Chapter Sixteen
CIARA
I’m starting to feel like an exhibit in a museum, and not because I consider myself a work of art. Quite the opposite, in fact. It’s because Stephen is constantly nearby, watching my every move like a hawk.
I could ignore it before, but now that I know he’s in on my secret pregnancy, it’s putting me more on edge than usual.
I narrow my eyes at him as he stands in the doorway to the living room like a statue, his huge arms crossed over his chest as he scans the room, expecting someone to jump out from behind the couch to ambush us.
“You know…” I close the book I was only pretending to read and set it down on the couch beside me. “You’re making me uncomfortable just standing there like that. What do you think I’m going to do? Make a run for it?”
His mouth twitches like he’s trying not to smile. “Orders are orders.”
I shrug before patting the empty space next to me on the couch.
“You look like you could use a break. Come and sit with me. I won’t bite.”
Stephen hesitates, glancing over his shoulder as if he half-expects Ronan to materialize the moment he sits down. But after a long second, he sighs and strolls over to the couch, awkwardly settling his huge body as far away from me as possible, as if he’s scared I’ve got a contagious disease.
“See? You can still watch me like a hawk, but at least you get to sit down.” I stretch my legs out to rest my feet on the coffee table.
It’s weird how much like home this place feels now. When I first arrived, I was scared to do much more than make coffee, and now I can happily kick off my shoes and curl up on the couch without worrying that Ronan will reprimand me for it.
I think he secretly likes that I view this place as home.
“So… what’s your wife’s name?”
“Tamara.” Stephen looks more relaxed now. “We’ve been married for fifteen years.”
I blink. “Fifteen? That’s impressive. I’ve barely been married for a few months.”
Stephen’s shoulders shake with silent laughter. “I’m sure it’s felt like years.”
“Decades.” I sigh. “So, how did you meet Tamara? Was she in the military too?”
“We met when I was stationed in Cork. She worked at a café near the base, and I kept going there every day and ordering the worst coffee just to have an excuse to talk to her.”
My lips twitch with a smile for the first time in days. “That’s either really sweet or kind of stalkerish.”
Stephen chuckles, the sound deep and gravelly. “She told me the same thing, and yet she married me anyway.”
The air softens between us, and the awkwardness gives way to something calmer.
I sneak a glance at his face, noting the sharp jaw, the close-cropped hair, and the eyes that miss nothing. But after speaking to Stephen, I know he's not just some hired muscle. There's a depth to him, a steadiness that I hadn’t expected.
“Do you miss it? The military?”
He nods slowly, his gaze fixed on a spot behind me. “Sometimes. But I’ve got Tamara and the twins now, and that’s more than enough.”
Maybe it’s the hormones or the isolation, or maybe just the kindness in his voice that makes me want to open up in return.
“Can I tell you something?” I fiddle with the hem of my sweatshirt.
Stephen nods without hesitation. “Of course.”
“I still haven’t been able to master the courage to tell Ronan… about the baby.”
“I figured as much.”
“I don’t know why I’m so scared. I just… I don’t know how he’s going to take it.”
Stephen’s expression softens as he shifts in his seat to face me properly.
“I’ve known Ronan a long time. He can be intense and controlling, especially when he thinks someone he loves is in danger.
But he’s loyal, Ciara, and fair. He’ll go to the ends of the earth for the people he cares about.
And I’ve never seen him look at anyone the way he looks at you. ”
A lump rises in my throat as his words sink in.
“Thank you. I needed to hear that.”
Just then, the front door opens, and there are footsteps—heavy ones at that.
Ronan.
The air thickens like storm clouds rolling in, and Stephen instantly straightens.
The moment Ronan appears in the doorway, his eyes lock onto the two of us on the couch, and something dark and possessive flashes in his eyes.
My spine straightens as I plaster a smile on my face.
Even though I have nothing to feel guilty about in terms of talking with Stephen, the look on Ronan’s face makes me want to go on the defensive.
“Am I interrupting something?” His voice is cool.
I can’t help but roll my eyes. “Please.”
Stephen stands quickly, any hint of the family man I was just talking to vanishing in an instant, replaced by the hardened military version of him. “I was just—”
“Leaving.” Ronan’s jaw ticks as he balls his hands into fists at his sides.
I fight the need to roll my eyes again.
Possessive asshole.
Stephen hesitates before dipping his chin.
“I’ll be outside.” He stalks toward the door.
Ronan’s eyes remain locked on me as Stephen leaves, and the room is thick with silence even long after the door clicks shut behind him.
“You two looked cozy.”
“What did you expect? You’re never home, and you insist on not letting me go anywhere, so Stephen is the only person I can talk to other than Mila.”
There’s that flash in his eyes again, but I refuse to feel bad. It’s the truth and he has to know that I need to talk to other people.
“I’m trying to keep you safe!”
That has me on my feet, my own temper bubbling beneath the surface. “And I’m sick of you overreacting, especially when Stephen being here was your idea in the first place!”
“I thought I could trust him.”
“Has he given you any reason not to trust him? Have I?”
“That’s not the point.”
“You’re unbelievable.” I fold my arms over my chest. “You do know he’s married, right?”
“Yes.”
“And I’m assuming you’ve met his wife and kids?”
“Yes.”
“Then why are you being like this? Do you not trust me?”
“I do.”
“Do you trust Stephen?”
He lets out a long breath, raking a hand through his hair. “I do, but that doesn’t make this easy. I can’t explain it, Ciara. When I see you with another man, even when you’re just talking, it drives me crazy.”
“That’s not a good enough excuse to behave like a dick, so you better figure out a way to deal with your jealousy, Ronan, because I’m not putting up with this forever.”
Ronan looks like he’s been slapped across the face, but I don’t feel even a pinch of guilt as I go to stalk past him, too exhausted to continue this fight any longer.
As I’m about to reach the door, his hand wraps around my upper arm, halting me in my tracks.
I open my mouth to ask him to let me go, but then he’s yanking me toward him until my body is flush against his and his mouth is on mine.
I think about fighting him, but the first brush of his tongue against my lips has me melting into him.
Ronan kisses me as if it’s the only way he knows how to express what he’s feeling. His mouth moves against mine in a desperate frenzy, and the next thing I know, I’m being lifted off the ground and backed against the wall.
“Ronan,” I gasp against his mouth as he presses his hips against mine.
The thin material of my leggings means I can feel the outline of his cock pressed against my core, and I whimper at how hard he is.
“I need to be inside you,” he growls, grinding his hips harder against me.
“Right now?”
Stephen is out in the hall.
“Yes, right now.”
My pussy clenches at the possessive tone in his voice.
I should be put off by the idea of someone hearing Ronan fuck me, especially Stephen, but right now, I don’t care.
It doesn’t help that my hormones are working in overdrive, and my panties are already soaked through. I swear, I could climax just from kissing Ronan.
My feet are back on the floor, though my legs are shaking so badly from how turned on I am that they almost give out.
Ronan doesn’t seem to notice, his attention solely focused on removing my leggings and panties.
I cling to his shoulders as I step out of them, and then I’m being lifted into his arms once more.
Ronan shifts my weight to free one of his hands to undo his belt. “Are you ready for me, baby?”
Even the sound of his belt buckle has my clit throbbing.
Pregnancy hormones are no joke. I feel like a wild animal, too focused on my need to be claimed by my man to care about who might be listening.
“Yes.” I arch my back.
I dig my fingers into Ronan’s shoulders to keep steady as he pulls his cock free, then he’s inside me, burying himself deep in one powerful thrust.
“Yes!” I cry out as I stretch around him.
“Christ, you’re wet.” Ronan sinks his fingers into my hips.
“I-I need you… Please.”
My eyes meet his, and I shiver when they darken.
I know that look. He’s not going to be gentle. He’s going to give me everything he has and likely ruin me in the process.
And I can’t wait.
“Ciara…” Ronan slides his cock free and slams back into me.
My back hits the wall, and I cry out again.
“I’m so full.”
“You love that I’ve got such a big cock, don’t you, Tine Bheag?”
My head falls back against the wall. “Feels so good.”
I don’t bother trying to be quiet. The pleasure is too overwhelming, and I cling to Ronan for dear life as he pumps his hips harder and faster. I try my best to match his pace, but my body is trembling so hard I can barely keep up.
When Ronan finally reaches between us to rub my clit, I know I only have seconds before I’m going to scream.
“Oh, yes, don’t stop.”
“I want you to come on my cock, baby. I want everyone in this house to hear you scream my name.”
My pussy clenches at his words, and Ronan hisses through his teeth.
“You like that, huh? You like the idea of them hearing you.”
My thighs start to shake. “I like the idea of everyone knowing how good you make me feel.”
I dig my feet into his ass, driving his cock even deeper inside me.
“Then show them, Ciara.” Ronan pinches my clit just as he slams his cock inside me, hitting that sweet spot that has me seeing stars.
I climax, clenching around Ronan’s cock so hard that it sends him over the edge.
He swells inside me, and then he’s coming, spilling inside me so forcefully that some of his release starts to drip out.
I cry out again as another wave of pleasure hits me.
Ronan doesn’t stop moving inside me or working my clit, dragging out my orgasm until it morphs into another that leaves me gasping for breath and trembling in his arms.
“You’re mine. Nobody else’s.”
“I am.” I rest my head against his shoulder, his cock still buried inside me.
I know that I belong to Ronan, but it’s about time he starts to believe it too.