Quiet Types, page 23
Rhys shot him a sceptical look. “Who?”
“Charli. Remember my cousin from back in the day? She came to stay with us that one summer?”
My attention went to Rhys, who seemed to stiffen at this news. “Oh,” he said finally. “Yes, I remember Charli. Didn’t she get married?”
“Straight out of college, yeah. Never met the bloke, but it turns out, he was a bit of a shithead. She divorced him a few months ago. That’s why she’s moving over here, for a fresh start. Dad offered her a job doing payroll, and she jumped at the chance. You know she always loved Ireland.”
“Well, hopefully, the fresh start will be good for her,” Rhys said just as Shay and Nuala returned with the drinks. Shay set my Coke down, and I took a fortifying sip as he slid into the seat on the other side of me. Soon, Stephanie appeared, joining our table, and conversation turned to other topics. I wondered if Shay felt like as much of an outsider as I did because the four obviously knew each other well. They spoke of people and events that meant nothing to me.
I bent close to Shay and murmured, “I’m just going to use the bathroom. I’ll be back in a minute.”
He nodded, his eyes meeting mine as he gave my hand a squeeze. Leaving the table, I went in search of the bathroom and found it easily enough. There was a bit of a queue, and by the time I got to a stall, I was ready to burst. Maybe I shouldn’t have drunk that Coke so fast. I was almost finished doing my business when I heard a new group enter the bathroom, and they sounded tipsy, well on their way to being drunk.
“Did you see Rhys Doyle tonight?” one of them said, catching my attention. “I swear, I could eat that man right up.”
“Not cool,” another said. “Don’t you know he’s engaged to Stephanie Moran?”
“Of course, I know that. Sure, the woman barely leaves his side.”
“Marking her territory,” a third put in. “You can’t blame her. If I had a man like that, I wouldn’t be letting him out of my sight either.”
“Well, what about the cousin?” The second one said, and my belly tightened. “He’s just as handsome as Rhys, and he always looks so dark and mysterious in the security uniform.”
“Right, but he seems kind of shy. I’ve never really seen him talking to anyone.”
“Didn’t you know? He’s mute, like, can’t speak at all.”
“Really? I had no idea. Wow, that’s fascinating.”
“How is it fascinating, Monica? The man can’t utter a word. Can you imagine how life must be for him?”
“It’s just rare, I guess. I’ve never met anyone who was mute. Maybe that’s why it’s fascinating.”
“If you find it so fascinating, why don’t you go out there and ask him to dance? You don’t need to be able to talk to dance at a party. You also don’t need to talk to do other things, if you get me. Who knows, maybe you might get lucky.”
“You think I won’t do it, but I will. He’s gorgeous, and I deserve a Christmas fling.”
Panic set in as I quickly emerged from the stall, but they were already gone. I was possessive of Shay, and I hated hearing those women talk about him. But my jealousy aside, I suspected he’d hate being approached by a tipsy coworker and asked to dance. And that was why I hurried back out to the party to save Shay before that Monica lady got to him.
18.
Shay
I frowned in the direction of the bathrooms, wondering if Maggie was okay. She’d been in there for a while. Then a woman appeared in front of me, blocking my view. She was younger than me, probably in her mid-twenties. I recognised her as one of the bar staff from the hotel restaurant.
“Hello,” she said with a wide smile before lowering into Maggie’s seat. “You’re Shay, right?”
I nodded warily because I didn’t want Maggie to come back and find some random woman in her seat.
“I’m Monica. I work at the bar downstairs. I remember one time there was this bloke who got really drunk and aggressive, and you hauled him out easily. I was so impressed.”
Again, I nodded, not wanting to be rude but also hoping she didn’t plan to stick around. Sadly, it seemed she did. Monica reached out and squeezed my arm. I frowned at her familiarity, instinctively leaning away from her touch. Her confidence cracked a little at my obvious dismay, and she removed her hand but continued talking, speaking more gently now, “It’s okay. I know you can’t speak. I’m fine with that. I was wondering if you wanted to dance with me?”
Over her shoulder, Maggie finally appeared, her eyes going from me to Monica. I shot her an apologetic look I hoped conveyed my irritation. Rhys was busy talking with Tristan, so he didn’t notice what was happening. Normally, my cousin was good at helping me out in those kinds of situations, but it seemed I was going to have to get myself out of it.
I stood when Maggie reached us, and Monica’s eyes widened.
“I think you’re in my seat,” Maggie said, glancing at Monica, who started to frown.
“You think?” she replied with a hint of attitude that surprised me. Most people would simply accept they were in someone else’s seat and get up.
Maggie looked to me, her eyebrows rising. I was about to pull out my phone and explain to Monica that Maggie was my date, and no, I wasn’t interested in dancing with her, when Maggie said, “No, I don’t think. I know you’re sitting next to my boyfriend, so could you please move?”
A smile tugged at my lips, not only because of how Maggie stood up for herself, but also because she called me her boyfriend. Possessive heat filled my chest. I fucking loved hearing those words coming from her.
I loved her.
The knowledge had blood rushing through my veins. I wanted her to belong to me, to be mine.
“Well, there’s no need to be so rude,” Monica sniffed, finally rising from the seat and walking off. Maggie stared after her, looking regretful before she turned back to me.
“Was that too harsh?”
Still smiling, I shook my head and approached her, unable to prevent myself from signing, I love you so fucking much. I didn’t think she’d be able to translate it, though there was still a chance she would, and that got my adrenaline pumping. She blinked at me, then asked, “What was that?”
Instead of responding, I captured her lips. I felt her inhalation, noting her surprise, before her mouth relaxed, and she granted my tongue entrance. My arms slid around her waist as I pulled her to me. Maggie looked so incredibly beautiful tonight. It had been a task not to do that as soon as I saw her on her doorstep earlier.
Her long, auburn hair was in loose curls, and she wore a tight black dress that stirred a hunger I couldn’t sate.
Maggie broke the kiss, her breathing choppy. “Wow, um, okay. What was that for?”
I smiled at her and mouthed, “Boyfriend?” A red flush instantly coloured her cheeks.
“I just said that to get rid of her,” Maggie replied. “I could tell you were uncomfortable.”
I was still smiling when I pulled out my phone and typed, “So, you don’t want me to be your boyfriend?”
She bit her lip, a rosy tint painting her cheeks. “Quit teasing me.”
My eyes darkened, my expression sobering as I shook my head. My meaning was clear. I wasn’t teasing.
Her eyelids fluttered, and I could tell she was nervous as she looked away and released a quick breath. “We should get something to eat. We haven’t tried any of the food yet, and it looks delicious.”
Maggie turned, heading in the direction of the buffet. I guessed her nervousness had her searching for a distraction, but I wasn’t mad at her. Committing to someone was a big deal for Maggie. I was aware of that, given her past and anxieties about being abandoned.
Paul McCartney’s “We All Stand Together” was playing as I followed her. Maggie grabbed a plate and started filling it with food.
“I heard her talking about you in the bathroom,” she said, glancing at me, and I shot her a questioning look. “Monica. I was in a stall, and she and her friends were talking about how hot you are.” A pause as she decided whether to try the spring rolls. In the end, she set one on her plate before admitting, “I didn’t like it. Hearing them talk about you made me jealous.” Suddenly, I was fighting a smile again. Maggie glowered when she saw my lips twitch. “There’s no need to look so pleased.”
I bent a little to meet her gaze, staring at her meaningfully. She paused, her expression softening. I hoped my look conveyed I’d be just as jealous if I heard a group of men talking about her. Actually, I’d be twice as jealous.
“Quit smouldering at me, Shay Riordan. It’s more than my nerves can handle right now.”
I silently chuckled as she moved away, heading back to our table. I went to the bar and ordered another soft drink for Maggie and a pint of lager for myself. I was surprised by her earlier statement she didn’t drink, but it made sense once I considered her mother, who very obviously had an alcohol and drug problem. I hated the idea of Maggie being around that when she was young. No wonder she preferred to avoid it now.
When I reached the table, she was quietly eating, while Rhys and the others spoke about an upcoming ski trip. It was weird how my cousin straddled two worlds, the ordinary one where he came to my house for Sunday dinner and we went to the gym on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Then there was his other life, where the Balfes invited him on ski trips or shopping outings to New York. Long weekends away to Dubai. It was a whole other reality. Stephanie’s eyes lit up hearing about the ski trip, and I knew she preferred that side of Rhys’ lifestyle far better.
I sat next to Maggie, setting down our drinks. She quietly thanked me before I stole a tempura prawn from her plate. She shot me a grumpy look, but I just widened my eyes at the amount of food she’d gotten. There was more than enough for both of us.
“Fine,” she allowed after a moment of glowering. “I’ll share with you.”
I rested my thigh against hers, happy to just share that moment of quiet eating with her while the music and revelry happened around us.
“This week, I found out I have a half-brother,” Maggie said out of the blue, and I blinked. “Well, another one, I mean. He’s older than me. We share the same father.”
I was stunned by the casual way she revealed the news. I wanted to type into my phone, but the music was louder now, and I’d forgotten to bring my air pods. Maggie sat back, exhaling a long sigh.
“It’s Jonathan Oaks. He’s my half-brother. That’s why he hired me. It’s so strange. He wanted to find out what sort of person I was before telling me we were siblings. Like, who does that?”
I reached out and took her hand in mine, squeezing softly to let her know she could keep speaking if she wanted. I was concerned for her because finding out you had a sibling you never knew about would be startling news for anyone. In Maggie’s case, I was sure it brought up lots of conflicting emotions, especially because she never knew her biological father. And hiring her without telling her who he was? That was messed up. It activated my protective instincts, and I felt the need to suss the guy out, make sure he was a safe person for Maggie to have in her life. Remembering Rhys knew of Jonathan, I made a note to quiz him about the bloke.
My thumb brushed back and forth over the inside of her wrist, a small comfort and reassurance I was there for her, for whatever she needed.
Her blue eyes came to me, so soft and distracting. “It’s loud in here. Is there anywhere quieter we could go to talk?”
I nodded and made a hand gesture for her to wait a minute before I went and nudged Rhys’s shoulder. When I had his full attention I signed, Are there any free rooms we could go sit in for a while? Maggie’s not feeling well.
“Ah shite, it’s not the food, is it? I’m always wary of shellfish when it comes in a buffet,” Rhys replied.
It’s not the food. She just has a headache. I lied because I didn’t have time to explain about Jonathan Oaks being her brother.
Rhys dug in his pocket and handed me a key card. “This is for room 903, the penthouse. It’s empty right now, so Maggie can go lie down for a while.”
Thanks, I signed before taking the card.
I turned to Maggie, motioning for her to come with me. I placed my hand on her lower back and led her from the event room. We walked to a bank of lifts and took one up to the penthouse. The doors slid open, and I approached the door to 903. I’d been in there once or twice and knew it was one of the largest rooms in the hotel.
“Wow,” Maggie exclaimed when I pushed the door open and ushered her in. “This room is beautiful.” I stood back as she took several steps inside before going to the window to take in the view. She remained standing there, and I moved to stand beside her, admiring the view, too. The dark city twinkled with lights.
“I don’t know how to feel about the whole thing,” Maggie said after several moments of quiet. “Jonathan said he had to figure out what I was like in case he introduced himself and I turned out to be someone who was only after his money. It feels sneaky, you know, not to mention offensive. Like, just because I don’t have money, I’m going to be untrustworthy? Pretty judgemental in my view. But I really like my new job, and I don’t want to give it up. I especially don’t want to go back to my clients with my tail between my legs and beg for my cleaning gigs back.”
Frowning, I withdrew my phone and typed, “I hope he at least apologised for being underhanded.”
Maggie sniffed. “He did. He seemed genuinely sorry, too, said he’d wanted to come clean but had left it so long, and there never felt like a right time. His assistant has been training me, and she said he’s quite a lonely person, that he doesn’t have any close family.”
“That doesn’t mean you should feel obliged to fill that void,” I typed. “You should only get to know him if you’re comfortable and actually want to.”
Maggie turned to me, her expression conflicted. “I’m not entirely sure if I want to, but I am curious. He knows more about our father than I do, and I’d like to hear about him. I’d like to know about the side of me that didn’t come from my mother.”
“That’s understandable,” I replied.
“We’re going to meet up to talk everything through soon. Maybe then I’ll feel more confident about whether I want to continue getting to know him.”
“I can come with you when you go to meet him,” I offered. “I don’t have to be there when you’re talking, but I can be nearby for moral support.”
She sent me a grateful look, stroking her hand down my arm. “I might take you up on that.”
A silence fell. Maggie moved away from the window and went to look around the rest of the penthouse. She disappeared inside the bathroom, and I heard her exclaim loudly, “This tub might be bigger than my entire flat.”
I grinned and followed her in, finding her standing by the mirror staring at her reflection. “You’re beautiful,” I typed, and she glanced down, her long eyelashes casting a pretty shadow over her cheeks. “And sexy,” I continued. Christ was she sexy.
Her eyes flicked up, meeting mine through the mirror. “Did you mean it earlier?” she whispered.
I tilted my head in question, and she continued, “When you asked if I wanted you as my boyfriend? You weren’t just teasing me?”
My expression heated. “I wasn’t teasing you, Maggie. I meant it.”
“I think I want that,” she breathed, and possessive satisfaction scored me. Her throat moved as she swallowed, glancing at the floor then bringing her eyes back to me. “I want us to be together, Shay.”
“I want it, too,” I typed. “I want it more than my next breath.”
Hearing the statement, Maggie let out a small gasp. Placing my phone aside, I grabbed her hand and pulled her around, so she was facing me. Then I captured her face in my hands and stared into her eyes. Her eyelids fluttered as she wet her lips, and less than a second later, I was kissing her.
My tongue plundered her mouth as I lifted her. She locked her thighs around my waist, neither one of us breaking the kiss as I carried her into the bedroom and lowered her onto the bed before climbing over her. I was vaguely aware of her kicking off her shoes. I was hard as a rock as I settled into the softness between her thighs. I ground my erection into her heat, and she arched her back in pleasure. The way she reacted did something to me. Desire took over as I pushed her dress up over her hips, revealing black lace underwear. I moved down her body until my head was between her legs. I feathered my lips over the delicate material, and a soft moan escaped her.
“Shay,” she breathed.
It was so wrong. I could lose my job. We shouldn’t even be in there, but there was no stopping me now. Maggie was my girlfriend, and I had to stake my claim over her. It was a base instinct, a fiery need I was incapable of dousing. She went up on her elbows, staring down at me as I slowly rolled her underwear down her hips and legs until she was bare to me.
“Shay, we shouldn’t. If we’re caught, you could—”
I silenced her when I brought my mouth to her sex and licked. She fell back, her eyes closing, mouth open as gentle breaths left her. I licked right down her centre, then back up before capturing her clit and sucking hard. She cried out and I sucked harder, then flicked my tongue back and forth to drive her wild.
Maggie reached down, gripping my shoulder before running her hand over my hair. A shiver went down my spine when she gently dug her nails in, and a blast of arousal had my cock begging to be freed.
I continued tonguing her clit, circling intentionally, needing to see her come. Her taste was drugging. I slipped a finger inside her, closing my eyes half in agony and half in satisfaction when I discovered how wet she was. Maggie moaned, her thighs clenching around my shoulders, her muscles tightening, and I knew she was close. Removing my finger, I slid my tongue inside her, and her hips bucked.
“Shay,” she moaned, a hitch in her breath. “Oh my God. You’re so … so good at this.”
I loved her praise, returning to her clit once more and circling. That was when her nails dug into my scalp a little harder, not painful, but almost. A huff of breath escaped her as she stilled, then trembled, coming hard against my tongue. I grinned, lapping up every last ounce of her orgasm before I climbed up her body and kissed her again. She was softer now, languid after coming, and I’d never wanted to slip inside her more.
