I glanced back at Irene. She had a wide smile on her lips and was looking out of the window, her head hanging out, enjoying the wind blowing back the long strands of her dark hair. It would have been better to tell her to sit properly but I didn’t have the heart to interrupt the happiness she was feeling.
“Boss, where are we heading now?”
“I’ll drop you off near the main intersection and take Irene home with me. You can catch a cab from there.”
“Am I taking the day off?”
“Sure.”
A look of relief spread across his young face. “Thanks, Boss.”
I grasped him around the shoulder. “You did great, Peckham,” I said, squeezing him.
“Thanks.” He sat up a little straighter and looked pleased with himself.
I sped up the car, eager to get Irene home. Joe and Eva still didn’t know about their daughter. I had decided not to tell them until I was sure I could find her. Now that she was sitting in the back of my car, they had to be told as soon as possible.
After dropping Tom at the intersection, I brought Irene to sit in the front passenger seat.
“The view is even better here,” she said, sitting calmly as I fixed the seat belt around her. Pressing a kiss on her lips, I took the wheel. As we drove through the mid-morning traffic, Irene waved at every passing car with enthusiasm. People gave her strange looks and only the children waved back at her but Irene didn’t seem to mind.
“Are you happy, Irene?” I asked as we reached the suburban area where my house was located.
“Very! I didn’t know there were so many people here. It feels so good to see other men and women around me. I don’t feel so lonely anymore.”
An ache crossed my chest. Only Irene knew the true pain of living in that isolated house with no one but a madwoman for company, claiming to be her mother. I’ll never let you be lonely again, I vowed. You will have all the happiness in the world.
Reaching my house, I stopped the car. Before getting out, I called my caretaker, Mary.
“Get rid of every male staff in the house right now,” I spoke into the phone as soon as she picked.
“Right now?”
“Immediately. Within five minutes and tell them to take the back entrance on their way out. I am bringing a very important guest right now. Meet me at the front door.”
“Who was that?” asked Irene, leaning into me, her expression curious.
“That was Mary, my housekeeper. She will help you dress up before you see your parents.”
“My parents?”
I nodded. “They don’t know you’re here yet. Let Mary help you and I’ll go bring them here.”
“Will they like me?” she asked, looking down at her thighs and playing with a length of hair.
“They love you, Irene,” I said, putting a finger under her chin and lifting her face. “I love you.” I kissed her soft lips gently before looking back at her. “You’ll be loved by us all forever. We’re never letting go of you again.”
She smiled at that. Getting out of the car, I went around to open the door of her. Once again, she sat patiently while I removed the seat belt. Irene was too adorable and I had to struggle not to carry her back inside the house and make sweet, possessive love to her all over again.
“Come, Irene.”
Climbing out of the car, she grasped my hand tightly as I led her towards the house. Even when she was distracted, looking all around the estate, her hold on me never slackened.
Mary waited for us at the front steps. She was dressed in a neat black and white uniform with her hair in a tight bun. The elderly woman stared at Irene curiously.
“Help her bathe and dress up,” I said, reaching her. “She’s the most important person you will ever serve.”
“Who is she?”
“This is Irene Taylor. She is my fiancé and Joe Taylor’s daughter.”
Mary’s eyes widened as she stared back at Irene who’d pressed herself against me. She looked nervous but I put an arm around her shoulder. “Come inside with me.”
“You won’t leave me,” said Irene as we walked into the foyer.
“I’ll be right here,” I said. “But you have to go with Mary now, okay? I will make a call to your parents in the meantime and invite them over for lunch.”
“Come along, dear,” said Mary in a soft voice. “I will show you to your room and set a hot bath for you. How about some fresh cookies too? The cook just made a batch of chocolate chip. Would you like some?”
“I don’t think I’ve ever tasted them before.”
“They are my favorite,” I told Irene.
She looked eager at once and nodded. “I will taste them, then.”
“Come now, sweetheart,” said Mary, moving forward to take Irene’s hand.
While Irene walked away with her, she cast a backward glance at me. I had to be very careful to not stress her out. While she was happy to be out of the house, everything was new to her. It must feel like a different world compared to the dark corridors of the manor.
When both Irene and Mary left, I sat on one of the couches and closed my eyes. My body was exhausted after the hours of tensed retreat from the house. I needed a hot shower and a pot of coffee myself. However, before I could indulge in the luxuries of home, I took out my phone to call the Taylor residence.
“Hello?” came Eva’s soft voice through the phone.
“It’s me.”
“Oh, Killian! Where did you disappear to? Joe’s been looking for you.”
“Really?” I asked, knowing what Joe wanted to talk about. “What is it about?”
Eva’s voice lowered. “Nicole Stewart is dead. We finally have a chance to find our daughter.”
“I’ve found her.”
Eva went quiet for a moment. “What?”
“I have found Irene. She is at my home right now.”
Eva was quiet again but I could hear her heavy breathing.
“She is fine, Eva,” I said, hoping I hadn’t sent her into a shock. “She is healthy, beautiful and kind. She is your daughter, Eva.”
“H-how?” came her broken voice.
“I investigated as soon as I got the news about Nicole’s death. Her mafia friends were right behind me but I was able to get her out safely. Come to my house in a few hours. Bring Joe with you.”
“I am coming right now!”
“No!” I cleared my throat, softening my tone. “Come in a few hours, Eva. Let her get adjusted a little before coming here. It’s all new to her. She’s lived her whole life in an isolated manor in the woods. The place wasn’t even equipped with electricity.”
“What are you talking about?” Eva’s voice was distraught.
I inhaled a deep breath, hoping to calm her. “Please, Eva. Both you and Joe have to keep a handle on your emotions when you see her. If you break down in front of her, it’ll be worse for her.”
Eva was already sobbing. It was a while before she could speak again. “I understand, Killian.” She sniffed, taking a shaky breath. “I am already losing my mind but I haven’t even thanked you yet.
“Please, Eva. Don’t. Just calm down and come to the house in a few hours.”
“We will.”
I leaned back against the couch, exhaling a long breath. The hot shower and coffee were calling out to me. Taking my phone with me, I headed towards my room on the second floor of the house. It was good to see that Mary had taken my instruction well. Apart from a few women dusting on the first floor, there were no male servers present anywhere.
Reaching my room, I stripped out of my clothes. Naked, I walked inside the shower and turned on the water. The jets of steamy, hot water cascaded down my body, relieving my tensed muscles. Just the simplicity of bathing in a modern bathroom felt like a boon after pissing in the woods yesterday.
After the shower, I donned a fresh pair of shirt and trousers. The stubble on my chin looked darker but I ignored it for the day. There were more pressing matters to handle. After co
mbing back my dark, wet hair, I sprayed some deodorant.
I walked out of the room to go downstairs. Irene sat there in a neat white dress printed with large crimson flowers. She looked fresher too. A smile blossomed on her lips as soon as she looked up at me.
“Chocolate chip cookies are delicious!” Picking two in her hand, she hurried towards me.
I pulled her into me for a gentle hug. The scent of lemons wafted into my nostrils. She smelled like the soaps and shampoos I used. My cock stirred at the familiar fragrance. Irene was truly mine now.
“Your parents will be here soon,” I said, wrapping my arm around her and leading her back to the plush sofa.
“I feel nervous, Killian.”
“Why is that?” I asked, taking a seat beside her. Her fingers were entwined with mine as she launched into her explanation.
“What if they don’t want me anymore? It’s been so many years now. What if they like their other children more?”
I shook my head. “You’re the only child they ever had, Irene.”
“Really?”
I nodded, bringing her to lean against me. My hands gently caressed her arm. “They never forgot about you, love. In fact, no one can forget you once they meet you.”
She blushed pink, looking away shyly.
“Tell me something though, Irene,” I began as a new thought entered my mind. “Apart from Nicole, did you meet anyone else in that house?”
“No. It was always just her and me until you and Tom Peckham came.”
“Are you sure?”
She nodded.
“That’s good, then. Nicole’s mafia pal wouldn’t know anything about you. She kept you to herself, jealously protecting you from everyone. It’s lucky we got out before anyone saw you.”
“What would happen if they saw me?”
How could I explain to her? She was the most gorgeous woman I’d ever seen. It wasn’t just the beauty of her face but the sheer innocence she exuded. Nothing made a man’s blood roar with fire than that. I considered myself to be a cold man but one look at her delicate little body and I wanted to claim her as mine.
“They won’t come after you,” I said. “When they see the house is empty, they wouldn’t know where to look.”
“Master Meyers, the Taylors are here to see you,” said one of the maids.
“Bring them in.”
I looked towards Irene whose eyes were fixed on the doorway. She slowly got on her feet.
Eva and Joe appeared there in another few seconds and both parents stared at their daughter. I sat back, hoping to give the family the reunion they deserved.
While Joe hung back, Eva rushed forward to hug Irene. Joe’s gaze fell on me and I could easily see the tears shining in his eyes. He slowly moved towards his daughter and wife.
My own heart was moved as I heard their sobs and incoherent words, offering comfort to each other. Joe wrapped his arms around them. While their hair was spattered with gray now, the shade of black matched Irene’s dark tresses. She’d inherited her father’s green eyes and mother’s pretty face.
It was a while before anyone could speak. I gestured for Mary to get all the lingering maids away from the living room.
“Come home with us, darling,” said Eva. “Your old room is still waiting for you.”
I started. “She will live here,” I said, getting on my feet to walk towards Irene.
“But it’s been so long,” said Eva. “Won’t you come with us, Irene?”
“I want to stay here,” said Irene, her gaze meeting mine.
Eva’s lips trembled. Only the years of kindness she showed me could’ve made me say the next few words. “You should go home with your parents, Irene.”
“What?” A look of betrayal crossed her face. I would let Joe and Eva have their daughter to themselves for today.
“Your parents have missed you for years, Irene. Their house is very close to mine. I will come to see you later.”
“Come now, Irene,” said Eva, hugging her. “Come with us. Please?”
I could see the shift of emotions in Irene’s face as she nodded. She glanced back at me. “I will go with them now but you must come to see me, Killian. Promise me.”
Joe and Eva looked towards me with surprise. “What’s going between you two?” asked Joe.
“You’ve had enough of surprises for the day,” I said, suppressing the smile that threatened to break out. “Spend some time with your daughter because I’ll bring her back tomorrow.”
Before Joe could ask anything more, Eva had already walked out of the room with Irene, leaving him to catch up with them. I was left behind, my heart already yearning for Irene.
8
Irene
My parents took me home with them. They lived in the same neighborhood as Killian and it was only a short walk before we reached a mansion, similar to his. The two people beside me were mere strangers but I was already feeling a strange familiarity towards them. I could see the similarities between us. I had my father’s eyes and the curve of my chin matched my mother’s.
“Come in,” said my father, pushing open the door to a well-decorated foyer. It looked almost palatial and the beauty of the place caught my breath. The floors were white marble, tall vases of flowers dotted every corner and sunlight streamed in through high windows. Everything was light and airy, a stark contrast to the house I grew up in.
“Do you remember any of it, sweetheart?” asked my mother.
“Not really,” I admitted.
My parents exchanged worried glances but when they faced me, they were smiling.
“We won’t bother you with questions,” said Mother. “You need rest. Familiarity. There’s plenty of time for answers and we won’t press you until you wish to talk to us.”
“That’s kind of you…mother.” The woman’s face lit up at once. Throwing her hands around me, she hugged me.
“Just rest well, Irene,” said Father. “If you want to eat something, let us know and we’ll have it prepared. Okay?”
I nodded, stepping away from my mother. “I feel tired,” I said in a small voice. “I have never had so much excitement in my life than these past few days. Everything that’s happened since I met Killian is beyond my fantasies.”
“You already seem very close to him,” observed Father.
“Yes. He’s the man I will marry.”
My parents stared at me, their eyes wide. Mother coughed, before turning to Father. “We should show Irene to her room. The child is tired.”
Father cleared his throat. “Come now, sweetheart. This way.”
They led me further inside the house, guiding me towards a staircase that coiled upwards. Reaching the first-floor landing, they walked down the corridor and opened a door. I entered the room after them and came upon a beautiful sight. Like the rest of the house, this space was also well-lit with natural sunlight. The curtains at the windows were light and fluttery. A massive bed stood in the center with creamy white bedding.
“I can sleep here?” I asked them.
“This is your room, darling.”
“Really?” My voice was full of delight. “I love it.”
“That’s great, sweetheart,” said Father. “We’ll leave you to rest.”
They closed the door behind them, leaving me to admire my new room. It was lovely but I still missed Killian. After sleeping with him over the past few days, it felt lonely to go to bed without him.
Moving towards the bed, I removed the sandals from my feet and climbed on it. The mattress was thick and soft, my body sinking in it. The sheets smelled wonderfully fresh. Combined with my exhaustion, sleep came fast.
***
I had no idea how much time passed since closing my eyes but the next time, my eyelids fluttered open, the room was dark. Warm breaths fanned the stray strands of my hair. Someone was pressed to my back with their arm wrapped around me.
“Who?” I turned around abruptly, causing the person to gasp out.
“Sshh! C
alm down.” It was Killian’s voice.
“What are you doing here?” I whispered. As my eyes adjusted to the dimness of the room, I made out his large shape beside me.
“I missed you.” His warm lips pressed to my cheeks. “You already seem to have forgotten about me.”
“Not true,” I moaned as his hand cupped a breast and squeezed gently over my dress. “You’re the one who sent me away. I didn’t want to leave you.”
He chuckled, his hand moving down my thigh and raising the hem of my dress. “I owe your parents a lot. That’s the only reason I let them borrow you for a day.”
A chuckle escaped me. “Borrow? I am their daughter.”
“Yes,” he agreed, grabbing my ass hard. As I moaned out, he brought his mouth close to my ear. “But you’re mine now.” He lightly nipped the shell of my earlobe, making me gasp out. “That’s for forgetting it.”
Fire coursed through my veins as delicious throbs shuddered through my body. My thighs pressed together to keep myself in check. I let my hand brush over the front of his pants. At once, it hardened under my touch.
“I want you, Killian,” I whispered, raising my lips to meet his. While his tongue swirled in my mouth, his hand fumbled behind my back until he found the zipper and pulled it down. He pulled the dress away until my breasts were exposed to him. Removing the clasp of the bra next, he freed my soft mounds, grabbing them in tight grasps.
His mouth moved to my throat, trailing kisses down to my breasts. My hand still rubbed over his bulge, unsuccessful at getting to his thick, hot cock.
“Please Killian,” I moaned as he sucked onto a nipple. His fingers went down the waistband of my panties, brushing over my curls to reach my sex. My mouth opened wide as his digits sunk into my wet folds.
“You’re ready, love,” he whispered appreciatively, moving his finger in and out of me. My muscles clamped onto it as my body throbbed. “Let me hear you come.” His teeth played with my nipples, making me lose my mind as pleasure began building inside me.
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