by M. C. Decker
Forever Entwined
Copyright © 2016 M.C. Decker
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means including electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written consent of the author.
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental and beyond the intent of the author or publishers.
Cover Design:
Kari Ayasha, Cover to Cover Designs
www.covertocoverdesigns.com
Cover photo:
Lauren Perry, Perrywinkle Photography
www.perrywinklephotography.com
Interior Design and Formatting:
Christine Borgford, Perfectly Publishable
www.perfectlypublishable.com
Table of Contents
Forever Entwined
Dedication
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Epilogue
About the Author
To all the readers who wanted more of Bentley and his Shamrock, may you all find your Forever.
Bentley
The black velvet box with the ring meant for Ireland’s delicate finger was scorching a hole straight through my side-pocket. It didn’t matter if I was wearing khakis, jeans, work slacks, or flannel pajama bottoms, that ring box stayed with me—24/7.
Even though Ireland had absolutely gutted me by not telling me about our baby, I knew I still needed her by my side—forever. I needed both of them by my side.
I think deep down I knew I wasn’t being fair to her. She’d been through a lot since my accident. We both had. She did the best she could, given the situation, and although I didn’t agree with her decisions, I needed to come to terms with them and respect them.
I’d forever regret the moment I told her I couldn’t trust her. Every night since, I’d lie in bed staring up at the ceiling until the painful memory would become so unbearable, I’d finally drift off to sleep. I missed her, and I needed her to know I’d forgiven her. I could only hope that now she’d forgive me, too.
I ran my fingers through my hair as Katie’s words outside Ireland’s hospital room rang in my ear. “Don’t you get it! You’re the reason she’s in here in the first place! She’s been so stressed out worrying about your relationship, or lack thereof, that she hasn’t been taking care of herself. She’s not eating. She’s not sleeping. She’s barely functioning.”
“Damn it, Katie! Why do you always have to be right?” I mumbled to myself, as I grabbed a brown paper bag holding a peanut butter and pickle sandwich from the passenger seat. I still couldn’t believe Ireland actually wanted to eat these things. I practically threw up three times this morning just making the damn thing. Perhaps I was having sympathy morning sickness? Is that even a real thing? We’ll just pretend that it is.
Shutting the door to the Range Rover, I walked up the path leading to Ireland’s front porch. I waited a few moments before the door opened, and Ireland appeared on the other side. The sight of her nearly took my breath away. She was nearly nine months pregnant, but looked stunning in just a white sweater and jeans. Other than the fact that it looked like she’d stuffed a basketball under her shirt, she didn’t even look pregnant.
“You’re glowing,” I said, as she gathered her things and stepped outside.
“Hardly,” she quipped. “That’s probably just the sweat you see from me trying to put my own damn shoes on. You’d think I’d just participated in a triathlon.”
I felt a pang in my chest. Even though she hadn’t meant to make me feel guilty for not being there for her, I did. I should be the one helping her tie her shoes every morning, and rubbing her feet every night.
Shaking off the sudden guilt, I handed her the brown sack that I’d been holding. “I brought you breakfast.”
She eyed me and then the bag curiously. “Please say you brought me one of those bacon biscuits from the deli down the street.”
Bacon biscuit? What the hell. “Uh, no,” I said, shaking my head.
“Humph, it’s OK. I’m sure whatever this is will be fine,” she said, sticking out her bottom lip. It was taking all my willpower not to grab her and start sucking on that pouty lip of hers.
“It’s a peanut butter and pickle sandwich. I thought that’s what you’d been craving. I didn’t realize that it’d be bacon this morning. We can make a stop on the way to the hospital.”
Ireland’s eyes widened. “I can’t believe you actually remembered. This is perfect. I mean I always love bacon too, but this is even better. I’m starving. Do you mind if I eat it in the car? We might be late if I eat inside,” she rambled, as she began removing the plastic wrap from the sandwich.
I chuckled before responding. “No, you’re fine. Let’s go,” I said, putting my hand on the small of her back and leading her to the Range Rover. It felt so natural between us again—so normal.
“Has Greg brought Shawn around to the office recently? He’s such a sweet baby. Already growing up so fast,” Ireland said, as we sat in her driveway. The birthing class had gone as well as we could’ve hoped. Well, except for the constant aching of my cock from the moment Ireland leaned her back against me as she began practicing her breathing. I’d become so focused on her even breathing that it took everything inside me not to bust a nut on her back right in the room. I reached down and adjusted my junk as she kept talking in the passenger seat.
“Earth to Bentley. Have you seen him lately?” she asked again.
“Oh, uh, yeah. I saw him just yesterday, in fact. Greg has been driving me a little crazy though. I think the lack of sleep is finally catching up to him.”
“Yeah, I can’t say I’m terribly excited about that part myself,” Ireland said, instinctively rubbing her belly. “Anyways, I should probably get going inside. The baby’s crib was delivered a few days ago, and Katie and Greg are coming over to help me assemble it. They got a sitter for the night. And, I still need to tidy up a bit.”
I couldn’t leave her yet. “Would Katie mind if you canceled?” I asked.
“I don’t understand. Why would I cancel? It needs to get done, or our baby will be sleeping on the floor and I don’t think that’s a very safe place for her.”
“I just meant that I’d like to come in and help you instead.”
“Oh,” she said, with surprise in her voice. “Sure, if you want to. I’m sure she wouldn’t mind at all. Maybe they can catch up on some sleep while the sitter has Shawn.”
“I’m sure Greg will have other things in mind,” I laughed.
“Men,” she sighed, rolling her eyes.
“OK, let’s do this then,” I said, getting out of the SUV.
As soon as we stepped into the house, a cool rush of air hit my face.
“Kind of late in the season for air conditioning, don’t you think?” I asked.
“Um, no. I’m constantly sweating my ass off. In fact, I need to change into something else. I’m roasting. The crib’s in the spare bedroom which will be her nursery. You can go back there and get started if you want.”
Wishing I could join Ireland in her bedroom as she undressed, I didn’t want to press my luck so I went back to the nursey as she suggested. Opening up the big cardboard box that contained the crib, I sensed her presence behind me.
I see you found the toolbox OK,” she said. “Can I get you anything to drink? I may still have a few beers in the fridge from the last time Greg and Katie were h
ere.”
“No, I’m OK for now. Thanks though,” I said, as I began unpacking the crib. I needed a distraction, or I was going to fuck her right here in my future child’s nursery.
“Anything I can do to help?”
Get naked and ride me probably wasn’t an appropriate answer. But fuck, if that image wasn’t causing the strain in my pants to become even more unbearable.
“Nah, I got it,” I said, hoping she hadn’t noticed me trying to readjust my dick against the carpeting.
“All right, I guess I’ll just go read for a while then. Holler if you need anything,” she said, walking out of the room. I swear, she was trying to drive me up the wall by shaking her ass just a little more than usual.
I was on my feet and wrapping my arms around her in no time.
“Wait, please don’t leave,” I nearly begged. I probably sounded like a chick, but in that moment I didn’t even care. I just needed Ireland.
I began massaging her swollen belly, praying to God that she didn’t try and run. After a few moments, I felt something begin to bulge beneath her skin.
“Was that? Did she just move?” I asked.
Ireland giggled and it was music to my ears. “Yes, that’s her. She’s going to be a dancer for sure. Always movin’ and shakin’.”
I felt another kick. “That’s incredible. Was that her again?”
“Yeah, touch right here. That’s where you can feel her the best,” she said, placing her small hand on top of mine.
“I can’t believe I’ve missed so much,” I said, turning her around to face me. “I can’t do this anymore, Ireland. I can’t be without you—either of you,” I added, seizing her lips with a kiss.
Just as I feared, she pulled away. She hadn’t forgiven me for the pain I’d caused her over the last few months. I could tell there was so much going on in her head. She wanted me, but she was scared. She’d let herself love me, and I’d left her when she needed me the most. I needed to ease her fears before it was too late. I needed to bring her back to me—back to the here and now.
“Ireland, stop it. I know what you’re doing. I can see it in your eyes. I’m not letting you pull away from me. Not now.”
“It’s just—I can’t love you again, Bentley. I’ve already lost you twice. I can’t even bear the thought of losing you a third time. I think it would literally kill me,” she said, the anguish in her voice causing my heart to shatter.
“I’m not going anywhere—not again,” I said, trying to reassure her as I reached under the hem of her shirt and lightly grazed the underside of her breasts. She exhaled and I could see the fear in her eyes begin to subside. Her walls were coming down. I just knew I couldn’t do anything stupid to hurt her again, or I’d never get another chance. I was pretty sure I’d already used up two of my strikes, and I was smart enough to know that I didn’t want to be testing that whole “three strikes and you’re out” policy.
Before I had a chance to speak another word, Ireland leaned further into me. “Please, Bentley. Touch me.”
The sound of her voice begging me to touch her about did me in. I moved my hands to her already pebbled nipples. “I’ve missed you, Shamrock. I’ve missed this. God, have I missed this,” I groaned, flicking each hardened bud.
She dropped her head back allowing me access to nip and suck on her neck.
“Are you sure you’re comfortable? We can stop if this will hurt you, or the baby?”
“Yes, this is perfectly OK—more than OK, actually,” she practically hissed.
I grabbed her hand and led her back to the bedroom where I intended to pleasure her body until she begged me to stop.
We lay there for a few minutes, letting our hearts slow to a normal pace. I was first to break the silence, “Have you thought about baby names?”
Her face lit up at my question. “Actually, I’ve marked off a few in a book of names.”
“What are they?”
“McKenna.”
Not bad, but I didn’t love it. “It’s OK. What else?”
“Glenda.”
Dear lord, Ireland wanted to name our daughter after the witch in that damn movie. Or was it the fairy chick? Either way, it wasn’t happening. Nope, no, nope. “Really? Wizard of Oz again?”
“No. That was Glinda,” she laughed.
I sighed. I guess McKenna it is then. “Close enough. Any others?” Please be others.
“Yeah, but if you hate it then I’m going to cry.”
“Tell me.”
“Lexi,” she exclaimed, as my heart fluttered. Yes, it actually fluttered. My man card had officially been vetoed.
“That’s it! Lexi Lynn Roberts?” Shit, we hadn’t actually discussed her last name yet. What if Ireland was intending on using O’Brien? Before I had time to think about it much further, Ireland spoke.
“How did you know I wanted her middle name to be Lynn?
“Because it was your mother’s name and I wouldn’t have it any other way,” I said, pulling her into my chest.
With my daughter’s last name weighing heavily on my mind, I knew what I needed to do. I needed to make both of my girls, mine. I loved my daughter and I loved her mother. I needed them to both share my last name.
I rolled out of bed and began rummaging through my clothes to find that black velvet box.
“Are you leaving?” I wasn’t facing Ireland, but I could tell her voice was laced with sadness. When I turned to her, she’d covered her body with the bedsheet.
“No, I’m not going anywhere,” I said, kneeling beside the bed.
“What are you doing then?” she asked, confused.
I paused and took a deep breath. Ireland stared at me waiting for me to answer her question. It was now or never. “Ireland Erin O’Brien, I’ve known I’ve loved you for the past two decades. I’ve let time, distance, and a freak, head injury keep us apart long enough,” I said with a smile. “Will you be my wife?”
I was waiting for one three letter word, so when she didn’t respond with it immediately, I was a little taken aback. “It’s the ring,” she said. “How did you even know we were going to get back together?”
“I’ve been carrying the ring since the day I went to your house and realized you were pregnant,” I admitted. “I was upset, but I still knew that we needed to be together—to be a family. I’ve just been waiting for the right time. And, this seemed like the right time. Please say you’ll marry me. I want nothing more than to wake up every day, knowing that you and our beautiful daughter are with me.”
Then she said those three magic words. The same words that I’d been waiting my entire life to hear come from her lips. Tears fell from my eyes, and I didn’t even care that I’d become a pussy.
“Yes, I’ll marry you!” she screamed, as I seared her mouth with a kiss.
Ireland
I awoke just as the sun was beginning to set, casting a few dancing shadows on the ceiling. Everything that had happened earlier in the day felt like a dream. My only proof that everything was real was the man lying in bed next to me. We both must have passed out from pure exhaustion after the rounds we went, after Bentley had proposed. I’m pretty sure we’d had too much sex for a normal woman, let alone a nearly nine-month pregnant one. I moved ever so slightly in bed in order to alleviate the pinch in my back.
“Are you OK,” Bentley asked, groggily. “We may have overdone it earlier.”
“Yeah, I’ll be fine,” I said. “I didn’t mean to wake you.”
Bentley scooted himself up in bed, before answering, “If every time I wake up it’s next to you then you can wake me up anytime you want. Are you hungry. We should probably feed that baby girl of ours.”
“Actually, yeah, I think we could both use some nourishment,” I said, rubbing my belly.
“I think I’m going to hop in the shower really quick and then I’ll take my girls out for a celebratory dinner,” he said, rolling over and placing a soft peck on the top of my head. “Care to join me?”
“Yeah, I’ll be there in a few,” I said. “Keep the water warm for me.”
Bentley got up from bed and I couldn’t help but stare at his naked, firm ass as he walked toward the bathroom.
He turned on his heels before stepping into the bathroom, “Shamrock, don’t think I couldn’t feel you burning a hole into my ass with your eyes.”
“I was not!” I yelled, grabbing an extra pillow from the bed and tossing it in his direction. Bentley shut the door just before the pillow reached him. I heard him laughing hysterically from the other side of the door as the pillow ricocheted off the door, landing halfway between the bed and bathroom.
“Don’t think you’re going to get away with that so easily!” I yelled. “I’ll get you when you least expect it.”
He opened the door ever so slightly, “I’m counting on it.”
I laid my head back on the pillow, thinking about everything that had happened in the last twenty-four hours. Was I really ready to be Bentley’s wife? Where were we going to live? Was I going to sell my house? Was he going to sell his? Those fears from earlier in the day were resurfacing once again.
Just as I heard Bentley turn on the water, I reached over to grab my phone off the nightstand. I quickly dialed Katie’s number, and prayed that she answered. Just as I was beginning to give up hope, she picked up on the fourth ring.
“Hey, Ireland. What’s up?” she answered, sounding out of breath.
“Are you OK,” I asked. “Did I catch you at a bad time?”
I heard Greg’s muffled voice in the distance. “No, no, it’s fine. What’s going on?” she said.
“Oh my god. You two were fucking, weren’t you?” I laughed. “What in the hell possessed you to answer your phone!”
“Greg just asked me the same thing. He just pouted and stomped off to the bathroom. Probably in there wanking one off.”
“Jesus, Katie! Go help your husband. I can wait. Blue balls are a serious issue,” I giggled.
“Meh, he’ll be fine. Besides, he already serviced my station so I’m a happy girl. Anyways, enough about my vagina. Are you going to tell me why you called? I thought I would’ve heard from you earlier—did Bentley just leave?”
