Betrayed (2 page)

“When a
lady asks you to leave her alone twice and you grab her, expect to
get the shit kicked out of you.” Her father looked up and nodded at
officer Brady, who nodded and waved him off.

She put an arm around her
father’s shoulders and they made their way to his motorcycle. He
handed her the backup helmet, then pulled his own over her head.
She giggled. “You look like a Mass Effect character,” she
said.

“Hopefully not Wrex.”

“Oh, daddy, awesome.” She
giggled. He sat on the bike, his feet on the ground. Holding it
upright, he gestured for her to get on behind him. She hiked her
skirt up her thighs and climbed up behind him.

“Tuck
your skirt under me,” he said, standing with both feet on the
ground. She did, understanding what he was up to. He sat back down,
pinning her skirts and she lifted her feet to the back pegs and
clung to him. The engine roared to life and he lifted his feet and
leaned forward. She moved with him, and they ripped out of the lot
at speeds he would have frowned at her for going.

The power between her
thighs and the closeness of daddy soothed some of the tension in
her body as they wove and out of the light traffic in their small
town on the way to the airport. The wind crashing over her buffeted
and pulled, trying to steal her skirts, her hair, and even her
body.

She clung onto daddy,
loving the freedom, the rush of air and adrenaline. It was over all
too soon as he pulled into the parking lot and cut the engine. He
got up, putting his helmet on the seat and she followed
suit.

He pulled his phone from
his pocket and made a call. “Yeah,” he murmured into the phone.
“Pick up my bike. You’ve got the horses covered, right?” He gave a
nod, smiling at her. “Great. Thanks. I’ll be back in a week. Well
thank you. You’re a lifesaver.”

He hung up and put the
phone back in his pocket. “Everything’s handled and we’ll be picked
up when we get back. No worries.” He touched her cheek. “Time to
go, love. No backing out now.” His smile warned her he knew her
mind.

She took a deep breath.
“Let’s do this.”

Caroline woke to
Dominic
’s gentle touch
on her shoulder. She got to her feet, steadied by his hand on her
elbow. The plane ride had been horror, with person after person
offering her congratulations on her nuptials. Daddy’d been awesome,
though. He’d slipped on his ring and fended off the nutters while
slipping her a valium.

She gazed out the little
window at the emerald green, misty landscape of Ireland. Her
father’s hand on her arm eased her tension and discomfort. She
glanced at his hand, noticing the onyx ring and suddenly everything
was weird. She wasn’t supposed to be here with him. He was her dad,
not her husband.

Her gaze traveled up to his
face. His lips were pressed tight, his chocolate eyes had lightened
to a honeyed amber.
Jesus.
She hadn’t even thought about it. They’d
honeymooned here too. Guilt gnawed at her heart, but he led her off
the plane with an air of confidence.

As she stepped into the
hall between the plane and the entry, her heel slipped in the
crack. She squealed, losing her balance. His arm locked behind her
shoulders. He swept the other behind her knees and whisked her up,
cradling her to his chest. He gazed down at her, and her heart
pounded like a moth beating its wings against a light.

His breath caught, and
people around gave soft sighs. She only saw him, heard his
heartbeat, felt a sudden shift between them. He lifted his chin,
facing forward, and carried her along the hall to the lobby before
setting her on her feet amidst clapping strangers.

His fingers entwined with
hers and he led her out of the place with sure steps. She caught
sight of the person holding a sign with her married name and sucked
in a painful breath as her chest ached. Daddy snagged the sign and
smiled at the guy.

“Let’s
go.” His words were terse, and she sensed something else bothering
him. The guy nodded and turned. He walked to a horse-drawn carriage
and motioned them to get in. Caroline’s hands began to tremble when
her father turned and grabbed her ribs. He hoisted her up into the
carriage and she sat. He settled next to her and they rode in
silence to their destination.

They pulled up in front of
a building she recognized. She turned to daddy in breathless
wonder. “Daddy…. Ballybur Castle?”

He smiled at her. “Are you
disappointed?”

She shook her head,
speechless as he helped her down from the carriage. He swept her up
in his arms and carried her in. Her head was a hazy mess as he set
her down and led her through extensive kitchens and to the
stairwell. The stairs spun around a central point. Sunlight
streamed in through windows with deep sills.

“Do we
have this place to ourselves?” she asked.

“Yes.
The whole place for the week. The only person who’ll bother us is
the housekeeper.” He gave her another smile.

“Wow…
daddy… it’s perfect.”

“Want to
look around first?” he asked, and she nodded. He pulled her out
onto the first floor and why walked the master bedroom. A massive
four poster bed brought her to the realization she wouldn’t be
losing her virginity here. The bed seemed too big to sleep in
alone. Her heart sank, but he led her into the master bath and a
gasp broke from her lips.

The huge room boasted an
overlarge Victorian bath. She sighed. “Well, I know where I’m
spending most of my time,” she said with a little laugh.

He only smiled, then led
her through another bedroom. This one was smaller, though, and she
assumed it was the guest room. They made their way back to the
stairs, and made their way up to the next floor.

“Hold
on,” he said, then tugged her up the stairs. They walked all the
way up to the fourth floor and she gasped at the vaulted ceilings
and beautiful window seats.

“This is
my favorite room,” he said, releasing her for the first time. “The
drawing room and ramparts.”

She gazed around at the
oak beamed ceiling and giant chandelier. The whole place was like a
portal back in time. He made his way to a hand crafted swing and
turned to her with a grin. She made her way over and sat, hands
folded in her lap while he sat next to her and gave them a gentle
push.

“I’m
feeling like we should be cracking open champagne.” He grinned at
her, and she looked down at her dress.

“I guess
I should change.”

“Leave
it on. You’ve earned the right to look like a princess for the rest
of the night.” His hand covered hers, and warmth bubbled up in
her.

“Want to
see the secret room? They kept prisoners there.” He nudged her
shoulder, but she shook her head.

“I want
to go up to the ramparts and drink champagne.” She gave him a
winning smile, and he nodded.

“It’s
funny, I thought you might say that, so let’s go.” He stood and
offered her his hand. She took it, allowing him to lead her up
another set of stairs. Mist shrouded the world in mystery, and he
left her on the edge. She placed her elbows on the ledge, staring
at the beautiful green land and breathing deep the fresh Irish
air.

Dominic appeared at her
elbow, two flutes of bubbly in hand. He gave her one, then lifted
the other to her. “To fresh starts and new beginnings.”

She lifted her glass. “To
the people who matter most.” They touched glasses.

She made her way to her
room, her head light from the alcohol, though her feet were steady.
The warm fuzzy sensations took the edge of pain off, but didn’t
dull her as she entered the master bedroom on the first floor. Part
of her wanted to sleep elsewhere, but it still felt
right.

The window called her and
she padded to it, having taken her shoes off up in the ramparts.
The mist hadn’t let up and a light rain had started. Caroline loved
the rain and wished she could open the window.

A knock at the door
brought a smile to her lips. “Come in.”

She didn’t hear his foot
falls, but the passing rush of air carrying his thick scent warned
her he was at her elbow.

“I
thought you might need help.”

She glanced up at him,
then turned, catching his meaning. She’d had a friend help lace her
up, but now, it was just the two of them. Wrapping her arms around
his shoulders, she planted a light kiss to his cheek. He turned,
pressing his lips to her forehead.

“I love
you, Daddy.”

“I love
you, sweetheart.”

She released him and his
hands fell to her shoulders. With a gentle motion, he turned her.
She stared out the window while his fingers untied her laces. The
sensation of his fingers slipping into the crossing silk and
wiggling the ties free sent a shiver racing down her
spine.

His hands moved up, each
little tug and wiggle igniting her blood as the lace and silk
bodice began to pull away from her naked flesh.

“Jesus,
are you naked under this?” he asked, and she grinned.

“Naked?
No, I’m wearing a garter.”

His sharp intake of breath
startled her, and the shift between them deepened. The dress
loosened and she turned to him. His eyes locked on hers as she
shimmied out of the skirt, standing before him in nothing more than
her garter and goosebump covered flesh.

He started to turn away,
but she set her dress aside and rushed into his arms. “Don’t go.”
Her quiet words seemed to make him hesitate, and she sensed his
inner battle.

“I’m a
big girl. I can make my own choices.” She smiled at the startled
look in his eyes. Little spasms in his pupils confirmed what she
thought she’d felt. He felt it too.

“I’m
your dad, sweetie.” His tone was passive, and she prepared to dance
with him.

“Not by
blood. And think about it. We’re not in America, no one here knows
who we are or that you’re my step father and not my husband. Is the
crime really committed if there is no one to report it?” She
widened her eyes in her most innocent expression.

A tiny grin teased the
corners of his lips. “Who are you wand what have you done with my
sweet little girl?” he asked.

“Your
little girl is a woman now. A woman who just realized she almost
made the biggest mistake of her life.” The truth socked her like a
punch in the gut. Robert would never have made her happy.

He arched a brow. “I’m
older than you—“

“By ten
years, daddy. It’s not a big deal.” She’d often teased him for
being younger than her mom…
Mom.

His eyes lit with amber
fire and she knew he was thinking of her too. “Don’t start,” she
said, angry he’d consider it. “she’d love this. She loved you so
much. I doubt she’d be upset that the man she loved fell in love
again.”

“It’s a
betrayal.” He looked away, his face twisted in pain.

“Why? I
love her dearly, but you have to move on, Dominic.” His name rolled
off her tongue, and he jolted, looking down at her in shock.

“I
know,” he whispered. “It’s just that… you remind me so much of her,
I hate myself for feeling like I need her so much I’d be using you
to keep her memory alive.” Again, his pupils dilated and
contracted.

“You’re
lying.” She smiled at his surprise. “I doubt you are doing so on
purpose, but you’re lying. How about this—make love to me tonight.
If things are weird tomorrow, we pretend it never happened.”

He let out a sigh. “You
can’t undo it once it’s done, love.”

“I never
said I wanted to. I have no doubts about any of it.” She pulled out
of his embrace and lowered one arm at her side. Gripping her elbow
with the opposite hand, her eyes studied the floors, his shiny dark
shoes and explored the thrill surging in her blood. Robert never
set her on fire like Dominic did.

His hand made their way to
her shoulders, and she glanced up at him. She opened her mouth to
speak, but his lips crushed hers. Startled, she wound her arms
around his shoulders to keep from falling. Her breasts flattened
against his chest as his kiss deepened. The honey and tart taste of
champagne and lust invaded her mouth with his tongue, and she
whimpered in the face of his animal touch.

His hands pressed her
shoulders back and she stepped back with baby steps as his body
pushed hers back. The bed met the back of her knees and she fell
back. Staring up at his powerful, somewhat contained expression,
she resisted the urge to scuttle back on the bed. He removed his
jacket, tossing it aside, smoldering gaze locked on her.

Tired of whatever internal
battle he was fighting, she sat up and grabbed his tie. Pulling him
down, she kissed him. The kiss started sweet, but turned dark in an
instant. He covered her, pressing her down into the soft bed. His
parted hers, and she lifted her heels to the wooden frame of the
bed as his hips pressed to her delicate flesh.