The video went on for five minutes, and by the time it was finished my cheeks were wet.
“You’re crying,” Vail whispered. “Did you hate it?”
“Where did ye get this?” I asked, touching the paused screen of me waving at the crowd—at my family.
“Eamon and I searched hard for something sentimental. He even went home to Ireland and raided his parents’ house.”
I glanced up at him in surprise. Eamon had sworn he’d never return home, especially after I’d told him what Cillian had said to me about their da kicking him out for being bisexual. He’d been furious and went so red in the face I’d thought he would explode into a million pieces.
“He wanted to make your birthday memorable, and so did Cillian. So, they arranged for Eamon to go back and talk to his mom while his dad wasn’t around. She said she was given this video by Miss McCarthy—the one who’s with Mr. O’Connor, not Mr. Walsh.” His face scrunched up. “I don’t know what that means, but that’s what she said to Eamon.”
I laughed and wiped at the tears in my eyes. “There’s two McCarthy sisters and they don’t believe in marriage. It was a scandal when I was a kid, but they told the town to stick it and kept on dating Mr. O’Connor and Mr. Walsh without getting married.”
He shook his head. “Ireland’s weird.”
“It’s beautiful, though. I’d like to take ye there one day. Ye, me, Cillian, and the other boys.” I swallowed around the emotions that lodged in my throat.
“Do you miss Ireland?” he asked gently, cuddling up to me.
“Every day,” I said honestly, curling my arm around his shoulders and bringing him in closer. I laid my cheek against his head and sighed. “It’s a special place. Dundalk’s not exactly a wee town, but we know each other in our area. We care. When I came to America it was like walking onto a different planet. I didn’t think I’d find a home here, even with the other Irishmen. Sloan’s all about pride, but a lot of the men in the Company are second- or third-born Irish. It’s different for them.”
“I’m sorry.” He kissed my cheek.
“Don’t be. This is home now, too.Ye’rehome.” I slammed my mouth against his, and he groaned, leaning up into me and half climbing me so he could nudge his hardening cock against my thigh. I ran my thumb over his chin. “So needy.”
“For my men? Always.” He grinned and rolled his hips forward, his trapped cock sliding up to my hip. “You’re so hot. I can’t get enough of you.”
“Don’t get too excited. We’re going around to Sloan’s this afternoon.”
He pouted. “Ugh. Why?” He seemed to realize what I’d said because he perked up. “Oh. I get to see Conall and Lor.”
I laughed. Since that night at the pool, Vail and Conall had become good friends. They did a lot together, and sometimes Lor joined in, now that he was feeling better. I had no idea what was happening there, but so far Lor hadn’t left the mansion, and no one was talking about kicking him out. It was adorable to see how close they’d all become, but especially Vail and Conall. They were like two peas in a pod. I’d thought Sloan would be mad about it, but he seemed happy Conall had found a good friend, and so were we. Vail needed all the people in his life he could get, as long as they didn’t think they could join in on our little... harem.
“Don’t get into any trouble,” I warned, slapping him on the arse.
“I wouldn’t.” His brows dipped seriously. “Conall said he got a very painful spanking for the greenhouse incident where he ditched his guards.”
“I bet he did.”
“I would have liked to see that.” Vail sighed and kissed me on the lips.
“Wait long enough and you will. Sloan’s not afraid to spank Conall in public. I think he enjoys it.” I shrugged. The two or so times I’d seen Sloan punish a smug Conall in front of everyone I couldn’t look away. The sight was addicting, and even I could admit I enjoyed watching Sloan’s strong hand meet Conall’s pale arse.
Vail chuckled. “Seriously, though, why are we going to Sloan’s house?”
I sighed. “Apparently there’s issues with some product coming in and he wants all his higher-ups there.”
“Including you.” His bottom lip jutted farther. “It was supposed to be our date night. I was going to treat you to something really nice.”
“Yeah?” I grinned, excitement stirring in my belly. “What kind of nice?”
“I can’t tell you now. You have to wait until we get home.”
I grabbed him and hauled him onto my lap, and he let out a yelp. Kissing him on the lips, I dragged him as close as I could get him. “You tease.”
He buried his face against my neck and laughed. “I’m sorry.” He placed a kiss on my pulse point, and I shivered. “You didn’t see the rest of your present.” He grabbed the box again and shoved it at my chest.
I grunted and opened it. It took me a moment to see the brown paper, the same color as the box, wrapped around something. Vail moved off my lap as I opened the paper to a pair of shoes. The familiar black leather and fiberglass heels had my chest exploding with warmth. “Are thesereelshoes?”
