ChapterTwelve
Cillian
We spend the next few hours sitting in the living room of the cottage cuddled on the couch. I keep Glenda wrapped up tightly in her robe, because one look at her bare skin and I know I’d lose all my control.
My mom sent a text asking if I was coming for dinner, but I told her I was eating in the cottage, and she sent back about a million emojis with hearts and stars. I could almost be annoyed with her if that wasn’t exactly what I felt like on the inside. Although I would never admit that to her.
“Can I ask you something?” Glenda wiggles her toes when I slide my thumb over them. She’s stretched out with her feet in my lap, and I’m massaging them. It’s all I’m allowing myself to do while I try to be good and not throw her over my shoulder and carry her back to bed.
“You can ask me anything, puddin’ pop.” I wink at her, and she rolls her eyes.
“Veto on puddin’ pop.”
“We’ll see about that.” I tickle her foot again, and she laughs. “Seriously, what did you want to ask?”
“Um, never mind.” Her face turns bright red, and I narrow my eyes.
“Well, now you have to tell me.”
“Well…” She hesitates and then finally swallows. “Why didn't you want to, you know, earlier.”
“Why didn’t I want to do what?” I’m genuinely confused as I look down at her, trying to decipher what she’s saying.
“You know.” She looks at the bedroom and tilts her head in that direction. “In there.” When I stare at her blankly, she widens her eyes. “You know, sex.”
When she says the last word, it all makes sense, and then I laugh. She makes an angry face and crosses her arms over her chest in a pout that is the most adorable thing I’ve ever seen in my life. I pull her onto my lap and bury my face in her neck as she tries to hold on to her scowl.
“It’s not funny.”
“I know, twinkle toes.”
“Twinkle toes? Veto.”
“You’re right, it’s not funny. I just find it kind of cute that you have a hard time saying ‘sex’ after I’ve had my mouth on your pussy.”
“Cillian!” She playfully slaps my chest.
“You liked it.” I slide my hand between her legs, and before she can stop me, I’m between her lips and feeling just how wet she is. “Mmmm,” I hum appreciatively. “Looks like you still like it.”
“You’re avoiding my question,” she breathes, rocking her hips forward.
“No, I’m just not willing to run you off yet.”
She leans back to look into my eyes, and my fingers pause. “What do you mean, run me off?”
“I want you, Glenda,” I say with all my heart. “I want only you. Forever.”
She softens at my words, and I kiss her gently. “But what’s wrong with that?”
“Look at me.” I shrug and stare at the soft place below her throat that feels so good against my lips. I can’t meet her eyes, but when her hand comes up and cups the scarred side of my cheek, I’m forced to look at her.
“I am looking at you.” Her voice is filled with emotion as she presses her lips to my damaged skin. “And nothing you can say or do will make me run away from you.” She brushes her fingertips over the scars. “This is part of you, Cillian. No matter what you think, nothing about the way you look could make me not want you.”
“You promise?” I look into her eyes and realize that I need to hear her say the words. I’m not sure I knew until this moment that I had to have the confirmation.
“I promise.” She touches my cheek one more. “Unless you call me something like ‘love muffin.’”
“Well, I guess there’s still time to cancel those matching shirts I ordered,” I tease as I slide the tip of my finger over her clit.
“You’re still avoiding the question.” Her eyes close just a little as she rocks her hips into the touch.
“What if I want you to be my wife before we do that?” I hold my breath as her eyes widen and her body stills. “You don’t have to answer that right now—”
“Yes!” she cuts me off, and the smile that stretches across her face is the biggest one I’ve ever seen. “I mean, if you’re asking me.” She bites her bottom lip, suddenly nervous. “Sorry, I mean if you ask me then I’ll say yes. But if not, it’s okay too.”
“Are you finished?” I ask, and she nods quickly. “I plan on sending my proposal to your family this evening.”
“Oh my god.”
“Are you worried?” I take my hand from between her legs and slide it around her bare hip. “Do you think they’ll reject it?”
“No, I just can’t believe this is happening.” She throws herself against me, but I’m right there to catch her as I roll us over on the couch.
Glenda is pinned under me and smiling from ear to ear. “Tomorrow is my birthday, and I can’t think of a better present.”
“Is this really happening?” There are tears forming in her eyes, and I bend down to kiss them away.
“I want to do this the right way. Even if I might not have done it exactly the right way.”
“Do we really have to wait?” Her leg wraps around my hip, opening her body for me. I can feel the heat of her pressed against my pants, and I groan.
“You’re killing me, baby.”