Chapter 32
32
Taylor
C iaron came back in and wrapped me in his arms. He was quiet for so long I wondered if he was ever going to say anything. I pulled away from the comfort of his arms and looked up into his face. The deep lines etched there made it look like he’d aged ten years in five minutes.
“I wish I’d seen it sooner,” he said. “I’m sorry.”
“I didn’t know for sure. I only had a suspicion that she hadn’t changed until the party.”
He nodded. “Your suspicion was right.”
“I didn’t want the way I felt about her to cloud your relationship. I wanted her to love you like she should have.”
He rested his hands on my shoulders. “All these years, you never told me how she made you feel.”
I shrugged. “It didn’t matter. We hardly saw her.”
“It matters to me. You and the children are my world. It’s my job to keep you safe.”
My stomach dropped. That’s all I wanted too. But not telling him my suspicions wasn’t keeping him safe. It led him to a world of disappointment. And why? Because I was insecure? Because I hoped I was wrong? Because. Because. Because.
“I’m sorry. If I had told you?—”
“This is not on you, Taylor. There are a million things I should have done differently. I’m sorry.”
I reached up and cupped his cheek. “You are loved by us, your brothers, Mum, everyone on the farm.”
He nodded.
I stared into his beautiful green eyes. “I don’t think she knows the meaning of love. Certainly not how you should love a child.”
“But you do, Taylor. You love Isabelle and Callum completely.”
“And you. I love you completely.”
He bent his head to mine and brushed his lips against mine. “I will love you until my last breath.”
I wrapped my arms around his neck as my lips met his. He grabbed my arse and pulled me against him and deepened the kiss. His tongue stroked mine. I smiled at the memory of our first perfect kiss.
“Ugh,” Callum said.
Ciaron pulled away and grinned at him. “Isn’t this what you wanted?”
“Yeah, but do we need to see it?”
Isabelle whispered something in his ear and they both burst out laughing.
Ciaron raised his eyebrows. “Something you want to share?”
Isabelle shrugged. “Just saying it's better than hearing your sound effects.”
“Way better.” Callum spun around and headed to the kitchen. “We’ll cook tonight.”
I pulled Ciaron back to me and kissed him with added sound effects. His response was to grab by arse and pull me closer with exaggerated moans and groans. I ran my hands over his back. When he hitched my leg up, I lost all composure and giggled uncontrollably. I peeked at the kids, who shook their heads and rolled their eyes. Then they smiled from ear to ear and gave each other a high five.
“We need to watch those two,” Ciaron said. “They are a formidable force.”
Just like us.