt and unlocks me from the bed. “Let’s eat, princess.”

Two days. Two days, we’re flying home. I’ll be safe. I’ll see my mother and hold my newest niece.

Another baby I’ll hold instead of my own. But Trace seems to be on the same page as me. I’m crazy about him. God, look at what he’s done for me. To be with me. We’re already married and he loves me.

Do I love him? God, yeah, I do. I hate the idea of being without him and only suggested going to Malone as a diversion, so he didn’t hurt anyone else.

The steaks Trace prepares for us are unbelievably fresh and delicious. I forgot what beef is supposed to taste like without all the hormones and chemicals the American meat industry uses.

As I clean up our dinner dishes, Trace comes up behind me and kisses my neck. I lean back and groan from his touch, the ache between my legs coming back to life.

The sun has set and the glow of a rare supermoon lights a narrow path to a lake in the distance and reflects on the water.

Catching my breath, I whisper, “It’s really beautiful here.”

Trace winds his strong arms around my waist. His velvety lips feel like wet pillows bracketed by a soft beard and mustache that tickles the sensitive skin behind my ear. “Would you ever come back here?” he asks in a husky drawl.

With a soft laugh, I say, “I didn’t have a choice to leave when we were young. Da whisked us all away. But... Maybe. Of course, not with a psycho warden after me.”

“He won’t be after you forever.”

I turn in his arms. “Once I leave, he’ll forget about me?”

“He won’t remember you without his head.”

“And how will his head leave his body?” I peer up into Trace’s eyes.

“I’m going to remove it.”

“How, if we’re leaving in two days? You’re not going back there, are you?”

He chuckles. “You let me worry about that.”

“How? Tell me?”

“You doubt me, princess? ”

“With whose help?”

“Malone made a lot of enemies, and let’s just say we’ve kept in touch.”

“Trace...” I whisper.

“I don’t trust that once he gets his house in order, he won’t regroup and try to do what he couldn’t years ago.”

“What was that?”

“Kill me.” Trace takes my mouth, not allowing me to respond.

His greedy lips kiss me with a hunger that thickens the air. His fingers dig into my hip, his grip bruising.

With every whimper, he deepens the kiss.

He lifts me and I wrap my legs around his waist. Walking, he kisses me until we’re in the bedroom and his knees hit the bed. He drops me on it, the soft top cover swallowing me.

While I watch, Trace undresses, tossing his shirt aside but leaves his slacks on.

When I reach to lift off the sweater dress I changed into for dinner, he shoots me a warning. “Don’t you dare.”

Trace bends down and pulls the dress right over my head. With a knife from a leather holder on his hip, he cuts off my panties, resting the blade between my tits. Heat pulses deep in my core. I never thought a knife against my skin would make me so wet.

But here I am. I blow out a breath and can’t believe I’ve gone from furious at this man to aching for him to be inside me. The bedroom with its pitched ceiling planks reminds me of a cozy attic and the vast nothingness all around us feels like we’re the only people left in the world.

Trace holds my chin, and his deep stare kicks up my heart rate. It’s so strong it hammers against my ribs.

His voice deepens, deadly and sharp as that blade. “I’m going to edge you and you’re going to beg me to fuck you.”

“Wanna bet?”

His smile widens as he rubs my pussy.

“Good, yes. Fight back. It gets you so wet.”

He releases my core and sticks those fingers in my mouth.

“Can’t we do both?” And damn, that gets me so wet.

Heat flares in his eyes, and I’m flipped on the bed face down.

Uh oh.

He rains down a few blows on my bare ass. The sharp sting of white-hot pain mixes with a deep craving in my core to be fucked.

“That’s for having the audacity to suggest another man can touch you.”

He yanks my legs open and breathes against the shell of my ear, while his fingers circle my clit. “You’re so fucking mine.”

I writhe against the bed, my whimpers catching his attention. Trace flips me back over and kisses my salty wet lashes. “I love you, Shea. I’ve always loved you.”

“Oh, Trace.”

“Now show me who you really are.” His lips make a trail down my body until he reaches my center.

I gyrate my hips and press his face into my core to help him make me come.

“This is who I am. I’m a fucking O’Rourke.” Taking what I want.

“You were an O’Rourke. Now you’re a Quinlan. My Quinlan.” He sits up and strokes my folds. “And you’re fucking soaked for me.”

The sound of his zipper mixed with my stuttering breaths punctuates the quiet. “Tell me you love me,” he says, hoarse with lust. His eyes are wild, but I love that if I withhold the sentiment, he’ll fuck me harder .

God, I’m sick.

My silence pours gasoline on the fire in his eyes. “I see,” he says, his accent as thick as I ever heard it.

He reaches down, his knuckles brushing my aching, swollen clit. “You’re gonna regret denying me what I know to be true.” He lowers his pants and takes out his cock.

The blunt head, wet and velvety soft, breaches my entrance. Like a bull out of the gate, he thrusts inside me. He’s so damn tall, his back bows, holding my hands over my head while he fucks me with long agonizing strokes.

He curls his hips, sliding all the way out, then slamming all the way back in.

Seeing the fury and uncontrolled lust in my eyes, he smiles. To tease me, he pulls out, kneels between my legs to lick me, and suck on my clit. Driving me fucking crazy. It’s mind-bending as I come in his mouth.

“So fucking wet.” He sits up and slides back into me. “Christ, Shea,” Trace grunts, watching his cock impale me. “I’m going to come. Don’t worry. I’ve got so much more for you. I’m gonna fuck you all night.”

I’m a dead woman.

Trace fucks me and comes, a growling roar tearing from his throat. The pressure on my clit turns unbearable, and my womb convulses. It doesn’t stop.

“Fuck, there’s so much,” Trace says, emptying his balls inside me as I spasm around his shuddering cock.

I lose track as we sway to his thrusting. My body absorbs each thrust, dancing in perfect rhythm, a beautiful syncing of our bodies.

And our souls.

Trace pulls out and lays his weight on top of me. “You were so good, love.” He curls our joined hands together under his chin, gently kissing the skin. “You fuck your husband so damn good. ”

“Trace,” I whisper, choking up.

“Oh no, princess. Don’t cry.”

“I love you.” I waited until I could say it on my terms.

Trace goes stock still, and I feel awful. He’s been alone in these feelings for me for so long. Ever the warrior, I can tell he’s ready to fall apart, but he keeps his shit together.

“I know you do. I didn’t expect you to give in and say so if it meant you’d get fucked harder, though.” He knows me so well.

“What happens now?” I ask, being vague, given the wide berth of problems we have.

“Now, we rest. In a few minutes, I’m going to lick your pussy until you come a few more times. Then I’m going to fuck you again.”