CHAPTER TWENTYEimear
Eimear was surprised to find Fergus still beside her when she woke up the next morning. She watched him as he slept peacefully beside her, one arm draped across her waist protectively. She knew it was just sex, but he was the kind of guy she thought she could really get used to. He represented everything she had been trying to get away from her whole life, but she realized that perhaps she had been only fooling herself.
Ciaron had been a dream for her, but when she really sat down and thought about her relationship with him, she realized it really didn’t exist. They had nothing in common. She was a pretty thing, and he collected pretty things. He had come out of nowhere and swept her off her feet, overwhelming her with attention and gifts.
It had been him who pursued her, giving her whatever he thought she needed to stay by his side. She was a sparkly thing for him to wear on his arm to look good, and she’d been so blinded by the shiny new car that she’d never stopped to look under the hood or really kick the tires.
He had smothered her, held her too close for her to really take any time to think about their imperfections, but now, knowing what she did about his infidelities and what he really was, she could see more clearly. Once he’d had her on the hook, he’d cut her off, left her always begging for more attention while he pawned her off on her assigned bodyguard and a driver. She’d had more of a relationship with the two of them in the past few months than with her future husband.
She could see him clearly now, but more importantly, she could see herself and what she’d allowed him to make of her. Dependent, aloof, weak. Fergus was different. He didn’t need to take from her to make himself more powerful. He was secure in his masculinity. He understood where she had come from. She didn’t feel the need to sugarcoat her life with him. She didn’t have to pretend to be someone better than who she was just to feel like she was good enough for him.
She knew that what was happening between her and Fergus was just a fling, not meant to last, but she also knew that she could see herself with someone like him. They were kindred spirits in a lot of ways. Their parts fit together perfectly to make a whole, and she felt comfortable with him. Well, she was beginning to know that they understood one another better. Still, today could be their last day together and she would return to Boston disgraced by her groom. Friends would have to be divided and belongings separated.
She’d made a mistake moving out of her own place. She knew that now. As soon as she was free to return home, she’d look for another apartment and get back to work. For now, she was going to enjoy this little affair she was having with some sort of mythical shifter while she had the chance. How many women could say they’d fuck a man who was half bear and mean it in the literal sense? As far as she was concerned, she was a free woman and could do whatever, or whoever, she wanted to.
“Are you watching me sleep?” he mumbled, opening one eye to look at her.
“Of course not. Don’t flatter yourself,” she quipped, rolling over to get a few more winks.
Fergus snuggled up behind her, letting her get a good feel of his morning wood as he nibbled his way down her neck and kissed her shoulders. She moaned, wanting him again despite being sore from how much they’d fucked during the night. His hand found its way to her breast, kneading it softly as she turned her head toward him and fell into his deep kiss. He’d done more than just satisfy her each time they’d fucked, but she somehow found herself still wanting more.
Unlike the other times, though, this time he was slow, tender. His kiss was heated and passionate. He let go of her breast and shifted, slipping his cock into her from behind before returning to the kiss. His free hand slipped to her throat, not put any pressure there, but clearly letting her know that he could. Instead, his hand resting there as he fucked her at such a maddingly slow pace that she had a tough time not trying to increase it in order to get some relief.
The tension built in her body, pushing her closer and closer to the edge until she couldn’t hold back anymore. Fergus’s hand tightened ever so slightly against her throat as he pushed deeply into her, the position of her legs closed only serving to increase the friction against her center. He took his time, letting her shatter into several more orgasms before letting go of his own.