Perfectly Broken (34 page)

“Sure, I’d like to meet them.”

Susanna lifted her cup. “As soon as I texted
that we were back together, he asked us to meet them for dinner.
I’m looking forward to meeting her. I’m so happy for Rowan. I hope
it works out.”

“Yeah, I’ll have to find out more about what he
does at his company.”

She nodded. “Maybe you will understand it. I
know it’s graphics, like for the web, sometimes online games. That
kind of stuff.”

Tomas raised his eyebrows. “Hmm, maybe graphics
for an online gambling site?”

“Ah, yes. He just might.”

He sat his cup down. “I told my grandmother that
I would come by and visit her today. I want you to come with
me.”

“That would be nice.”

“After all, you were at my grandfather’s
funeral.” Tomas grinned. “I think it’s time I made the
introduction.”

Susanna laughed. “Okay, let’s stop by my
apartment on the way, though.”

*****

Josette Dempsey lived in a small brick house
just outside Glasnevin. In the countryside, it was nearly hidden by
trees, and the stone path to the front door was lined with a
variety of wildflowers. Susanna had remembered seeing her at the
funeral and looked forward to meeting her.

She had striking blue eyes and short, snow-white
hair. His grandmother was in her seventies, and though her pale
skin showed a few wrinkles, she was lovely. Susanna was charmed
right away. And she received as warm a welcome as if she had been a
lifelong friend or a part of the family.

Tomas beamed. “I’d like you to meet Susanna.” He
had his arm her. Then he nodded toward the older woman. “This is my
grandmother.”

She stood and opened her arms. “Please, call me
Josette.”

Susanna gave her a warm hug. “It’s nice to meet
you, Josette.”

They sat at the small wooden table, and his
grandmother served tea with biscuits. The room was warm and cozy.
The atmosphere was relaxed. Josette looked over at Susanna. “So,
Tomas tells me you were at the funeral.”

Susanna felt her cheeks warm. “Yes, I was. I
hope you don’t mind.”

Josette’s eyes sparkled. “No, not at all. You
are very welcome. Though next time, don’t be so shy. For heaven’s
sake, say hello.”

Susanna laughed. “I will. I promise.”

Loving the company, Josette entertained them
with stories about the neighbors, and various escapades that she
retold with added drama. Susanna saw where Tomas got his
storytelling abilities. The afternoon was delightful, and they were
easily convinced to stay for dinner.

They talked about anything that came to mind,
and Susanna learned more about Tomas than he was probably
comfortable with. Josette didn’t run out of stories about him, or
his sister. She seemed to know an awful lot, considering they
hadn’t been raised in Ireland.

Tomas held Susanna’s hand. “My family’s like
that. There are no secrets. My grandmother knows every embarrassing
detail of our upbringing, just as if we’d grown up with her eyes on
us.”

Josette grinned. “And that’s how it should be.
Families were meant to be close.”

They helped her clear away the dishes, and
they’d talked so long that it had gotten very late. Josette
wouldn’t hear of them going back to town in the dark, and insisted
they spend the night. After the kitchen was cleaned up, his
grandmother settled into a big chair in the family room, next to
the fireplace, and was quickly lost in an embroidery project.

That night, Susanna slept with Tomas on a narrow
bed in an upstairs room. It was chilly, but they piled quilts on
top of them and were fine. The cozy room and the warm family
atmosphere touched Susanna more than she said. For once, she felt
like she fit in, like she belonged. And she liked it.

They made love under the pile of quilts with the
springs of the old bed creaking underneath them. Tomas was so warm
and sexy, telling her over and over how much he loved her. With her
body glowing, Susanna rested against his chest, and he wrapped his
arms around her. Nuzzled against him, she whispered what was in her
heart. “I love you, Tomas. I love you more than I can say.” In the
quiet darkness of the room, with Tomas pressed close, Susanna
drifted into a peaceful sleep.

*****

The next morning after breakfast, Tomas took her
for a walk in the Botanical Gardens. “I came here one time, after I
met you. I really wished you were with me.” He held her hand
tighter. “Now you are.”

They walked along a narrow path, in an area
thick with wildflowers. It was a rare day of sunshine, which
matched the feeling in Susanna’s heart. She felt as though she had
experienced an emotional rebirth.

The sense of freedom she had over escaping the
clutches of addiction was hard to describe. She looked up at the
man she loved, wanting him to know what was happening inside her.
And wanting to share everything as she changed for the better.
“I’ve learned that part of the reason for my addiction was the
underlying depression,” she said. “I knew the addictions were a way
to temporarily dull the bad feelings, but until now, I didn’t have
any other way of dealing with them.”

Tomas guided her to a short stone wall at the
edge of a bridge, and they sat down. “That makes a lot of sense.”
He looked at her. “I don’t know how I would have dealt with such
unimaginable loss.”

She leaned into him. “Yes, it molded me in many
ways. I know that now.”

Tomas put his hand on her thigh and squeezed.
“Things are going to be better for you, because we’re together.
You’re not alone anymore.” He touched her hair. “I just want you to
be happy.”

“I am happy.” She kissed his cheek. “It’s hard
to be depressed when I’m around you.”

Tomas turned toward her and put his arms around
her waist. “I don’t want to go too fast for you. I’ll take one day
at a time, whatever you need.” He took a breath. “But I’d really
like for you to move in with me.”

She smiled.

He held her tighter. “I love you, Susanna, and I
want you near me. I want you in my bed every night. Our future is
together.”

She grinned. “I think you should know that I
have an insatiable sexual appetite when it comes to you.”

Tomas laughed, and his eyes gleamed. “I would
hope for nothing less.”

Susanna felt so warm, so loved, and so
protected. It wouldn’t be easy, fighting back from addiction. But
for the first time, she wasn’t afraid. As long as she was with
Tomas, it would be okay. The ray of hope that had compelled her to
change radiated through her, as bright as the sun that broke
through the clouds above.

Tomas kissed her deeply, and she fell into him.
Susanna was lost in him, craving his touch and savoring his taste.
She kissed back, showing her love, and making no effort to hide the
desire flaming inside her.

When Tomas leaned back to look into her eyes,
Susanna touched his cheek.

“How does the fairy tale end?” she asked.

He grinned. “You remember that she wanted to
take him away?”

She smiled. “Yes, to the Plains of
Pleasure.”

“Well, the prince ran off with the fairy maiden.
Together, they escaped the claws of strife and sadness. They found
joy together.” He paused and then, with a dramatic flair, said,
“And they were never seen in the real world again.”

Susanna beamed at Tomas and laced her fingers
behind his neck. “Just like us.”

Emotion welled in his beautiful green eyes, and
Tomas ran his thumb over her lips, sending a tingle through her.
“Yes, baby…just like us.”

###

* * * * *

Read all of the books in this
series
:

Perfectly
Shattered
(Bradan & Cami’s romance)

Perfectly
Ruined
(Nic & Karina’s romance)

Perfectly
Flawed
(Sean & Adrianna’s romance)

Perfectly
Broken
(Tomas & Susanna’s romance)

Find all books at:
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Perfectly Broken by Emily Jane Trent ©2014 All
Rights Reserved

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Books by Emily Jane Trent:

Touched By You series:

(Dark Desire, Naked Submission, The Heart’s
Domination, Bound By Love, Deep Obsession, Forbidden Pleasures, Raw
Burn, Desperately Entwined, Fierce Possession, Intimate Secrets,
Whispered Confessions, and Vivid Temptation)

Adam & Ella series:

(Captivated, Charmed, Cherished, and Craved)

The Passion Series
- a
short story collection

New Adult Romance series:

Perfectly Shattered, Perfectly Ruined,
Perfectly Flawed, Perfectly Broken

About the author:

Emily Jane Trent writes steamy romances about
characters you’ll get to know and love. The sex scenes are hot, and
the romance even hotter! If you are a fan of stories with a heroine
that’s got spunk and a hunk of a hero that you’d like to take home
with you, these stories are what you’re looking for. The Touched By
You series will let you escape into a fantasy, and you won’t want
it to end—ever.

Note
: This book is a work of fiction.
Names, characters, places and incidents are the products of the
author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual events, locales or
persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. No part of this
publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any
form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other
electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written
permission of the publisher.