Page 64 of Carnal Wagers

You’re really back at Maeve’s?

Yes.

I shook my head with a scoff. “Abruti.” Jerk.

“What?” Cillian asked.

“Not you.” I lifted my phone. “My accomplice, as you called him.”

Was it me, or did Cillian’s grip tighten around the steering wheel? I bit my lips together and suppressed back a grin. My phone buzzed.

By the way, next time, warn me.

I never needed to hear you moan.

And dry-humping? What are you? Fifteen?

And next time, I won’t stop the Irishman from beating your head in. How about that?

“You two seem close.”

Cillian’s face was stormy as he glared at the road.

“Bof. Not really. Not until this trip, at least.”

“Why this one?”

Was that a hint of curiosity I heard?

“This is the first time it’s only the two of us. He’s always been my brother’s shadow. They are like two fingers of the same hand and almost never apart. But he is dating my best friend, who lives in Boston, and since I’m staying here on business for the next few months, he tagged along as my bodyguard. So in a way, he is stuck with me.”

“Stuck with you,” he repeated, then grunted, his face stony. “Was this prank his idea or yours?”

The erotic figurine knob on his gearbox handle really did look ridiculous between his thick fingers and knuckles. The figurine’s aroused face stuck out from the top of his grip. His fist pressed against the plastic legs where its hand dipped between them. It was perfectly filthy.

I caressed my fingers along his hand wrapped around the lewd handle.

“He’s too serious for that. This gift was all mine.”

“You thought it a good idea to mess with me?”

“Have I not been doing exactly that since we met?” My nails scratched up his arm, leaving a trail of goosebumps behind. “I think you like it. I even bet you want more. Besides, you only have yourself to blame. I won’t be ignored or pushed aside, and you were trying to do just that.”

“And if I’m not interested?”

“We both know you are. No need to play coy.”

“Your confidence is galling.”

“It has to be. If I don’t force my mark on those around me, I’ll disappear into the crowd. It’s too easy to be forgotten.”

“Ah. That’s it, innit?”

“What?” Couldn’t say I was a big fan of the sudden malignant gleam to his eyes, like he’d just won some grand prize.

“You weren’t cared for as a child. So now you try to force it from others.”

“Absolutely not. I come from a loving family.”