The grin remains on Kane’s face as he looks back at me. “That I’m getting it and you’re not.”

“Ah, fuck off,” I say, turning my back to him.

“Exactly,” Kane says just as I slam the door before returning behind my desk.

With annoyance flowing through me, I lean back in my seat, running my hands down my face. He is a fuckin’ gobshite, that Kane. How dare he tease me when he knows my girl isn’t ready for that kind of thing yet? He knows the whole story; I’ve confided in him and trusted him with the information about Amberlyn. Now I wish I hadn’t. Okay, that’s going a little too far since he is my best friend. I also know that I would do the same to him about any other girl he was not getting it from, but it’s not funny to joke about Amberlyn. I would not do that to him with Fiona; I know she is different. As Amberlyn is different.

Ugh, he gets on my nerves, but I would be lying if I said I haven’t thought about it every second of the day since meeting Amberlyn. She has awakened the need and boy, how I would love to get between her thighs. Just remembering how she felt has me getting harder by the second. Groaning, I let my head fall to the desk as I inhale a long breath. Damn Kane. This is his fault. I was fine with how things were, stolen kisses and hot touches, but now I am craving the whole damn thing. I want to get lost in her kisses, I want to get tangled in the sheets, I want to feel her in the most intimate way, and I hate myself for it. I don’t want to rush her. I don’t want to her to feel obligated. I want her to do it because she loves me.

When my phone vibrates on the desk, I reach for it to see it’s from the lady that has my whole body tight with need.

I can’t wait to see you tonight.

I’ve been thinking about you all day, I admit.

Good things?

Good, great, and dirty, I must say.

Oooo… sounds scandalous. You’ll have to share.

Leaning back, I smile as I type out quickly, It involves you and me, and my hands on every inch of you.

Mr. O’Callaghan! My goodness! So dirty!

I laugh out loud, as I type: Lol. Are you offended?

Quite the opposite really. Turned on is more like it.

Groaning, I shift in my seat. You’re killing me.

Haha. Well, let’s stop before someone gets hurt. I’ll see you soon?

Yes. I can’t wait.

Me neither.

Sitting up, I run my hands down my face, squeezing it hard before letting out a long breath. Deciding that no work will get done after the last half hour I’ve had, I stand up and head out of the office. I think a shower is in order.

A nice, long, hot shower.

Looking at myself in the mirror, I let out my hundredth sigh of the day. It’s been a stressful one. Between working all morning, seeing the paper, and then having Kane remind me that I’m not getting laid, I’ve also have to deal with the fact that I have to forgo my beanie tonight. Not only is it tacky to wear a beanie with an Italian, dark-tailored suit, my ma would murder me. So as I run a comb through my thick, tight curls, I curse them and even consider shaving my head. Knowing again, that my ma would murder me if I did so, since I apparently have the curls from her great-grandda or some crap. I throw my comb down in the hopes that I look okay.

I think I look like a fool.

Rolling my eyes, I head out of my room and towards the back of the house since the front is busy with guests arriving. The ball is starting in twenty minutes, and I may be running a tad late. Since I don’t want to come to this God-awful thing anyway, I take my time getting in my car and heading to the Maclaster land. Kane sent me a text earlier inviting Amberlyn and me to dinner with them, but I declined since my stomach is a mess from Amberlyn meeting my da.

I haven’t seen him yet, nor do I want to, but I can just imagine all the things he is thinking after reading that rubbish in the paper. I want to call Amanda and tell her that she needs to stop writing that shite, but it will fuel her more. I just wish it would all go away. Can’t I date a girl and be happy without the whole world and my family having a say on her? I don’t know why I am letting it bother me, but it drives me insane. With other girls I dated, I didn’t give a shite. I was happy, dicking around with who I pleased, and didn’t give a damn what they thought of the girl but with Amberlyn, I want them to respect her. She is more than some floozy; she is my future.

She just doesn’t know that yet.

Shaking my head to rid the stress from today, I pull into the driveway and see that Amberlyn is looking out the window. When she sees that it’s me, she grins before letting the curtain fall. I hate that I’ve kept her waiting, and I hope she isn’t too mad at me. Nervous, I head towards the door. I go to knock, but Mrs. Maclaster pulls the door open with a bright grin on her face.

“Declan, how are ya?”

I smile as I step in and go to answer her but the most beautiful thing in the world catches my eyes. Before, no one has ever caught my eye the way Amberlyn does and right now is no different. Standing in a sinfully gorgeous dress with her dark, reddish hair in curls around her face, I can’t seem to form a coherent thought. Her face is made up in a soft, beautiful way, her lips as pink as the shoes she wears, formed in such a shy way. I don’t know what it is, maybe the see-through fabric below her breast, or the way her shoes show off her legs in a delicious way, or maybe it’s her eyes, but it takes everything for me to keep my composure as I say, “You’re gorgeous.”

Her face breaks in a grin as she steps towards me and I reach out, lacing my fingers with hers.

“So gorgeous,” I breathe.

She looks shyly down at her dress before looking up at me. “You don’t think it’s slutty or anything?”

“Slutty is the last thing I am thinking. Elegant, beautiful, classy, perfect… Did I say gorgeous because, Amberlyn, I could go on for hours. Know that no one will stand a chance against you when you step foot into this ball.”

As her face warms with such a stunning color, Mrs. Maclaster says, “Why can’t ya talk to me like that anymore, you big lug?”

I turn to find Mr. and Mrs. Maclaster behind me as Mr. Maclaster says, “Because I’ve already married you. I don’t have to say that shite anymore. You know I think that!”

Not liking that answer, Mrs. Maclaster yells, “The hell I don’t! Woo me before I find someone else to woo me!”

“For goodness sakes, please go!” Mr. Maclaster hollers before stomping off behind her, flashing me a dirty look on the way. Looking back at Amberlyn, we both laugh. She is so beautiful when she laughs that my laughter stops short. Leaning over, I take her lips with mine, kissing her with such need. Her hand comes up to cup my face as I deepen the kiss, glad for the privacy since it is probably the only time I’ll have to kiss Amberlyn the way I want to tonight.