Page 31 of Irish Betrayal

Even now, on her way to her old mentor’s place, the memory of watching Daniel thrash in ecstasy as she’d used her hands and mouth, had her body heating in anticipation of seeing him again later.

Blair had been resting on top of Daniel, both of them naked and relaxed, neither wanting to move a muscle, when they called it and decided to simply sleep the remaining few hours of the night on the well-used—and hopefully still returnable—couch in the greenhouse.

There wasn’t a better first-time scenario she’d ever imagined for herself than what Daniel had given her, minus the condom debacle, but still, perfection.

As she’d matured into adulthood, Blair had always tucked Daniel away as the man she most admired, her secret crush, her person.

Did she believe that he could ever want her in return? She hadn’t. She understood why a woman who couldn’t hear and was the certified runt of the litter wouldn’t be a man’s first pick.

Did she believe he wanted her now? Most definitely.

Grinning, she looked out the window of the hired car taking her across town to Peter’s. Blair knew before kissing Daniel goodbye that morning that she would be pulling herself from the Oklahoma master’s program. Now that they were together and Peter had given his blessing, so to speak, she didn’t need to run halfway across the world.

She grinned, thinking about how smug Ulf would be when she accepted his offer. She really couldn’t wait to tell Daniel.

Blair walked up the three flights of stairs to Peter’s flat. She couldn’t stop the slight grimace at the door’s familiar placard. Number 302.

The first time she’d seen that door was when she was thirteen. He’d called it a field trip. Funny, she’d felt so special that day.

Not anymore.

She’d been to the apartment several times. Today was notably different. She wanted to leave her relationship with Peter behind, especially after spending the night with Daniel. Where she had been feeling lost and confused, she now found renewed strength and purpose.

Blair was determined to make this visit to Peter, to his flat, the last.

Something dynamic, transcending, changed her mentally last night. It was as though Daniel had flipped a switch in her brain.

She had already planned to use her time in Oklahoma to create distance between her and her old mentor. She was quite aware that their relationship had gone on too long and had gone too far.

Blair’s dad would kill Peter if he knew.

Why had that thought never occurred to her before? Why was it only now that she’d had Daniel?

She always felt such guilt when she had unflattering thoughts about Peter. Sure, they shouldn’t have messed around when she’d been so young, but it had been his way to help her have a brighter, more productive future. There were times when she would get a sick feeling in her stomach if an old memory of them doing things together surfaced.

He always said it was to save her the heartache of men finding her wanting, and they would, according to Peter.

Daniel hadn’t found her deafness or her body wanting. There was a chance that Peter might have been too harsh in his criticism.

She wasn’t the same starry-eyed little girl she’d been when she and Peter met so many years ago, and she certainly didn’t need him academically.

Peter had even admitted once, after a few strong drinks at a party hosted at Trinity, that she had surpassed his knowledge.

She could have told him that.

And she certainly no longer needed to understand how men and women’s bodies reacted to one another. If she had any further questions, her best friends, especially Mags, wouldn’t hesitate to overshare.

After that night of drunken revelations, Peter had been quick to tell her that she still needed him as a mentor, guiding her and helping her with big decisions.

Maybe.

Truth be told, Blair didn’t believe she needed that from him anymore.

Maybe.

She forced herself to knock, steeling her spine and locking her shoulders back. Peter would sniff out weakness in seconds. Better to give him indifference.

Blair heard him say to come in, so she tried the handle and the door clicked open. The apartment’s darkness was disorienting from the hallway’s bright illumination.