Building From Ashes Read Online Free PDF Page B

when her friend admitted the truth.
    Ecstasy.
    Brigid’s jaw dropped. She dragged Emily down the hall, past the bathrooms, realizing that she no longer felt the least bit sick to her stomach. In fact, she felt incredible. She pushed past a group of college boys hanging by the door to the alley and shoved Emily up against the back wall.
    “What the feck , Emily?”
    “Don’t overreact. It’s just a little—”
    “What in God’s name would make you do that?”
    Emily stomped her foot. “Oh, shut up! Do you realize you just walked through that whole group of boys without cringing? And, for your information, I had Mike put half a pill in. That’s it, Brig. Don’t be so high and mighty! What makes this any different than having a few too many drinks? You do that all the time to loosen up. Do you even feel sick anymore?”
    She was livid. “No, but Emily—”
    “No different. None! You have a few pints; you take the stick out of your arse. You have half— half —a pill, and maybe you do the same. It’s not dangerous, you know. You’re not going to get addicted or any shite like that. Half this fecking club is taking it right now. It’s practically on the menu at the bar.”
    Her heart was racing. She felt warm, but she couldn’t seem to care. “Half the club? Are you?”
    “Yes.”
    That brought Brigid up short. “But…”
    “I don’t seem any different?”
    She blinked and her eyes seemed to clear. “Um… not really, no.”
    Emily rolled her eyes and grabbed Brigid’s arm, linking it with hers while she pulled them back toward the main room where the music pounded. “That’s because I take it all the time. Well, not all the time, but when I’m going out? Sure! It’s really not a big deal, Brig. It’s no different from having a few drinks to relax. Now, how do you feel?”
    How did she feel? Brigid felt… amazing. A boy passed by and did a quick scan. He caught her eye and smiled, but she didn’t feel panicky. In fact, she smiled back.
    “I feel… I’m okay, I guess.”
    A sly smile took over Emily’s mouth. “Just okay?”
    “I feel…” Brigid took a deep breath and closed her eyes as they approached the dance floor. She felt the music as if it was a physical sensation. The bass stroked along her skin. She opened her eyes and the colored lights that lit the pulsating bodies mesmerized her. Her heart felt as if it beat in time to the music. The dance floor moved in one inviting motion. She let out a slow breath.
    “I love it.”
    Emily was forgotten on the edge of the crowd. She saw the boy from earlier, Mark, dancing in the middle of the floor. She lifted her arms and swayed, moving without a care as she made her way toward him. Each touch that brushed against her felt like a caress. She sidled up to Mark and caught his eye with a smile on her face.
    “Hey.”
    He grinned. “I thought you didn’t dance!”
    Brigid laughed. “I didn’t. But I do now.”
    He placed his hands on her hips and swayed with her. She had been right; they were warm. Inviting. She threw her head back and moved to the beat as Mark pressed closer. For the first time in her life, a man’s touch brought neither panic nor disgust. She was relaxed. Fluid. His fingers trailed up her spine. It didn’t bring a rush of fear or a racing heart. The contact felt natural. Incredible.
    Brigid let her arms fall over his shoulders. When she met his eyes, she realized what she’d been missing. He was wonderful. This was right. And when his mouth met hers, time seemed to spin out in one long fluid sigh. They moved together, body and breath, and the music and the crowd embraced her.

Chapter Three
     
     
     
    Wicklow Mountains, Ireland
    May 2005
     
    “So, Paddy and Mick—”
    “This is the last joke or you can carve a new room into this mountain and sleep in the dirt, Ioan.”
    His oldest son grinned and pulled his wife into his lap as Carwyn laughed. “No, my love, you’ll like this one. So Paddy and Mick are driving