by Fiona Murphy
“Dolly is your housekeeper?”
“Housekeeper, but life keeper is more like it. She kept house for my da when my mother left and has been here ever since. She comes in a few hours each day. She gets me breakfast and lunch and leaves me dinner. In between that, she does laundry and sees to it her granddaughter Hannah cleans up after me.”
“Did you tell her I would be here for a while?”
“No, she’ll figure it out and get down on her knees thankful that her prayers were answered.”
Miranda smiled as she followed him into the bedroom, but paused as her inner muscles worked in anticipation of him inside her, and it caused a low and heavy aching sensation. It stopped her in her tracks. He turned as he noticed she was no longer beside him, and he studied her.
He drew her to him, loose but captured nonetheless in his arms. “What’s the matter, sweetheart?” At her hesitation, he caught her chin and brought her up to meet his eyes. “Talk to me.”
“I ache, I can’t take you again.”
Declan’s eyes closed, and she stiffened, fearful it might mean he would send her home because she would be of no more use to him tonight. When he finally opened them, his eyes were full of sorrow.
“I’m such a bastard. That last time I knew I should leave you alone, but I couldn’t control myself. You’re in pain, and I promised you that I wouldn’t hurt you.”
Her hand went up to his cheek. “Hang on there, and stop beating yourself up. I was the one to start what happened the last time. You’ve said it yourself, I’m greedy for you. If you had tried to stop me, I’m pretty sure I would have attempted to climb on you and ride you. It has been over four years since the last time I had sex, so my body isn’t as used to it as I would like it to be. A day or so and then I will climb on you and ride you,” she whispered against his mouth with a teasing smile.
He laughed. “And here I was holding that position back, certain it would leave you too sore for much else. Come on, darlin’, I have a bath that will go a long way to help you feel better.”
Following him into the bathroom, she couldn’t hold back the small cry of delight at the large jetted bathtub. He turned it on, and she watched him set the temperature as the bath began to quickly fill. Once it was half full, he put the jets in motion and stepped back to her. He undid the shirt she wore slowly, and she heard his breath catch, as he saw she wore nothing beneath it. He pushed it from her shoulders and kissed her lips softly.
“Get in, sweetheart, and don’t come out until your fingers turn to prunes and you’ve no bones left in your body. I’m going to change out the sheets, and there are some things I neglected today because I couldn’t stop thinking about you. Just don’t fall asleep, okay?” Miranda nodded and stepped into the tub with a sigh of pleasure.
As she stepped out, she felt revived, and as she applied lotion her body came alive in anticipation. She let out a chuckle that turned into a sigh. How had her body so quickly become sexually alive, she wondered? There had never been a hint of the woman she was in Declan’s bed. Not once in her years of marriage to Michael did she ever look forward to having Michael’s hands on her, let alone sex. Then again, Michael had never seemed to care whether or not she was satisfied. Sex had typically lasted less than five minutes, and she had been grateful for that, not doing anything to entice him for anything other than him coming so he could get off her. While there hadn’t been pain with Michael, which wasn’t really surprising, as he’d been about six inches and not very thick, there had never been any enjoyment either. Several women’s magazines had urged her to find her own satisfaction, but although she had managed to bring herself to an orgasm, she hadn’t once considered finding a man to be the one to do it. There simply wasn’t any appeal to her at all. Empty though her life might have been, she had no desire to change it.
Yet here she was falling over herself to practically move in with someone she barely knew. Who just happened to head the criminal aspect for the IRA in Chicago. Miranda sat down on the closed toilet with a flop when her knees gave way as it all hit her. What would her father think of what she was doing, what she was willing to ignore to be with Declan?
The answer was her father would have loved Declan. Her father would have swooned over each and every thing Declan did to see to her smallest needs. He had been ridiculously old-fashioned and he’d done his best to educate her that the world wasn’t just black and white, there were varying shades of gray. She also remembered distinctly him telling her he’d take a criminal over a cop any day, especially in Chicago. A criminal you knew was dirty, but a cop wasn’t supposed to be, and half the time just as dirty as the people they put in jail. His bitter words had come after he’d paid off a cop not to run Peter in for being found drunk and with weed at only thirteen. Desperate to keep Peter from going into the system, he’d sold her mother’s tiny engagement ring to pay the cop. Her father wouldn’t have blinked at her involvement with Declan for what he did. His only concern would have been over how Declan treated her.
Then there was the help and assistance she’d heard Declan provide to pretty much anyone who asked for it. So he wasn’t all bad, but then again, he wasn’t all good. She sighed. She had to admit, it didn’t matter, nothing mattered to her but being with Declan. It was just that simple and just that complicated.
Miranda opened her small suitcase and found a soft silky black camisole that matched the black silky lounge pants she preferred, and went downstairs, figuring she would begin the second audit, as she wasn’t in the slightest bit sleepy and it was only a little after nine. Now that she knew what she was looking for from the first ledger, it would be easier to see and pin it down in the second. Declan was on the phone when she entered his office, and he smiled when he saw her. She motioned to the desk she’d been using for the audit. He nodded and went back to his conversation. She was settled into the books and engrossed by the time he finished his conversation, and she soon felt his hands on her shoulders.
“Feeling better?” he whispered in her ear as he ran his hands down her arms.
“Yes.” She sighed as he pressed small kisses to the flesh behind her ear.
“I’m glad. Now, I do not want you down here working unless you feel up to it.”
Turning to him, she kissed him at the corner of his mouth. “I feel much better, really. This one shouldn’t take long at all, after knowing what to look for from the other ledger. I know it sounds silly, but I love finding and unraveling the thefts in audits. If I’m in your way, I can take it into the dining room.”
“No, sweetheart, you are not in my way at all. If you want to work then so be it. I do have to step out, but I should be back within the hour.”
“Hmm... are you sure me being here isn’t an inconvenience to you?” she asked hesitantly. “I mean, especially since I’m not able to... you know? Would you rather I went home?”
Declan pulled her up out of the chair, and his hands weren’t as gentle as they had been so far that night. His kiss was savage, hot, and commanding. He was branding her. Her head swam, and her focus was lost when he at last raised his head, his eyes burning amber. “You are mine and you belong with me. Do you understand me? Convenient or not, you aren’t going anywhere. Here is where you belong.”
Miranda shook her head, frightened for a moment at what she had unleashed in him. She sought to soothe him. “I’m sorry, Declan, I didn’t mean it.” Laying her head on his chest and hearing his heart beating fast calmed her. His grip gentled, and she was able to hug him to her. “It was just a question. I don’t want to go.”
“Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, I swear I don’t know what comes over me at the thought of you leaving me. I’m sorry, Miranda. Please do not ever apologize to me when I have been a bastard to you.” He hugged her tightly and sighed heavily. “Forgive me for being a bastard, and I will forgive you for asking such a stupid question.”
She pulled away and wrapped her arms around his neck to bring him down to her. “You’re forgiven,” she whispered as
she kissed him.
Gone was the command, leaving only the passion and need that burned her inside out for him. He responded in kind, and they were lost. Only the slam of the heavy front door brought them down. A discreet cough sounded at the door, and she turned her head to see Paul smiling at her.
“I’ll be right out. Give me a minute,” Declan ordered and Paul nodded and left. Declan’s thumb rubbed gently over her bottom lip. “I really am sorry. I’ll work on not being a caveman, but I need you to help by being a good girl and just bowing to my every whim and command. Okay?” His face was straight, and she nodded for a moment until she took it all in, and then she stroked him and found the smallest bit of skin and pinched him hard.
“No more talk of me leaving. That command thing works for us in the bedroom. Outside of that, it will have to be further discussed.”
“Ouch, yes, I deserved it, my bloodthirsty witch. Okay, I better go before Paul leaves without me. I’ll be back in a bit.” With a last kiss, he was gone.
Miranda finished the audit a mere half-hour later, and, left to her own devices, she studied his office with a freedom she had never had before. The walls were lined with beautiful oak bookcases, and the wainscoting below the shelves was covered in a dark chocolate paint that gave the room a feeling of heavy warmth. Books filled the oak bookcases to almost overflowing. There were a few rows of leather-bound books, but for most part it was clear, as she ran her hand over some, that they weren’t simply for show. Titles varied from philosophy, to poetry, and even to the latest thrillers by some popular writers. The titles directly behind his desk seemed to be the ones most worn. Pulling out one with an extremely tattered edge, she saw it was a book on Plato and smiled.
There was so much to Declan that she wanted to know about. He fascinated her, the way spoke so lightly of an economics degree from a top-notch school as if it was fun. She loved the way he seemed so open to talk about everything. Even that first day he hadn’t hidden who he was, he’d told her the truth. As she slid the book back into place, she knew she would love to hear his thoughts on it. She could admit that she just loved to hear him talk. It made her tingle to hear him whisper in her ear in that sexy brogue. She never thought she’d be one of those women into accents, but when he spoke it just made her melt. With a glance at his desk, she was as surprised as she had been that first day at how bare it was. A cordless phone was to the side, and there was an antique desk clock, simple in its design. Besides a basic desk lamp, the only other thing was a laptop.
With a sigh, Miranda forced her thoughts away from the things that he might have done at the desk and laid the paperwork in the middle, along with the one sheet of the details of her findings. Shannon had once again been involved, and another man with the same last name as Ian, which made her wonder if they were family. After Declan’s request for the information on The Black Swan, she included the amount they had likely managed to steal, well over forty thousand. Miranda told herself it was out of her hands, that any men who had been stupid enough to steal from their employers got what they deserved, but it felt bitter on her tongue. No matter that they would have been found out by someone else, the result would have still been the same, but this time it was her who had ensured they were found out and would pay for what they had done.
Walking to the door of Declan’s office, she stared at the front door. She could walk out now, before he got back. She had kept her end of the bargain and given him what he wanted, on more than one level. Miranda had the oddest knowledge that, despite his flash of anger when she spoke of leaving him, if she did, he would let her go. He wouldn’t go after and push her. She was here because she wanted to be, and if she left he would honor her decision. Yet she only turned off the light and, leaving on a lamp for Declan for when he returned, made her way upstairs and got ready for bed. Leaving Declan wasn’t an option, no matter what she might tell herself. Until he told her to leave, she would stay, and she would forget everything about what Declan did, except when it came to her.
Much later that night, she was woken from a deep sleep as Declan removed her nightshirt before fitting her body to his. She sighed with appreciation and went back to sleep.
Chapter Eight
Almost three weeks later, Miranda listened as the mass exodus began at five o’clock. Well, the mass exodus for support people. Most of the accountants would remain for at least another hour, most of them for two. With a longing she hadn’t felt in years, she watched them go, one by one, past her office. Her head turned back to the numbers in front of her, but she didn’t see them. All she saw was the smile on Declan’s face when she walked through the door at night. He had forbidden her from using the El when it was dark, and so at night she would text that she was ready. Most nights it was Mark who picked her up, but sometimes, if she was really lucky, it was Declan. On those occasions, they would go out to dinner and linger over each other’s words until the heat had built so strongly they couldn’t always make it home.
With a snap, Miranda closed her laptop and that was it. She was done. She wanted to go home and be with Declan. If her boss had a problem with it, he could talk about it tomorrow, because for now she just wanted out. As she left her office she got a few looks, but no one said anything, and she let out a sigh of relief as she walked into the sunlight. It was a gorgeous, clear April day, and she considered the bus but decided to walk a bit to the El.
Only a half-hour later, she let herself into the house. It was quiet and she didn’t see anyone. She went upstairs, but Declan wasn’t there either. As she came down the stairs, she saw Mark about to leave through the front door. “Mark, where’s Declan?”
“Home early? Declan will like that for sure. He’s downstairs in the gym. The door in the kitchen goes downstairs. Just go all the way down the hall. I know he’ll be happy for the interruption.”
Embarrassed that she had no idea there was even a basement, Miranda smiled her thanks. Through the kitchen she found the door she knew went out to the backyard and carriage house. The stairs were solid and well maintained, unlike the crumbling ones in her own home. The first room to the right was a large movie room that also housed a bar and full-size fridge. The first door to the left was a full bathroom that looked like new. A long hallway led to the gym. It was a large room filled with a weight machine, free weights, a rowing machine, punching bag, treadmill, and a bench press.
Declan was laid out on the bench press, and the sight of him took her head clean off. She finally understood what Declan meant when he said it. He wore only loose-fitting shorts and sneakers. Often she appreciated his well-defined chest and knew the taste of it well, but never quite like it was now. The light dusting of hair was slick with sweat and his skin glowed below the harsh light. Every muscle and sinew flexed and undulated hypnotically as she watched in appreciation. Wet heat shot to her pussy and her nipples stood at attention so quickly they began to hurt.
Removing her shoes, she began to walk toward him. Her blouse was next, and two buttons was all it took for her skirt to fall away. He saw her as her skirt hit the floor. He smiled and sat up as she stopped mere inches from him. “Lie back down,” she ordered as she stood over him. Every time he took her, she gave herself utterly, and he’d kept his promise, every time he took care of her pleasure. But now, this time, she needed to have him under her, free to touch him and taste him. She needed to have his body for her own pleasure.
Shaking his head, he stood up. “The bench won’t hold the both of us, my love.” His hands were in her hair as he pulled her to him, their kiss was fierce and demanding. Sweeping her up in his arms, he settled her down on the workout mat.
The cool plastic beneath her brought her out of her mindlessness, and she pushed him up and away. “I want you on your back, Declan,” she whispered into his mouth as she sucked his tongue into her mouth. He moaned, and she was above him.
His body was so beautiful. She ached to the very core of her as she touched him. Her hands roamed over his chest and across every furrow of
muscle. Her mouth followed, and she was lost in him. Her bra disappeared somewhere, and she was glad as she rubbed her breasts over his chest. The first time he groaned, and the second time he pulled her up and kissed her until she thought she would faint. She wanted him inside her so badly. Breaking the kiss, she stood up on shaky legs to rid herself of her panties.
Grateful to see him match her actions, she straddled him, bracing herself, her palms flat on his sweat-slicked chest. She eased down to take him inside. “How do I do this?” She moaned as she felt the tip of him outside her slick entrance.
Reaching down between them, he guided his cock into her.
Miranda had yet to take him in this way, and the newness of it almost overwhelmed her. As she took him deeper, her body shuddered with an orgasm that shocked her. He wasn’t even halfway in. She swayed forward and he caught her. He moved just an inch or two further into her, and she became immediately greedy for all of him. Letting herself go, she sank onto him. How in the world had he kept this position from her?
Pulling her to down to him, he ravaged her mouth. She moved herself on his cock and gripped him from inside. Declan tore his mouth away, and his hands went to her hips. He lifted her up and she groaned her displeasure. She came down on him and rocked forward. The friction set her off, and the tempo they set was frantic. Too soon, far too soon, he was there. He slipped a hand between them and stroked her clitoris so that he wasn’t alone in his climax. Between the overwhelming feeling of fullness from having him inside her buried to the hilt and his stroking, her climax was almost painful when it hit her, and she screamed his name as she came. He exploded inside her, and she felt every spasm of his cock up her spine. She fell forward and he caught her, holding her tightly to him.