Tiernan Chapter 10

I was holding myself back from attacking her like some wild beast. I hadn’t expected her to want to do more than the kissing we’d been doing. When she indicated she was open to more, I was super happy. However, after finding out how she tasted, her responsiveness, and having her almost suck my soul out of cock, I wanted to finish this. To go the ultimate distance and have my cock buried in her pussy. I wanted my cum inside of her there, this time. I knew it was pushing for too much, so I steeled myself for her to say no. And when she did, I’d honor her choice. I had to keep reminding myself that this would be worth it in the long run. The silence stretched out, and I was at the breaking point when she finally answered me.

“While I’d love for you to get off in my mouth, I’d much rather find out what it’s like to have you inside of me. Please, Tier, I need you.” She wiggled her fingers at me. She lay back on the bed.

I was on the bed and hovering over top of her within seconds. I stared deep into her eyes. “Are you positive?” I asked once more. It was difficult to do it.

“I won’t say I’m not nervous, but I want it more than you know. Take me. Show me what you like and want during sex.”

I had to make two things clear before we went further. “It’s not just sex between us. It’s much more. I may fuck you hard and wild at times or slow and easy at others, but it will always be done with love. Now, let me show you. I promise, later, I’ll worship your entire body the way it deserves.”

Her whimper was filled with desire. I could see and hear it. I could see how her pussy glistened with her arousal. I lightly stroked up and down her folds, making her wiggle. “One last thing. Are you on birth control? I have condoms, but if you’re protected, then I’d like us to go without. I’m clean.”

“I-do you usually do that?”

“Nope. You’d be the first. If it makes you feel better, I’ll wear one.”

I wanted to feel her without barriers, but if she wanted me to use one, I would. I thought it was too soon to tell her that I didn’t want her to be using anything. I wanted kids, and the sooner, the better. Yep, I was gone like Aidan, Dar, and Cian. Hell, even Alistair with my sister. I knew this based on the fact that all their women were pregnant within a matter of a few months of them getting together.

“As a matter of fact, I am. I take it to help other things, not because I was expecting to have sex.”

“ Mil , I didn’t think it was because you were on the prowl for a man. I know better. Do you want me to wear the condom?”

When she shook her head and said, “No, I trust you. We don’t need it,” I almost wept.

As we talked, I kept touching her. She was soaked even more and was teetering toward another orgasm. Concentrating my thumb on her clit and thrusting fingers inside her, she tipped over within a minute. She cried out and squeezed my fingers. I watched her until she began to relax. That’s when I knew I couldn’t wait any longer.

I positioned myself between her legs. I pushed them open wider, and as her pussy lips opened, I notched the head of my dripping cock to her hole and then thrust. I didn’t make her take all of it at once. The way she gripped me as she took me told me it had been a long time for her, or prior lovers hadn’t been my size. While I detested thinking of anyone else being with her, I was smug as hell that I had her, and I was able to fill her to the max.

I pushed steadily inside, pausing when she tensed up or got a pained expression. When I finally made it, I was touching her cervix, and she was moaning loudly. Wrapping my arms under her legs, I grabbed her ass and lifted her higher. Pulling back my hips, I watched my glistening cock slide out until just the tip remained inside her. Her fingers were gripping my upper arms as I snapped my hips, sinking back into her. When she took me without protest, I set a pace that grew faster and harder. I was chasing my orgasm, and as much as I wanted to prolong it, I couldn’t. She felt like a tight collar. Each thrust made my balls tingle and tighten. I’d never experienced anything like this. Wanting to ensure she came with me, I twisted my hips, rubbed over her G-spot, and strummed her clit.

She was gasping and wildly shaking her head. Dazed pleasure stared back at me. I hammered into her as I growled. “That’s it. Squeeze me. Chíost , you’re so diabhal tight. You’re absolute perfection. Come for me, mo chuisle . Let me feel what it’s like to come in my cock’s favorite home, your snug pussy,” I panted out.

I don’t know if it was a combination of my words and what I was doing or if she was already that close, but when she heard them, she clamped down on me seconds later and screamed as she came, flooding me. I made a couple more strokes, and then I was done for. I roared her name as I jerked and filled her full of my cum. As my brain went fuzzy, I wondered if my swimmers were stronger than her birth control. Dia , I hoped so.

As soon as I was drained, I slumped over her. I trapped her under me but made sure to use my arms enough to hold my weight off her. When they began to shake, I rolled, taking her with me so she ended up cuddling on top of me. I was still inside of her, though quickly shrinking. I wasn’t ready to leave her.

Using a finger to lift her chin, I captured her mouth and kissed her with all the love inside of me. I knew it was too soon to declare it, but I wanted to. Only love could make this affect me the way it had. None of my prior sexual experiences came close to what this one did. Reluctantly, I pried myself away to allow us to catch our breaths better. As I did, I heard her softly say, “That was spectacular, Tiernan. I love you.”

As she confessed, her eyes widened. Before she could panic and take it back, I told her my truth. “It was the same for me, and I know it was because of love. I love you, too, Kynedi Carmichael. It’s official. You’re mine, and I’m never letting you get away from me.”

Her astonishment morphed into awe before she snuggled into my chest and placed a kiss over my heart. “I don’t want you to.”

I closed my eyes and held her as I rubbed her back. I got lost in dreams of the future, which went past kids to include grandchildren. A smile overtook my face.

???

I adored how Kynedi kept blushing whenever our gazes met. She’d been doing it ever since we woke up this morning. After our night together, I was in heaven. In order to celebrate, I wanted us to go out to dinner as a family tonight. We spent another long day at the stables, but we left there in plenty of time to let us rest and get ready for a leisurely dinner out.

She’d complained that she didn’t have clothes to go out anywhere fancy. The place I had in mind was higher-end dining. I didn’t give a damn what she wore, but I didn’t want her to feel uncomfortable, so while we were in between dealing with the horses and letting Cassius talk and watch the jockeys work, I sent a text off to my sister. She came through for me in a huge way. I owed her.

When we got back to the penthouse, several boxes were waiting for Kynedi. She was mystified until she opened them. Then she wanted to know how I got them. Aisling had gone to my house and looked at her clothing and shoe sizes. She’d then contacted a woman who often outfitted the women in the family. She was a new designer who made amazing things. She somehow sent several of her designs to us. Seeing Kyn remove them from the boxes, I thought they suited her to a T. Rainmments by Romy was her label. When Kynedi saw the name as she held them up, she gasped.

“Tiernan, how did these get here? Do you know who made these?”

“A little leprechaun helped me. And yes, I know who made them.”

“These are Romy Lang’s designs. She’s one of the hottest designers out there.”

“She is gaining attention. You were worried about not having anything to wear tonight. Well, here you are. Try them on and make sure they all fit. And before you ask, Cass and I are covered. Guys have it so much easier.”

She seemed dazed. “Honey, I couldn’t choose one.”

“Before you add that you can’t afford them, I can, and I’m not returning them unless they don’t fit. You have no idea how many clothes my sister and the others own. They love Romy, and she’s thrilled when they buy her things. Come on, try them on. Cass is chilling with a movie. I want to see them on you.”

She wasn’t able to resist. As she stripped down to her underwear, I grew hard seeing her. I wished we had time for me to get a good taste of her, but we couldn’t. Not if she was like most women and needed time to bathe and do her hair and makeup. I told myself there’d be time later after we returned.

Five outfits had been sent: three dresses, a pantsuit, and a jumpsuit. All were made for a night out, and each was in colors that complimented her hair and complexion. No doubt, Ais told Romy what my woman looked like. The outfits fit as if made for her. By the time she was done, she was happily looking at them on the bed.

“Babe, they’re all spectacular on you. Do you have a favorite you’d like to wear tonight?”

She shook her head. “No. They’re all too amazing.”

“Then how about I choose one?”

“I’d love that. Which one is your favorite?”

“They’re all wonderful, but this one is calling to me.”

It was the jumpsuit. It was in a shade of blue that I didn’t know what to call it. It had a scooped neckline that hooked behind her neck. In the back, the entire thing was left bare except for two thin straps that chained together in the middle of her sexy back. It fit her snuggly through the hips, and then the legs were those wider ones. There was a pair of heels that would go with it. They were glittering with gems.

“I really want to see you wear this one. I love the blue with your hair and eyes, though I don’t know what color of blue it is.” I held it up.

“It’s periwinkle. I do love it, but is it too sexy with the back? The cowl neckline doesn’t show too much cleavage, but the back is open. Oh, and I can’t go without a bra.”

“Why not?”

“My boobs are too big for me to go without support.”

“Kynedi, your tits are gorgeous, and you can go without a bra. Believe me. And it’s not too sexy. Of course, then I’d have to sit there and behave while knowing all I’d have to do is pull your neckline down, and I’d be able to feast on those beauties.” The thought had me stiffening again. I yanked her to me and brought her to sit on my lap. I took her mouth. She was still in her bra and panties. I let my hands roam where they wanted as I kissed her.

She was squirming and whimpering by the time I took a break. “We’ve got to stop. Cass could walk in any minute. Besides, if we’re going out, I need to get ready,” she reminded me.

I groaned and lay my head on her shoulder. I kissed it. “Do we have to?”

She laughed and stood up. “No pouting. If you’re a good boy, you may get a treat when we get back.” This perked me up in more than one way. I made another grab for her, but she danced out of reach, giggling.

“You said we’re going out, so we’re doing it. Do I need to help Cass get ready?”

Giving up for now, I shook my head. “No, he and I have it under control. I’ll make sure he’s clean and ready. We can’t go looking like stable boys next to you.”

“You could never be a stable boy, Tiernan. Now, leave me so I can get ready. You’re too distracting. If you need help with him, let me know.”

I did manage to snatch a brief kiss before leaving her. I found Cassius where we left him. He grumbled about leaving but I told him it was for his mama, so he didn’t fight me much. I had tons of suits, and I brought a few with me. I never knew when I might need one. For him, I’d called one of the places I used and had them deliver one in his size. We would go without the ties, but we’d still look good enough to have his mama on our arms.

He made me grin when he insisted I spritz him with my cologne. Once we were ready, we hung out in the living room to await her. In no time, it seemed, it was almost time to go. The elevator dinged before opening, and Dario and Milo walked in. They were dressed in their typical work suits. Sometimes, they went more casual, depending on what they were doing.

“Kynedi should be out any minute. Is the car ready?” I asked Milo.

“It is. The valet is bringing it for us as we speak. There’s no way they’d let an O’Sheeran wait. Looking good, Cassius,” Milo complimented him.

“Thanks, Milo. I’ve never worn a suit before. Tiernan says we have to look nice to take Mommy to dinner.”

“Well, he’s right,” Dario chimed in.

Our attention was snared by movement from down the hallway. Turning our heads, we all saw Kynedi at the same time. The wind was knocked out of me. My heart sped up. Even though I saw her try it on, with the heels, hair, and makeup, she was beyond stunning. She’d pulled her hair up on her head in an elegant bun. Fine wisps curled in front of each ear. Her makeup, while subtle, accentuated her cheekbones, incredible eyes, and mouth. The jumpsuit showed off her curves. She stopped to frown at us.

“Why’re you all staring at me? Do I look okay?” I heard nerves in her voice.

Before I could reassure her, Milo did. “At the risk of Tiernan beating my a—, uhm butt off, you look way better than okay, Kynedi. You look fabulous. It’ll take all four of us to keep the men away tonight.”

She blushed at his words. I elbowed him out of my way as I walked to her. “Move. Stop trying to charm her. She’s mine.” He grinned at me. Dario, not to be outdone, let out a long, drawn-out whistle and winked at her. I kissed her.

“You’re breathtaking, mo chuisle . Milo and Dario are right. Before we go, I want to give you something.”

Reaching into my suit jacket pocket, I took out a jewelry case. It was one I’d gotten from Cian before we left St. Aug. It was from Divine, our jewelry store. I hadn’t known when I was to give it to her, but I brought it along just in case. This seemed the perfect time to do it. I held it out and flipped the lid open. Her gasp was loud. Inside was a glittering diamond necklace and earrings.

She reverently touched them and then shook her head. “Tiernan, I can’t accept these. You have already refused to send back the other clothes. I know they’re expensive. This, on top of those, is too much.”

“Remember what I told you about money. I picked these out for you. If I return them, Cian is going to ask why. He prides himself on the jewelry sold at Divine. You’ll insult him if you refuse to accept them. He’ll ask me what I did to make you say no. Then he’ll try to kick my behind. He’s mean,” I pretended to whine.

This made Dario and Milo chuckle as she rolled her eyes. “You’re not going to stop until I agree, are you?”

“You know me so well.”

She sighed. “Alright, let me see what these wonderful diamonds look like. Milo, you’ll have to guard these tonight.”

“Will do,” he said.

While she put on the earrings after taking out the simple hoops she had on, I secured the necklace. I led her to a mirror on the wall so she could see how incredible they looked on her. She admired them for a couple of minutes, then remembered we needed to leave. Bundling her in my arms, I escorted her to the elevator. Cassius walked along, talking to Milo and Dario about the movie he had watched. The ride to the lobby was quick.

Exiting the elevator, we garnered attention. Luckily, I knew none of them, so I didn’t have to pause and speak to them. After getting my precious cargo in the Rover, I got in the backseat with them. Tonight, I agreed to let the guards ride with us. Milo was driving.

It was a relatively short ride to the restaurant, which was a favorite of mine and where I often went when I was in Ocala. I could’ve taken them to Kelly’s, our steakhouse, but I could do that anytime. The parking lot was crowded when we got there. It was a popular place. After we found a spot, we were escorted inside.

The owner knew to expect us. I’d called and made reservations, but most people had to call and get one months in advance. Being an O’Sheeran had its perks. He promised he’d have two tables for me. The one for Dario and Milo would be close to ours but far enough away to allow privacy. I didn’t have to tell the hostess my name. Her smile made it clear she knew who I was.

“Good evening, Mr. O’Sheeeran. We’ll have your tables ready in just a minute. Your server is doing a last-minute check on them. We’re so glad to have you dine with us tonight. If you need anything, make sure to let us know.”

“Thank you, but I’m sure it’ll be fine. I’ve been here numerous times, and it has never failed to satisfy me. Please be sure that no one bothers us.” I gave her a speaking look. She knew I meant not to have her or anyone else call the paparazzi. So far, I’d been able to avoid them finding us here, but I didn’t want to push our luck.

“Of course. We understand. Oh, it seems like your tables are ready. This way, please,” she said as she picked up the black and gold menus and sashayed her way through the dining room. Heads turned. I wasn’t the only known individual here, but we still caused a stir. I noticed a few familiar faces. They either nodded or raised their chins to me. I acknowledged them back in the same way.

At our table, the waitress took the menus from the hostess and sent her on her way. The hostess wasn’t happy. I pulled out Kynedi’s chair and got her seated while the guys took care of Cassius. He was checking out the restaurant with interest. Once she was seated, I took mine. The guys moved to sit at a table about ten feet away. It was in a spot where they could see who was coming yet allow us the semblance of privacy. I knew one would eat while the other kept watch, and then they’d switch off. I wasn’t worried someone would jump out of a corner and do me in, but we had to be cautious. Our wealth alone made us targets for a variety of things.

Kynedi was taking in the restaurant’s ambiance. It had a calm yet luxurious feel. There was no mistaking it was a high-end place. I was telling Cassius what was on the children’s menu. When I glanced over at Kynedi, she was studying her menu, and I could tell by her expression that she was focusing on the prices, not the food. I leaned over and snagged one of her hands.

“ Muirnín , get what you want. Ignore the prices.”

“I’m trying, but this is insane. I feel guilty eating this.”

“Don’t be. I promise that my family and I contribute more than a little to feeding the homeless and low-income families every year. Whatever we eat, I’ll add to the contribution if it makes you enjoy the meal.”

She smiled and shook her head. “You’re crazy, but lucky for you, I seem to love that. I’ll enjoy our night out. Is there anything on here you recommend over other choices?”

This got us talking about the different choices. We were interrupted by our waitress returning to get our drink orders. Things progressed along smoothly. The waitress was back and forth a few times, and in between, when not discussing food, we talked about the horses and what fun Cassius had. He was so excited he spoke too fast, and we had to slow him down. I knew Kynedi mainly went to watch how her son reacted, but she said she liked the horses. I was hoping it meant I’d soon be able to get her on one. She’d petted several and put her arms around the neck of two. She was getting more comfortable with them.

After our food came, we dug into a mouthwatering, delicious meal. Even Cass complimented how good it was. The moans I heard from Kynedi had me whispering in her ear.

“You keep that up, and I’ll be dragging you to the car and having my way with you in the backseat. Ever had sex in a car before?”

Her pretty blush told me she was turned on by it even as she shook her head and softly said back, “No, I have not, but you can talk me into almost anything. However, I don’t know if tonight and here is the place to do it. There are too many lookie-loos. But I’m game to try once we get back home.”

The image of us naked and going at it in the back of my Range Rover or one of my other cars had my pants growing tight. I raised her hand to my mouth. I lightly nipped the tips of her fingers and gave a low growl.

“Why’re you eating Mommy’s fingers, Tiernan? Do you need more food?” Cassius asked. His concerned face, along with the sincerity of his question, broke the spell because it caused Kynedi and me to burst out laughing.

“No, buddy, I’m not. I just like to tease your mama sometimes. How’s your food? Did you leave room for dessert?” His smaller steak and baked potato were more than half gone.

“It’s really good, but if I don’t finish this, I can’t have dessert,” he said sadly,

“Well, that’s a good thing to do, but maybe if I ask Mama nicely, we can box this up for you to eat tomorrow, and that way, we can have dessert.” I gave her my best pleading look. When Cass copied me, she burst out giggling.

“Alright, we can do that, but don’t think you two can gang up on me and get your way every time,” she warned us. I held out my fist to him, and Cass fist-bumped me. She rolled her eyes.

We were having so much fun playing around that it took a moment for me to notice that Milo had gotten up and came to stand next to our table. Right behind and off to the right of him came Dario. Both of their expressions were bland, which told me someone was approaching that I wouldn’t like. Glancing to where I noted them staring, I fought not to stiffen. Approaching us was none other than Christopher-fucking Brynes. Next to him was his so-called bodyguard, Scotty.

None of the family had contact with him for more than four months. I doubted his anger over Aisling choosing Alistair had abated. Our investigation into his family’s involvement in the disappearances of several women and girls in all the Irish families’ territories hadn’t been concluded, much to our disgust and impatience. We knew some of the people involved but were still trying to tie them to the actual crimes and to root out everyone entangled in this horrific business. It would do us no good to only knock out some of the players. We wanted to have our irrefutable proof and eliminate all the guilty parties at once. There would be no second chances or looking the other way for a crime like this.

It took all my strength not to punch him in the face. Even if he wasn’t involved in the trafficking or forced prostitution of those women, he should have ensured he had oversight and control of his goddamn family. It would have been worse in my book if this had happened and he had no clue. A quirk of Milo’s eyebrow was his signal asking if they should stop them or not. I gave him a subtle chin lift to let them through. I was curious to see what Chris had to say. If he started in about Ais, I’d send him on his way.

He had that smirky smile plastered on his face when he came to a stop a couple of feet away. I guess he recalled Alistair kicking him in a restaurant and no one being the wiser. Those of us with them made it look as if Chris was drunk. Dario, Milo, and I happened to be a few of the lucky ones who were present for it. My only regret was I didn’t get to kick or punch him. I guess Chris was recalling that and keeping a distance.

I quirked up my eyebrow and waited for him to speak. He approached another step. When I didn’t say anything, his smirk twisted slightly into a frown, which he quickly corrected. “Good evening, Tiernan. What a surprise. I didn’t expect to run into you tonight. And here of all places.”

“Christopher, did you forget? I have the O’Sheeran Stables here in Ocala. I come here often for business. It’s you who’s a surprise. What in the world would bring you to Florida from California?”

He shrugged. “I have business deals and meetings all over the country. We’re not just in California.”

“True, but Florida is O’Sheeran territory. So I hope, for your sake, you’re not conducting your kind of business in our territory,” I warned. Everything the Brynes family was involved in was illegal. We couldn’t stop them from doing it outside our territories, but within our borders, you bet your ass we would.

“Just meeting with some contacts. They needed me to meet here rather than in Cali. It won’t interfere with anything your family does.”

“It better not.”

His eyes slid over to take in Cassius and then Kynedi. He lingered on her. His spark of interest couldn’t be hidden. I wanted to bare my teeth at him and tell him to turn his gaze elsewhere. At that moment, I wished I had my ring on her finger to add to my claim. It was too soon for that, but it was what I wanted, especially when a slick guy like him came sniffing around. He hadn’t wanted to accept Alistair’s claim to Aisling and told me he wouldn’t accept anyone’s claim. Kynedi was watching us closely.

“Aren’t you going to introduce me to your guests? I don’t believe I’ve ever seen you take someone out to dinner with a kid. Is this a long-lost family member I don’t know about?” He flashed his perfect white teeth. The urge to knock a few out grew.

“They’re not long-lost relatives. This is Kynedi and her son, Cassius. Kynedi, this is Christopher Brynes. We’ve known each other all of our lives,” was all I admitted.

“A pleasure, but you didn’t answer my question. Surely, you’re not hiding them,” he insinuated.

“I’d never hide them. We’re here seeing the horses since Cassius is an avid horseman. Kynedi has been gracious enough to come along with us. Kynedi is my anamachara .”

Surprise flickered across his face and then was gone. He knew what anamchara meant as an Irishman. “Really? Well, it sure seems your family is buying into that whole soulmate nonsense. This makes what, five of you? Where’s her ring if she’s your anamchara ? The O’Sheerans seem to find their soulmates, as they call them, in the most unusual places. Where did he find you, Kynedi? What kind of work do you do?”

I knew what he was implying even if she didn’t. My hackles rose. He was referring to the statement he made about my family members going for women who weren’t in our social circle. He called it slumming. He certainly thought Alistair was beneath Aisling. It hurt his ego that she chose Alistair over him. He thought they were beneath us.

I glanced over at Dario. “Will you take Cassius to the kitchen and have them show him what desserts they have? I think he’ll be able to make a better choice if he sees them.”

“I sure can. Come on, Cass. Let’s see what kind of dessert we should get. I want you to help me pick one out for me.”

Cassius got up and went with him without a word. As soon as he was out of earshot, I laid it out for Chris. Kynedi was watching us with a worried expression. I hated that she had no idea what this was about. I’d explain at least the Aisling part.

“It doesn’t matter where we met. All you need to know is they’re mine. Unlike my other family members, I have no problem knocking your teeth down your throat in public if you don’t keep your snide ass remarks to yourself. I know you don’t believe in soulmates, and you seem to think that anyone who works a blue-collar job is somehow less than us. It’s not true. You sneered at Darragh, Aidan, Cian, and Aisling’s choices. In Ais’s case, it was sour grapes because Alistair beat you out. I won’t listen to you talk shit about my woman or son.”

Anger changed his handsome face to a rather ugly one. He flushed red and clenched his fists at his side. Scotty was standing next to him, shooting fire and hatred from his gaze. I could break that little shit with one hand. Milo might be standing there, but he knew I didn’t need any help to take care of these two. Our voices remained low, but we were still gaining attention. The vibes coming off us were enough to clue people in that this wasn’t a friendly conversation.

“Tiernan, there’s no need to be rude. What will this delightful woman think? I’m sorry if he’s being too crass.”

I was opening my mouth to tell him a few more home truths, but Kynedi beat me to it.

“You don’t need to apologize for anything Tiernan does or doesn’t do or say. He’s never been anything but wonderful with me and my son. The only one showing his ass is you. You came over here to cause a scene. Whatever your problem is with him or his family, it’s your problem. However, since you seem to think anyone not born with a silver spoon in their mouth, or in your case, in their ass, is beneath you, I’ll tell you how we met and what I do. Hopefully, it’ll make you leave faster.

“My son is the first of many children to benefit from a new program Tiernan has started for kids like Cassius. They’ll be exposed to horses and riding. As for my work, I have three jobs. I’m a masseuse, a transcriptionist, and a cleaning lady. I’m as blue-collar as they come. And no, before you make a snide comment, I wasn’t lucky enough to go to college. But I’m raising my son to be independent and not to judge people based on their money, where they live, or their clothes. He’ll grow up to have substance, unlike you. Now, if you don’t mind. We were having a great dinner until you came over. Go away,” she made shooing motions with her hands.

Unable to resist, I leaned over and laid a kiss on her. It wasn’t a tame or quick one. I heard a growling sound coming from one of them. A snicker was cut off. I had no doubt that it was Milo. When I lifted my mouth from hers, I gave them a smirk.

“You still standing here? Did she talk over your heads?”

“You fucking O’Sheerans think you’re better than the rest of us. You’re not. I can’t wait to see your whole family kicked off your pedestal. It’s time others know what your family is truly like,” Christopher hissed.

“If that happens, it’ll take better people and more than your fucked up family to do it. And when you come for us, bring more than that pussy with you,” I shot back.

Scotty stepped closer. I moved my chair back from the table. I sat in my seat but positioned myself to move if I needed to.

Milo made a clicking sound as he spoke to Scotty. “I wouldn’t do that if I were you.”

“I’m not afraid of you,” Scotty told him.

“You should be, but in this instance. You’d better be afraid of him. He can tear you apart without breaking a sweat. I’m here to pick up the pieces when he’s done and put you in the trash, where you belong.”

It was becoming a huge disturbance. “Milo, let them go. We’re not letting them ruin tonight,” I suggested.

“I’ll leave when I’m good and ready, O’Sheeran,” Chris snapped.

I caught sight of Izar Jasso, the restaurant’s owner. Jasso’s was named after his family, who traced their roots back to the Basques in Spain. He was a tall, imposing man. When he got to us, he addressed me first.

“Mr. O’Sheeran, I’m sorry for the upset. Please be assured these gentlemen are leaving. Sirs, please come with me,” he directed to Scotty and Chris.

“We didn’t start this. He did. Why are we being kicked out? Do you know who I am?” Chris asked in outrage.

“You approached his table, not the other way around. My staff saw what happened. I run a peaceful establishment. I don’t want it ruined. And yes, I know who you are.”

“Then you should get rid of O’Sheeran and his maid if you’re worried about your reputation,” Chris sneered.

I shot to my feet. He could say whatever he wanted about me, but he wouldn’t talk about Kynedi or look down his nose at her. Her hand grabbed my wrist. I glanced at her.

“Don’t bother getting your hands dirty. He’s a little boy trying to pretend he’s a real man. Let him go, Tier.”

“Gentlemen, I won’t ask again. I want you to leave. If you don’t, then these men will escort you out,” Izar said more firmly.

That’s when Chris and his bodyguard, what a joke, noted we’d been joined by three hulking men. I knew who they were. They were members of Izar’s family and were known for their ability to fight. I’d seen them in several fighting matches, both public and underground. Izar and his family may not be mobsters, but they weren’t anyone you wanted to piss with, either.

Chris was smarter than I thought. Seeing what he was up against, he curled his lip. “I was tired of this place anyway. I’ll be sure to let my friends know this isn’t the place to come when they’re in Florida.”

“I doubt I’ll feel their absence,” Izar said with a sneer. This made Chris turn his back on us and march off, with little Scotty trailing behind him. His guard pup threw scowls at us over his shoulder. They went straight for the door.

“Thanks, Izar. I could’ve handled them, but I bet the boys here need to practice,” I said, grinning. This made all four of them laugh. Milo had relaxed and was tapping on his phone. “It looks like they left without paying. Put their meals on my tab. I’ll gladly pay to be free of them,” I told Izar.

“I appreciate it, my friend, but it’s not necessary. They already paid, and even if they didn’t, their terrible behavior isn’t yours to pay for. I was watching them. Your man in the kitchen warned me what was happening. Now that I think of it, there is one thing you can do, though.”

“What?”

“Introduce me to your lovely companion. I assume the boy in my kitchen drooling belongs to her.” He gave Kynedi a toothy smile.

“He is. His name is Cassius, and this is Kynedi. Mil , this is Izar Jasso, the owner, and his cousins, right? Kynedi is my alma gemala , my soulmate,” I translated for her in Spanish. Izar’s smile grew larger, and so did his cousins.

“ Alma Gemala ! Well, you sly dog, you’ve been hiding her. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Kynedi.” He reached out and took her hand. As he clasped it between his two, he introduced his cousins—Xanti, Elazar, and Andoni. They nodded and smiled.

As they finished greeting her, I saw Dario returning with Cassius. He excitedly began to talk as soon as he reached the table. “Tiernan, they have so many yummy things. Wait ‘til you see them all.”

“I know they have some of the best. This guy here is the one who owns this place. Let me introduce you to Mr. Jasso and his cousins. This is Cassius.”

They all held out their hands to Cass. He didn’t shake them, but he did say, “Hello, you have an awesome place. I could eat here every day.” This made them smile, and they didn’t seem offended that he didn’t shake their hands.

“We’ll leave you to enjoy dessert. I’ll have some sent out. Before you leave, stop to see me for a minute,” Izar said.

After agreeing, he and his cousins walked away. Those around us were slowly going back to their dinners. Within minutes, desserts were brought to the table. It was one of every single one on the menu. Cass clapped. Along with them came smaller serving plates. Motioning Milo and Dario over, the five of us divided out the desserts and then got to eating. It was too much, but none of us could resist. When we were done, I paid the bill and had our leftovers boxed to go.

Dario went ahead of us to get the car. Milo hung back as we said goodbye to Izar, as promised. Before we left, he handed Cassius a box and mock-whispered, “Hide it from Tiernan so he doesn’t eat it.”

“Thank you, Mr. Jasso. Your desserts are super yummy,” Cass chimed happily. We left Izar happy, and we were back in a good mood. The ride to the hotel was a sleepy one for Cass. Kynedi leaned against my arm and rubbed it. Peace surrounded us.