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Category:
Historical Fiction
Publisher: KDP
Type: Fiction
Copyright: Jan 27, 2025
ISBN-13: 9798869079299
Price: $2.99 (eBook)
The McCown Brothers have a reputation, a well-deserved one.
Any woman would be a fool to get involved with one of the four.
Ian McCown is perfectly content with his life the way it is. He has no desire to escort a bad-tempered, opinionated, surly Irishwoman to her home even though his best friend has requested he do just that.
Katelyn is Charles Fahey's sister.
Charlie expects Ian treat his little sister with respect and decorum.
Ian just wants to push her off a cliff and have done. Will this week never end?
Ian McCown's life, of late, is nothing but work and drudgery and then, Katelyn Fahey came into that life and out of the blue, things perked up.
Katelyn with her curvy figure and wild red hair and deep-set smoke eyes that look into a man's soul.
That Irish temper heats Ian's blood. Life will never be boring with that one, he senses.
Trouble is, she is the sister of one of Ian's closest friends, and Charles Fahey guards his little sister vigilantly...her reputation and her heart.
Is it worth the trouble to lose a long-time friend? No, of course not, but it is very difficult to get that woman out of one's head, Ian is learning the hard way...
Excerpt
"Angus McCown...where are you taking me?" Katelyn balked, pulling up short, having tried for some few moments to keep up with the young man's determined steps.
She pulled her hand from his, both going to her hips as she faced him squarely.
"To where I was told and I will not be doing one thing more or less!" Angus remembered verbatim, Ian's warning. He grasp her hand again, tugging her along the rose-vined walkway, his steps even more rapid than before.
Katelyn scarcely had time to mull his words over or question them before he had swung her about, depositing her soundly beneath an arbor of sweet-smelling garlands.
"There now! I have done my part and no one can say differently." The man seemed relieved.
The girl gathered her wits, watching Angus pace quickly in the small space available. "Would you like to sit?" she had noted the marble bench behind them, tucked into an attractive alcove of greenery.
"Oh, I would like very much to 'sit' but, even that is not allowed apparently!" he was upset over the fact.
He halted his tirade, looking at her with the most earnest of eyes. "And...that dress! It fits just so."
His eyes traveled the petite form hungrily, but then he seemed to snap back to reality, for suddenly a menacing form appeared in the shadows of the arbor.
The darkly clothed Spector took the familiar shape of Ian McCown.
Katelyn's mood heightened, her spine stiffening somewhat.
"I did not do anything!" Angus justified angrily. "I did only as I was told...I am going back to the others." And he marched off, his mood one of exasperated pique.
"I have upset your brother." Katelyn smiled gently after the young man, then realized. She was suddenly alone with a man. Not a young boy.
"You have upset me." Ian informed her. "Why encourage him to sit with you. Did you think he would 'sit' for very long? Mayhap, that is what you wished."
"He is no older than Sean." Kate disgusted. "I do not seduce children! I was having a little fun...oh, but, you would not know about 'fun', would you...forgive me!" she snubbed him purposely, hoping for an excuse to take her leave. "I forgot to whom I was speaking."
"Whom do you 'seduce'?" Ian asked, all too quietly.
"Were I of a mind, an old man with lots of silver in his pockets, if it is any of your concern!"
"You require a man have coin before you find him...acceptable? There are names for women like you." He held his amusement, his temper suitably soothed, even though she had no idea she had done so.
"There are names for men like you...shall I call you a few?" Katelyn asked coolly.
Ian lowered his head to hide his grin.
He controlled his mirth, lifting his gaze after a beat. "I thought you might need rescuing from the festivities. How did you fare in there?" he motioned to the house that was hidden in the greenery of thick trees. "The 'Ton' can be rather brutal when they choose."
"I can take care of myself." the girl turned, calming her own temperament. "Actually..." she caught a small twig, snapping it as she spoke, her mind on other matters. "Most were kind to me...your mother's influence, I assume."
"But...some were not." The man surmised by her manner, his expression grim.
Kate looked at him. "Nay...some were not."
"Fucking bitches!" Ian shook his head, his anger resurfacing but this time, not for the girl.
"An apt description, mayhap." She agreed. "I do not understand, never will... the need some have to inflict unnecessary pain on others. There is more than enough in this world as is. What pleasure does one derive from such...stupidity? I hate stupidity!"
The silence was a comfortable one for a change.
"...What pain was inflicted upon you, Kate?" he had to know.
"Do not address me as...that." she remarked off-handedly. "These are beautiful roses. And...so many."
She glanced at all the profusion above her head, searching for a neutral enough subject as the man did not seem wish allow her departure as yet.
Ian held her gaze, his own soft and for her alone. "Would I could have spared you those...parasites."
"Whatever for? One cannot protect another from life, sir..." the young girl smiled. "There are no lasting scars, I assure you. I am fine."
"Thank God." He murmured his gratitude.
"...Most kind, out of keeping with your normal mode of behavior toward me, would you not say? What are you about, in which case?" Kate glanced about the secluded area. "Did you, sir..." she placed her hands before her primly. "Come here to seduce me?"
Ian remained silent, his eyes never leaving the small, pixyish features. His insides churning chaotically, truth known.
"One of many, I will wager." She lifted beautifully arched brows. "Is this where it begins?" she motioned about the area. "Most romantic...I approve. At least...the setting."
"I did not come here to seduce you, girl." Her words not only angered him, they hurt him, for some unknown reason. Ian needed to 'hurt' back. "I came here to fuck you."
He witnessed her stiffen, but still could not stop the words or emotions pouring forth from within.
"I came...to bend you over that bloody bench, lift your skirts and take you from behind...like a bitch dog in heat! That I could watch the proceedings."
Katelyn calmly glanced at the bench he had indicated, her exterior, at least, one of thoughtful contemplation. "Interesting scenario, I must say. Mayhap, I should warn you, however...I have never been 'in heat'. That fact may alter your plans somewhat."
"You think I will not do it?" the man made a threatening step forward but she held her ground.
"Oh, I have no doubt." Katelyn concurred. "I might even allow it..." she lifted devastatingly effective eyes. "...were you to lose some of the anger you are spouting forth."
"I bloody dare any man alive to remain in your company for more than ten minutes and not 'spout forth'...anger!" he raised his voice effectively. "You can drive a man insane! Apparently, your affliction, is contagious!"
She actually chuckled, to his amazement. "I am not insane...a trifle...odd, mayhap."
She shrugged the slender shoulders. "Which is good enough for you. I am thinking."
"Had I presented my 'scenario' to any other woman, she would have slapped my bloody face and ran screaming to her mother." Ian felt inclined to point out.
"Any 'normal' woman, you mean." Kate nodded sagely. "Nor am I not a 'screamer'...sorry to disappoint you."
"I will wager..." Ian's tone dropped silkily, "I can make you scream...with pleasure, when I go between your legs and, nay...I do not think you will disappoint me at all...not in that area." He proclaimed boldly.
"You say the sweetest things, my lord." the woman cast him an annoyed glance. "You quite take my breath away."
"Bitch!" Ian snapped, stepping even closer but still...she held her ground.
"Bastard." Katelyn literally purred the word.
Ian's system reacted violently to her...technique.
He had to physically stop himself from gasping, his arousal instant and complete. "...Katelyn!" he breathed his awe of her ability.
"What?" she...sat, casually. As if she had not a care in the world, her gaze transfixed upon the man.
Did she not know?! Could she not see?
"What!?" Ian vented his frustration. "Bloody...'What?!"
Kate arose, her true emotions allowed for a beat. "Yes!" she raised her voice to match his. "Aye! What tis it you wish me to say? What will satisfy?!...Aye, my lord! Bend me over the bench? Fuck me like a bitch dog in heat?!" she grated angrily. "Does that do it for you, sir?"
She closed her eyes even as he had his...she, to collect herself...the man, to savor the bloody images.
"How dare you." Katelyn fumed inwardly. "What type of person do you think I am?" she was humiliated and shamed.
"And...how do I explain my actions to my mother...or God, for that matter? I have no doubt, you could make the act...pleasurable." she distained the notion.
"My question, sir...is a moment of 'pleasure' worth ruining several lives?" she sighed heavily. "What is in your head, man? Let me leave this place. I ask because...I apparently have no strength to accomplish the act on my own." the fact seemed to depress her greatly.
The silence came and stayed for a long beat. "...You must end this. Do so..." she beseeched him with those incredulous eyes. "Now...please."
"I cannot." Ian whispered harshly, moved by her statement, more than he cared admit, not for one second pretending he did not understand her reasoning or plea.
"Aye, you can." She disagreed. "It means so little to you, but so much to me. You can go on with your life. Think what mine will be like if I allow what it tis you envision."
"If it means so little to me, why, then..." Ian wished someone would tell him. "Am I so bloody miserable? Were you content, Katelyn? Apart from me?"
She lowered her eyes. "I...I understood...finally. Why you had to go. You made the right decision."
"Answer my question." He commanded. "Were you content?"
She sat, drained emotionally. "It will...take time. You have managed catch my interest. 'Why' is anyone's guess." Kate was more than annoyed with herself.
" You are...attractive, in a barbaric sort of way, I suppose." She did not like the fact, clearly. "You have silver, you are knowledgeable about my species...in 'that' sort of way. Why would I not find you acceptable."
She arose, agitated. "That is hardly the point."
"The point is...I ache at night for want of you. I cannot sleep...for thinking of you..." Ian could not stop the words, once started.
"Of the many stupid things you say and do. Your damnable scent." He ran his hand through his dark hair.
"It drives me to distraction," he motioned to her. "The way you twirl the ends of your hair when you are nervous..." he closed his eyes. "Hell, I even like that! And, 'why'? God, it is so stupid a thing to 'like'."
Katelyn stopped 'twirling' her hair instantly, beyond embarrassed.
"The totally non-sensible outlook you have on life in general." Ian ranted on, glad to finally have it all out. "There is something wrong with me...there is something terribly 'wrong." He was sure of it.
"Excuse me?!" Katelyn took exception. "Were I you, I would return to the' aching at night, want of you, canna sleep part'...you are rapidly losing my goodwill."
"To what ends?" he disgusted. "You have no intention of sharing my bed! Admit it...save us both the bloody time and effort."
"...If that be true," she advised sweetly. "Then, mayhap, it is your duty to convince me do so."
The man...scowled, uncertain of what was being said.
He had never met anyone quite like this...banshee...what did it want of him?
"...You say one thing then intimate another." he was confused.
"Do you even possess a brain?-'What', to a 'normal' man, would my words signify?"
Ian fell silent, thinking it through. "...You...have not yet made a decision."
"I most certainly have." it was haughtily corrected. "If you are so 'desperate'...as you claim. Change my mind! Or...are you not man enough to do so."
"-Aye...bitch!" he growled. "I am man enough for the likes of you!"
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