This Love

by Kelly Elliott

Aunt Vi lifted a brow and smirked. “I’m sure you will, dear.”

  And like that, my aunt had gone off with the master of the castle. This was going to be interesting.

  “Come on, let’s go,” I said.

  We headed up the stairs to the top floor. Of course, her room would be on the top fucking floor. All of a sudden I felt weak and wanted to lie down, especially after climbing all the stairs.

  “You okay?” Maebh asked, giving me a concerned stare.

  “Tired.”

  “We’re almost there,” she said as she walked down a hallway that I swore was the length of a damn football field.

  “You grew up in this house?” I asked.

  “Yep.”

  “Too bad you didn’t have any siblings. You could have some kick-ass hide and seek games in this house.”

  She walked backwards and took my hands in hers. “I guess that means our kids will have to have all the fun with that.”

  My heart skipped a beat. The old Cord would be freaking the fuck out if a woman mentioned kids. But Maebh mentioning it only made me want it that much more. “I think I’m going to have fun practicing this whole making babies thing.”

  Her cheeks turned pink, and my chest tightened. I loved this beautiful Irish fireball with my whole heart.

  “Me, too.”

  We finally got to the end of the long hall and stopped outside a large curved door. “Me room,” she whispered.

  “Are you going to let me in or are we going to stand out here and give each other fuck-me eyes?”

  Maebh rolled her eyes and twisted the brass handle. When we walked into the room my legs nearly buckled out from under me—and it had nothing to do with recovering from the flu.

  “Holy. Shit.”

  The first thing I saw was a king size mahogany bed. Above the headboard was a large blue tapestry that came around the front of the bed and barely flanked it, making it look like privacy curtains. At the end of the bed was an antique chest. On either side were matching mahogany nightstands with an antique lamp on each one. My eyes moved over the room. The walls were painted sage green with the most intricate woodwork framing the doors and windows, along with the molding at the top of the walls. Antique furniture filled the room. A small dresser sat under a painting of a beautiful little girl.

  Once I saw those green eyes, I knew it was my Maebh. She was precious. Dark curls framed her little face, and she wore the same smile she had now. I was captivated even by her younger self. A large window sat in the middle of the room flanked by two slightly smaller windows. The view of the countryside left me breathless. The Black River could be seen through each window.

  “This desk used to belong to me great-grandfather. He wrote books. Did I ever tell you that?” she asked, running her finger along the oak desk.

  “No, you didn’t. What did he write?”

  Glancing over her shoulder, her teeth sank into her lip. “Naughty stories for me great-grandmother.”

  I lifted my brows. “Really?”

  She leaned against the desk. “But he also wrote mysteries. He was very popular here in Ireland. Even today his books are still bestsellers.”

  Another explanation for the fucking mansion I was standing in.

  “I’m named after his sister.”

  A slow smile spread over my face. I did love her name.

  She took the bag from my hand and dropped it to the floor. I leaned against another desk on the opposite side of the bed.

  “Let’s lie down so you can rest.”

  “Best idea ever,” I said, reaching behind me and pulling my shirt over my head. I watched as Maebh stared like it was the first time she’d ever laid eyes on my bare chest. I fucking loved the way she looked at me with hungry eyes. I never wanted that look to fade.

  I pulled her to me, “Stop looking at me like that, baby, or I’ll be forced to fuck you and I’m questioning my physical abilities right now. I may not be able to finish what I start.”

  With a chuckle, Maebh placed her hands on the side of my face. “I bet we can think of something to do that won’t have you exerting too much energy.”

  She quickly had my belt unbuckled and my pants undone. She was pulling them off my legs once I had toed off my boots.

  “Commando?” she mused, looking up at me through those eyelashes.

  When she licked her lips, I moaned and felt my cock growing harder by the second. She placed a soft kiss on the side of my cock and slowly stood. Taking my hands in hers, she walked toward the bed. Drawing the blankets down, she motioned for me to crawl into the bed. I did so while she took off her sexy, white lace outfit, leaving her thong and bra on.

  “Why are you not naked?” I asked when she slipped in next to me.

  “I want you, but I also want you to sleep. I need something between us right now.”

  The low rumble in the back of my throat made her smile.

  “Fucking hell, Maebh. If you’re that horny, baby, I can make you come.”

  Shaking her head, she snuggled next to me. “No, I want to lie here with you. Please rest, Cord.”

  My arm went around her, pulling her closer to me. It didn’t take me long to start to relax. The sound of her breathing quickly drew me toward a much-needed sleep.

  And sleep I did.

  “How are you feeling?” I asked Cord for the fourth time since we left the house.

  “Better than I have in the last two weeks.”

  He squeezed my hand, then lifted the back of it to his lips.

  “I’m totally leaning over and kissing the stone,” Vi stated with a huge smile.

  “Um, you should probably know, the local kids have been known to piss on the stone,” me da said.

  Vi’s smile instantly faded. “What the hell? Those little Irish bastards!”

  We all laughed, and I settled into Cord’s side. He had slept that first day for almost twelve hours. When he finally woke up, we spent the next four hours rotating from me bed to the shower, back to me bed. Sex with Cord was always good, but the last few days it had been amazing. Each time he came inside me, I fell even more in love with him. Me heart felt like it could explode I loved this man so much.

  “What else would you like to see while you’re here in Ireland?” I asked.

  Vi lifted her eyes in thought, and I felt Cord’s hand squeeze me hip. I knew exactly what he wanted to do, and it involved locking ourselves in me room all day.

  “Honestly, I think I’d like to fish for some salmon,” Cord said with a smile.

  Me father’s eyes lit up, and I couldn’t help but notice how he looked at Vi. They had an obvious connection. Was me da falling for Vi?

  Me chest squeezed at the thought. A mix of emotions overcame me all at once. Happiness for him, that he had opened his heart again, and sadness knowing he was thinking of another woman like he thought of me ma.

  “Are you okay?” Cord asked, his mouth pressed against me head.

  “Yes,” I whispered. Vi and me da were lost in a conversation when Cord pulled back.

  “Are you sure?”

  Me eyes filled with tears, and I fought to keep them back as I softly answered him. “I’m happy, so very happy, but it seems like maybe another door is closing and I’m not sure how I feel about that.”

  “He’ll always love your mom.”

  I nodded. “I know.”

  “He deserves to find happiness. This may just be a temporary thing. They obviously enjoy one another’s company.”

  We looked back over to them as they laughed at something Vi had said.

  “Yes, they do. And she makes him laugh. I don’t think I’ve heard me father laugh this much in a long time.”

  The car came to a stop, and Cord stiffened at my side when Dalton, my father’s driver, announced our arrival at Blarney Castle.

  “You excited to see it?” I asked as I looked back at Cord. He was pale and looked like he was about to be sick. He nodded quickly and turned away from me.

  Shite. Maybe he’s get
ting sick again. He jumped out of the car and jogged around to get me door before Dalton could.

  “After the castle tour, I’ve arranged for a lunch for the four of us,” Cord said, making me look up at him in surprise.

  “Really?” I asked.

  He was avoiding me eyes, and I swore he was sweating. Reaching up, I felt for a fever. Nothing. He felt normal.

  “How in the world did you manage that?” I asked with a chuckle.

  This time he did look at me and winked. “I have my own connections, Ms. O’Sullivan.”

  Me brows lifted. “I guess so, Mr. Parker.”

  The tour was entertaining, especially with Vi and Cord there. I wasn’t sure why Cord had such a hard time understanding everyone, but he had to have things repeated at least three times before Vi would tell him what was said. And I thought all this time it was just me he couldn’t understand.

  “So where is this lunch?” I asked as we strolled through the gardens. Vi and me da were walking a good way ahead of us.

  “We’re getting closer, I believe. I hear the waterfall.”

  Smiling, I peeked up to Cord. “The Bog Garden?”

  He winked and that was it, I had to know his secret.

  “Tell me!” I said, tickling his side and causing him to jump away from me.

  “Woman! Learn to be surprised, will you?”

  “Cord, tell me. It kills me not knowing.”

  With a chuckle, he replied, “I see that.”

  I sighed. “Please? I’ll do whatever you want if you tell me.”

  He stopped walking and faced me, making me breath hitch in me lungs. Lifting his hand, he brushed a piece of hair behind me ear.

  He leaned down and bushed his lips over mine before he whispered, “Close your eyes, agra.”

  Squeezing them shut, I felt his hands on me shoulders as he turned me around.

  His hot breath caused me entire body to shake with a desire only he would ever bring out in me.

  “There isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for you, Maebh. I’m going to show you each and every day how much I love you. There has never been a single doubt in my mind that you and I don’t belong together.”

  Even with me eyes closed, I felt tears slip free as I whispered his name.

  “Cord.”

  “Every morning when I see the pink sky spread across the Texas hill country, I’m going to thank God for you. Every night when I look up at the stars I’m going to thank God for giving us another day together, and I’ll pray for a million more.”

  A sob slipped from me mouth as I covered it with me hand.

  “Our life is only just beginning, my beautiful Irish cailin. Open your eyes, baby.”

  When I did, I saw a beautiful blanket set up on the lawn in front of us. A basket was at one end and a champagne bucket sat to the right.

  “Oh, Cord,” I whispered as he placed his hand on me lower back and guided us over to the blanket.

  “Maebh?”

  His voice made me turn. I gasped when I saw him down on one knee. He held open a blue jewelry box that contained the most beautiful diamond ring I’d ever seen.

  “I’d travel to the ends of this Earth to make you happy and to see every single one of your dreams come true. Agra, will you…”

  Cord’s eyes filled with tears as he looked up at me. When his voice cracked, I instantly dropped to me knees. Cupping his face with me hands, I stared into his blue eyes.

  Me thumbs wiped his tears away as I let mine fall freely down me face.

  “Marry me and become my wife. I can’t live without you, Maebh O’Sullivan. You mean the absolute world to me.”

  With a shaking chin and a tear-soaked face, I replied, “I’ve always been yours, Cord. Nothing would make me happier than to be your wife.”

  He pulled me to his body, our mouths crashing together in the most passionate kiss I’d ever experienced in me entire life. Me stomach did endless somersaults, and I’d never felt me heart so full.

  I wanted him to lay me down on this blanket and make love to me, but I had a feeling me da and Vi were somewhere watching this all play out.

  Cord drew back and leaned his forehead against mine.

  “Can you feel that?” he softly asked as he placed me hand over his chest. “Can you feel my love for you?”

  Another sob slipped from me mouth as I nodded, “Yes. I feel it.”

  Taking the vintage-looking ring out of the box, Cord slipped it over me finger and then kissed the back of me hand softly.

  The way it sparkled in the sun was breathtaking. The large oval diamond was surrounded by smaller, round, brilliant-cut diamonds with the platinum band covered in diamonds, as well. It was stunning.

  “This ring belonged to my mother’s mom,” Cord said. “When she passed away, my mother wore it every day until one day I told her if I ever asked a woman to marry me, I wanted to do it with this ring.”

  With a soft chuckle, he shook his head and kept talking. “She took it off right there and told me to keep it in a safe place until the time came to give it to the woman I loved. I honestly never thought I would use the ring and even asked Tripp if he wanted it. He declined because he had bought a ring for Harley years ago. I think he knew deep in his heart they would get the chance to marry someday. Anyway, my mother gave the ring to Aunt Vi to bring to Ireland and when she told me she had it, I knew this was the right time and the absolute perfect place to ask you to marry me.”

  I smiled, loving this story.

  “This makes it all the more special,” I said, leaning in and kissing him.

  When we broke apart, Cord motioned for me to look to me right. I laughed when I saw Vi and me da standing there. I could have sworn I saw tears glistening in me da’s eyes.

  Vi held up her phone and yelled, “I got it all on video for the rest of the family!”

  We both laughed tears of joy, and I gasped when I saw me da reach for Vi’s hand as they strolled back toward the castle.

  Cord squeezed me hand, drawing me attention back to him. “You okay?”

  I nodded. “Yes. I’ve never been better.”

  Inhaling deeply, I pushed away the unsure feelings about me father’s life moving on from me mother and glanced at the champagne. Cord pulled the bottle out and poured us each a glass.

  “I have food in here, too, if you’re hungry.”

  “Famished!” I said, dramatically placing the back of me hand over me forehead.

  An hour later we sat on the blanket together, me tucked between Cord’s legs as we watched birds and listened to the sounds of nature. Every now and then a couple would walk by and smile, or a family would rush past, kids yelling, delighted to be out in the unseasonably warm weather.

  “What are you thinking about?” Cord asked. His fingers moved lazily up me arm, making it tingle with each pass.

  “I was thinking I want to get married in Ireland.” Looking up at him, I waited for his reaction.

  “That’s a great idea.”

  Me cheeks burned with how hard I was smiling at his reply. “Are you serious? You’d get married here? In Ireland?”

  “Yes, of course I would. You’ll have to do all the talking with everyone since I can’t seem to fucking understand a damn word being said. But I know of this fabulous castle that could serve as the wedding venue, and I hear the price is too good to pass up.”

  Laughing, I lifted me hand and placed it on the side of his face. “Deal!”

  He leaned over and kissed me gently on the lips. As much as I loved our little picnic, the throbbing between me legs was begging to be taken care of.

  “Take me back to Castle Finghin and make love to me, my fiancé.”

  Wiggling his eyebrows, Cord replied, “Your wish is my command, baby.”

  Dropping my head back, I looked up at the beautiful blue Texas sky. The cool October breeze was giving us a reprieve as we worked on the fence across the south pasture.

  “How’s Harley feeling?” Wade asked Tripp.

 
; “Good. She’s finally gotten over the morning sickness and her belly is starting to show a bit.”

  There was no denying the happiness on my older brother’s face.

  “Gonna find out what it is?” I asked before driving the post hole diggers back into the ground. Sweat was pouring off of me so I stopped, took off my cowboy hat and wiped it away with my sleeve.

  Tripp nodded. “I think so. Harley really wants to know so she can plan the baby’s room.”

  Trevor slammed the truck door and started cursing as we looked his way.

  “What’s going on with him?” Mitchell asked.

  Steed sighed as he dropped the shovel. “Who knows. He hasn’t been this way since last spring. Always fucking moody, miserable as hell, and won’t admit to anyone, especially himself, that he fell for a certain little brunette.”

  “Scarlett?” Tripp asked.

  “Yep,” Wade answered. “I’ve never seen him like this. It’s like he’s drawn to her, but won’t admit it. I called him out on it this morning when we saw her at Lilly’s. She walked in and Trevor had been flirting with some chick he knew from high school. I could see the hurt on Scarlett’s face when she saw him.”

  “What did you say to him that has him so pissed off?” Mitchell asked.

  “I told him he either needed to let her go or be with only her. I could see by the look on her face that she has feelings for him. I’m not a hundred percent sure what’s going on with them, but I do know Trevor’s gone over to Scarlett’s place many times.”

  “Maybe it’s just casual for her, as well,” Steed said.

  Rubbing the back of his neck, Wade replied, “I don’t think so, man. She looked hurt. When Trevor saw her, she spun on her heels and walked right out of Lilly’s. He went after her, and she gave him a pretty big push away, yelled something, and got into her car. He looked pretty messed up after that.”

  “That’s when you decided to say something to him? After that happened?” I asked.

  Wade frowned. “Not smart on my part, but I hate seeing him like this. I know he cares about her.”

  Steed picked up the jack hammer and moved it into the hole I’d just cleaned out. Before he turned it on, he said, “Well, no matter what we say to him, he has to make the decision for himself. He either wants to be with Scarlett or he doesn’t. He’s going to come to realize she won’t wait forever for him to get his shit together.”