Eighteen years old ...

“Who are you glaring at?”

I didn’t look at Kane when I sat down next to him.

“No one.”

He followed my line of sight and chuckled.

“Alannah.”

I wasn’t glaring at Alannah ... just the pussies who were dancing next to her. Her focus was entirely on Bronagh as they laughed and danced, but the men around within their reach were focused on them. I didn’t like it, and I didn’t like that I didn’t like it. Feeling anything for Alannah was bad news. She was a jewel, someone worth great value, and she was as precious as she was fragile. I messed up people’s lives, it was what I did, and I didn’t want to mess up her life. Keeping away from her when I was so wildly attracted to her was agony, but I endured it. I also endured her sweet smiles, the sound of her laughter, and the longing look of lust she often shot my way.

I withstood it all from the moment I had met her ... but I was starting to break.

“I’m not looking at her.”

Kane laughed and clapped his hand on my shoulder. “A blind man could see that you have feelings for her, little brother.”

“Feelings?” I choked. “I don’t have feelings for her. I don’t even know her all that well.”

Lie. Lie. Lie.

Kane raised a brow. “It’s more than attraction. You wouldn’t give a shit about other guys moving in on her if you only thought she was cute.”

I set my jaw. “Leave it alone, Kane.”

He looked from me to the dance floor, and said, “Never mind, she’s kissing another guy, so you don’t have to worry about her.”

I jerked my gaze in Alannah’s direction so fast I almost hurt my neck. My entire body was tensed to the point of pain, but when I saw Alannah still dancing with Bronagh and not paying attention to any of the guys around her, I looked back at my smirking brother and glared at him.

“You’re an asshole.”

“And you’re an idiot,” he countered. “You like the girl, so what’s the issue? Dominic is in love with Bronagh, and I’ve never seen him so happy. That same goes for Ryder and Branna. That could be you with Alannah.”

I rolled my eyes. “Since when do you give a shit about relationships?”

“I don’t,” Kane answered. “I care about you and the others, and if a relationship is what will make you guys happy, then I’m all for supporting them.”

I didn’t answer him, and he didn’t speak another word. We watched the girls as they danced, and before I knew it, I was on my feet and stalking in Alannah’s direction with Kane’s laughter echoing behind me. Some punk was dancing a little too close to her and had his eyes on her perfect body too long. He caught my eye as I approached, and when he saw the look on my face, he backed off, then disappeared into the crowd. I reached Alannah and tugged her towards me when I noticed that Bronagh was no longer with her.

She tried her hardest to break my hold as she shouted at me, but she stopped fighting almost instantly when she turned and looked up at me. Her whiskey coloured eyes lit up when she saw me, and warmth spread across my chest.

“Damien!”

My lips curved upwards into a smile as I looked at her. I had the sudden urge to hold her, so I placed my hands on her waist, and without a word, I tugged her body until she was flush against me, and it drew a gasp from her. I couldn’t hear it because of the music, but I could imagine it, and it sent blood rushing to my groin. When she gathered her bearings, she placed her hands on my shoulders and bit her lower lip when she rolled her body against mine. My hands flexed and bit into the flesh of her waist.

“I want you so bad it hurts, baby.”

Alannah shook her head, and shouted, “I can’t hear ye’.”

I grabbed her hand and led her off the dance floor. When I turned to face her, Alannah took my breath away when she leaned back up onto her tiptoes, placed her hands on either side of my face, and tugged my head down to hers. She moved in and pressed her soft lips against mine. I held still for maybe two seconds. I had planned to pull away, but the sensation of her lips against mine was all I could take. I wrapped my arms around her petite body and pulled her as close as I could get.

“Alannah,” I murmured against her lips.

She pulled back from our kiss and stared up at me with wide eyes. She said something with a dreamy look on her face, but I couldn’t hear her over the music and the rowdy crowd, so I grabbed her hand once more and led us over to two large men who stood outside the entrance to the back of the club. Once of them was Skull, a bouncer that I had met a few times.

“Can I use an available room?”

Skull glanced at Alannah behind me and grinned as he nodded. “Last room on the left.”

I thanked him, and Alannah hid behind me as we were let by, then when the door closed, and the hallway we entered was coated in silence, she looked at me, and shouted, “Me ears are ringin’.”

I laughed and silently led her down the hallway to the room Skull said I could use. When we stepped into a huge living area, the first thing Alannah spotted was the huge bed. I closed the door as she walked towards it, and I was about to follow her when I came to a dead stop. Alannah reached the bed, then bent forward and ran her hand over the linen.

“This feels good,” she hummed. “It’s so soft.”

I made a sound dangerously close to a gasp as my eyes locked on Alannah’s ass. Her dress had ridden up a bit, allowing me to see the curve of her ass cheeks. My cock throbbed painfully, so I adjusted it and swallowed.

“Heaven, help me.”

Alannah straightened, without fixing her dress, and turned to face me. Her creamy, thick thighs were on display, and I had to forced myself to stay still just so I wouldn’t go to her, drop to my knees, and run my tongue over them.

“Did ye’ say somethin’?”

I lifted my hand and ran it through my hair.

“I said,” I rumbled, “heaven, help me.”

“Why d’ye need help?” she asked, tilting her head to the side. “Ye’ aren’t in trouble.”

“On the contrary.” I licked my lower lip. “I think I’m in a whole heap of trouble.”

Alannah’s eyes were locked on my tongue’s movement, and it caused her lips to part ever so slightly.

“What trouble would that be?”

“The five-foot-five, black hair, and brown eyes kind.”

Her eyes widened. “You think I’m trouble?”

Is she kidding me?

“Babe.” I chuckled. “I think you’re the definition of it.”

“I think ye’ have me confused with someone else,” she said, falling into a sitting position on the bed when she tried to take a step back. “I’ve never been in trouble in me whole life.”

“No, I’m sure you haven’t,” I agreed, my lips twitching. “But I think you could stir up a lot of it.”

“Yeah?” she questioned. “Like what?”

“Like how one kiss has me wanting to touch you in ways you’ve never been touched.”

She audibly swallowed.

“H-how d’ye know what ways I’ve been touched?” she stammered. “I could have already been touched in every way possible.”

She was so cute, so sexy, I almost couldn’t stand it.

“Babe.”

A pretty blush stained Alannah’s cheeks.

“Fine.” She licked her lips. “No one else has touched me, but I’ve touched me an awful lot.”

I locked my eyes on hers.

“Why don’t ye’ change the former and touch me?”

I was seconds away from tackling her back onto the back, and she didn’t even know.

“Be careful, freckles,” I warned. “I think we should just cool it and talk—”

“I don’t wanna talk.” She cut me off. “I wanna kiss ye’, to touch ye’ ... I want ... I want to get into trouble with ye’.”

“My God.” I put my face in my hands. “You aren’t a sex only girl, Lana. You’re the flowers, chocolate, cuddle nights in, and steady boyfriend kind of girl. And I love that about you, but I can’t give you that.”

She frowned.

“Don’t look at me like that,” I said, flustered. “I’m trying to do right by you. I’m trying to convince myself that you don’t really want me like this—”

“I do,” she interrupted. “I know your situation, and I’m not a fool. I know it’s just sex with you, but I want ye’ so much that I’ll take it.”

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

She was saying exactly what I wanted to hear, but it still didn’t feel right.

“This was a bad idea. I shouldn’t have brought you in here.” I began to pace back and forth. “I just wanted to talk to you, but damn, you look edible, and you smell and taste so good. It’s all I can do to stay on this side of the room.”

“C’mere to me,” she beckoned. “Don’t think about the after, think about now. If I’m angry later, it’s on me. This is probably a stupid idea, but I’ve never needed someone like I need you. If this is a mistake, let me make it and learn from it.”

Christ, she wasn’t making this easy.

“You’ve been drinking,” I said flatly. “I tasted it on you.”

“I’ve sobered up a hell of a lot since ye’ told me I was trouble.”

“You are trouble.”

“Prove it,” she challenged.

I took a step forward, then hesitated before I said, “Let’s just chill and talk for a while. Just ... just to see if this is what you really want.”

The words were hardly out of my mouth before she turned and scrambled up the bed, flopping onto her back.

“What are you doing?”

“What d’ye mean?” I asked, holding my position. “I’m chillin’.”

Amused, I folded my arms across my chest.

“You usually chill on a bed with your thighs parted?”

“This is how I lie on me bed. It’s kind of ... freein’.”

I dropped my gaze to the middle of her legs even though I told myself not to. I quickly crossed the room, turned my back to Alannah, and sat on the edge of the bed. Without turning around, I patted the spot next to me, and said, “Come here and talk to me. I want to hear your voice.”

She moved to my side an instant later, and it made me laugh.

“What d’ye want me to say?” I said, a little breathless.

I turned my head and stared into her whiskey coloured eyes, and said, “Say anything. I just want to hear your voice. I love your voice.”

“Ye’ do?”

I shuddered. “Yeah, I hear your voice even when you aren’t around.”

“Ye’ do?” she repeated.

“I hear you when it’s quiet,” I said, my eyes lowering to her lips. “Really quiet.”

I followed the movement and bit the inside of my cheek to remain still.

“What do I say when ye’ hear me voice?”

I huffed a laugh. “You don’t want to know, freckles.”

She scrunched up her face in displeasure. “Why d’ye call me that?”

I lifted my hand, and with my pinkie finger, I ran the tip over her nose and underneath her eyes.

“You have a splash of freckles right here.”

“If ye’ say ye’ think they’re cute,” I grunted. “I may slap ye’.”

I simpered. “Cute is not a word I associate with you.”

Alannah leaned toward me.

“What word do ye’ associate with me?”

“I have a few,” I replied. “Smart, funny, hardworking ... beautiful, elegant, sexy as sin.”

She gasped. “Ye’ think I’m funny?”

I almost instantly burst into laughter.

“Hell yes, you’re funny.” My shoulders shook as I laughed. “Out of all the words I said, you picked funny.”

Alannah blushed. “No one has ever said I was funny before.”

“Well, you are.”

She leaned in a little closer to me. “Ye’ think I’m beautiful and elegant?”

“And sexy as sin,” I rasped. “Can’t forget about that.”

Alannah smiled, stood from the bed, and then kicked her heels off before she turned to face me. She groaned and looked down at her feet as she wiggled her toes.

“Jesus, it feels good to take those hell blocks off.”

“Hell blocks?”

“Until ye’ve walked in high heels”—she playfully glared at me—”ye’ll never understand how much they hurt.”

“It’s a good thing I’m tall then.”

She hummed. “It’s definitely a good thing that you’re tall.”

“You’re looking at me like you want to pounce on me, freckles.”

“I do.”

My whole body tensed when she stepped forward, parted my thighs with her knees, and stepped between them.

“Alannah, what are—”

She brought her mouth down on top of mine and kissed me with raw hunger. She lifted her hands, thrusted them into my hair, and curled her fingers around the strands as she tugged at it.

“You’re playing a dangerous game with me, Lana,” I warned against her lips. “I’d walk away if I were you.”

Her spine straightened.

“That sounds like a challenge to me.”

“Talking.” I groaned into her mouth. “We’re supposed to be talking.”

“We are,” I replied, sliding my tongue over his lower lip. “We’re talkin’ with our bodies.”

She wanted to have sex with me. I broke our kiss and stared up at her, trying to see in her eyes if this was really what she wanted. I wanted to see a glimpse of doubt, something that told me she was confused, but all I saw my lust and hunger for me.

“I want you so much,” I breathed. “God knows I’ve dreamed of touching you, kissing you, tasting you.”

Alannah’s body trembled.

“What will ye’ do to me if I let ye’ touch me?” she asked, her voice thick with desire. “I need to hear it.”

“I’d kiss you. Nice and slow until my lips are all you know. My hands would explore every inch of you until you only knew my touch. I’d love you so good, the feel of me would be imbedded into you for life. I’d make your body mine.”

“Yes,” she whimpered. “Please, I want that.”

So do I.

My resolve snapped as I pulled her against me and covered her mouth with mine. I hooked my hands around the back of her thighs and picked her up in one swift motion. Alannah latched her arms around my neck and wrapped her legs around my hips.

“I love how tall ye’ are,” she moaned. “It makes me feel tiny.”

“You are tiny,” I said, pushing her dress up with one hand so I could palm her behind.

I touched my lips to hers once more, moulding them together as my tongue slid inside in a kiss so ravenous it caused Alannah’s spine to arch, and her skin to flush with heat. My thoughts were scattered with every thrust and slide of her tongue, licking against my own. The kiss was so consuming I didn’t know where I ended and Alannah began.

“You’re so gorgeous,” she blurted against my lips. “And I love your hair. It’s so feckin’ pretty and soft. What conditioner d’ye use? Actually, never mind. I love your face. My God, do I love your face. Your dimples are stunnin’.”

She was nervous and saying the first things that popped into her head, and it made me laugh. I moved my lips down to her jawline, then to her neck where I feathered kisses over her fair skin.

“Ye’ wouldn’t believe the things I’ve dreamed of doin’ to ye’ and you doin’ to me.”

My cock jumped as I imagined all the possible scenarios she imagined. I scraped my teeth over her flesh, and it caused Alannah’s back to suddenly arch, which pushed her breasts against me. My hands flexed around her ass.

“Why don’t you tell me in detail what you’ve dreamed of us doing?” I grunted. “I need to hear that.”

“Ye’ used your m-mouth on me,” she stammered. “And when I thought that would kill me, ye’ added your fingers and used them both to make me scream.”

I lightly bit her neck, encouraging her to continue.

“Your tongue.” She hummed. “You’d lick, and suck, and taste me all over until I was putty in your hands.”

I turned and dislodged her arms and legs from around me as I pushed her from my body and onto the mattress with a bounce. I rid myself of my shirt with one tug, and Alannah watched me with wide eyes.

“You’re perfect,” she said, staring up at him. “Fuck, you’re perfect.”

She stared at me like I was something to behold, but if she only knew how beautiful she was, inside and out, she would know that if anyone should be in awe, it was me. She was a treasure, something to protect and take care of.

You have no idea what you’re doing to me, Lana.

“Perfect?” I repeated as he gripped the hem of her dress and pushed it up to her waist. “No, baby, that’d be you.”

Without another word, I gripped the top of her dress, pulled the straps down her shoulders, and tugged the material down until her bare breasts were free. She didn’t have a bra on, and I groaned in appreciation as my eyes feasted on her perky breasts and pale pink nipples.

“You’re stunning, Lana.”

I slid my hands up her thighs, skimmed her stomach, and flattened them over her breasts. I cupped them, giving them a gentle squeeze before I ran my thumbs over the hardened, sensitive pink tips. The small action drew a slight moan from Alannah, her breathing was starting to become laboured and her body rolled slightly from side to side. I locked down between her legs, and when I saw her panties, my brows raised.

“Lace?”

“I like pretty u-underwear.”

“So do I.” I looked up at her, bare before me. “Christ, I’ll never get this image of you out of my head.”

“What are ye’ goin’ to do to me?” she whispered.

Everything.

“What I’ve wanted to do to you from the first moment I saw you.”

“What’s that?”

She yelped when I gripped the hem of her underwear and pulled them from my body. If the rustled sound of fabric tearing was anything to go by, I’d say I even ripped them a little in the process. I parted her thighs wide and lowered my eyes to her pussy. I licked my lips and inhaled.

“Damien!” Alannah cried, desperately trying to her shut her legs, but my shoulders wouldn’t let her. “Why are ye’ sniffin’ me? Oh, God! D’ye have a weird fetish or somethin’?”

I shook my head, smiling.

“No,” I mused. “I’m savouring how you smell because it’s damn good.”

Alannah’s body shook.

“This is indecent!” She hissed. “Ye’ can’t just ... Damien!”

I didn’t want to talk to her. I wanted to show her how good I could make her feel, so I parted my lips, and flicked my tongue over her swollen clit.

“Holy Mary, Mother of God.”

“Pray to whoever you want, freckles. No one can save you from me now.”

I licked and sucked on her pussy lips, her clit, and every piece of flesh I could reach. Alannah’s breathing was audible, and I knew she was enjoying my mouth on her just as much as I was. Her hips bucked into my face when my tongue slid up the trail of slick heat and curled it around her pulsing clit. She reached down and tangled her fingers in my hair. She was talking, but nothing she said made sense. She was beginning to fall apart. I applied pressure as I swirled my tongue around the sensitive bud, and the action knocked the air out of Alannah. She couldn’t lie still, so I hooked my arms around her thighs and applied heavy-handed pressure on them, which helped to keep her in place.

“Dame, Dame, Dame, Dame,” she cried out. “Oh!”

I rapidly suck my head from side to side before sucking her clit into my mouth.

“Oh God!” she screamed. “Oh God, oh God, oh God!”

She fell apart, and I looked up so I could watch her face as she experienced heaven. Her swollen lips were parted, her eyes squeezed her, her cheeks flushed, and her body quaking. I continued to lick and suck on her clit but lifted my head when she came down from her high. She was very still, only her chest rose and fell when she breathed, and it look like she was depleted of energy. She looked so perfect, so beautiful ... I had to know how she felt. I undid my jeans and pulled them and my boxers down my thighs. I removed a condom packet from my back pocket, ripped it open, and rolled it onto my cock.

“You’re so beautiful, freckles,” I said as I moved upward, grabbed my cock, and aligned it with her entrance. “I’m sorry if this is uncomfortable.”

Alannah’s eyes opened, and her hands flew to my arms as I sunk inside her. She winced slightly, and it made me sick. I tried to focus on her and not how hot, tight, and wet she was, but it was ... difficult.

“It’ll pass,” I whispered, my voice hoarse. “Give it a second.”

I lowered my head and kissed her with tenderness and care. I whispered words of encouragement against her soft lips and brushed the tip of my nose against hers, then rested my forehead on hers and stared deeply into her eyes.

We were one at that moment.

Before long, Alannah wriggled her hips, pulling a pained groan from me as was trying my hardest to remain as still as a statue. She wriggled once more and from the look on her face, I knew she felt no pain. The second she hummed, I took it as a green light to move. When I withdrew slowly and thrust back in, her muscles tightened. I almost came there and then.

“Relax, baby,” I rasped. “You’re squeezing me like a vice.”

“You relax!” she countered. “It feels like a melon is bein’ shoved up me.”

I managed a chuckle, but when I withdrew and thrust back into her body, a moan left my mouth at the sensation that ran the length of my body. I quickly fell into a rhythm, and I hoped and prayed to God that I could last long enough to make Alannah come again, but I wasn’t sure I could. She felt better than I could have ever imagined.

“Christ.” I lowered my head and planted kisses along her neck. “You feel fucking incredible.”

Alannah was very vocal, so much so that each time she cried out, I fucked her a little harder just to pull another delicious moan from her lips.

“Oh!”

“Yeah,” I rasped. “Oh!”

“Keep doin’ that,” she ordered. “Oh, keep doin’ that!”

“I couldn’t stop if you paid me.”

Fast and hard poundings replaced the slow and gentle thrusts. Alannah dug her fingers into my flesh, and I was tempted to bite her but held it back. Alannah couldn’t, though. She leaned forward and latched her teeth onto my neck and bit down. I thrust into her so hard in response, a resounding slap echoed in the room.

“Fu...ck! Uh, yeah! You’re going to ruin me for any other woman.”

Alannah moaned in response.

“God, I could keep you forever.”

She pressed her forehead to mine. “Will ye’ keep me?”

“Yes.” I panted, nudging her face with mine. “God, yes. You’re mine.”

I couldn’t think of anything other than sensation as I fucked her, and when she suddenly orgasmed, and her muscles contracted around my cock, I fell apart with her. The pleasure that began to ripple through my body sent small spasms rolling throughout my limbs and left me trembling.

“You promise to keep me?”

“Yes,” I shouted. “I promise. Lana!”

I closed my eyes, biting down on my lower lip as my movements became frantic. My hips jerked as I came, and my muscles tightened as the pressure deflated. Ten or so seconds later, it was like every ounce of tension that had worked its way into my muscles melted away and spread over my body like a deep tissue massage. Completely spent, I fell forward.

“Damien!”

Alannah’s laughter reminded me that I could be hurting her, so I used my elbows to prop myself up, taking most of my weight off her. I focused my vision on her smiling face beneath me, and for a single moment, everything was perfect ... until I realised what I just promised her.

“Hi.” She beamed up at me.

“I didn’t mean to say that,” I blurted.

“Say what?”

“That stuff”—I cleared my throat—”about keeping you.”

A feeling of sickness began to form in the pit of my stomach when hurt flashed in Alannah’s eyes.

“Damien,” she whispered. “Can ye’ not say that while you’re still inside me?”

Fuck.

I looked down at our still connected bodies and quickly pulled out of her. She winced, and I apologised. I disposed of the now used condom and quickly began to redress, but my shirt was somehow ripped so I didn’t bother putting it back on. Alannah redressed too, and when we were decent, we got off the bed.

“I don’t understand what is happenin’,” she said as she slid her high heels back on. “Are ye’ okay?”

No, I wasn’t okay.

“I shouldn’t have said that shit.”

She flinched. “Don’t say that.”

“I have to; otherwise, you’ll believe it.”

“So, what? I’m not to believe that ye’ said ye’d keep me?” she demanded. “That ye’ promised to? What the fuck did ye’ say it for then?”

Because I was a fucking dumbass.

“Alannah, I would have agreed to anything at that point during sex,” I explained. “I couldn’t help it. My mind and body were both focused on the sensation, and my voice took on a role of its own.”

She took a step back away from me.

“You’re ruinin’ this!” she said, her lower lip wobbling. “You’re ruinin’ everythin’ about me first time. Why are ye’ doin’ this to me?”

I held her gaze. “I’m sorry, but I won’t lie to you.”

“What’s the lie?”

“When I promised to keep you.”

Her eyes filled with tears, and I wanted to kick my own ass for upsetting her.

“Damien,” I whispered.

I knew I shouldn’t have had sex with her, I knew she would renter it afterward. I tried to make it clear, but I mustn’t have made it clear enough, so I chose my words carefully so she would stay away from for her own sake. I broke everything I touched, and I was terrified of that happening to Alannah. I had to keep her away from me.

“It’s not that I can’t keep you, Lana; it’s that I don’t want to.”

She stumbled back as if I had struck her. The lie I just told hurt her deeply.

“I’m goin’ to get c-cleaned up,” she choked out.

“No.” I frowned. “Please, we have to talk about this. What I mean is—”

“I don’t think anythin’ ye’ have to say will make me feel better.”

“Alannah—”

“It’s fine.”

“It’s fucking not,” I countered. “I knew this was a bad idea. Just look at how upset you are! This is why I’ve tried to stay away from you. You’re a good girl, and I knew you’d let your emotions take centre stage. This was a mistake!”

Tears fell from her eyes and splashed onto her cheeks.

“Ye’ were right. This was a mistake, but I’ve made it.” She swallowed. “And I’ll learn from it, too.”

I reached for her, but she moved farther away from me and headed towards the door that led to the bathroom.

“I don’t want to speak to ye’ anymore, Damien,” she said as she opened the door. “Just ... just go away. Please.”

“Lana.”

She closed it behind her, and when I heard the lock slide into place, I turned and punched the mattress. Again, I fucked up. I pressed my face into my hands before I lowered them and stared at the door Alannah just walked through. I hurt her, I knew I had, but it was what was best for her. If I gave her false hope that a relationship was possible between us, I would break her heart in the long run, and I refused to do that. She was too good for me; I didn’t deserve someone who was as pure as her. I sat on the edge of the bed and stared down at my shoes.

I wanted Alannah, but for her sake, I wouldn’t let myself claim her. She wasn’t for me ... no one was.