Chapter 34
Love My Life
Ciara
Six months later …
Today has been such a long day. After training this morning, I had an appointment for a six-hour piece. To say I’m exhausted is an understatement.
I am getting better and faster. The shading on that last piece impressed me and Kary. The client was so happy and gave me a nice tip.
A smile comes to my lips as I clean up my suite. I love my life. The tattoo parlor has become a huge success and we’re champions. The team from Dylan’s gym took the championship with ease last year.
It looks like we’re going to take it again this year. I love watching my man fight. Dylan dominates in the ring. Winning is the only option for him.
“What are you smiling about?” Dylan says as he walks up behind me and wraps his arms around me.
I startle at first, but his hold relaxes me instantly. I know it’s him from the feel of his embrace and the scent of his cologne. A glance up into the mirror confirms what I already knew. I sink back into him and crane my neck to look up at his face.
“I was thinking about you and how much I love my life.”
His face breaks into a huge smile. Dipping his head, he then takes my lips in a searing kiss. I can’t believe how he can still set my body on fire with a simple touch. I thought I’d be immune by now or something.
However, I crave Dylan more and more with each day. It’s the love he puts into his touches and how he always finds a way to make me feel special and cared for.
“How about I give you something else to smile about? I brought you dinner. Ciarán is at Jamie’s for a sleepover. It’s just me and you.”
I smile wider. I love how Dylan’s family has taken Ciarán in like one of their own. They all spend time with him all the time.
Logan can be a bit intense, but he’s growing on me. I feel so bad for him and Shauna. When Dylan told me their story, I was in tears.
I got the feeling it was a lot for Dylan as well. When he got to the end, he tensed up and froze like there was more, but he couldn’t bring himself to tell it.
Luckily, Ciarán had needed my attention, and Dylan didn’t get to continue. I haven’t pressed him to go any deeper into the subject since.
Logan and his adorable little girl have been in America for about five months now. I met Shauna after they all came back from Dylan’s cousin Noah’s wedding.
I had to miss that one too. I was booked solid at the shop and Ciarán had school. I am also nervous about taking him out of the country with the fake documents we have.
I hate that I had to miss it. From the pictures Dylan showed me, it looks like they all had tons of fun. Dylan had been gone for an entire month before the wedding on family business in Dublin.
That time was so hard, between the time zone difference that kept us from talking as much as we wanted to and the distance itself. I never want to deal with that again.
“Come on, I’ll help you finish up and then we can eat,” he says, pulling me out of my thoughts.
“Is Kary gone?”
Daliah came out to shop with me this morning and she hung out for a bit. She and Kary made plans to go clubbing tonight. I opted out because I knew I would be too tired and didn’t want to bring them down.
“Yeah, I told her we would lock up.”
“Thanks. You don’t have to help. I’m pretty much done in here. I’ll do the inventory tomorrow.”
“Did you find a dress yet?”
“Yes, I did. Taegan and Daliah went with me before I had to come in today.”
“I can’t wait to see you in it.”
“I’m looking forward to seeing you in your tux,” I say and smile at him.
He pecks my lips. “Come eat. I don’t want the food to get cold.”
I follow him out of my suite and find candlelight and pink rose petals heading toward the back rooms. My heart fills with so much love for this man. He’s always doing something romantic for me.
From carriage rides in the city, to surprise dates for no reason at all, to spa days in the middle of the week because I look like I might be stressed. I can call myself truly spoiled. I’ve gone from Cinderella to the princess of the ball.
The candlelight leads to one of the empty suites that haven’t been rented by an artist yet. When we step inside, I can see the little area he’s set up for us to have a candlelit dinner.
There’s a little table covered with a tablecloth and a vase of pink roses sitting in the middle. I smile to know he remembers how much I love pink roses. When I realize the tablecloth is purple and sparkly, I can’t help but laugh.
“Really, Dyl? Hey, I meant to ask. Did your mom kick your ass over those roses?”
“Aye, she did. So did Kate for taking her ribbon,” he chuckles. “But it was worth it. I got to kiss the girl and now she’s mine forever.”
I’m smiling so hard now my face hurts. I lift on my toes and turn my face up. Dylan steps into me and meets me for a quick kiss.
Sparks fly between us. I grasp the front of his T-shirt to keep him with me. He grins as he leans back in for another kiss.
Once again, he breaks the connection far too soon for my liking. “Food, I know you haven’t eaten since breakfast. I promise to feast on you later. You need real food in your belly right now.”
I can’t argue with that. Besides, it smells delicious in here. My mouth begins to water as I move to take a seat at the table he has set up.
I snicker when he pulls out Chinese food from my favorite spot around here. He plates our food on real plates he must have brought with him then sits across from me. Once I start to eat, he turns on some music to play softly in the background.
We eat in a comfortable silence for a bit, stealing glances at one another. I’m so happy I could float right from my seat. Three years ago, I never would have dreamed this would be my life.
“Tell me more about this event I needed to find a dress for,” I say to start a conversation once we finish our food.
He shrugs. “It’s nothing much. I need to show my face. I want you on my arm. It might be fun, it might not.”
“That doesn’t sound promising,” I snicker.
“Anywhere we are together is always full of promise,” he says and winks at me.
“Um.”
“You don’t believe me?”
“I don’t know,” I tease as I side-glance him.
He stands up and holds his hand out to me. “Fine. I’ll prove it. Dance with me.”
I tune into what’s playing. I like this song. As Muni Long sings of praying she doesn’t miss the love of her life as “Butterfly Effect” plays, it hits me how this song could apply to our relationship.
I could have missed out on being loved completely, and so deeply, it feels like a dream. I could have been right here in this big city, walking right by opportunity after opportunity to meet the love of my life, and it never happen.
I take his hand and stand, not wanting to miss a single moment of being in his arms. He pulls me into him and places one hand on my hip as he cradles my hand against his chest with his other one.
We begin to sway to the music as he looks into my eyes. I’m so completely in love with Dylan. I don’t know what I would do without him. Again, I realize how much I truly love my life.
“I love my life too. I love having you with me and I love every moment I get to spend with you,” he says as if he can read my mind.
I place my head against his chest and continue to sway with him. Burying his hand in my hair with one hand, he begins to rub my back with the other. I breathe him in and comfort washes over me.
“I don’t ever want this to end. I want you to know how much I love you and that I would never do anything to hurt you or lose you. Everything I do is to protect you and keep you safe,” he murmurs, causing me to look up at him.
“There is nothing you could do that would make me leave you,” I say, surprising myself with how much I mean the words.
“There’s always something. That one last straw.”
“You buy the toothpaste. If you want to waste it by forgetting to place the cap back on, that’s on you. It’s not enough for me to stay pissed past grumbling at you every morning and night.”
I shrug as I laugh. “I’m not leaving, Dyl. I love you too much to live this life without you. I know what it’s like not to have you in my life and I don’t want to go back. I’m staying. You’re stuck with me.”
“Promise?”
“Cross my he—”
He crushes his lips to mine before I can finish my words and kisses me breathless. When he breaks the kiss, I’m a little confused. I get the feeling there are words not being said.
However, I don’t want this moment to end. I want to stay safely in the bubble he’s created for us. I want to be here with him, happy.
***
I’m still on cloud nine as I shower once we get home. Dylan didn’t join me because he had to take a call. That phone is always ringing.
I’m not stupid and I’m not in denial. I’m dating a guy with some deep connections in the underworld. I know the signs from growing up with Theo.
Theo may have been low level at best, but he had people around all the time who were the real danger. It’s another reason I would never leave my brother behind with those assholes. There’s no telling how they would have tried to use Ciarán.
When Dylan has to deal with business, I fade into the background and mind my own business. If I’m honest, watching him in action is always sexy. He has a command of his guys that demands respect. In fact, I get the same vibe from his brothers as well.
It’s funny. Dylan seems so quiet and reserved outside of business and the ring, but when it comes to business, it’s like a switch flips. The shy, quiet guy fades and he becomes someone else completely. It’s the same way in the bedroom.
Which leads me to the change that happened earlier this evening. He has been a bit distant since. I don’t know what I said wrong.
I try to figure it out as I absentmindedly rub on lotion and put on a pair of shorts and a cutoff T-shirt. Once dressed, I make my way downstairs to where I left Dylan when we came in. I note that music is playing as I move down the steps.