The Sweet Spot

by Ariel Ellman

  “No,” Ani murmured back, giving his arm a gentle squeeze of appreciation for the Irish term of endearment. “I’ve been waiting for this day my entire life. We were born for each other,” she whispered, staring into Sebastian’s eyes as she walked toward him.

  “I told you Bast would cry when he saw you in that dress,” Sawyer murmured to Ani as Mr. O’Reily deposited her beside Sebastian and Remmi, who was the best man.

  Sebastian stared at Ani in awe through wet shining eyes, as Father O’Brien began the opening prayers. Maria had twisted Ani’s hair into a long intricate braid, and Kate, Erin’s mother, had made her a stunning crown of blue wildflowers and lavender. She carried a matching bouquet tied with a piece of old rope from the O’Reilly, with a small porcelain horseshoe tucked in the lavender for good luck and her beautiful blue Irish lace-covered slippers peeked out from under her dress.

  “Sebastian Padraig O’Reilly,” Father O’Brien finally began after the extensive readings, gospel and homily. He gazed at the couple standing before with tenderness. He had christened Ani and her daughter, and Sebastian had been confirmed in his church.

  “Father O’Brien, I need to kiss my bride,” Sebastian murmured hoarsely as the priest began to ask Sebastian if he would honor and cherish his bride before God and the church. “I offer her my life,” Sebastian choked. “I am nothing without her. I am hers for eternity.”

  “Ani Ciara Mackenize,” Father O’Brien addressed Ani.

  “I do,” Ani murmured before the priest finished asking his question. “I do, I do, I do,” she wept beneath her veil, and Sebastian leaned forward, unable to wait any longer, as he lifted Ani’s veil and captured her trembling lips.

  “Hello Mrs. O’Reilly, a chuid den tsaol,” he whispered in satisfaction against her lips.

  “It’s about damn time,” Ani choked, kissing him back deeply.

  From the looks that he was casting her during the communion and closing prayer, Ani worried that Sebastian would scoop her up and carry her out of the church before they finished Mass, but he managed to restrain himself until Father O’Brien finally announced them to the church.

  “It is my great pleasure to present in front of God and the Holy Church, Mr. and Mrs. Sebastian O’Reilly,” Father O’Brien declared in his booming voice, and everyone cheered as Raffi and Erin played the jig “The Irish Washerwoman” and Sebastian swept Ani up in his arms and carried her down the aisle and out of the church.

  “We’ll see you on the Raphael,” Sebastian called out laughing to their friends and family as he dragged Ani away from the church after Sawyer snapped a million pictures of them.

  Sawyer, Maria, and Kate had decked the Raphael out with flowers, and the deck was covered with coolers overflowing with ice and bottles of champagne and cans of Guinness. Bobby and Remmi walked around with silver trays of Bobby’s famous lobster rolls and Mr. O’Reilly offered guests traditional honeyed mead from a jug as Raffi and Erin played lively Irish reels on their violins.

  Their wedding reception was set up in traditional Irish style and open to anyone who wanted to pop aboard for a drink and wish the newlyweds good luck. There were more Hectors aboard the O’Reilly than Ani could count, along with Sawyer and Siobhan, Kate and Erin, people from the church, an assortment of lobstermen and some people Ani had never seen before.

  Ani was whirled across the deck so many times she was dizzy by the time Raffi and Erin put their violins down, and set up Raffi’s iPod and speakers on a stack of lobster traps.

  “It’s the song from our first dance,” Ani cried out wonderingly as the playlist that Raffi had specially created for her mother’s wedding reception kicked off with Aerosmith’s “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing.”

  “Hey O’Reilly,” Sebastian called out to Ani from across the deck. “Get over here,” he grinned, handing Remmi his beer and pulling Ani into his arms. “They’re playing our song, a ghrá,” he whispered in her ear.

  “You finally called me O’Reilly,” Ani whispered back as Sebastian twirled her around the boat.

  “You’re finally mine now,” Sebastian whispered in Ani’s ear before he dipped her back to the whoops and whistles of their friends and family.

  “I was always yours,” Ani murmured back.

  “Let me show her how the Hectors get it done papi,” Remmi called out to Sebastian as their song ended and Raffi selected a new one from her playlist.

  “This one is from Remmi, mom,” Raffi called out with a laugh as “La Bamba” filled the air and Remmi pulled Ani out of Sebastian’s arms.

  Ani danced with Remmi three times, Bobby twice, Sebastian’s father and cousin Sean and a handful of other men before Sebastian finally claimed her for the rest of the night and warned everyone else away.

  “Hands off my wife,” he yelled when one of Remmi’s cousins made his way over to ask for a dance. “No more Hectors for Mrs. O’Reilly.” Sebastian shook his head at him and scooped Ani up into his arms. “The O’Reilly’s are leaving the boat!” he announced, standing up and swaying slightly as he held Ani in his arms.

  “Don’t you dare drop me,” Ani laughed, “I’ve seen how well you hold your tequila.”

  “No tequila today, just Irish mead and a Guinness or two,” Sebastian teased back, kissing Ani with his Guinness breath to prove it. “And what Irishman can’t hold his Guinness?” he murmured against her lips.

  “None of them,” Ani whispered back as Sebastian swayed again.

  “Bring her to the truck Papi,” Remmi called, following Sebastian and Ani over to Sebastian’s pick-up truck that had been decorated with dangling buoys, lobster traps and Guinness cans.

  “You can’t drive Bast,” Ani murmured against Sebastian’s neck as he carried her to the truck, ducking as everyone threw handfuls of rice at them.

  “Why? You don’t want to lose me for another fifteen years?” Sebastian teased Ani as he gently deposited her in her seat.

  “That’s not funny,” Ani replied, hitting Sebastian as her eyes filled.

  “Remmi’s driving us baby,” Sebastian whispered, sliding into the truck next to Ani. “I’m all yours for the next 80 years,” he promised, kissing her softly.

  “You’re planning on living for another 80 years?” Ani smiled at Sebastian, returning his kiss.

  “Why not?” Sebastian asked. “With you by my side, I could live forever.”

  “Ready papi?” Remmi asked Sebastian, sliding into the driver’s seat.

  “Take us home mijo,” Sebastian replied, pulling Ani into his lap. “I need to tend to my wife.” He kissed Ani’s neck.

  “Slow down papi, we’re almost there,” Remmi teased as he drove them away from the dock. “Make up for lost time padre,” Remmi called out to Sebastian with a laugh when they pulled up in front of Sebastian’s apartment and Bast carried Ani out of the truck.

  “I’m off to make a Hector,” Sebastian promised with a grin as he waved good-bye to his friend.

  “Procreate mijo!” Remmi called back before driving away.

  “You think I’ll ever see my truck again?” Sebastian whispered to Ani as he carried her into his apartment and set her down gently on his bed.

  “Probably not,” Ani whispered back, staring around at the apartment in wonder.

  “Who did this?” she breathed in awe at the flickering candles and rose petals that were scattered everywhere.

  “You’re favorite skinny little Dublin guttersnipe,” Sebastian grinned, kissing his way down Ani’s neck.

  “That little bitch, now I’ll have to be nice to her,” Ani sighed.

  “She seems like she’s sticking around for a little while,” Sebastian laughed, carefully unfastening the pin at Ani’s waist and slipping the sash off. “You took my breath away in this dress.” He slowly eased the lace off of Ani’s shoulders, and turned her over to unfasten her dress.

  “It was my mother’s. I couldn’t wear it before,” she admitted with a whisper. “In my heart, I always knew I was saving it for you.”


  “I love you Mrs. O’Reilly,” Sebastian murmured, trailing kisses down his wife’s shoulders as he gently slid the wedding dress off of her body.

  “Don’t forget this,” Ani said softly, handing Sebastian the lace handkerchief that was tucked into her bra.

  “What is it?” he asked, fingering the lace square and placing it carefully on top of the wedding dress that he’d laid out across the table.

  “It’s the lace my mum carried on her wedding day and then used as my christening bonnet. It’s traditional to turn the wedding handkerchief into a christening bonnet for your baby,” Ani whispered shyly.

  “What are you saying?” Bast asked hoarsely, staring at Ani with wet eyes.

  “I stopped taking my birth control shots,” Ani murmured. “Let’s make a seventh generation O’Reilly lobsterman.” Ani drew Sebastian back down to her and unbuttoned his shirt, sliding it off of his shoulders, as she pressed her lips to her name on his neck.

  About the Author

  Ariel Ellman received her BA in English Literature from Drew University. A native New Yorker, she now resides in New Jersey with her husband and five children. She has been writing since she was a little girl. This is her first novel.

  Coming Soon…

  Mixing It Up: Sawyer and Bobby’s Story

  Book II of the Boston Harbor Romance Series

  (Preview)

  Chapter One

  “Oh my God, the hormones that are raging in that loft right now,” Sawyer moaned to Bobby when she walked into the fish market beneath her apartment.

  “That bad huh?” Bobby Giovanni, the owner of Fresh Caught Seafood grinned, passing a wrapped package of fish to a customer and wiping his hands on his apron.

  “It’s brutal Bobby. I’m dying upstairs with them. I swear to God all Ani does is cry these days and she has two months left to go!” Sawyer complained. “I don’t remember her being this emotional when she was pregnant with Raffi, but I wasn’t living with her then,” she sighed, referring to her older sister and roommate who was almost eight months pregnant with her new husband’s child.

  “Want to grab a drink?” Bobby asked, untying his apron and nodding to one of his employees to take over for him as he walked out from behind the counter.

  “Like that?” Sawyer asked Bobby, wrinkling her nose at his fish gut splattered pants and white shirt.

  “I thought lesbians loved the smell of fish,” Bobby teased with a grin.

  “You know that joke is getting old around here,” Sawyer replied, sticking her tongue out at Bobby. “It wasn’t that funny the first five hundred times my sister said it.”

  “Wow Kitty Kat, you are cranky!” Bobby whistled, shaking his head at Sawyer.

  “I’m sorry,” Sawyer moaned, following Bobby to the back of the store. “It’s not just Ani’s pregnancy hormones that are driving me crazy,” she admitted. “It’s been four months since Siobhan went back to Ireland and you know I don’t do well when I’m not getting any…..” Sawyer confessed with a rueful grin.

  “Ah, your girlfriend is gone and you’re jonesing for a little pussy,” Bobby murmured, opening the door to the back room and holding it for Sawyer to follow him. “Come shower with me Kitty Kat, I promise it will be better than catnip,” Bobby whispered huskily in Sawyer’s ear.

  “Just the two of us?” Sawyer replied, raising her eyebrow at Bobby uncertainly as he shed his fishy clothes and stepped into the shower.

  “You afraid to tangle with me without a girl between us?” Bobby taunted, turning the hot shower on and lathering up.

  “I’m a lesbian Bobby. Just cause I mixed it up with you for a few threesomes doesn’t mean I do guys,” Sawyer replied, leaning against the shower and trying to keep her eyes from wandering over Bobby’s hard muscled body.

  “Is that so?” Bobby asked, turning around to face Sawyer with a challenge in his eyes as she licked her lips and sighed.

  “I might be a teeny bit bi,” she admitted in a whisper, kicking off her sandals and pulling her sundress over her head.

  “Just a teeny bit?” Bobby murmured, gazing at Sawyer hungrily as she shed her bra and underwear.

  “Just a teeny bit,” Sawyer whispered back as Bobby pulled her into the shower.

  “Why is it so hard for you to admit?” Bobby asked huskily, slipping his arms around Sawyer and pressing her against his soapy body.

  “Just shut up and fuck me,” Sawyer whispered back, pushing Bobby against the wall and lifting her leg up to rest against the mounted soap dish.

  Bobby kissed Sawyer deeply, nipping gently at her tongue piercing with his teeth.

  “You’re so fucking hot Kitty Kat,” he moaned into her mouth as he soaped up his hands and guided himself inside her.

  Sawyer moaned against Bobby’s neck and raked her fingers down his biceps as she pushed herself up and down on him.

  “I love the sounds you make,” he whispered huskily as he thrust into Sawyer and she moaned and whimpered in response.

  “You feel so good,” Sawyer breathed against Bobby as he leaned down and took her breast in his mouth. “Harder,” she panted as he slipped his hands under her ass and lifted her up.

  “God I just want to fuck you senseless,” Bobby groaned, turning the shower off and pushing the glass door open as he held Sawyer planted firmly on top of him. “Wrap your legs around me Kitty Kat,” he instructed hoarsely as he carried Sawyer out of the bathroom and down the hall to his office.

  “What are you going to do with me?” Sawyer teased, trailing her lips down Bobby’s neck and catching the water droplets on his chest with her tongue.

  “Make you beg,” Bobby promised, his eyes darkening as Sawyer moved against him, lifting herself up and sliding back down onto him.

  “Never happen,” Sawyer whispered back as Bobby shoved the stack of papers off of his desk and laid her down on top of it.

  “Are you sure about that?” he murmured, sliding out of Sawyer and trailing his lips down her body.

  “I don’t beg,” Sawyer replied with a gasp, inhaling sharply as Bobby spread her legs open and slid his finger inside her, trailing his tongue over her clit teasingly. “What’d you do, read the lesbian beginners guide to eating pussy?” Sawyer panted, refusing to give in.

  “I wrote the advanced book Kitty Kat,” Bobby murmured against Sawyer, gliding his tongue up and down above her opening as he continued to fuck her with his finger. “And you will beg,” he promised huskily.

  “Never,” Sawyer moaned, closing her eyes and finally giving into the sensation of Bobby’s teasing tongue and the slow glide of his finger inside her.

  “What’s that? You want me to stop?” Bobby whispered, lifting his face up to grin at Sawyer.

  “Don’t be a fucking pussy tease Giovanni,” Sawyer panted, clenching her legs around Bobby.

  “Tell me what you want Kitty Kat,” Bobby demanded, sliding his finger back inside her.

  “I want you to fuck me asshole,” Sawyer retorted, pulling Bobby up on top of her.

  “All you have to do is ask and your wish is my command,” Bobby whispered in Sawyer’s ear as he slid inside her and reached between them to stroke her clit.

  “Oh my fucking god,” Sawyer moaned as she finally shook and trembled beneath Bobby, sinking her teeth into his shoulder with a sigh of contentment. “I told you you’d never make me beg,” Sawyer murmured against Bobby’s back in satisfaction.

  “One day at a time Kitty Kat,” Bobby whispered back. “You also told me you’d never fuck me without a girl between us,” he reminded her softly, trailing his fingers down her face.

  “This was a fluke Giovanni, you caught me at a weak moment,” Sawyer retorted, pushing Bobby off of her and scooting down from the desk.

  “You going to walk out of my office buck naked?” Bobby asked Sawyer in amusement as he watched her storm over to his office door.

  “You carried me in here naked,” Sawyer replied with a huff, her hand on the door.

  “Yeah, and
I’m amazed none of my employees passed us in the hall,” Bobby replied with a grin.

  “Just go get my fucking clothes Giovanni,” Sawyer said in exasperation, dropping her hand from the doorknob and crossing her arms over her breasts in annoyance.

  “God you’re beautiful when you’re all fired up,” Bobby sighed, shaking his head in appreciation at the sight of Sawyer standing naked before him with her arms crossed defiantly over her full round breasts. Sawyer was a tiny little thing, only 5’3, but what she lacked in height, she made up for in curves and muscle. She had pornstar breasts, full and round, a double d cup, but they were natural, and her ass was as round and firm as a freshly picked apple. The rest of her body was soft in all the right places and strong and well-muscled in all the others from her work as a professional sports masseuse. Her hair was dyed a sassy hot pink that matched her personality and brought out her startling deep blue eyes, and it fell to her shoulders in sexy, choppy layers.

  Bobby had been in love with Sawyer from the first time she’d sauntered into his fish market years ago. She’d charmed the pants off of him then, flirting mercilessly while she fleeced him out of two pounds of wild salmon for the price of one. She’d flashed her dimples at him as she told lewd jokes and bent over to view the lobster tank, giving him an ample view of her ass that was barely contained in her daisy duke jean shorts.

  Then he tasted her crab cakes and he knew he had to marry her. She’d brought in a sample, offering to trade her recipe for free crab. She was fresh out of college back then, a typical starving twenty-two year old who lived on ramen noodles and didn’t have the spare cash for high priced fresh crabmeat. One bite of her crab cakes and Bobby had visions of spending the rest of his life with this beautiful saucy girl who cursed like a sailor and cooked like a five-star chef. And then Sawyer dropped her bombshell. She wanted the crab to make crab cakes for a girl in her massage class that she was trying to seduce.

  Bobby was at a loss after that. He knew he was a pretty good looking guy – he made an effort to stay in shape and from the appraising looks he received from his female customers, he was pretty sure he did a good job of it. He was only thirty-five and he owned his own business, a successful fish market in the South End of Boston. He came from a loud noisy Italian family from the North End, but they were good people; he was a good guy. He knew he would make a great husband and father, and he looked forward to settling down and starting his own family one day. But if the girl of his dreams liked to dip into the honeypot, how the hell was he supposed to compete with that?