Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 89985 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 450(@200wpm)___ 360(@250wpm)___ 300(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 89985 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 450(@200wpm)___ 360(@250wpm)___ 300(@300wpm)
“Nah, alcohol is making me say the truth.” He cupped my face. “Have I told you how much I look forward to our training sessions? Teaching you how to swim, and then helping you stretch your muscles?”
This was getting out of hand. Every other word was slurred, but not to the point where I couldn’t understand him. I understood him just fine.
I didn’t know if this was the right thing or not. It didn’t seem right to me.
I watched him, worried, a little cautious about what to do.
“I bet you don’t even think of me when I’m not there.”
I didn’t even realize there was a distance between us, until Peter closed it. There was a small gap of space between us, but all too soon it was gone. Like it had never existed in the first place.
I was still standing at the door, and if I attempted to step back, the door would stop me.
My heart raced.
I didn’t know what was happening.
“I think about you, Niamh. I think about you all the time, and seeing as I am drunk, and this is not real, I can do this.” He slammed his lips down on mine, and this shocked me. I was twenty-five years old, and I had never been kissed.
Being socially awkward and a little terrified around guys didn’t make dating easier. My father being who he was, didn’t help me with this problem either. Some of the guys who showed interest had only wanted to get closer to my dad. It sucked on every level.
Even though Finn Byrne didn’t have his own territory, and he’d lost any real power, there were those who believed it wasn’t his fault. They wanted him to be in charge once again.
I had lost interest in who had taken over his turf. I often doubted he deserved the adulation others showed him.
My first kiss, given to me by a drunk man, who would not remember this in the morning.
I didn’t know what should happen first—if I pull should away, or if Peter would suddenly slump in my arms. I had no choice but to catch him and attempt to stop him from falling on the floor. He’s falling asleep. Kissing me had sent him to sleep. I’m sure of it.
“Niamh,” he said, speaking my name on some kind of groan.
“You’re tired. You need to sleep.”
I don’t want him sleeping in my apartment, but it didn’t seem right to kick him out on my doorstep.
So, with Peter’s pathetic help, we got him to the sofa and he collapsed. Before he even hit the seat, I’m sure he was asleep. For several seconds, I stopped and stared at him, not sure what to do. Peter looked so vulnerable.
He had his boots on, and I was tempted to just leave him like that, even though my lips still tingled from our kiss. Instead, I sunk to my knees and removed his boots, putting them to one side.
I moved him to sit down. The sofa is not long enough for him, but the furniture came with the apartment. It had seen better days, but it would do for a bed. Once I had him into a slightly better position, I went back to my own bed, grabbed a blanket, and walked toward him. I didn’t want him to freeze to death.
Now that he was settled and he looked okay, with my tingling lips, I made my way back to bed.
Chapter Five
Peter
I wasn’t drunk but I needed something to break the ice. I wasn’t even upset about my father’s passing. I’d been the one to fucking kill him, but I had to work with what I could.
I hadn’t touched a drop of alcohol. All I did was use it as a mouthwash, spitting it onto the ground, and then dropped some on my clothes so I would smell of the stuff. It would take a lot more than a bottle of whiskey to make me lose sense of my faculties.
I needed a way to get into Niamh’s apartment without raising suspicion in her. Once she put me to bed, I slept for a few hours. It had been a long time since I’d slept through the night. It was very rare for me to have a restful sleep.
It was five o’clock on Monday morning, I’d already put the kettle on, and checked the fridge to find only a few essentials. Enough for breakfast, and maybe a couple of meals. She’d already told me she ate at the diner for lunch. It was one of the perks of working there.
I also noticed she didn’t have a lot of cutlery. There was enough for two people, I imagined because it was cheaper to buy in twos than to go singular.
I had set the small table in the kitchen when Niamh suddenly appeared. She was dressed in her gym clothes, and she held a small backpack. This is the bag I knew she carried at all times.