Chapter 31

CHAPTER 31

FIONN

While she’s in the shower that evening, I play her words over and over, unable to stop this fucking rage from building inside me.

Her mother. That bitch. Should’ve done more than just put a bullet in her foot.

I grab the video monitor from our nightstand, staring at Fia sleeping in her bed, wondering how anyone can mistreat their own child. I’d do anything for this girl, and I just met her.

Balling a fist at my thigh, I drop the camera back, pulling my shirt off, the pants coming next. I head for the bathroom, needing Amara right now. Needing to tell her that the life she had, it’s in the past now.

I may not be able to fix what’s been done, but I’ll treat her right. I’ll give her everything.

The water buzzes behind the glass door as I head in.

She doesn’t see me, not at first. But when her eyes fasten to mine, she doesn’t hide from me, fingers running through her hair.

“Fionn? What are you doing in here?”

Moving closer, I slide the door open. “I wanted to check on you. We didn’t get a chance to talk about what you said at dinner.”

Her full lips curve. “And it couldn’t wait until I was done?”

“Absolutely not.” My gaze rakes every gorgeous inch of skin. “Because then you wouldn’t be wet and naked.”

Her breathing grows raspier as I step inside, grabbing her hips and roughly pushing her up against the wall, my cock hard and heavy against her stomach.

Popping her chin up with the back of my hand, I lower my mouth and brush my lips with hers. “I’m sorry, baby. Wish I could’ve helped you back then when you were young.”

Her warm exhales scatter across my jaw. “It’s okay. I’m okay.”

“That’s right. You are.” My fingers slope down her hip, stroking her clit as she moans. “You have me now, and you’ll never have to worry about anything again.”

“Fionn…” She gasps, her nails digging into my back as my fingers sink inside her, curling and thrusting as deep as they can go.

My mouth drops to her throat, kissing upward until I capture her lips with mine, working her cunt faster, until her walls clench and pull me in for more.

I wanna get lost in her. Lost in the way she makes me feel. Like I’m the luckiest son of a bitch who ever lived.

I swallow her cries of pleasure. And with another flick of her clit, her hands tighten around me, body quivering.

“Oh God! Yes!” A cry rips out of her, but I only increase my pace.

When her body starts to relax, I decrease my tempo, cupping her cheek with my other hand. “You’re so beautiful.”

She sighs breathlessly, lowering her head to my shoulder while I stroke my fingers up and down her back.

“Turn around. I’m gonna brush your hair.”

“Mmm, okay.” I grab her hair comb from the built-in shelf and start to comb her hair from the bottom, working upward, making sure every knot is out.

“You’re good at this.”

“You sound surprised.” I clasp her stomach and push her back into my front.

“Well, you don’t have long hair.” She glances at me from over her shoulder with a teasing smile.

“It’s something I learned from Iseult when we were young. She taught me how to brush Eriu’s hair after our mother died when she was five.”

“Oh…I’m sorry.”

“I know you are.” I kiss her shoulder. “But it was a long time ago.”

“I’m sure it still hurts.”

It does.

I continue to brush her hair, and she shuts off the water when I’m done. Grabbing a towel, I proceed to dry her off, taking my time, looking into her eyes as I take each leg over my propped one, the towel drifting up and between her thighs.

She bites the corner of her lip when I dry her there. Grinding my molars, I force myself to behave, even though it’s nearly impossible.

I want her so goddamn bad.

Lifting her into my arms, I carry her out into the bedroom.

“Is that how our showers are going to go from now on?” A smile sneaks over her face. “You carrying me out?”

“You complaining, mo ban dia?”

“Not one bit.”

“Good.” I throw her on top of the bed, crawling over her.

She welcomes me between her legs, fingertips feathering over my back as I stare into her eyes. My cock grinds against her pussy, her back arching as those eyes grow heavy, laden with desire. Grabbing myself, I work my piercings over her clit, and her eyes roll.

“One of these days, I’m gonna take my time and tie you up, then fuck you.”

“Yes, please,” she groans, one hand stroking my hair, the other on my shoulder.

“Hearing you beg for it…” My lips skim over her jaw. “…makes me so damn hard.”

I take her lips with mine in a hungered, depraved kiss, my cock nudging into her entrance, sinking inch by inch.

With every touch, she sucks me deeper. Until all I know is her. Until all I want and need is to protect her and spend my lifetime loving her.

It’s in this moment I know for certain that I do. That I fell in love with her that night almost five years ago.

And now, I finally get to show her just how much that is.

AMARA

I’ve never slept more peacefully than I did last night. My body was completely satiated in his arms after he made love to me.

And that’s exactly what it was. His eyes never left mine. With every touch, he cemented himself into my very core, and now the thought of ever leaving him feels foreign.

My heart lurches at the thought. Like it’s revolting at the very idea of never waking up beside him again. Of never hearing him call me little rabbit or his goddess.

With every moment I’ve spent with him, it’s like I belong here. That somehow, this has already become my home.

Rubbing a hand down my face, I groan, stretching my body with a yawn and finding the space beside me warm, yet empty. He must’ve already gone to work.

Grabbing the video monitor, I check on Fia. As I do, I notice she’s missing from her bed.

Panic instantly hits me.

Where is she?

My head spins. My pulse quickens.

What if someone took her? What if it was one of Fionn’s enemies? He has to have a ton of them doing what he does.

No, that’s crazy. I’m sure she’s fine, just wandering like a normal, curious child.

But my mind hasn’t gotten the message, my body shuddering from within as I swing my feet out of the bed, quickly grabbing my robe and rushing to her room.

“Fia!”

Where the hell can she be?

“Fia, baby? Where are you?”

There’s no one in her room. Nothing but silence.

Once I start for the stairs, voices grow from faint to a little louder.

“Let’s let Mommy sleep,” Fionn says just as I make it downstairs.

“Okay!” When I register her voice, my anxiety instantly shoots out of me.

Hurrying toward the kitchen, I see them both around the island.

Oh thank God.

“Hey, baby.” Fionn peers at me while standing over Fia in the kitchen, cutting into her pancakes.

I place a hand on my chest, trying to control my heartbeat while Max rushes over, licking my hands.

When Fionn takes in my appearance, he lowers the fork. “What’s wrong?”

He comes over, clasping my face in his hands, searching my gaze for something amiss.

“When I didn’t see her in her bed…”

“Shit,” he whispers like he doesn’t want her to hear. “I’m sorry.” His forehead falls to mine. “Nothing will ever happen to her here. You don’t have to worry.”

I nod and grab his forearms, not wanting to let go. His strong hands stroke my back, his heart beating next to mine.

“Mama, are you okay?” Fia’s sweet tone has me pulling back and smiling at her reassuringly.

“I’m just fine, baby. How are your pancakes?”

“SO yummy!” She tosses another piece into her mouth, foregoing the fork altogether, chocolate stains on her little hands.

“Come on. Let’s eat, babe.” While holding my hand, he pulls up a chair for me across from Fia’s and takes the one beside me.

He fills my plate with pancakes and eggs, then adds to his own. His white t-shirt stretches across his back, every inch of muscle evident. I swear the man doesn’t know how to look bad. Even his hair is perfect when he wakes up, brushed back and impeccable.

“I have another surprise for you.” There’s an obvious glint in his eyes.

“Oh, really?” I cut into my eggs, popping a piece into my mouth. “And what’s that?”

“Well, it wouldn’t be much of a surprise if I told you.” He chuckles. “Now eat so I can show it to you.”

What in the world can it be?

I finish the food in minutes, scarfing it down while he sips on his coffee, staring at me with a twitch of his mouth.

“Really wanna know, don’t you?”

I nod with excitement. “I love surprises.”

“Is that so?” he teases.

“Mm-hmm.” I arch a brow. “But I don’t want you to think I’m asking for more surprises, by the way.” I pop a piece of pancake into my mouth.

He laughs. “Pretty dangerous to tell your wealthy husband you like surprises, Mrs. Quinn, and think he’ll just ignore that bit of information.”

My belly flips, enjoying the way it sounded when he said husband.

“Come on, let’s go outside.” Getting to his feet, he reaches for Fia, taking her hand and mine.

I grow eager with anticipation.

“Close your eyes,” he tells me as we reach the door.

Once I do, he leads me out, the cool air hitting my face.

“You can look now.”

At first, I don’t know what I’m supposed to be seeing. A red SUV with tinted windows sits before us.

“Is the surprise in the car?” I glance over at him.

“Kinda both,” he laughs. “The car is the surprise.”

“What!” My widened gaze bounces between the cherry-red vehicle and his adoring eyes.

“It’s yours, baby girl. It’s armored too, so you and Fia will be safer.”

“What does that mean?”

“Means it’s bulletproof.”

“Oh.” My heart gives a little thump.

That’s right. Married into the Mob. Got that loud and clear.

“So, do you like it?”

“I love it!” Fia says before I can get a word in, and he curls one arm around her, embracing her tightly.

I huff out an overwhelmed sigh. “It’s amazing. I’ve never had a car remotely this beautiful.”

“Wanna test drive it?”

I tug on my bottom lip. “Absolutely.”

“Come on, then.” He grabs my hand, and we make it down the cobblestone steps together.

“But what about Fia?”

“She’s coming with us. I already had a car seat installed inside.”

“Yay!” she exclaims while I stare at him with disbelief, unable to stand another second without kissing him.

Throwing my arms around him, I align my gaze with his as I lift up on my feet.

“Thank you,” I whisper, my warm breaths mingling with his as I kiss him slowly, enjoying his responding growl.

“You haven’t even seen the second surprise.”

“There’s more?” I say in wonderment.

“Of course there is, baby.”

He pushes back, leading me toward the car. The door’s already opened, a large yellow envelope lying on the driver’s side with keys on top.

“What’s that?” My heartbeats echo in my rib cage.

Pushing the keys to the side, he picks up the envelope. “Open it.”

Nervous fluttering erupts in my gut, and I start to wonder what it could be. Sucking in a long, deep inhale, I take it from him, pulling open the flap and reaching inside, then dragging a stack of papers out.

When I notice the logo at the top, my mouth pops open. “Fionn? Wha-what’s this?”

My eyes scan the letter, a cry catching in my throat.

“You said you wanted to go to college. Now you will.”

“Oh my God.” My nose stings, eyes blinking past the myriad of tears already filling them.

I read the words over and over.

Congratulations, Mrs. Amara Quinn, on your acceptance to Tomley University.

“I—I don’t understand. How?” I choke on my words.

This is one of the best schools in the state, and not too far from here. I can’t believe he did this for me.

“The dean is a personal friend of the family. He made an exception because your grades, up until the time you left, were exceptional. And why?” His palm lands across my cheek. “Because I’m your husband and it’s my job to make you happy.”

Tears leak down my face, and I’m unable to stop them even if I tried. How am I supposed to not fall for him?

“Mommy? Why you crying?”

I grab her hand. “They’re happy tears, I promise, baby. Thank you,” I tell him, curling my arms around him and pressing my cheek to his chest. “Thank you so much.”

“Always, mo ban dia.” He drops a kiss to my temple. “Now let’s take this Royce on the road and see how fast she can go.”

“Uh…” I back away slowly, brows knitted. “I think we’re going to stick with the speed limit.”

“Probably safer.” His smirk widens.

“I think so.” I nod, my lips winding. “You’re a father now. Safety is important.”

“I am.” He gazes down at Fia with stars in his eyes. “Best thing you could’ve ever given me.”

The pure sincerity and love within his voice…it sends a pang to my chest. Because this right here feels like the forever I’ve always been searching for.