Chapter 26

Chapter Twenty-Six

It took Cass a lot longer to fall asleep after Dylan’s confession. She’d known from the first moment she’d read his military file that there’d been more to his discharge, but she’d never imagined it could be like what he’d told her.

He wasn’t a dishonorable man. He was an honorable one.

The fact he’d taken the blame for something he hadn’t even been involved in didn’t surprise her. It was who he was.

He had willingly sacrificed himself.

Had his name tarnished. Lost his family for the men he’d considered his brothers and their families.

Part of her wanted to let those families, and Irish’s own family, know the man they’d turned their back on wasn’t a lowlife. Wasn’t a drug dealer, but a man they should look up to. Be proud of.

Cass wouldn’t. Life had moved on, and nothing good would come of dragging those men’s names through the mud—even though they deserved it.

“Whatever you’re thinking, don’t. I’m at peace with what I’ve done.”

Once again, Irish had known exactly what had been going through her mind.

Cass rolled over so she could look at him. “How do you do that? How do you know exactly what I’m thinking?”

His fingers brushed down her cheek, leaving a trail of warmth in its wake.

“Because I know you. I know that you always want to champion those who you believe have been wronged.” He smiled, and it made her heart skip.

“I do. And I know why you did what you did, but it doesn’t mean that part of me doesn’t want to tell off all those who turned their backs on you. Berate them for not believing in you. For not knowing the real you.”

How could his parents believe he’d sell drugs and cause his whole team to die? Didn’t they know him? Know the person he was ?

“I don’t blame my family for turning their back on me. As far as they knew, I was still the hothead who’d joined the Army straight out of school,” Irish said.

She propped her head on her hand. “Did you not visit them after you joined? How long has it been since you’ve had contact with them?” Cass really couldn’t judge, since she hadn’t had much contact with her parents since she’d left for college, but then again, the people who provided for her weren’t her blood relatives so the distance could be understandable.

“I saw them after I got out of bootcamp, but then I was deployed overseas for a year and when I got back, I went straight into special forces training. I did go see them between missions on a couple of occasions, but the visits were short and always a little strained.”

“But don’t you wish they believed in you, even a tiny bit?”

Why was she going on like a dog with a bone with this?

If Irish was happy with his relationship with his parents, she should accept it.

“Maybe, but I knew it wouldn’t happen. I couldn’t talk about it in detail. I got home and when I said what’d gone down, they weren’t the least bit surprised. My father was very disappointed and angry that I’d thrown my career away and that I couldn’t come back from it. I stood there and took it all. I didn’t say anything because I couldn’t. And while I wish I still had my family in my life, particularly my sister and her kids, it is what it is.” He shrugged.

He might say he accepted it all and didn’t want anything different, but he still had a faint yearning in his voice.

Did Irish know he wanted to reconnect with this family?

Perhaps he did, but she’d respect his wishes. He’d said he was at peace with it, and she had to believe that he was. No matter what she thought she heard in his voice to the contrary.

“I’m sorry. I wish that hadn’t happened to you,” she said eventually.

Irish pulled her flush against his body, and she couldn’t miss his erection.

Desire bloomed at the juncture of her thighs.

“I don’t want to talk anymore,” he said as he peppered kisses across her shoulder.

“What did you have in mind?” Cass undulated her hips and reveled in his groan.

“I think it’s better if I show you.”

“Can’t wait to see it.”

Before she had a chance to breathe, his lips captured hers and he rolled them so he was on top of her.

Their hips aligned and she wanted him to possess her with one thrust, but Irish didn’t get her unspoken wish because he trailed kisses down her body.

Taking first one nipple, then the other into his mouth and caressing them and firing her desire for him.

Cass moved her hips upward, chasing his erection, but he lifted away, teasing her. She growled, and Irish laughed against her belly.

“All in good time, my Alastronia . All in good time.”

Could she flip him over so it was her that was torturing him and not him torturing her?

The thought of taking charge fled the moment his tongue swiped her pussy, and he sucked her clit into his mouth.

Maybe next time she’d take charge because right now, what he was doing was all she needed.

She slid her fingers into the short strands of his hair, keeping his head in place. Cass cried out as he thrust two fingers into her dripping center.

Her climax was so close. Tingles started at her toes, slowly climbing up and through her body, growing in intensity until it exploded, and she shuddered against Irish’s mouth. His noises of pleasure combined with hers.

He continued to lick her through her release until Cass stopped shaking and lay replete on the mattress, yet still wanting more.

“I need you inside me,” she whispered into the still room.

The only response she got was the crinkle of foil and the whisper of the package being torn open. Like he always did, Irish didn’t rush things, although that was what she wanted.

As if he hadn’t already wrung an orgasm out of her, he played with her breasts as he kissed her.

Cass sank into the kiss, tasting herself on his lips. She wanted the taste of him on her tongue, but there was plenty of time for that. Right now, all she wanted was for him to own her.

This time, as if he could read her mind, Irish slipped an arm around her hips, lifting her. His hard length rested against her entrance for a second before he slid in until he was balls deep.

She sighed at how good he felt. How good it was to have him buried inside her. Cass clenched her muscles around him, and he jolted in her arms, so she did it again .

“You’re playing with fire, Alastriona ,” he teased against her mouth, still not moving.

“Is that right, Dylan?” She undulated, and this time a groan escaped, as if he couldn’t hold it back.

“Fuck, you amaze me,” he whispered before he kissed her again and finally started moving.

There was so much more she wanted to say, but talking was impossible.

Irish pumped in and out of her, as if he couldn’t get enough, and honestly, she couldn’t get enough of him either.

Her hands grabbed his ass as her hips lifted and chased him when he pulled out of her.

Time seemed to stop existing, and all that mattered was her and Irish and the connection they were building.

Before Cass could even acknowledge what was happening, her climax slammed into her, and she cried his name.

A second later, he stilled in her arms and grunted as his own release hit him.

She held onto him tightly, not wanting to let him go. Not wanting to have to relinquish this hold because she feared if she did, Cass wouldn’t get him back .

That thought scared her more than the threat of her uncle coming to take her.

The sun filtering through a gap in the curtains woke Irish. Beside him, Cass slept soundly. Their lovemaking the previous evening had been intense, and he’d almost blurted that he loved her.

Why hadn’t he?

It wasn’t as if there was anything wrong with his feelings. In fact, everything was right about them.

Her hair was splayed across his chest and partly obscuring her face.

He wanted to see her, so he gently brushed the strands away.

Cass’s eyes flitted open, and a wave of emotions engulfed him.

This woman was his life. He’d thought he’d been happy with the way his life had been before. After all Irish had been through with his former team and his family, he’d closed himself off.

Life was easy with no complications. No attachments meant he wouldn’t get hurt. By doing that, he’d almost deprived himself of what his life needed.

Cassandra Whitehall.

Somehow, this woman had worked her way under his shield. Not only Cass, but the rest of the Alliez team had as well. There’d been no judgment from anyone, and yet Irish had still held himself apart from them all. Doing what he could to keep the walls up.

“I love you.” The words burst out, unbidden. Now they were there, and he didn’t want to snatch them back.

Cass’s eyes widened. “What?”

“I love you.” More certainty rolled through Irish that this was the right time and the right thing to say to her.

She smiled, big, genuine. Her eyes sparkled, and she reached up and cupped his cheek. “I love you, too.”

A breath whooshed out of him, and relief swept over him. Part of Irish had expected her to laugh in his face. Tell him he was ridiculous for feeling that way, even though everything was about Cass. The way she acted around him. The way she listened showed she felt something for him.

Loving her was a risk. Loving made him vulnerable to having that love thrown back in his face. To have those who loved him turn their back on him when they believed he did something wrong.

Irish had loved his teammates and their families fiercely. So fiercely he’d given up his life to save them, and he’d done it, knowing he wouldn’t get any thanks.

All he’d gotten was anger, not only from them, but from his own family. The ones who should’ve loved him unconditionally.

He’d hoped that anger and disappointment would subside over time. That they’d forgive him and let him back into their lives.

A foolish thought.

One he’d had let go of when it’d became abundantly clear he’d be alone. Always alone until he wasn’t.

Until a new team had formed around Irish, and this woman in his arms had looked beneath the persona he displayed and saw who he was.

He hauled her close, burying his face in her neck, reveling in her warmth as she hugged him tight. “I don’t deserve you,” he muttered.

“Yes, you do.” There wasn’t any hesitation from Cass. “You deserve it more than anyone. You’re kind. Honorable. Someone who will think of others and put their needs and wants above your own. You’re a remarkable man, and I’m glad it’s me you chose to love.

Her words slayed him. Sincerity was evident in her voice. In the way her gaze didn’t dart away. In the way her expression was open and full of love.

Irish might not think he deserved her, but he was damn glad he had her.