The Pleasures of Autumn (36 page)

Her heart pounded as the security guard approached, but she schooled her face into a mask of indifference. Jean-Baptiste was a good man and a proud father. He didn’t deserve to be dragged into the middle of this, but then neither did she.

When this was over, she and Roisin were going to have a reckoning.

The guard stopped less than two feet from where they sat. Beads of sweat had popped up across his brow. He looked intently at her face and back to her sister, then back to her again, before glancing back at the judge.

The prosecutor tried again. ‘I object to this … this –’

‘Sit down,’ the judge said in a tone that brooked no argument. ‘Monsieur Moutier, please continue.’

As the guard stepped forwards, Sinead closed her eyes. Her heartbeat thundered like a runaway horse, she dug her nails into her sister’s sweating palm. Roisin clutched her hand tightly.

Nothing happened. Sinead’s eyes flew open. Roisin released her hand and stood up, facing her accuser for the first time.

‘Thank you, Monsieur Moutier,’ the judge said. ‘You may resume your seat.’

He inclined his head. ‘Mademoiselle, please approach the bench.’

Cool as an iceberg, her sister stepped forwards. The clicking of her heels on the wooden floor was the only sound in the otherwise silent courtroom.

‘My name is Roisin O’Sullivan,’ she announced.

‘I see. And were you in Geneva on the night that the Fire of Autumn was stolen?’

‘I was,’ she replied.

‘And did you steal the Fire of Autumn?’

‘Of course not,’ she said. ‘Do I look like an idiot?’

A ripple of laughter ebbed around the courtroom and even the staid Arnheim was forced to smile at her audacity.

‘The court will rise for a short recess.’

When the judge left the bench, the courtroom erupted. Sinead scanned the crowd seeking the one person she wanted to see more than anyone else in the world. She thought he had abandoned her, but he hadn’t. How could she have doubted him for a second?

He stood inside the door of the court, big and solid and so gorgeous that he took her breath away. How had she survived without him?

‘I’m sorry,’ she mouthed the words to him. ‘I do love you.’

Ignoring the guards, Niall forced his way to the front of the room and took her in his arms. His mouth found hers
in a rough kiss. He was unshaven. His hair had escaped its bindings and he smelled of rain and leather. She held on tightly, ignoring the voices around them, focusing only on his kiss and the strength of his arms around her. She didn’t need words to tell him that she had missed him and that she never wanted to be parted from him again.

A cough interrupted their reunion. Andy. Sinead extricated herself from Niall’s arms and hugged him.

‘Thank you so much for everything you’ve done and for finding my sister.’

Andy scowled over at Roisin who was sitting, still wearing her sunglasses, looking every inch the diva.

‘She’s quite a handful. If I had my way she’d –’

‘Just keep an eye on her,’ Niall said. ‘Don’t let her out of your sight for a second. Cuff her if necessary.’

Andy smiled. ‘Now that would be my pleasure.’

‘All rise,’ the clerk barked out the order and silence was restored as the judge took his place on the bench.

Niall moved into the row of seats behind her while Andy pushed Roisin ahead of him into a row of seats in the opposite aisle.

‘On the basis of the evidence presented today, it appears that I must dismiss the charges against Mlle Sinead O’Sullivan.’

Niall rested his hand on her shoulder and she squeezed his broad fingers gratefully. Sinead closed her eyes. The nightmare was over.

Like a scene from a movie, the courtroom erupted. Sinead raised her arm as she tried to defend herself against the flashing cameras, but eventually gave up. As Niall and Andy fought a fruitless battle to keep the reporters back, her cousin Summer fought her way to the front of the crowd.

‘Oh, Sinead.’ She threw her arms around her. ‘I knew you didn’t do it.’

‘Of course she didn’t feckin do it.’ Tim O’Sullivan appeared behind his daughter. ‘But your grandmother is having forty-seven fits about that dancing lark. Those damn photographers and hacks have shown up on her doorstep.’

Great. Now the whole of Castletownberehaven knew she was a stripper.

‘Yes, you dark horse.’ Summer poked her in the arm. ‘And I thought I was the wild one. You were supposed to be going to ballet lessons.’

‘I um –’

Tim looked around him. ‘Where’s the other one? We need to have a chat about her.’

‘Roisin? She’s here somewhere.’ Sinead looked around the crowd and caught a glimpse of a mane of titian hair disappearing through a doorway at the back of the courtroom. Surely her sister wouldn’t try to escape through the judge’s chambers?

‘Mlle O’Sullivan.’ Sinead felt a hand on her shoulder and she turned to find her lawyer was waiting.

Arnheim was wearing a broad smile. He blushed when Sinead planted a kiss on his cheek.

‘How did you know that Moutier would pick Roisin and not me?’

‘I didn’t. We had a fifty-fifty chance. Sometimes a lawyer needs a little luck. There is some paperwork to be tidied up in the registrar’s office when you are ready. I will send you my bill tomorrow.’ He inclined his head and disappeared into the crowd.

Ouch. She hadn’t thought about the bill. Her team of Swiss lawyers had probably cost a pretty penny and there was no way that she could expect Tim to pay for them. She had already cost him a million francs and would never forgive herself for that.

Niall handed her an iPhone. ‘Go ahead, do what you have to do. I’ll wait for you outside. Text me when you’re done.’

She hadn’t known that the paperwork would take so long. Even though she was no longer on trial, the Swiss made it more difficult to get out of custody than into it. She pulled the phone Niall had given her from her pocket.

She texted him, ‘I’m done.’

A second later, the screen lit up. ‘I’m outside.’

She closed her eyes with relief and smiled. When she emerged from the court building it was already dusk. Ignoring the flashing cameras, she climbed into the back of the dark Jeep and was dragged into his arms.

‘Drive, Andy,’ Niall said before he plundered her mouth with his. She wound her arms around his neck, stretching
against the confines of the seat belt. He tasted so good. Like mint and warmth and Niall. Opening her mouth wider, she tangled her tongue against his, revelling in the flood of sensations that washed over her.

A guttural noise came from his throat and his fingers moved through her hair until he found the offending clasp that held it in place and tossed it to the floor. ‘God, I’ve missed you.’

‘Remind me to get locked up more often.’ She gave him a teasing smile.

‘Don’t even think about it,’ Niall said.

Andy cleared his throat. ‘So, what will it be for your first night of freedom? A bar, a club, I’ve heard there’s a good burlesque place that –’

‘No,’ they both chorused and Sinead laughed. She’d had enough trouble with Lottie and she wasn’t sure if Granny O’Sullivan or Uncle Tim would ever forgive her for that one.

Sinead stroked Niall’s thigh, savouring the feel of the rock-hard muscles beneath her palm. She couldn’t seem to stop touching him. His grey eyes narrowed into that molten stare she knew so well. She wouldn’t get a wink of sleep tonight. The thought of being in his bed again made her giddy. She gave him her best Lottie pout. ‘You know what I’d really like?’

His warm hand covered hers, ‘I can just imagine.’

‘A bath,’ she announced.

Weeks of pent up frustration showed in his face. He was so easy to tease, it was almost a sin.

‘A bath,’ he repeated.

‘Yes. I haven’t had one since Paris. It was the one thing
I dreamed about while I was in prison – a nice warm, deep bath, with a glass of something chilled. Oh, and a book.’

‘A book?’

‘Sounds like a fun night.’ Andy snorted with laughter and Niall darted a warning look at him.

‘Well, if you’re sure …’

‘I’m certain.’

Andy pulled up outside the hotel and they climbed out of the car. Niall held onto her hand tightly as they entered the lobby, as if he was afraid she would disappear again.

‘Wait here, I have to check my messages,’ he said. He let her go reluctantly.

Sinead watched the receptionist tilt her head to one side and then begin to write, raising her head from time to time, before finally nodding.

Niall returned and pressed the button, summoning the elevator.

‘Is everything okay?’ she asked.

There was enough anticipation in his answering smile that she became a little wary. What was the Viking up to now?

The penthouse suite was sumptuous. Sinead crossed the room and opened the glass doors that led onto a terrace. She didn’t care that it was freezing. It was wonderful to be outside again, to breathe the clean frosty air into her lungs. She stared at the lights of the city twinkling like stars below them. A giant Christmas tree stood in the middle of a square. She was free and she still couldn’t quite believe it.

Niall followed her, wrapping his arms around her and drawing her against his chest. ‘Don’t get cold.’

She rested her head against his shoulder and tilted her head, inviting his kiss. ‘How could I, when I have you?’

The sound of a buzzer shattered the moment and Niall released her. ‘That will be room service.’

She smiled as three uniformed women entered the room. One carried a pile of fluffy towels, another held a tray with a bottle of sake and some tiny ceramic cups, and a third, wearing a beautician’s uniform, deposited a box on the table and left. Next came room service with a tray of chilled melon and lychees, and two pairs of chopsticks.

They were gone as swiftly as they had arrived and Niall gave her a smug smile. ‘I believe it’s time for your bath.’

She watched from the doorway as he filled the tub, testing the water to make sure it was the perfect temperature before adding some of the oils from the beautician’s box. Rose, geranium and the tang of eucalyptus filled the steamy air.

‘Won’t you come in?’

Obediently, she entered the room and began to unbutton her blouse.

‘Let me do that.’ His words were a command, rather than a statement, and she stood perfectly still as he removed her clothing. Niall took his time, stroking her skin as he removed each piece, kneeling before her to remove her shoes, until she was naked before him.

He planted a light kiss on her belly and reluctantly came to his feet. ‘Climb in. I’m going to bathe you.’

She stood in the warm water, staring up at him. Without the added advantage of height from her heels, she felt tiny and vulnerable before him. It wasn’t fair. He was still
fully clothed and she had missed the touch of his skin against hers. His mouth quirked. She had meant to tease him, but the Viking was going to drive her crazy.

‘What if I said I wanted to go to bed and make out like rabbits?’

‘Too late. You only get one wish.’

He scooped up water in his large hand and poured it slowly over her skin before taking a washcloth and immersing it in the warm water. No inch of her body was spared as he gently washed her, arms first, then around her neck, sliding the warm cloth down her back and between her breasts, never quite giving her the touch that she needed.

Her nipples formed aching points but Niall ignored them. Maddeningly, he turned his attention to her legs, focusing on her feet before sliding the warm cloth upwards again. His attentions were slow and deliberate. He was touching her, but not the way she wanted. If he didn’t kiss her soon, she would scream.

He gestured for her to sit in the bath and left the room. She really was going to kill him. When he returned, he was carrying the tray of sake and fruit.

She raised her hand to take one of the cups and he frowned. ‘No touching the food.’

Using the chopsticks, he picked up small bites of fruit and fed them to her one by one. He raised a cup of sake to her mouth, allowing her only tiny sips. She relaxed. She was actually beginning to enjoy this.

As if he had read her mind, he placed his hands into the ice bucket. She winced. He wouldn’t. She would kill him if he put ice on her. Instead, he used the ice to cool
his fingers and placed them on her nipples. The jolt of cold against her skin made her yelp.

‘Had enough yet?’

The smug smile was back. It was time to turn the tables on him. ‘Not quite. I seem to be missing a bath toy. Do you know where I might find one?’

‘I thought you’d never ask.’

Niall peeled off his clothes with deliberate slowness, toeing off his shoes, unbuttoning his shirt and shedding it to reveal his muscular chest. If anything, he was more ripped than before.

‘Been working out, soldier?’ she teased him.

‘I had to find some way to work off the frustration.’ He unzipped his jeans and pulled them off along with his socks. The tenting in his boxers was unmistakable.

‘Looks like you missed me.’

‘What makes you think that?’ With a grin, he dropped his boxers on the floor and eased into the bath. The water level rose dangerously; if they weren’t careful, they would cause a flood. She smiled. To hell with being careful.

Rising onto her knees, she stalked her prey, sliding along his body until they were chest to chest. His wet hands stroked her back, coming to rest on her buttocks, and she squirmed against him.

‘If you don’t stop doing that we might –’

‘Shut up,’ she said before cupping his face in her hands and capturing his mouth. The kiss in the car hadn’t been nearly enough. She devoured him, her tongue duelling with his in a long, open-mouthed kiss that went on forever.

His hands tangled in her damp hair, holding her hard
against him, crushing her breasts into his chest. His erection nudged hard against her abdomen. He was more than ready and so was she. She pulled away, breathless. They were never going to make it to the bedroom. Flattening her palms against his chest, she pushed to a crouch.

The hunger in his eyes was unmistakable. He grabbed a condom from beside the bath.

‘I want you.’ Her voice was husky. Reaching between her thighs she seized his cock and slowly lowered herself onto it, gasping at the feeling of fullness as he entered her.

Niall gritted his teeth and closed his eyes. ‘Sinead,’ he gasped out her name.

Slowly, she began to move, rocking tentatively back and forth until she became accustomed to him again. Niall gripped the edge of the bath as her movements increased in speed.

Water splashed over the edge of the bath. She didn’t care. All she was conscious of was the sensation of him inside her. The sensation of warm water against her as she rocked against him, squeezing her inner muscles each time she rose before plunging onto him again.

Niall groaned. Neither of them was going to last. As her movements became more frantic, the water sloshed over the edge of the bath onto the marble floor. They were going to drown the place. Maybe they should move into the bedroom.

As if he read her mind, he said, ‘Don’t you dare stop.’

Sinead bent her head for another kiss and as she drew away, she spotted the sake bottle on the ledge behind him. A half-remembered tale from a dancer who had returned
from a Japanese tour came to mind, and she wondered if it was true. There was one way to find out.

Reaching for the bottle, she tipped the contents into the warm bath.

‘Holy fuck,’ Niall roared.

The sake bath made her skin tingle and her blood feel like champagne. Mindless, she rode him hard, her eyes tightly shut, gasping his name with each downward stroke. Fireworks exploded behind her eyelids and her climax slammed into her, obliterating every rational thought. She was dimly conscious of Niall’s arms locked around her and his hips driving hard into her, prolonging her pleasure, until he followed her climax with his own.

She collapsed onto his damp chest, wondering if she would ever move again.

He managed a smile. ‘Did anyone ever tell you that you’re a witch?’

Sinead pouted at him. ‘Only when they’re being nice to me. What’s the matter? Can’t the big strong Ranger cope with a helpless little exotic dancer?’

He threw back his head and laughed. ‘You’d give a platoon of Rangers a run for their money.’

‘A whole platoon? What if I said I only wanted one?’

‘Any Ranger in particular?’

Sinead hesitated. If she didn’t do this now, she might lose courage. She pressed on. ‘I’ve had a lot of time to think about our relationship while I was in prison.’

‘And?’ The single word held an uncertain edge.

‘I think that you should marry me.’

During their time apart, she had imagined Niall’s response. He would kiss her passionately and say yes.
They would find a hotel room and not leave it for twenty-four hours. Instead, he was silent. She had already refused him once. Had she left it too late?

Niall’s arms tightened around her. ‘I accept, but there are conditions.’

Conditions? What was he talking about? This was a marriage proposal, not a contract negotiation.

‘You know that I’m demanding, possessive and kinky as hell?’

‘I do.’

‘And that Lottie will have to come out of retirement on my birthday until you’re at least sixty?’

Sinead giggled. He had worried her for a moment, but these were the kind of conditions she could cope with. ‘Only ’til I’m sixty? I was hoping for some hot geriatric sex with an older guy.’

Niall raised a warning brow. ‘I’m only five years older than you. Keep it up and you’ll pay for that remark. Now, where was I? Oh yes. I want to be in charge in the bedroom.’

‘Always? Every night?’ Her voice rose. She couldn’t believe Niall was trying to make her agree to this.