Chapter 13
thirteen
GRAY
An hour later, and Gray was still kicking her ass over the love comment. Why had she said that? Why in the hell had she admitted that?
“Christ, Gray, you airheaded numpty.” No amount of whisky shots could erase that she’d admitted her feelings to Ciar. Groaning in mortification, she leaned heavily against Blair’s spare frame, wishing her friend could put a Harry Potter invisibility cloak over her shoulders to cover her shame.
Blair leaned into Gray and rasped “What?” in her ear.
She faced Blair, so signing wouldn’t be necessary. “I may or may not have told Ciar that I love him.”
Blair, bless her, faced Gray, turning her back on their friends so she could sign privately. “Do you?”
Gray covered her face with both hands, wishing she could bang her head against the bar top at her back. Facing her friend, she admitted, “Yes, but I hadn’t planned on admitting it quite so soon, damn it.”
Ciar never blinked an eye, but he also didn’t reciprocate the sentiment. His attentiveness never wavered, and Gray could admit that she liked their relationship being open—but the not knowing how he truly felt about her sucked.
Despite not loving her back, she had made a commitment to their relationship, and because of that, she called her parents earlier to break the news, not willing to chance Daniel or Jonathan telling one of their parents and it getting back to Scotland.
She phoned her mom earlier, knowing it was a weekend and that her dad would be close. Her mom answered, “Gray, sweetheart, I’ve been thinking of you. Isn’t Colorado crazy amazing?”
“I love it here. I’m not ready to come home. It’s been so much fun. Is Dad around?”
Her mom hollered for her dad to come to the kitchen. “Okay. You’re on speaker. It’s Gray,” her mom told her dad, who must have joined her.
“Hey, Dad.” She made sure her tone was upbeat and confident.
“Gray. What’s wrong?”
Of course. There was no faking anything with that man.
Mom chided, “Thomas. Lay off, will you?”
“Nothing’s wrong, I just wanted to tell you both some exciting news.”
“Oh?” her mom asked, starting to sound nervous.
“What the fuck is going on, Gray?”
Dad never did well with his youngest daughter coloring outside the lines. She decided to just come out with it and deal with the fallout from a continent away.
“Ciar and I are…we’re dating. He’s my boyfriend,” she winced at how juvenile that sounded. Her mom oohed and aahed. She’d always had a soft spot for Ciar. Her father didn’t take the news the same way.
“Tell that tattooed bastard that I’ll be expecting him on my doorstep sooner than later.”
“Mom, Jesus,” Gray whined, “make him stop. I called to tell you before you heard it from someone else. Don’t treat me like a child, Dad. I mean it.”
“That boy made you cry not two weeks ago, and you somehow believe I’m going to think he’s the love of your life?
Not likely.” There was grumbling and cabinet slamming, which was impressive, considering her parents’ kitchen had soft-close hinges.
After a few more drawer slams, he asked her mom, “Is she serious?”
“Very,” Gray replied before her mom could intervene. “Ciar is it for me. He bought us a place to live. As soon as it’s renovated, I’m moving in with him.
“I want my parents’ blessing. Won’t you be happy for me?”
“I’m very happy for you, sweetheart. Very happy.
Never think I’m not. It is a lot to take in.
You must see that,” her mom spoke carefully.
“It’s sudden for me, and I’ve known since you were eighteen that you were in love with Ciar.
Your dad, however, is only learning about it.
Don’t get angry, Gray, have patience instead, and trust that we only want what’s best for you. ”
She sighed, knowing her mom was right. She shouldn’t have expected a parade of hearts and roses immediately. Since her dad had already stormed off, she told her mom she would be patient and ended the call.
Now, here she was begging Blair with her sad eyes to tell her something that would make her feel better. No one was better at reading a situation or people than Blair.
“I told Mom and Dad this morning.” At Blair’s wide eyes, Gray threw her hands up in an “I know” gesture. “Did I tell you that Ciar bought us a house?” Gray moaned as the admission slipped from her lips.
Gray didn’t dare look at Blair for a moment, afraid to see shock and censure at how fast she was allowing Ciar to move, but once her mini panic attack was over, she opened her eyes to find Blair patiently waiting to sign.
“Get a grip on yourself, Gray. I imagine your dad was a trial. Whatever. So, you love Ciar. Great. A relationship needs love to be real. As for Ciar, he’s a virgin to feelings, or at least talking about them.
“Give him grace. I believe men need grace at least once a day.” That made Gray smile. “I think he loves you too. You don’t see how he looks at you, but I have.” Blair squeezed Gray’s hand briefly. “Grace and time. That’s my advice.”
“You two look serious,” Bébhinn said as she and Mags joined them.
Everyone sat on barstools putting them closer in height to Gray in her heels. “Ciar already do something to piss you off? You know, men can’t help their asinine tendencies,” Mags chirped.
Blair told the newcomers, “Gray told Josephine and Thomas about Ciar.”
Mags and Bébhinn looked as shocked as Blair had.
“And?” Mags asked slowly, not sure which direction the announcement had taken.
Before she could answer, strong arms wrapped around her waist from behind, and Ciar's spicy scent filled her nose. He placed a lingering kiss at the crook of her neck.
“And MacGregor, and probably Blair’s father, will take their pound of flesh from me. I’m to report to Scotland immediately.”
Gray was glad Ciar didn’t seem particularly worried about her father’s temper. She, however, was shitting bricks.
“Do you know how weird it is to see you and Ciar kissing,” Bébhinn said wistfully. “Beautiful but weird.”
“Try watching you and Dagr, Bébé,” she mock shuddered. “Now that is weird.”
“Sorry, Bébhinn, but I have to agree with Mags. The first time I saw you two sitting together at that bar, I liked to shit when I finally realized it wasn’t one of your brothers.”
“You lot are a pack of jackasses,” Bébhinn declared before spinning on her heel and walking into Dagr’s arms. “Let’s blow this joint, Mr. Griffiths.”
Dagr’s face pinkened and he swallowed nervously. Either love had blinded Bébhinn to Dagr’s distress, or she was one hell of an actress.
Gray wondered if love truly made one blind. That was a scary thought.
Bébhinn was officially an engaged woman. Shots were flowing, and the newly engaged couple hadn’t stopped staring into each other’s eyes all evening.
At Bébhinn’s request, Gray had taken their picture, the ginormous diamond on her ring finger sparkling like a thousand suns, and sent it to her mother.
It was four in the morning in Ireland, but Gray’s phone started ringing. Bébhinn had left hers on the bar, so naturally, Gray knew why her phone was lighting up. Rowan insisted on speaking to her daughter.
Gray watched her friend laugh and cry on the phone with her mother and felt her eyes grow misty with happiness.
“You’ve been quiet tonight, Gray,” Ciar whispered against her ear before spinning her in his arms and hugging her tightly to his body.
“I haven’t,” she denied. “Dagr’s proposal was perfect. When he asked for the band’s microphone, I literally died. What a great night, huh?” she asked, kissing the side of his mouth.
“It has,” he agreed, “but you haven’t told me why you’ve been quiet.”
Damn, stubborn men. The truth was she was quiet because her mind was too busy exploding with the newness of…them.
He forced her chin up so that, with her heels, he was only a few inches taller, and their eyes met easily. “I know I made light of your father’s approval. Believe me when I tell you it is very much a priority. I want your family happy, but I want you happy more.
“If there is something that I’ve done, or not done, Gray, I want to know. I need to know. Okay?”
She nodded her head, feeling some relief at his heartfelt words, and they were sincere. She knew Ciar, and artifice wasn’t in his makeup. She had to trust and stop getting hung up on the details.
“No, Ciar. You’ve done everything right,” Gray said as she wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him closer. “Kiss me and all will be right in my world.”
And God, when his lips touched hers, it felt like it.
“Yes, Ciar,” Gray moaned. They’d made it past her bedroom’s threshold, barely, before he had her pressed against a wall, her panties stripped, and his hard length out and gliding through her slick folds.
“Wanted you all night. Fuck, baby, I want you day and night.”
Her legs barely managed to gain traction around his hips when he began thrusting hard and fast. Even against a wall, he managed to hit her G-spot, hammering the sensitive flesh until she started begging him not to stop.
“There, baby, there,” she panted. Gray was seconds from shattering, her back bowed from the wall, and her heels digging into his ass.
“Gray. Gray. Gray,” Ciar chanted. “Before I fill you up, swear you’ll never leave me. Swear it!” he roared as her body flexed around his jerking shaft.
As he came deep in her body, she swore. “Never, never, never…”