Total pages in book: 134
Estimated words: 126485 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 632(@200wpm)___ 506(@250wpm)___ 422(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 126485 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 632(@200wpm)___ 506(@250wpm)___ 422(@300wpm)
Despite my initial frustration over the week-long wait for more information, the days passed in a flash. I was busy organizing and booking Finn’s flight, talking on the phone with one of the men who would accompany him to make sure they knew about Finn’s needs, and cooking for the potluck. I avoided the park and tried not to overthink Desmond’s words. I had a bad feeling about him. He’d seemed too pushy and needy, as if he would do anything to make progress, even lie.
I didn’t trust Lorcan nor Desmond.
I was at an impasse, at least until Lorcan’s meeting with Sergej or until Desmond decided to show me proof. I really hoped the latter wouldn’t be the case, because it would just be bad for Imogen, it would be bad for me, bad for Finn and even Mum. What a mess.
Lorcan looked amused when he carried two baskets filled with food into the small kitchenette in a side room of the church.
“You’re trying to win them over with delicious food. Very clever.” He pulled me against him and kissed me. Of course, an elderly lady from the community came into the room at that moment. My cheeks blasted with heat and I mumbled an apology, but she just winked at Lorcan.
“You’re the devil,” I whispered in his direction when we left.
The look he gave me sent my head into overdrive with worry. He was up to something.
Walking into church with Lorcan at my side, as husband and wife, I felt a brief flash of shame. This was a bond we’d made before God, but it was nothing but a lie. Lorcan touched my lower back, urging me onward, and I realized I’d stopped right after the threshold, unwilling to parade our sham of a marriage before everyone’s eyes.
But Lorcan wanted us to be seen and so we headed to the very front and sat down. The whispers and curious glances followed us the whole way.
Seamus and his wife soon took their seats beside us.
Gulliver sent me an appreciative nod. He seemed to be the person who was the happiest about the bond, except for Lorcan. My husband definitely found great satisfaction, physically and mentally, in having me tied to him.
I listened halfheartedly to Gulliver’s drivel and was glad when Mass was over. In the past, I’d loved these moments of self-reflection, but now I felt like a fraud.
“Time to confess our sins,” Lorcan murmured in my ear.
I rolled my eyes. “Absolution of your sins doesn’t work if you intend to keep sinning. There’s no free ticket out of sin, even if you have a priest on your payroll.”
Lorcan shrugged. “One day I might stop sinning. Until then weekly confession will have to even my balance.”
“I’m sure that’s not how it works,” I repeated. Lorcan held my hand tightly as he led me toward the confessional box. Uncle Gulliver was still busy chatting with a group of elderly ladies. We were the first people to arrive at the confessional. People obviously knew that it was Lorcan’s turn first, and they didn’t want to be near when he revealed his sins. I had to admit I’d rarely confessed in the past, not because I had never sinned but because I’d never felt comfortable talking about it.
“It looks as if my uncle’s still busy. Maybe you should consider skipping confession today.” I wanted to get out of church as fast as possible. The potluck would be easier to handle. People would chat about food and not sinnings.
Lorcan grinned, as usual enjoying my discomfort. “I’m afraid I can’t do that. We both have sins to confess.”
He pulled me into the confessional box with him then pressed his lips to my ear. “You used me to acquire information, sweet Aislinn. Use our marriage as a device to get what you want. You don’t honor the holy bond of matrimony.”
Used him? He fucked me every night like an animal! And we both enjoyed it. He certainly wasn’t suffering. And I never even wanted this marriage.
As if he could read my thoughts, he chuckled low in my ear. “An outburst of rage is a sin too.”
“You’re talking to me about outbursts of rage?” I whispered indignantly. “I don’t go around beating people with steel chains.”
“It’s therapeutic. Maybe you should give it a try.”
His dry humor almost made me laugh despite the horrible truth of his words.
“This week, I talked to a few old Russian friends about your sister …”
My eyes widened. Why hadn’t he said anything before? “What did you find out?”
I momentarily forgot that he was one of my main suspects when it came to my sister’s disappearance, mainly for lack of other leads and because Desmond had planted the seed of doubt in my mind.
“Quid pro quo, sweet Aislinn.” He sucked my earlobe into his mouth then bit down lightly, his palm cupping my breast and squeezing. “First you suck my cock then you get the answers you desire.”