Secret Sin (The Byrne Brothers #1.5)

by Jill Ramsower

“Either way you look at it, the answer’s the same,” he said smugly. “Now, it’s time for you to get some rest. Sweet dreams, kitten. I...

Bishop was every kind of stubborn yet somehow endearing at the same damn time.

“It can’t be that bad.”

Bishop’s amused voice engulfed me as he lowered himself to sit on the bench beside me.

I shot upright. “What are you doing here?” My words might have come off accusatory, but inside, I wa...

“I was heading to my gym, which happens to be nearby. Fi...

“But there are two dozen YMCAs in this city. How did you know w...

“This is the one closest to your parents’ house.” He shrugged. “I could have been wrong, but I only would have be...

“You have a habit of showing up places. Shoul...

He flashed a fiend...

“Absolu...

I shook my head, fighting ba...

There’s no better stress reliever.” His eyes cut over to me. “Well, maybe one.”

“I happen to be dressed for the occasion. Maybe I could show you a few moves.”

Oh, this was too good—an opportunity I couldn’t pass up.

“I’m not sure jeans and a T-shirt are gym clothes. Besides, I wouldn’t want to keep you,” I offered, ...

“Wouldn’t want to be anyw...

The cheeky bastard winked, and God, d...

“Look, this was fun, but I told you that I wasn’t looking for anything.”

“Neither was I, but sometimes you end up in places you never meant to be.”

“A young man came to visit me today. He said that you two have been seeing each other.”

He didn’t. He wouldn’t. I internally cringed. Wouldn’t he? Hadn’t he made his position perfectly clear? Still, I was dumbfounded.

“Why didn’t you tell us you were seeing someone? And an I...

My lips parted, but nothing emerged. I had no clue what to say or how to explain. Well, Dad. We had a one-night stand, so I d...

“We’ve only seen each other a couple of times.” I decided that was safe enough to admit.

“I’m not thrilled about him being Irish, but knowing you and Noemi, I shouldn’t have been surprised. You two always were more like twins than cousins. With her married to one of them, I should have known you’d follow suit,”

“We are not getting ...

“Well, I’m just letting you know I don’...

My brows drew tightly together as I studied my father. “I don’t understand. When I was in school, you did everything you could to keep me from dating...

“It wasn’t the dating that bothered me, per se. There was just no point in any of those boys sniffing around what they couldn’t have. I wasn’t about to let you get involved with some asswipe future accountant or insurance salesman who cou...

Bishop can take care of you, even if he is ...

I was a little stunned but not so distracted as to forget what star...

“What exactly did you and Bishop ...

“Not a lot, but he asked permission to formally pursue you, which I respect. Would have preferred hearing...

“I’m s...

“So what did you tell him?”

“I said I had no objections, so long as it’s what you want.”

I liked Bishop—a lot—but the whole point in screwing him was to experience life, not get myself tied down even faster. Getting hitched to the first man I slept with was exactly what I’d been trying to avoid.

“You don’t have to do anything you’re not comfortable with, Pip.”

I was glad my father was on my side, even if he was overbearing at times. He always meant well.

I liked the guy more than I should have, but he would have to learn I wasn’t the object of a negotiation. I had thoughts and feelings and desires, and not one of them appreciated being disrespected. If he wanted to win me over, my opinion was the only one that mattered. Not my mom’s. Not my dad’s. Mine. And I would not be bullied into anything less.

“Nothing about this thing between us is normal, Pip. I’ve never in my life met a woman who ran from me like you do.”

“Did you know that the first person who discovers a star gets to name it anything they want?” She was silent for a second before slowly turning her head side to side.

“No, but I’m not a star, Bishop. You can’t own me.”

“No one owns the stars, baby. Everyone can admire them from a distance, but that one man whose eyes first sighted that brilliant speck of light and recognized it for the treasure that it is, that...

She didn’t just relax into my hold. Pippa met my hunger with a ravenous need of her own.

“I hope you don’t think this means you’re forgiven,”

“I wouldn’t dream of it.”

Never in my life had I encountered a girl so hell-bent on getting away from me. Especially when her body responded to my every command. My kitten was a little feral, but I’d show her just how good it was to be owned.

Belonging to a man could be its own kind of freedom—protection, adoration, support, and companionship. I’d be her damn everything if she’d let me.