Shattered Heart: The Donnellys, Book 3

by Dorothy F. Shaw

  And then at one point, she’d told him she loved him. Cyn cringed and looked away from his intense stare. For fuck’s sake. He’d let it slide, being gracious enough not to call her out on it, thank God.

  “I, Ryan Matthew Donnelly, promise to cherish, to hold, to respect. And when you don’t obey…” he grinned, “…in the bedroom, of course—to make you glad you didn’t.”

  More gasps and laughter from the crowd. Cyn swore she caught a, “God forgive my children,” from her mother.

  “Right on, that’s what I’m talking about!” This from Jimmy.

  “I’m holding you to that,” Maiya said to Ryan.

  Unable to contain her amusement any longer, Cyn bent forward, clutching her stomach, laughing. This was just too awesome.

  Ryan continued with a smile. “I promise to do the dishes when it’s your turn to cook. To always do the yardwork and kill the spiders in the house.” Then his expression turned soft and gentle. “To support you in being the mother Jacob needs. And to be the best husband I can be. Maiya, I vow to love you for all the days of my life, and with all that I have inside my heart and soul. But I also vow to never let you down, to be stubborn and diligently bust down your walls whenever fear gets the best of you and you accidentally put them up.” He slid the diamond wedding band over Maiya’s finger.

  Maiya leaned forward to kiss Ryan and the priest stopped her. “Hang on. We’re almost there.” More laughter but as the priest continued, the church fell silent again. “Let us humbly invoke by our prayers, dear brothers and sisters, God’s blessing upon this bride and groom, that in his kindness he may favor with his help those on whom he has bestowed the Sacrament of Matrimony.” The priest placed his hands over both of their heads and prayed the marital blessing outloud. When he finished the entire church responsed with the obligatory, “Amen.”

  The priest stepped back from Ryan and Maiya. “It is before their most cherished friends and family, in accordance with the laws of the state of California, and before the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit that I bless this union between Maiya and Ryan.” He spread his arms wide. “I pronounce you husband and wife. Now—” he winked at them, “—Ryan, you may now kiss your bride.”

  “I got this!” Ryan turned and cupped Maiya’s face in his palms and kissed her. And kissed her. And then kissed her some more.

  The whole church rose to their feet, clapping. And still the kiss went on. Maiya wrapped her arms around Ryan’s neck, her body plastered against his as they took what each other gave, holding tight to one another.

  Cyn let out a sigh, swiped the tears from her cheeks and glanced over at Shane. He was clapping, a broad smile showing off his perfect, white teeth. Then he slid his eyes her way, and his smile got wider. Damn… Cyn licked her lips. She wasn’t supposed to have more than one night with him. She couldn’t. And shouldn’t…but what if they both happened to accidentally stumble into a coat closet at the reception hall and had a quickie?

  “Ladies and gentleman, may I present, for the first time ever: Mr. and Mrs. Ryan Matthew Donnelly!”

  Cyn jerked her eyes back to her brother and new sister-in-law. Ryan and Maiya had turned to face the congregation, their clasped hands raised in the air. Jimmy urged Jacob forward and little man scooted around the front of his parents. With a big smile, Maiya bent and wrapped him up in her arms.

  It was official. Ryan, Miaya and Jacob were a family. Makeup be damned, Cyn’s tears flowed like a river. Her brother deserved this. Jacob deserved it, and Maiya did too. They deserved the happy. Tons and tons of it. Warmth spread through Cyn as she smiled through her tears. Today was a good day.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Shane stood with his back against the bar in the reception hall, Jameson in hand, as guest after guest filed in. The wedding had been beautiful, then again, most were. But a Donnelly wedding even more so.

  Glass to his lips, about to take a swig of his drink, he saw her. Shane paused, holding his breath and watched as she rushed in, a pile of bouquets in her arms. She began arranging them, one by one in front of each place setting on the head table. Once done, Cyn turned and ran back to the entryway of the hall. Just before she was out of his sight, she snagged one of the waitstaff by the arm and spoke into his ear. She turned, pointing to each table, nodded her head and, poof, she was gone.

  Cyn owned a small corporate event planning business, and even though Ryan and Maiya had hired a wedding planner, Cyn likely had her fingers in as many of the details of the wedding and reception as she could. Shane swirled the golden liquid in his glass, and took a sip. Man oh man, he couldn’t shake the images of their night together from his mind. Not that he was trying really. She’d been so fucking perfect—each curvy inch of her and for every minute they’d spent together.

  He’d slept with her in his arms, and for the first time in forever, he’d actually slept through the night. In the morning, things felt a bit off…almost as if neither knew what to say to each other, or where to go from that point. But really, what did a person say after waking up next to the person they’d just had completely unexpected, earth-shattering, newsworthy sex with? Shane had no idea, thus the morning had been awkward.

  They’d both been drinking, however, they’d been sober enough to know what they were doing—heaven and hell, did Cyn know what she was doing. Shane groaned as the images of his dick in her mouth played through his mind. He blew out a breath and smoothed a palm over the top of his head.

  A waitress approached with a tray of hors d’oeuvres. Shane snagged a bacon-wrapped something, thanked her and popped it in his mouth. Just as he swallowed, the DJ’s voice sounded over the low classical music filtering through the space. It was time to introduce the wedding party, as well as the bride and groom. He downed the rest of his whiskey and moved to a spot where he’d get a better view of Cyn.

  Shane watched as bridesmaids and groomsmen, eight of each, including the matron of honor and best man, were introduced. The DJ announced Ryan and Maiya and they entered. The crowd clapped and whistled as the couple moved to the dance floor for their first dance.

  Norah Jones’s “Come Away With Me” played as Ryan danced with his bride. After a few moments, the DJ announced for the wedding party to join the couple in their dance. Shane watched as Cyn moved to the floor, her youngest brother Mark, one of the groomsmen, her partner. Shane couldn’t wait to dance with her again. As soon as he had a chance he planned on getting her back onto the floor. Maybe, if he was lucky, her bed.

  Cyn threw her head back and laughed, her bright smile warming Shane straight to his toes. He wanted to make her smile like that all the time. Shit. Shane shook his head and blew out a harsh breath. Jesus, how in the hell had he gotten this spun on her so fast? The sex was fucking phenomenal, but it wasn’t like he was staying in town for long. Jesus, he needed another drink. He’d only rolled in to lend a hand to his mom, get some things upgraded on her house, and roll right back out.

  When he got to the bar, he ordered another Jameson and kept his back to the dance floor. He needed to get his head screwed back on straight before he was screwed…literally. He chuckled and sipped the fresh drink. Getting screwed was exactly how he’d gotten where he was right then—all hung up on a woman he couldn’t keep and probably never should’ve touched.

  “May I join you?”

  All thought of what he shouldn’t have done fled his mind and Shane turned to face Cyn. Her sweet voice sounded better than any singer he’d ever heard. He smiled. “Thought you’d never ask.”

  A small smile arched her lips and she touched the front of his tie. “We match.”

  We sure as hell do. He glanced down at her hand on the burgundy fabric. “We do, don’t we? I hadn’t thought about it until now.”

  “Well, Maiya wanted us in bright red, but Jodi convinced her to go with burgundy instead. I think it was a good choice, though the red would’ve been beautiful too.” She smoo
thed her hands down the bodice of her strapless gown.

  “I think you’d look beautiful no matter what color you were in.”

  She dipped her chin, and with blushing cheeks, the smile he’d give everything he owned to see appeared.

  Shane placed his finger under her chin and tipped her face up to him. “Breathtaking when you smile like that.” Goddamn he wanted to kiss her.

  Cyn licked her lips and placed her hand on his chest. “I want to kiss you.”

  “Yeah? I want to be kissed.” Shane leaned in, ready to taste her again, but Cyn moved her fingers to his mouth.

  “Not a good idea. And definitely not here.”

  He frowned, not quite sure what to make of her statement. “I don’t understand.”

  “I know, but I’ll explain later, okay?”

  “Ohh-kayy. I guess.” He stepped back from her. Nothing like a cold bucket of water being dumped over your head.

  “Come on, don’t look at me like that. There’s a ton of people here and I can already see my mother waving at me. We’ll talk later. Promise.”

  “All right, Cyn.” He bent and kissed her cheek. “Save a dance for me?”

  “You got it.” She smiled and stepped away.

  Shane stayed where he was, watching as she disappeared into the crowd. The vision of her incredible ass and hips in that dress was perfection. But the sight of her walking away from him in general was one he didn’t much care for.

  A while later, Cyn glanced over from the dance floor to find Shane at the bar with her brothers, Ryan in the center, of course. They were doing shots, calling out Irish toasts one after another. Having Jimmy in town was always awesome, but seeing Shane among her brothers, especially Joey, made Cyn’s heart clench. He fit in with them—but then again, he always had.

  All her siblings, including her parents, saw Shane as family. But not Cyn. Cyn saw him as a dream. She’d swooned over him—in the innocent way all adolescents did over their crushes. When she’d reached high school and puberty, all innocence was lost and she fantasized nonstop about him. Cyn had gone on numerous dates during those years, even had a few steady boyfriends…and she’d compared them all to Shane. When they kissed her, rather than Cyn’s focus being on them, she’d wonder what Shane kissed like—what his lips would feel like or how his hands would feel on her body.

  Looking back on it now, it was a pretty shitty way to be, but what the hell did she know? She’d been young and foolish, plus a tad obsessed with Shane, to say the least. And he’d never ever, not even once, looked at her as anything other than a kid. Sure, he used to tug on her ponytail or tease her, but her brothers did that same stuff too. Thinking about it, she supposed he could’ve been flirting with her, in that odd way kids flirted. There certainly was one way to figure that out for sure.

  Cyn moved off the dance floor, claiming she needed a drink, and walked in his direction. She sure knew what he kissed like now. Definitely knew how his lips felt, and his hands. She knew pretty much what every inch of Shane Conlon felt like. And, considering she was rocking a decent buzz from the champagne, she wanted to feel him again.

  She stepped up to Jimmy and nudged his hip with hers. “Whatcha doing, boys?”

  “Coming to chaperone us, like always?” Jimmy grinned at her. “You want a shot, Cyn?”

  “Definitely not. And definitely yes.”

  “Huh?” one of Ryan’s friends asked.

  “That’s just ‘Cyn speak’. Hang around long enough and you’ll pick up on it.” Jimmy held out a shot glass filled with what Cyn assumed was whiskey.

  “Hanging around wouldn’t be a hardship by any stretch.” The guy raised both brows and gave her an appraising smile.

  A small grin tugged at the corners of her mouth and then she downed the shot in one swallow. Was this dude really gonna try and throw some game her way? She didn’t even know his name. Cyn leaned between the men, flipped the glass over and set it on the bar top, not missing the glare Shane was directing at Ryan’s friend. Oh boy. Wrong place, wrong time, but…damn if seeing him get the slightest bit jealous didn’t make her go all soft inside as a tingle rose between her thighs. No denying it, the possessiveness of it turned her on, in a major way.

  However, she needed to put a stop to things now before booze started talking and an all-out Irish brawl began. Cyn crossed her arms and stared at Shane. He still had his eyes trained on the guy, and if looks could kill…yeah. She rolled her eyes. Hello, testosterone anyone?

  “Come on now, boys,” Joey said.

  Jimmy let out a devious chuckle. Cyn cleared her throat. Shane either didn’t hear her, or was ignoring her, still mad-dogging Ryan’s friend.

  At that point—Phil? Frank? Whatever the fuck his name was—realized Shane was locked on him. “Hey, whoa. What’d I say?”

  “How about them Dodgers?” Cyn’s brother-in-law, Camden said.

  “Ahem!” Cyn reached through the circle of testosterone and grabbed Shane by the arm. “’S’cuse us, boys.” She dragged Shane away toward the back hall where the bathrooms were.

  “Shit, Cyn,” he called from behind her.

  She glanced over her shoulder as she walked. “Shut it.”

  “Hey now.”

  Cyn stifled a giggle. She’d poked the alpha on purpose, wanting to keep him riled up, and it’d worked.

  Shane’s skin itched from the flow of anger racing in his veins. Man, that fucking guy, looking at Cyn like he had a shot in hell of having a go at her. Screw him. Cyn was Shane’s woman. Even if she didn’t know it yet.

  To make matters worse, Cyn had dragged him away from the group, like he was some kind of misbehaving child. To add a cherry on top of the shit sundae he was being forced to eat, she’d just told him to shut up. Not cool. Not even in the same building as cool. “Don’t tell me to shut up, Cyn. Ever.”

  She spun around so fast he had to grip her arms to keep from running over her. “I did not say shut up. I said, shut it. There’s a difference.”

  “Really? How do you figure?” Shane propped his hands on his hips.

  “Because I said there is.” She tiptoed up, gripped the back of his neck and slammed her lips against his.

  Shane groaned into her mouth and then wrapped his arms around her tiny waist, picked her up and walked toward the end of the hall. She pulled from his lips and licked down his neck, and Shane held her tighter. “Damn, girl. My dick is so fucking hard right now.”

  “There’s a coat closet at the end of the hall. I think there’s a lock on the door.” She nipped at his earlobe. “I’m soaked through my panties. Fucking hell, that was hot, you getting all bent out of shape at that guy.” She giggled and then moved back to his lips.

  “You’re not pissed?” he said against her mouth.

  She tilted her head back. “Does this feel like I’m pissed?” She bit his bottom lip. Hard.

  “Ouch…kinda?”

  “Ya big baby.” She laughed and nuzzled his neck.

  He might have to paddle her ass for that. Shane opened the bottom half of the Dutch door, stepped inside the closet and set Cyn on her feet. “Gonna be like that, is it?”

  “Ha. Did I bruise your ego?” She closed the bottom and top half of the door. He heard the lock click in place, and then she turned to face him.

  The expression in her eyes sent a bolt of lust straight to his throbbing dick. He popped the button on his pants and slid down the zipper. “Make it up to me.”

  Cyn pulled up the hem of her dress and got on her knees in front of him. “With pleasure.”

  Before Shane had a chance to say anything else, Cyn had his dick in her mouth. All his breath oozed from him on a low moan. The sounds of her slurping as she drew him in and out of her mouth had his balls drawing up tight. Unable to take his eyes away from the top of her head, Shane thrust his hips forward. His fingers itched to grab hold of the
soft strands and fuck into her mouth, fast and rough, but he didn’t want to mess up her hair. Instead he smoothed his hand over the back of her head and applied some pressure. “Goddamn.”

  She moaned, pulled him free of her lips and licked down the shaft to his balls. With her gaze locked on his, she sucked his sac, then licked back up his length to the head. Cyn swirled her tongue around the rim. “You want to fuck my mouth, don’t you?”

  “Hell yeah. But I want inside that tight, wet cunt too.”

  She snaked out the tip of her tongue and licked the bead of arousal oozing from the tip. “Which do you want more?”

  “Both. I’m all about equal opportunity.” Shane gripped his shaft in his palm and swirled the head around her lips and chin. “Love being in this hot mouth, but right now, I’m about to bend you over that bench over there.”

  She raised a single brow. “Do it.”

  “Patience.” He slid the swollen head between her parted lips—his fist keeping her from taking him any deeper. Cyn closed her eyes and moaned, sucking so hard Shane’s knees went weak. His orgasm came rushing to the surface, and before he lost it and spurted down her throat, he pulled away.

  Okay, he was wrong…to hell with patience. He needed inside her pussy now.

  Cyn’s entire body was clenched tight with desire. Shane’s scent flowed through her system and his flavor coated her tongue, making her crave him more. She couldn’t get enough of sucking his prick—completely out of character for her—but since he was only allowing her to suck the head, the lack of full access made her feel like a caged animal. So, in return she was blowing his mind…by blowing his cock.

  Shane groaned and his fingers twitched in her hair. Yep, totally blowing his gorgeous mind. Before she had even a second to mentally pat herself on the back, Shane yanked his dick away and pulled Cyn up by her arms, lifting her to her feet. The room spun around her, and she found herself set down in front of the bench. Cyn glanced over her shoulder at him. “I wasn’t done yet.”