I reluctantly dragged my eyes from her as I left the stage, the drums feathering out into a fade as I disappeared to allow the lads to continue the gig alone.
When I returned from the office, drumless, I received a few cheers and raised pints as I moved through the crowded bar to London’s table. She sat with Taran, Cammie, and Tierney who had Akiva at her feet. London had not only kept a seat open for me next to her but there was also a pint waiting for me.
She leaned in, her light floral scent causing a tightening of need in my gut. “Well done.” I barely heard her compliment over the noise of the band.
I murmured my thanks and reached for the pint.
London’s lips brushed my ear, sending a shiver from my nape down my spine. “It’s NA.”
My breath caught as I turned my head, our noses almost touching as I looked into her spectacular eyes that sparkled in spite of the bar’s dim light. Even over Ramsay’s pipes, I heard the hitch of her breath, and hot blood shot south as I imagined hearing that hitch rising to cries of pleasure as I moved inside her.
As if she read my thoughts, London’s lips parted on a sharp exhale that whispered across my mouth.
And since we were in public and we were supposed to be husband and wife, I dared to move my head downward and brush my lips over hers.
London made a small feminine sound, and it elicited a big reaction in my dick, which was followed by an even bigger reaction when she chased my mouth and pressed her lips more firmly to mine. I wanted to grab her up and carry her out of there. I wanted to press her against a wall and kiss her until we couldn’t breathe.
Like a splash of cold water, however, I remembered the last man who kissed her had treated her with force and aggression.
It cooled my blood and I retreated from the kiss.
London’s gaze was searching, a world of confusion in her eyes that made me feel like shit for taking advantage of our situation in the first place. She cleared her throat and sat abruptly back in her chair, turning to stare determinedly at the band.
It was a tense twenty-minute set as I watched her out of my peripheral, trying to gauge her disposition. After the lads finished and pulled up chairs to join us, it grew impossible to know what was going on inside London’s head as she engaged with our group.
“Did you see, Murray?” Taran shoved a piece of paper down the table toward me. It was a small poster.
London leaned into read it with me. “Open mic night on Thursday?”
“It’s become a regular thing at the Lantern. London, you have to convince your husband to play,” Taran urged. “Quinn says you have a fantastic voice, Mur.”
“He does,” London agreed. She looked up at me. “You should do it.”
I played and sang for me and my family, not for public gratification. “Nah, I’m good.” Letting go of the poster I took a sip of my ale.
Aodhan appeared at the table, his English mastiff, Shakespeare, at his side. Shakespeare sniffed curiously at the air near Akiva. The Alaskan malamute narrowed her eyes as if in warning and Shakespeare comically jerked his gaze away as if to say,I’m minding my own business over here.
Aodhan chuckled at the doggy exchange. “You’ve raised that one to be as aloof as she is bonny.”
Ramsay shrugged, reaching down to stroke Akiva’s fur.
Unbothered, Aodhan turned to me and London, beaming at us. “I just came over to offer my congratulations. You make a fine pair.”
“Thank you.” I slid my arm around London’s shoulders and was relieved when she leaned into me.
“Yeah, thanks.”
“Aye, a bonny pair indeed.” Aodhan nodded. “Happy for you, Murray.”
Emotion tightened my throat. I’d known Aodhan Macduff my whole life and I’d looked up to him. He knew exactly the kind of bastard my father was and the trials Jill had put me through. To see his genuine joy for me filled me with gratitudeandguilt for lying.
More than that, I wished that London really was the light at the end of the tunnel and not just another business deal.
She feltrightin my arms.
Looking down at her, I recognized her own guilt and uncertainty. The impulse to soothe her just happened to coincide with our need to present a united front. Kissing her again didn’t seem to be the right thing to do, so I pressed my lips to her temple, giving her shoulders a reassuring squeeze.
Her soft hair tickled my cheek, the scent of her shampoo so enthralling I lingered against her far longer than I should. Her hair smelled like some kind of exotic flower with a hint of coconut. I could bury my face in the silky strands and stay there forever.