Chapter 36
Unfortunately, Cole doesn’t eat me out on the table for dessert. My guess is because he wants to make sure I go home with him. He needn’t have worried. I’m desperate to find out everything about the man who fathered my baby. The man who’s one of America’s most successful billionaires. The man my brothers can’t stand. And the man I’m technically dating.
The limo slows to a crawl, then swings into a huge winding driveway in Skerries, one of the most opulent suburbs of Dublin. Electric gates slide open, and we cruise up the driveway. Cole holds my hand, his fingers tightly entwined with mine like he doesn’t quite trust me not to sneak out on him again. His grip is firm, but the way his thumb strokes soothing circles over the back of my hand is gentle.
Can he sense the nerves thrumming through my body?
Sex with California was hot, heavy and utterly hedonistic.
Sex with Cole Hartmann, now that I know how much power he wields, how much of the world he owns, how every woman in the world wants him—I’m not sure I’ll survive it.
Felstead wasn’t impressed when I dismissed him for the evening. Tate finally persuaded him to go back to my apartment. I’m surrounded by Cole’s security. Tate knows Cole is no threat to me. If anything, given I’m carrying his child, he’s the one who’s a threat—to anyone who dare to come near me or try to hurt us.
The limo stops outside the grand arched entrance. The car door swings open, and a soft, salt-sweet breeze rolls in. Despite it being close to ten o’clock, May light still lingers—pink-gold streaks bleeding across the horizon as the Irish Sea glitters beneath it. The temperature has dropped, but the sunset makes everything look warm and cinematic. We’re not far outside the city, but here, with him, I feel a million miles away from work, from my family, from every single one of my responsibilities.
Cole helps me out of the car, his hand firm at my lower back. The house stretches before us—two sprawling storeys of glass, oak, and pale stone, perched on the cliff like it was custom-built for the view alone.
Skerries would be a stunning place to raise a family.
Oh, fuck—Cole and his romantic notions are really getting under my skin.
I tip my head, taking in the sunset, the silhouettes of fishing boats in the distance, the low crashing of waves rolling over the rocks. ‘Nice place. Did you rent it for your stay?’ I ask, trying to sound casual, even though my pulse is a riot.
‘Yes, I rented it.’ He ushers me through the front door. ‘But then today, I called the agent and put in an offer they won’t refuse p>
My jaw nearly hits the gravel. ‘You like it that much p>
‘I like you.’ His fingers slide through mine again—confident, sure, staking a claim without saying a word. ‘It’s step one p>
‘Step one of what?’ I breathe.
‘My relocation p>
My stomach drops. My heart spikes. My entire world rearranges itself in a single beat.
‘You’re really planning on moving to Ireland… permanently p>
He doesn’t even hesitate. ‘Of course.’ He turns his head, blue eyes burning into mine with terrifying certainty. ‘I refuse to be across an ocean from my baby. Or from you p>
My breath goes shallow. My brain short-circuits. Every rational argument I had crumbles into dust.
He gestures inside the sprawling hallway. ‘Come on. Let me show you around p>
Deeper inside the house, the foyer greets us with wide-planked oak floors, warm and honeyed, glowing beneath recessed lighting. The ceilings are high—double-height—with exposed beams washed in pale driftwood tones. A sculptural iron chandelier hangs overhead, modern and elegant, casting soft shadows along the walls. It’s masculine, but it’s beautiful. Expensive without being gaudy. Understated power. Very… him.
That doesn’t mean I wouldn’t change everything about it if I were to move in.
Oh God, I really am running away with myself now.
He leads me into the kitchen. It’s huge, homely, and beautifully bright even at dusk. Smooth oak cabinetry runs floor to ceiling, paired with matte hardware. The island is carved from a single slab of veined marble. Beyond it, full glass walls frame the sea.
‘It’s… stunning,’ I admit, resting a hand on the cool marble.
‘It’s a house,’ he says, watching me, not the house. ‘I’d like to make it a home. With you p>
Heat crawls up my neck. ‘Cole p>
I agreed he could be involved. Not take over. Living together is a lot. I refuse to give up my independence for any man.
He steps closer, sliding a hand onto the countertop beside mine, caging me in without touching me. His voice dips into something low, rough, intimate. ‘We’ll renovate, obviously. The kitchen is good, but the rest of the house needs the best interior designer in Dublin.’ He winks. ‘Good job I know her p>
My breath catches.
He’s moving so fast.
‘And we’ll need to put in a nursery.’ His face dips to mine until our lips are mere inches apart. ‘Not just any nursery—the best nursery that ever was. Nothing less will do for my baby p>
‘Our baby,’ I remind him. I knew I’d have my work cut out with him. Good job I’ve had years of practice standing up for myself with five older brothers.
He reaches for my stomach then, smoothing his palm over my bump. ‘I know you don’t need my help. I know you planned on doing this alone, but I will provide for my woman, and my baby, so stop fighting me, and let me take care of you p>
His thumb grazes my belly button; it’s the gentlest touch he’s given me yet, and somehow the most devastating. ‘You and our son deserve the best home money can buy. And I need to be where you are p>
His words hit deeper than they should. Deeper than I’m ready for.
He’s building a life here.
And he wants that life to include me.
I don’t know if I’m ready for this.
‘I don’t know what to say,’ I murmur.
‘Don’t say anything.’ His eyes flare with that cocky prowess that attracted me to him in the first place. His lips brush over mine, and I swear it’s a battle to remember my own name, let alone why I should probably go home before he decides to keep me—and our baby—here forever.
‘Even if I do agree to build a home with you, I’ll never be a housewife. I’ll never give up my career p>
‘I’d never ask you to,’ he promises, earnestness weighing on his every word. Huge, hot hands roam up over my body. Deft thumbs graze my nipples as his tongue slides over mine, caressing yet claiming. Every cell in my body hums with need. Hums for him.
He tears his lips from mine and stares at me with that unwavering male intensity, as his fingers continue to tease my tight, needy nipples. ‘You’re mine, Zara. And you know it. That’s why you didn’t let anyone else touch these, after me p>
He’s right.
It would have been futile. No man in the world could compare to him. And that was before I knew his true identity.
I run my palms over his pecs. Approval flickers across his handsome features.
I swallow hard. I’m not a jealous woman, but the thought of him with another woman makes me feral. I blame the hormones. His PA, Belle, is utterly stunning. ‘Did anyone…?’ Ugh! I can’t even bring myself to say the words.
His irises darken, and his lips tip up in a smirk. ‘The only person who touched me—was me, Irish. I beat myself fucking senseless thinking about your tight perfect pussy,’ he growls. ‘After what we had in the Caribbean, how could anyone compare p>
‘Ditto,’ I whisper.
‘Why did you run out on me, Irish?’ His eyes narrow.
‘Because I hate goodbyes,’ I whisper.
‘Liar. There’s more to it than that p>
He’s perceptive; I’ll give him that. There will be no hiding anything from him, so, in true Beckett style, I opt for deflection instead. ‘Is that any way to speak to the mother of your child p>
He dips his head forward and traces my lips with his tongue. ‘Tell me the truth, and I’ll make the mother of my child come, right here, right now p>
‘And if I don’t?’ I cock my head.
He slides his hand beneath my dress, fingers skimming over my inner thigh, sending goosebumps rippling in every direction. When he meets the naked junction between my legs, he hisses. I’m still soaked for him. Always have been. Probably always will be. ‘Then I’ll tease you.’ He slides a finger slowly over my slit. ‘Until you tell me any damn thing I want to know p>
He works my clit with his thumb, and I moan, placing my hands on the island behind me to steady myself. ‘Tell me why you ran,’ he repeats, as his fingers slow to a stop.
‘Asshole,’ I hiss.
‘I’ll play with that too, if you like.’ He chuckles, long and low. ‘Shall I tell you what I think?’ He’s smirking at me. Actually smirking. ‘I think you ran out on me because if you didn’t, you’d have caved and given me your number p>
I blow out a breath. He’s sharp as well as sexy. Still, given all he’s achieved he’d have to be.
‘If you know so much, why are you asking?’ I drink in his chiselled cheekbones. That strong square jawline, sharp enough to slice steel, and those cool blue eyes that are hot enough to melt my insides.
‘I want to hear you say it. I want you to tell me that I wasn’t the only one who caught feelings. I want you to tell me you thought about me every damn fucking day, and all night too—the way I thought about you.’ His hand drifts under my dress again, skimming over my skin. I need so much more.
‘Fine.’ I roll my eyes at him. ‘I snuck out because yes—I was dangerously close to giving you my number. And I refuse to pine over a man who lives on the other side of the planet. A man who’d never be mine—not really p>
His eyes glint with satisfaction, and he rewards me with his fingers. ‘I’m yours, Zara. And you are mine.’ His lips claim mine again, hot and heady and commanding as he works me with his hands. The man is gifted. He knows exactly what I need. My thighs tighten as his thumb rolls over my clit, again and again and again. Heat spreads like wildfire over my skin, and my release shimmers on the horizon. He tears his mouth from mine and sinks two fingers into my centre, hitting the sensitive spot deep inside. ‘Come for me,’ he commands.
And I do—violently. My orgasm shakes my entire body, and my blood turns to lava, until I blow, clinging onto his shoulders hard enough to mark his skin. A satisfied smirk curls his lips.
‘Stay with me tonight. I’m nowhere near finished with you p>
The air thickens.
My heart skips a beat as I draw in ragged breaths.
I should say no.
I should create space.
I should take time to get my head around the fact that this man is technically my family’s enemy, my business client, the father of my child, and the biggest complication of my entire life.
But instead…
I nod.