by Liz Gavin
Declan rolled his eyes. He was a doomed man. A conversation between his best friend, and childhood companion, and his future wife would certainly mean that many of his most embarrassing moments were going to be revealed to Keira. She seemed to read his mind because she sat more comfortably in her chair, blowing him a kiss, and winked at him. It would take hours before he talked to Jennifer, but he would definitely give her an earful.
Over the next week, Keira stayed beside Declan at the hospital. Her family and the Slane brothers visited often. They even celebrated Megan’s thirty-third birthday there. Tender loving care sped up Declan’s healing process and he was released earlier than the doctors had expected. Without any previous planning, both his brothers showed up, at the same time, to pick him up and take him home.
“You’re staying with us. End of discussion,” Colin glared at his stubborn youngest brother, while he helped Declan stand up and sit down on the wheelchair.
“Brother, you’ve got two very active little girls,” Brandon started, but added quickly when Colin scowled, “Whom I adore, by the way. I don’t have children, so it’s quieter in my house. Declan will be better off there. Right, Declan? Tell him you’ll stay with me.”
Declan looked at Keira for support. She held her hands up and shrugged, “Sorry, baby. It’s your family. I wouldn’t dare say anything,” she chuckled.
Watching the Slane brothers argue about even the smallest, most insignificant things over the previous days, had thought Keira to stay out of their way. They had given her the impression that quarreling was more like a sport for them – or a twisted way of bonding. Either way, she respected them, even though she didn’t understand their bahavior. Now, while they fought over where Declan should stay, she would rather keep her opinions to herself.
“Brandon, my house is bigger. Keira and her family will be more comfortable there.”
“Colin, thanks, but don’t worry about my family. They’ll stay at the hotel. It’s going to be only Declan and me until we figure out what to do.”
“See, she doesn’t want to go to your house.”
“Brandon, I never said that. I just said…”
“Brother, Declan and Keira will stay with me. I won’t hear another word about it.”
Colin started pushing the wheelchair out of the room and down the corridor, ignoring Keira’s dumbfounded expression as well as Declan’s attempts to stop him. Brandon rolled his eyes, and shook his head, as he offered Keira an apologetic smile.
“Has he always been like this?”
“He’s getting worse as he gets older.”
Laughing, Brandon and Keira got Declan’s stuff from the room and followed the other two Slane men, who were arguing as they moved towards the exit door, and had almost reached the hospital reception by the time Keira and Brandon caught up with them.
Colin’s house was indeed bigger than Brandon’s. There was even a small guest house in the back, where he helped Keira and Declan settle. When he was about to leave, he winked at his little brother.
“You need your rest, so I’ll tell the Iris and Allyson to leave Uncle Declan and Aunt Keira in peace until you decide to show up in the house. Is that okay?’
“That’s very thoughtful, Colin, thank you.”
“Don’t thank me, Keira. I just don’t want to scar my children for life if they walk in on you two having sex.”
Declan kissed her red cheek, laughing. “Sorry, love, you should see your expression right now. Colin, you’re lucky you’re my brother. I guess you’d be a dead man otherwise.”
“You bet he would!”
“Bye, now. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”
Colin’s laughter echoed in the room even after he had closed the door behind him. Keira was mortified.
“Don’t be embarrassed, love. Sex is a natural thing between people who love each other, especially after everything we’ve been through. Plus, we’ve had to wait for too long to celebrate our reunion. Colin knows that’s what we’ll do that’s why he was joking.”
“I get that, Declan. It’s just that it’s a private matter. I was embarrassed to talk about it in front of him.”
“I hear you. Well, you’ll have to get accustomed to that kind of thing around my brothers and I, baby. We talk about sex, joke about it, tease one another it, all the time.”
“I’ll try.”
She shrieked when he scooped her up in his strong arms, “What are you doing? You shouldn’t be lifting heavy stuff. You’ve just got out of the hospital.”
“Precisely. I’ve stayed in bed for much too long, doing nothing. I need the exercise, love,” he explained, laughing, as he carried her to the bedroom and settled her gently on the bed, kneeling beside her. “I have a couple of ideas for some very invigorating cardio workouts. Care to join me, milady?”
She laughed wholeheartedly at his self-mocking expression as he impersonated Valentino, or some other leading man from a silent movie. Her carefree laughter died away when he covered her body with his and kissed her. Parting his lips, he grazed her bottom lip lightly, and when he heard her involuntary intake of air, as a reaction to the feelings that little gesture brought on her sensitive nerves, Declan grabbed the soft flesh of her lower lip between his teeth and tugged. She moaned and pressed her hip up against his. It was Declan’s turn to feel his blood getting on fire when her hands raked through his hair. Their kiss got deep and hot as fast as always.
Although he wanted to lose himself in her sweetness more than anything else in the world in that moment, Declan wanted to savor their long overdue lovemaking just as much. So, he deliberately and slowly started taking off each piece of clothing, which Keira wore.
Getting impatient at his sluggish pace, she tried to yank his shirt off him but Declan stopped her hands, taking them to his lips and kissing each fingertip, without saying a word, just smiling at her.
“Declan, I’ve missed you so much. I want you badly right now. I’m about to explode. Please, don’t torture me.”
“I’m not torturing you or me. I’m making love to my fiancée, my future wife, for the first time today. I want her to feel loved – worshipped - cherished.”
He emphasized each word with an open-mouth kiss on a different sensitive spot on her neck, shoulders and chest, until Keira forgot about anything other than her fiancé, her future husband, and his expert hands and mouth, trusting him to set the best rhythm for their passion.
When he had stripped her to her thin bra and panties, he let Keira take care of his own clothes. She loved the feel of his hard muscles and soft skin undulating under her hands as she undressed him, kissing his exposed flesh as she went. He stopped her when her fingers grabbed the waistband of his briefs.
“Not so fast, love.”
He pecked the corner of her mouth when she pouted, and rolled her over onto her stomach. Declan took his time roaming his hands up and down her body, causing goose-bumps on her skin, rediscovering the shape of her soft curves with his warm palms, the satiny feel of her skin under his fingertips. Things he had never forgotten, but was delighted to remember. She grew impatient. She wanted to feel his body filling up the void inside her.
“Declan, please, I need you. Don’t toy with me.”
“I’m not toying with you, baby. I’m worshiping you like you deserve. I want to savor each moment with you, because they are precious.”
Rolling Keira onto her left side, and snuggling behind her, he unhooked her bra and held her breasts in his palms, when the thin material slid down her arms. His hands felt hot against her hardened nipples and she moaned softly when he squeezed them together as his tongue licked her ear. Her body throbbed when he bit her earlobe and she covered his hands with hers. Declan kneaded her soft breasts, nibbled her neck and shoulders, and licked her ear until Keira felt feverish, on fire.
“Declan, I can’t take it any longer. Please, I need you inside me.”
“Your wish is my command, love.”
With a gentle nudge of his le
g, he lifted Keira’s knee a little but she was too lost in the sensations he had created in her to notice that one of his hands had left her breast and moved slowly downwards until he cupped her mound. Her blood pressure skyrocketed when his naughty fingers found and played with her curls. She threw her head back over his shoulder, and couldn’t hold back a soft whimper, when the sensual movements of his fingertips invaded her more intimately. He knew exactly where to press, where to tap, and where to touch in order to make her lose control. When he increased the rhythm of his fingers going in and out of her, she felt like she was about to burst into flames under his hot hands.
“I can’t hold back for long, baby.”
“Then, let it go, sweetie. I’ve got you.”
Declan pressed her back tightly against his broad, solid chest as she rode the first waves of pleasure when they hit her. He sought her mouth and kissed her deeply, drinking her moans and cries. Their tongues slid against each other, their lips devoured each other, as he increased the speed of his fingers and her slippery body squeezed him in response.
When her heart rate began to slow down, Declan turned her over onto her back, nestled his hard body between her soft, still trebling thighs, and went inside her in one swift but gentle movement. She locked her feet behind his back when his lips captured hers in another passionate kiss. He settled a slow, steady rhythm to his movements, bracing himself on his arms, hovering over her, staring into her eyes as he went in as deeply as he could before coming out almost entirely, until he felt his own climax approaching.
Kneeling on the bed and pulling Keira up with him, Declan crossed his arms behind her back, as she rocked her body in time with his. Moving up and down, sliding against each other, their bodies built up their own release. Keira grabbed his gorgeous face between her hands, locked her gaze with his and gave him a knowing smile, when she felt the first signs of Declan’s pleasure deep inside her and her own body contracted then expanded around him.
Her soul spiraled and spun upwards, her heart swelled with the amazing emotions he awoke in her; still, her eyes never left his, marveling at the expression on his face when his climax finally came. His abandon, his surrender matched her own, at that sweet moment. A moment filled with passion and deep feelings, in equal measures. Basking in the mesmerizing light that shone in the depths of his green eyes, recognizing it as the undying love he felt for her, Keira leaned in and stole a quick kiss before whispering against his lips, “I love you, too, Declan Slane. Now and forever.”
Hearing those words, feeling her total surrender to him, watching her give herself so completely to him, took Declan’s breath away. Their lovemaking had always been passionate, steamy, but knowing that her feelings for him ran as deep as his for her made all the difference in the outcome. His heart threatened to explode in his chest just as his body exploded inside hers. Their cries of joy mingled in the air as their mouths merged in a kiss that was equally tender and deep, passionate and sweet.
Slowly coming back down to earth from the heights of ecstasy they had reached, Declan and Keira tumbled together onto the bed, laughing and crying, touching and soothing each other’s quivering flesh, both feeling fulfilled and happy as they had never felt before. Sleep came over them fast, but their bodies remained tangled in a comfortable embrace while they slept.
Keira and Declan spent the next couple of days in much the same way – cherishing and caressing each other in every chance they had, either in private or in public. Keira was gradually learning to find a balance between her shyness and Declan’s family’s teasing.
“Thank goodness you two make a cute couple. Still, I can’t stand this constant cuddling any longer,” Colin told them as he entered his own living room. “You were supposed to watch over your nieces, mister! Not fool around with your hot girlfriend.”
“His teasing is starting to sound a little like envy, don’t you think, Declan?”
“Ouch! The kitten has sharp claws,” Colin laughed because he didn’t get offended.
“You have no idea, brother!”
“Come, my little princesses. Daddy’s going to give you a bath and then mom will fix us dinner.”
Allyson and Iris ran to their father, who picked each one up in one arm, and went to their bedroom, bouncing them along the way. Keira could hear the girls’ shrieks and pearly laughter as well as Colin’s muffled voice.
A few days later, her father offered Declan a partnership in the family business. He wanted his future son-in-law to run an Irish branch of the Ashes’ restaurant. She had to laugh at Declan’s reaction, when her father had asked him to do that. Rick Ashe needed to use his natural charm combined with a lot of persuasion to talk Declan into accepting his offer.
“Don’t get me wrong, Rick, I’m honored.” Declan had tried to explain his concerns. “It’s just that it’s a huge responsibility. I mean, we’ll have to make a big investment and Keira has told me that lately you’ve been facing some money problems in your restaurant. Do you think this is a good time for that kind of expense?”
“Declan, my son, it’s not spending when one is investing. We’ll get the money back. And then some. You’ll see.”
Once Declan had been convinced, they spent the rest of their time together planning the details of the project. Location would be a key element for the new restaurant. Her father told Declan he should decide that one on his own, arguing he didn’t know Ireland enough to make a call either way. Declan asked for some time to think about it.
Torn between staying in Dublin or moving back to Cork, Declan had turned to Keira for help, on the previous day, while they cuddled in bed, after another hot session of cardio exercises, as Declan sometimes called their lovemaking.
Running his fingers through her soft curls, Declan said, “These last weeks with my family have made it quite plain to me that I’ve missed them more than I had realized before I returned to Cork. My brothers are nutcases, and I know they can be royal pains in the posterior, but I love them,” his voice broke off and Keira kissed his knuckles to encourage him to continue. “I missed them. I missed being around them.”
“That’s very clear, baby.”
“On the other hand, I guess it would be better for business if we opened the restaurant in Dublin instead of here. I mean, it’s a new restaurant so the odds will be in our favor if we have a larger number of potential clients.”
Keira lifted her head from his shoulder to read his eyes. The light in them told her he knew what he should do, so she didn’t say anything.
“Should I follow my heart or my head, honey?”
“I don’t see why you can’t do both. Dublin is not that far from here. We can live there and come visit them as often as we want,” she tested his resolve. She knew that was the practical option - not what he wanted to do.
“You’ve got a good point there, love. However, a restaurant demands a lot of time and work. We might not be able to leave it and come visit them for months. Years, even.”
He paused and Keira observed his gorgeous face changing according to the different emotions warring inside him.
Laughing softly, she decided to end his misery, “I think you’ve already made up your mind, honey. Let me guess. We’ll stay here.”
Declan smiled and kissed the tip of her nose, “You do know me well, love.”
“It was a safe bet. I mean, you’ve done a pretty good job of following your heart so far. I didn’t think you’d change that now.”
“You’re right, Keira. Maybe I should go back to Dublin for a day or two. You know, go by the hotel, thank my boss and quit my job officially. Would you go with me? It’s a good chance for you to meet Jen.”
“Absolutely!”
On the following day, right after lunch, Colin asked Keira, “What time is your family leaving, Keira?”
“In the early evening.”
“Would you like me to give you a lift to the airport?”
“Thanks, Colin. I’d appreciate it.”
“By the way, Ke
ira, if Colin is taking us to the airport to see your family off, we can take a late evening flight to Dublin tonight.”
“Sounds great.”
“It’s set, then; I’ll buy our tickets.”
“I’ll pack.”
As she finished packing and locked the suitcase, Keira reflected about the past few days and smiled to herself. Her future with Declan looked bright and full of possibilities. Her expression was still a dreamy one as she rejoined Declan and Colin in the living room. She was surprised to see Brandon sitting on the couch.
“Oh, hey, there, Brandon. Did you come to say goodbye?”
“Why? Are you going back to America, too?” he pointed at her suitcase before turning to his younger brother, feigning annoyance. “Congratulations, punk. This must have been the shortest engagement ever in the Slane family.”
“We’ve got to go to Dublin for a couple of days, dumb ass. Not that this is any of your business, mind you,” Declan replied before turning to Keira, who had sat beside him. “Heller called while you were packing. He said he needed to talk to me and my brothers. That’s why the freak came.”
She frowned but didn’t have time to comment on that piece of information because the bell rang and Erin greeted Heller at the door, and showed him to the living room. Keira stood up to go but Declan grabbed her hand and tugged it lightly, “Stay, hon.”
After exchanging greetings, Heller took a deep breath and started to speak.
“Well, I don’t want to waste more of your time than the strictly necessary, gentlemen. So, I’ll go straight to the point.”
“By all means, detective.”
“Declan, I owe you an apology and an explanation. When I arrived in Keira’s hotel room, after O’Hallon’s vicious attack, I didn’t know who you were, but when you stated your name I knew it and I didn’t say anything. I figured it wasn’t the time or the place to do that,” he raised his hand at Declan’s puzzled expression, as if asking for a little patience. “I’ll get there, my son, bear with me. As we got to know each other better, and after some digging on my part, I found out how much your life, and your brother’s lives, had been affected by your mother’s death. Then, I felt worse than I had felt in the past.”
