12. Chapter 12

Chapter 12

Moira

S teph is at my door when I arrive home from work. She’d called ahead and asked me to let the doorman know, despite the fact that I know it won’t matter, since he’s as useless as tits on a bull. The look on her face says it all. “What?” I ask rhetorically.

“You’re going to do it, aren’t you.” She states. “You’re going to go see him.”

“Have I left yet?” I’m snide.

“No. But you’re going to. And you’re not going alone, either, Moira. I insist.”

“And you think that you’re going to go with me? Tear my da a new one, when he’s already on his death bed?”

She places a hand on her hip indignantly. “Is he in the hospital? No. He’s in jail.”

“He’s incarcerated, Steph. Who knows where he is. They could have him in the hospital, just on watch, you know.”

“The letter came from the correctional facility, Moira.” She corrects. I’ve opened my door and set my laptop bag and purse down, and now I’m shuffling through my mail, avoiding eye contact.

“Look, I'm not going to argue with you, Steph. Frankly, you’re starting to piss me off.”

She ignores me. “Did you tell your granny? She’ll knock the sense back into you.”

I sigh, but my lips are pursed. “No, I haven’t told her yet.”

“Why not?” She demands.

“Because I don’t tell her everything. I haven’t even told her about Declan yet.”

Steph waves, unimpressed. “That’s because you don’t want her to go buy china plates yet. But if you go see your da without telling her first, without anyone coming with you to keep your wits about you, she’ll never forgive you, Moira, and you know it.”

“Stop being dramatic.” I sigh, even though I know that she’s right. I’m a born sucker for my da, and now that he’s dying, it pulls at all my heartstrings. If I ignore him and waste the last few moments that we have together before he dies, I know now that I’ll never be able to forgive myself. But I’ll also live a lifetime of regret if I don’t go. It’s a battle either way, and I’m so confused, but I’ll be damned if I let my cousin beat me at this. She doesn’t mean to be overbearing, but all the same, she is. “I’m not going alone.” I say with my nose in the air.

I pull out my phone and see that Declan has finally responded to me, asking if I’m sure that I want to go alone. After I reply that I’ve had a change of heart, and that I’d like him to come with me, just to spite Steph, I all but stick my tongue out at her. “Declan has offered to take me in his private company jet.”

No jealousy in her eyes, no spitefulness in her tone, nothing. She doesn’t give me an ounce to get angry at her for. “Good.” Is all she says, like it isn’t about her and her own satisfaction, and suddenly I realize the levity of the situation, and how foolish I’ve been acting just now. “But I still think that you should tell your granny, Moira. She should know.”

I nod, voice and tone level. “I will. I promise. But I’ll do it after I see him. She’ll try to talk me out of it, just as you did, and believe me, right now, Steph, it’s taking everything in me to make a proper choice. I’m so scared to fuck it up. I’m so scared to do the wrong thing. I know that whatever I do, I’ll regret it either way, and it’s so hard to do the lesser of two evils. I can feel the tears pool in the backs of my eyes. Normally, I’m not an emotional person, but when it comes to my da, I turn soft. She takes a step towards me and gives me a hug. “Moira, no matter what you do, I’ll be here for you. It’s your choice, and I’ve always respected your choices. This is no different.”

She pulls back and a tear falls down my cheek. “Thank you. That means a lot.”

I feel my phone vibrate on my hip, and I check it. Declan has let me know that the jet is ready whenever I am, whether it be now, tomorrow, or in a couple of days, just to let him know. “It’s now or never.” I say on exhale, as I respond that I'm ready whenever he is.

“I’m proud of you, Moira.” Steph says, spying my message to Declan.

“Why?”

“Because you’re not just jumping for your da like you used to. Even with him sick, you’re keeping your wits about you. I think it’s something to do with Declan. He’s good for you, Moira.”

“I don’t know that it’s him, Steph, but I do know that I’ve been down this road before, and I know how it ends. At least this way it’ll truly end with da’s death.”

“And you’re going to be okay with that?” She asks, lowering her voice, hand on my shoulder.

With a nod and my eyes on the floor, I say. “Aye. I’ll have to be. And once and for all I can put this behind me.”

She nods and gives me another hug. “Call me if you need me. For anything.”

“I will.”

“Moira, I’d like you to meet Rory. He’s our pilot, but he’s also part of our security team. He’s former military and he can kick anyone’s ass that gives you or anyone else any problems.” Declan says with a soft chuckle at the end, trying to lighten the introduction a little.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Moira.” Rory says. He’s got flaming red curls but with dark eyelashes. He’s quite a sight to behold, and I make a mental note, that on better circumstances, that I should introduce Rory to Steph. “And thank you for taking a flight on such short notice.”

“Not at all, lass.” He says in his Scottish drawl. “You two can head inside while me and my copilot do all the work. Ring me if you need anything.”

“Thank you.”

“Aye, thank you, Rory.” Declan says with a respectful nod. Then he motions with his hand for me to go ahead of him, and we step inside. Steph has taken me on many tours of her companies and shown me so many airplanes and jets and other aerospace engineering equipment, so this aircraft is nothing out of the ordinary that I’ve seen before, but with Declan’s gaze on me, I feel a certain sense of peace.

“Thank you for bringing me, Declan. I really do appreciate it.”

“I’m glad that you changed your mind, lass. I wouldn’t see you go it alone.”

“Well, the truth of the matter is that I wouldn’t have. Steph was insisting on going with me, but her tongue was irritating me, so I chose you instead.” I tell him honestly.

“Either way, Moira. As long as you don’t go through this alone, it doesn’t matter who is with you.”

“Thank you for being so understanding. I would never want you to think that this is easy for me. Every step and every decision I make when it comes to my da is difficult.”

“I understand. Come and sit down. This is going to be a long flight and you look exhausted.”

“I am.” I concede.

The vessel is all creams and whites, with leather seats that recline. It’s small and cozy, with a tiny compartment for a toilet. “This is our smaller jet. Da prefers to keep the larger one in case we have to fly out, all of us, but this one is quicker and uses less fuel.”

I wave. “Oh, Declan, either way, it’s better than having Steph set something up for me or using a travel agent. It’s very kind of you to help.”

Rory comes over the loudspeaker, letting us know that we’re cleared for takeoff, and to buckle up. We do as we’re instructed, and Declan slides his arm across my shoulders, while I snuggle into him, feeling more comfortable than I have in days. After we take off, and we’re in flight, we remove our seatbelts and Declan grabs us two bottles of water from the bar fridge across from us. “On better notice, there would be scotch in here.” He explains.

“No matter, Declan. I rarely drink.”

He cranes his neck slightly. “And you say you’re a Scot.” He teases.

“Aye. Steph doesn’t drink, either, lad. I’m a doctor and she’s an engineer.”

He chuckles. “And I’m an investment banker. It doesn’t make me sound very clever, being a drinker.”

“I’ll let it go.” I grin, playing along. My hand is on his bicep, which is flexed right now, while he reaches with the other hand, for his phone, to set it on airplane mode. His muscles against my skin call to me, even at a time like this, when I’m emotionally drained and not feeling as collected as I usually am. I lean my face on his arm, enjoying the feel of his skin against mine.

“What’s up, lass? You need a hug?” He asks warmly. “Because I give those out for free, you know. It’s a deal on only for today, though.”

He doesn’t wait for me to answer, he simply wraps his arms around me, the corded muscle under his linen shirt protectively encircling me. Feeling his body against mine turns me on instantly, despite the poor timing. My nipples bead at his chest as my heart races in time with his. Hand stroking up and down my back, every cell in me is awakening, making me forget where we’re headed, and what my next mission is. I try to chide myself, I try to tell myself that this is not the time nor the place to feel so amorous, but something about Declan just makes me lose control.

As he pulls back, our noses touch. “You feel better, lass?” His voice is thick with need, telling me that he feels the same uncontrollable attraction as I do.

Eyes already drunk just looking at him, my gaze is on his lips. Slowly, he leans in, tilting his head, and envelops my mouth with his, making love to it, the way that I need him to make love to me right now. Sliding my knees over his lap, I straddle him in his seat. “Rory won’t come out here, lass.” He whispers as he pulls my blouse out from my skirt, skating his fingers up to my bra. I’m so desperate for his touch, I find myself already breathless with such little contact.

Fingers up my skirt, he pulls my panties down my thighs. “Are you attached to these, lass?” He asks against my lips.

With a quick shake of my head, he rips them off, just like he did the first time we fucked up against his pool house wall. Hands fumbling to undo his dress pants, I can feel his hardened cock against the zipper, and I whimper, so wanton for him, so needy, wanting like hell to fuck him so bad, I have to fight the urge to rip his pants open. Lifting my skirt up, as I push his zipper down and free him, I sink myself down on his cock, groaning, feeling him fill me to the hilt on the first pass.

“God, Moira. You are so wet, lass.” He breathes against my lips, kissing me erotically.

“I need you so bad, Declan.” I pant, riding him deeply, feeling every inch of him.

His fingers find their way under my bra, pinching my nipples deliciously, making me feel things only Declan can make me feel, as I undo his shirt buttons, desperate to claw his chest, feel his nipples, knowing what that does to him. I’m so needy, so craving those sexy grunts of his, so wanting to drive him crazy, I feel like I’m possessed. He pulls my blouse open, unclasping my bra, freeing my breasts so he can suck them, and my nipples are so hard from his touch. “God, you are so perfect, Moira.” He says, sucking my breasts, as his large, warm hands are on my ass, both guiding me and touching every nerve ending, making me come so fast.

“God, Declan!” I mewl, feeling my first orgasm, as I ride him, listening to our skin slap together in the plane.

He slows only slightly, helping me feel the waves of pleasure, and as I come down, on the aftershocks, I lean forward, sucking his nipples, licking them erotically. “Oh, Moira.” He whispers breathlessly. “You are a fucking goddess.”

“I need to feel you come inside me.” I tell him against his skin, as he speeds up, heeding my words, now desperate for his release. “God, I need to fuck you hard, Declan. Fuck you so hard you come hard in me.”

He grabs my ass, slamming his cock into me, hitting my clit just right. I could burst into flames. “God, I’ve never wanted to fuck a lass so hard before, Moira.” He says fast, as I feel his cock twitch, and then he shudders, crying out, bringing me to the edge with him. We come together, my lips on his nipples, and then he lifts me, so our lips meet, and kisses me so deep, his tongue on mine, making me come so hard on his cock, making me feel his seed spurt up inside me so strongly, wetting me all over, it makes my orgasm so intense I drown out the sound of the engine.

With a soft chuckle, he pulls me to him, as we finish together. “I think the earth below us heard you, lass.”

“I don’t know what’s wrong with me.” I chuckle in his ear, holding him close. “I just...I needed that so bad. I needed you so bad.”

He brings my gaze to his. “Sometimes sex helps with emotional release, lass.”

“That must be true, because I feel much better now.”

He pulls the tattered dregs of my panties away from my body. “I’ll have to send Simon out to get you a new pair. I hardly think visiting your ailing father without panties is acceptable.”

I reach over to my seat next to him and grab my purse. As I open it, I pull another pair out, with a knowing look on my face.

“Ah, so this was planned, was it.” He says, playing along.

“I just...know from experience.”

“Well, you’re a wise lass, then.” He kisses my lips. “You know that everything is going to be fine, Moira.”

“I know.” I say with a nod.

He presses his forehead against mine. “At the risk of sounding cliché, I’d never let anything happen to you, love.”

With the use of that four-letter word, my face turns serious. I search his eyes. “And I’d never let anything happen to you, either.”

I’m not sure if that was his way of telling me that he loves me, but I figure my statement is a good reciprocation for the sentiment, if that was, in fact, what he was trying to convey. I do love him. I love all of him. Everything about him. When I’m with him or even just thinking about him, all is well. The spell he has on me is unlike any other. I trust him implicitly. And that’s novel for a lass like me. Who’s seen it all and heard it all before. And all from people who were supposed to love me unconditionally. Somehow, looking into this beautiful man’s eyes, I truly believe him. Whether he spelled out ‘I love you’, or just alluded to the sentiment, I feel it. I feel all of it. And it doesn’t matter if it comes out in proper words or not, this man makes me feel more loved than anyone ever has.

“Except for that camera over there.” He says, eyes dancing. “Now, I’ve got no control over that, lass.”

I snort a laugh, slapping him playfully. “I want a copy. Save it for those lonely nights when I can’t see you.”

“If I have my way about it, there will never be a night like that for you, ever again, so long as I’m around.” His eyes are warm, but then they start dancing again. “Too cheesy? Did that sound like a line?”

“Well, it would, if you weren’t still inside me, Declan.” I tease.

“Oh, right.” He corrects, helping me lift off him, carefully.

We adjust our clothes and I put my fresh panties on and snuggle in the leather chairs. “Sleep, lass. It’s a long flight, and you need your rest.” He says, reading my mind.

“Thanks.” I murmur to him as he kisses my head.

“It’s my pleasure, love.”

I lift my head and kiss his lips, searching his eyes, and I’m certain of it.

...Declan Harris loves me.

...and I love him, too.

...with all my heart.