"Easy." My voice was rough with arousal. "I want this to last."
She gasped, eyes widening, but her movements became more deliberate. "Again," she breathed.
I obliged, palm connecting with her skin in measured slaps that had her moaning and moving with renewed urgency.
"Touch yourself." My voice broke, and I could barely let the words out. "I want to … watch you come apart … on … my cock."
She obeyed without hesitation, hand sliding between our bodies. The sight of her pleasuring herself while riding me pushed me perilously close to the edge.
"That's it, beautiful." I gripped her hips, helping guide her movements. "So perfect. My perfect woman."
"I'm going to come!" Her inner muscles began to flutter around me, her breathing ragged. "Oh God, Alexander, I'm going to?—"
She came with a scream that echoed off the walls, body convulsing above me as pleasure crashed through her. The sight and sensation triggered my own release, and with a roar, I followed her over the edge, spilling myself deep inside her.
We collapsed together, breathing hard. I pulled her close, pressing kisses to her hair, her temple.
"I love you." My voice was rough with emotion. "So bloody much it terrifies me."
She turned to look wide-eyed at me. "I love you too," she replied softly after a moment, fingers tracing lazy patterns on my chest. "Even when you're being ridiculously overprotective."
I pulled my shirt over her shoulders, then tugged on my jeans before covering us both with a blanket. We lay in comfortable silence, watching dust motes dance in the fading sunlight, while our mutual declarations hung in the air around us, wrapping us like an ethereal cocoon.
Three little words that changed everything for us.
Tomorrow we’d face the world, but today, there was only us.
Twenty-Eight
AOIFE O’MALLEY
Alexander's armsaround me felt like the safest place in the world. I traced lazy patterns on his chest, feeling his heartbeat steady beneath my palm—strong, reliable, alive. The afterglow wrapped around us like silk, and I never wanted this moment to end. His skin was warm beneath my fingertips, carrying the faint scent of his cologne.
"What happens now?" I asked, tilting my head to meet his gaze. His eyes were softer than I'd seen them in months, the hard edges finally smoothed away.
He combed his fingers through my hair, gentle and reverent, sending shivers down my spine. "I'll continue working with Ronan, but Coyne's being trained to handle operations. When we're in Ireland, he'll manage things here under my direction."
I was quiet for a long moment, gathering courage for what I'd been considering for weeks. The words felt enormous in my chest, pressing against my ribs like caged birds. "I've been thinking about what I want to do with our life."
"Tell me." His voice was soft, encouraging, one hand stroking down my back in soothing circles.
"I've always wanted to write a novel." The admission tumbled out, my cheeks flushing. "Something I never told my father because he would have dismissed it as frivolous." I looked up at Alexander, vulnerability making my chest tight. "When things settle, I'd like to try."
His face transformed—eyes lighting up, smile breaking across his features like sunrise. The pride in his expression made my breath catch. "Then you should. You're brilliant, Aoife. You could do anything you wish."
Relief flooded through me, warm and sweet. I'd feared he might think it impractical or silly. "And you? What do you want to do?"
He hesitated, then a shy smile crossed his features—an expression I rarely saw on him. His thumb traced along my shoulder blade as he considered his words. "This will sound mad, but I've always fancied having a bed and breakfast. Maybe with a traditional pub attached. Somewhere people could come to relax, enjoy good food and drink."
My heart swelled with love for this man showing me such tender vulnerability. I could picture it perfectly—Alexander charming guests, ensuring everyone felt welcomed. It suited him more than he probably realised. "That's not mad at all. It's wonderful. We'll have that huge mansion in Ireland once it's rebuilt. We could dedicate part of it to exactly that."
His eyes grew distant, and I could practically see the wheels turning. "You'd want to transform your family home into a hospitality business?"
I considered it, imagining the grand rooms filled with laughter instead of shadows, children running through bright hallways that had seen too much darkness. "Better than letting it stand empty. It might help heal some of the bad juju that place has harboured and … all the horrible things." I smiled, the visionbecoming clearer. "Besides, my father always said the Irish knew how to make guests feel welcome."
Alexander's expression grew thoughtful as if he could see our future taking shape. His hand stilled on my back, and I felt the tension in his body as excitement built. "I'd fund the renovations. Whatever you need to make it perfect."
Lost for words, I simply pressed a kiss to his chest. “Ronan?” I finally asked.
