63. Cian
Cian
T he new year’s right around the corner.
This holiday season was the happiest and busiest one yet.
Ravenna and I finished the nursery that had been sitting vacant for years.
We opted to keep our baby’s gender a mystery, so we went with a green and white color scheme.
The little O’Rourke growing in her belly will grow up in a soothing, calm, nature-inspired space—at least that’s what the interior designer said about our choices.
I’m just glad the space will be ready and waiting for when our little one arrives.
This was also the first year that we spent extended time with Ravenna’s cousins and their husbands. Our raid on the compound really broke the ice between us all, and being around them is like hanging out with family.
It’s still a foreign, slightly uncomfortable concept to me, but I’m working on it. I even sent my own cousins, the Banes, holiday cards this year. Sappy as fuck, but I’ll be a father relatively soon, and I think that kind of shit comes with the territory.
I’d like to think that I’ll be a strong, protective, wise type of parent, but every time I remember Ravenna’s pregnant, my heart melts. I go all gooey inside. She’s barely showing and I spend every chance I get on my knees softly murmuring stories to her stomach.
Let’s face it, I’m going to end up being one of those indulgent, doting fathers. I’ll probably spoil the fuck out of our kids.
Who wants a piggyback ride? Ah, fuck .
On the flip side of things, Maximo was good for his word.
He had his hands full concealing information, and paying off not only the NYPD, but also every news outlet to let the compounds destruction fly under the radar.
Now, the rumors going around span from an alien crash landing, to a military exercise that got out of hand. Needless to say, we’ve been lying low.
Ravenna figured things out with her boss to work part-time until she goes on maternity leave. She’s undecided about returning to work at some point after the baby’s born, or embracing life as a stay-at-home mom. Either way, I’ll support her decision.
Devlin’s mysterious murder remains unsolved. A workplace tragedy.
I’m about to wrap up in my home office for the night when someone knocks on my door. “Enter.”
Brion, Ravenna’s new driver, steps into the room. He’s younger, though not as young as Kody and Finn had been. God rest their souls.
“What is it?” I ask a very anxious looking Brion.
“Sir, I thought you should know that Mrs. O’Rourke had a secret rendezvous this evening,” he speaks in a low voice. “She insisted that I stay in the car, even threatened me if I came after her. She was gone for twenty minutes in some shady apartment building in Brooklyn.”
“Is that so?” I straighten up my desk.
“Yes, sir, I thought you should know.”
I level him with a glare. “Is that how you do your job? Snitch on your boss?”
He blanches. “You’re my boss, sir.”
“You’re Ravenna’s driver, which means she is your boss.
If she tells you to stay in the car, you’d better stay in the damn car.
” I cross my arms. “Her business is her own. Don’t you dare go blabbing about it to others, and yes, that includes me.
If I need to know something, I’ll fucking ask. Is that clear?”
“Y-yes, sir. Sorry, sir.” He ducks out of my office like the devil himself is after him with a fiery poker. But he won’t be confused about where his loyalties lie from now on—with Ravenna.
If I want to know what my wife’s been up to, I’ll ask her myself. If she wants to share the details of her day with me, then she will.
I, myself, have been guilty of sneaking around these past few weeks. Also in Brooklyn. Coincidence?
J anuary third marks our four year wedding anniversary. Ravenna’s late getting home from work, after running errands for her boss, which has given me plenty of time to fuss over her surprise. I’m oddly nervous for tonight.
“Cian? Are you home?” Ravenna calls from the foyer.
I lumber along the hall to greet her with a kiss. “You look beautiful.”
“I look like I’ve been running around all day—which I have. I’m sorry I’m late.” She sounds frazzled.
“Is your boss running you ragged? Do I need to have words with her?”
She slaps her hand on my chest. “Calm yourself. Don’t you dare come anywhere near that office. I’ve had enough excitement in that place to last ten life times.”
I pull her into me, nuzzling her neck. “I’m only trying to take care of you, broc meala . We don’t need you overworked, ever, but especially when you’ve got a bun in the oven.”
“I’m fine. Don’t worry about me.”
“I’ll never not worry about you.”
She huffs a laugh. “I know. I’m assuming we have plans tonight. I’ll go upstairs and change.”
“No need. We’re not going out.”
“We’re not?”
“No. I have something else in mind to celebrate our anniversary.” I pull a silk blindfold from my pocket. “Turn around.”
“ Cian . We usually do this after dinner, not before. I’m starving.”
“The sooner you do as you’re told, the sooner we’ll eat.” I stare down at her.
“In that case…” She spins around, and I secure the blindfold over her eyes.
“Good girl,” I purr in her ear. She rewards me with a lustful shiver. “Come.”
I lead her along the hallway to the library, where the hearth fire keeps the frigid January air at bay.
For our anniversary, I had the staff move a table in here and leave our dinner on hot plates. The table’s fully set, complete with candlelight and flowers. But none of that is what I want her to dwell on when she removes the blindfold.
Moving in front of her, I face Ravenna and drop to one knee. “Take it off now.”
She removes the material from her eyes, and gasps as her gaze sweeps the room, then drops to meet mine. Her lips part.
I hold the small velvet box between my palms. “Ravenna.” I clear my suddenly tight throat. “My love, I should have done this years ago. You have my whole heart, my devotion, and my loyalty. On this day, our anniversary, I ask you to marry me again.”
Flipping the hinged box open, I reveal the gold and diamond Claddagh ring I had especially designed for her. The heart in the center is a single solid diamond, held in hands of gold. Smaller diamonds outline the crown above it.
“That’s beautiful,” she whispers in awe. “Yes, I’ll always marry you. Every single year for the rest of our lives.”
My chest swells with a mixture of possessiveness, pride, and love. I slide the plain gold band from her finger and replace it with the Claddagh ring, heart pointed toward her, to signify that she’s married. That her heart belongs to me.
“You took the words right out of my mouth, Irlandese .” She drops to her knees, taking my hands in hers. “You have my heart, my loyalty, and my friendship—which I think is important in a marriage. I offer you this as a symbol of my devotion.”
Ravenna retrieves a ring from her pocket. It’s a gold band with a Claddagh design in the center. Slipping the old ring from my finger, she exchanges it for this new one, a blush on her cheeks.
She grins. “I love that we both got each other Claddagh rings for our anniversary.”
Tipping her head back, I brush my lips over hers. “I love that they come from the same designer.”
“What? How can you tell?”
“Because I’d recognize Old Man Torrin’s work anywhere. He’s the best Irish jewelry maker in the city, even though he operates out of that shady little spot in Brooklyn.”
She laughs, the sound soothes my soul. “Do you mean to tell me that we’ve been secretly visiting the same jeweler, narrowly avoiding running into each other, these past few weeks?”
“I do. What are the odds?” Before she can answer, I spin her around and pull her back to my chest. My fingers skim down her side, and I splay them over her stomach.
Even though she’s three months pregnant, I still can’t believe that I’m starting a family with the love of my life. Everything I’ve ever wanted Ravenna has given me—and so much more. Sometimes I’m in such a state of awe that all I can do is soak it all in.
I dip my face closer to her ear. “I can’t wait for your belly to grow huge with our baby, to feel the little one move and kick, and to finally meet him or her when they enter this world.”
“Patience, amore mio . We have a long way to go before we reach the end. Pregnancy’s a marathon not a sprint.”
I chuckle at her analogy. “I know. Every day will bring us something new. I’m so happy to be on this journey together.”
A contented sigh leaves her lips, and she places her hand over mine. “Me too.”
Tilting her head back, I claim her mouth. She tastes of mint, honey, and mine .