I brace my hands on his shoulders and grind down harder, taking him deeper, holding his dark gaze and burning with lust of my own.
Our rhythm is fast and frenetic as the entire car rocks with us, and we fuck each other ’til we’re hitting our peak all at once and then seizing up.
My cries are drowned out by his warm, dominant kisses. He doesn’t let up, lashing his tongue to mine as my pussy clamps down and an orgasmic explosion erupts inside me. I come with shaking thighs and nails dug deep into his shoulders.
He’s only a minute behind me, releasing a hoarse groan as his hips jerk up into mine, and he grips me up so tight I’m sure bruises will show tomorrow.
We pant for air in the moments that follow. Foreheads pressed together, we’re breathing raggedly with hearts pounding fast inside our chests.
Ronan presses a few more kisses onto my skin, starting with the corner of my mouth then moving down south to my throat.
“How’s that for keeping my fucking hands to myself?” he asks.
I snort out a laugh, still buzzing from hot pleasure. “You’ve proven your point.”
Christmas morning arrives with Callahan House packed with people I’ve never seen before.
Relatives crawl out of the woodwork like they’ve been summoned by some ancestral Irish bat signal. Cousins, second cousins, great-aunts, uncles, and people whose connection to the family tree I can’t even begin to trace.
They fill the house with noise while I do my best to smile and nod as I’m introduced to face after unfamiliar face.
Then there’re the relatives thatdoleave a lasting impression, like Ronan’s Uncle Eoin.
A stout man with a permanent beet-red flush on his face and white hair sprouting from his ears like weeds, he crushes my hand in his and almost shakes my arm out of the socket.Judging by the bleary look in his eyes and the whiskey on his breath, I’d bet money he’s already several drinks deep despite the time being minutes before noon.
“Simone, eh?” he booms, shaking my hand up and down again. “You’re a beauty.”
“Thank you. That’s very nice of?—”
“Didn’t know my nephew liked ’em chocolate coated,” he cracks on, releasing a laugh that’s as booming as his speaking voice.
Ronan scowls at the less-than-appropriate comment. “Remember a few Christmases ago when you got drunk off your ass and challenged me to that wrestling match and I had you damn near knocked out on the floor? Keep talking to my wife like that and we’ll have a repeat performance.”
If at all humanly possible, Uncle Eoin’s face turns an even redder shade. He merely lets out a lone gruff chuckle then mutters something about finding his wife, Molly.
I watch him go then glance at Ronan. The corner of his mouth quirks into his usual near-grin. He steps closer to me, his body heat providing a strange comfort.
“Sorry about that, princess. Eoin gets drunk every year and says some inappropriate shit. Don’t worry, I’ll knock him out should he step out of line again.”
I nod before we’re separated moments later.
Ronan’s supposed to spend the time leading up to the Christmas feast with the rest of the men in the den.
But I have no desire to head onto the terrace and socialize with the other female Callahans. I tried that once on Thanksgiving and didn’t find the experience all that enjoyable.
As we go our separate ways, I’m reminded that I’ve started to appreciate Ronan’s presence more than I’ve consciously realized.
A sense of thrill fills me whenever he gets protective. He’s territorial over me, and it’s something I never realized I’d relish ’til the moments where it happens.
Then I’m flushed by how he takes control and demonstrates just what lengths he’ll go to in order to protect me.
I can admit I’m physically attracted to him. How can I not be when I get so turned on every time we have sex?
He’s crass and blunt and has a jawline so defined it might as well be chiseled by marble. He exudes the most dominating energy, his broad and angular features always on the verge of a scowl.
Then there’s his eyes, so vibrant and intensely green, they’re emerald gemstones from the earth itself. They darken when he’s angry—or about to devour me.
I never thought I’d see the day where I fell for an Irish gangster. A brute that’s violent and uncivilized and unapologetic about it.
