Chapter 15 Feral
Feral
“I’d be lying if I said I don’t want to be held.”
We stood side-by-side at the bottom of the bed looking at that wide, inviting expanse.
Kian hitched his hands on his lean hips. “It’s been a long time?”
“Years,” I murmured, blowing out a long, slow breath.
How did we get here?
From the moment I got into the truck until we pulled into Kian’s parents’ long driveway, Isaiah chattered like a magpie.
Even if Kian’s soothing presence hadn’t been enough to push Gary out of my mind, Isaiah’s constant questions and running commentary left no room for anything else.
And while he barely let me get a word in edgewise, the house that emerged at the end of the drive further shocked me into silence. After going with Kian to see the houses he was interested in renovating, I half-expected something along the same lines.
But his parents’ home was enormous.
As soon as Kian shifted the truck into park, Isaiah jumped down, slammed the door, and tore up the path whooping with happiness.
The resulting silence fairly buzzed. I slowly turned to face Kian. “My ears are ringing.”
He laughed.
I smirked and held my finger up to my lips, whispering, “Give me thirty seconds of silence.”
He wagged his brows and jerked his chin toward the house, a small smile curving his mouth. “Incoming.”
Twisting around, I opened my door and jumped down from the truck just as Kian’s mom made it across the front lawn, a tea towel waving in her hand.
“I’m Moira and you must be Bridget,” she exclaimed with a smile, and I immediately saw where Kian got his hazel eyes and the smile lines I loved so much.
I froze.
Loved?
I shook away the thought, extended my hand, and smiled. “It’s lovely to meet you, Moira.”
She waved my hands away. “Oh, go on and give me a hug.”
Once upon a million years ago, my mom did much the same when she met Gary. Tears stung the back of my eyes as I quickly hugged her back. “You remind me of my mom,” I admitted.
She tightened her hold. “You have her still?”
I shook my head.
“Aw, well. I’ll hug you extra tight for her, then.”
I closed my eyes and tried not to cling. I wasn’t positive I succeeded, but Kian tugged me out of her arms and saved me from further embarrassment.
“Stop hogging my Bridget, Mom.”
My Bridget.
She laughed, sounding almost exactly like him, but didn’t comment on his claim. “Come on inside the house. Everybody is waiting to meet you.”
To meet me?
I ran my hand along the knotted redwood trim on my way through the door. Glancing at Kian I mouthed ‘beautiful.’
Giving it a knock, he explained, “My brothers and I worked on this with my dad about a million years ago.”
“It’s gorgeous. So warm and inviting.”
Loud male voices and laughter interspersed with Isaiah’s excited ramblings greeted us as soon as we opened the door.
The whole house gave off that same vibe, a pure reflection of the life within. Rich wood trim, wide windows, plants and books tucked in corners and holding up walls, and a fireplace I imagined blazing with warmth in the winter.
Wasting no time, Moira led us straight through to the family room where Isaiah held court in front of his grandfather and uncles.
I barely had time to take them in before Isaiah flew at me. “Bridge! Tell them! Tell them I’m the Iceman.”
“The one and only,” I agreed, smiling.
He turned around proudly, a smug smile on his face before climbing up onto his grandfather's lap.
Kian slapped his hand into his dad’s then leaned over to give him a hug. “Good to see you, old man.”
I couldn’t take my eyes off the sight. Three generations. Woven together with love so thick you could choke on it.
It was beautiful. A wonder.
He grunted. “Not sure who you’re calling old, sprite.”
Kian grinned at me. “Bridget, this is my dad, Eamon.”
He extended his hand. “Pleasure, lass.”
His words and expression were friendly, but his eyes were guarded.
Of course they were. He didn’t know me from a hole in the wall.
Was I good for Kian? Worse, was I good for Isaiah?
Half of me wanted to reassure him Kian and I were only friends, the other half urged me to run from the house and save myself from the looming heartache.
I ran out of time to panic when Kian placed his hand at the small of my back and steered me toward his brothers, both of whom stood as I approached.
“This is my oldest brother, Lachlan. We’re pretty sure he’s a priest.”
Lachlan stood at least two inches taller than Kian, and Kian was no slouch. Silver wings swept through the dark hair at his temples, and a dimple peeked out of his cheek when he smiled.
Turning to me, he extended his hand. I slipped mine into his grasp and smiled back. As soon as Kian turned his back, Lachlan offered me a slow wink.
I burst out laughing as his eyes crinkled and lit with mischief.
Kian twisted back, his eyebrows raised.
I shook my head with a small smile on my lips.
That man is no priest.
His younger brother, the one who could pass for Aaron at a quick glance, stepped forward.
“And Finn, here,” Kian continued, looking suspiciously between me and Lachlan, “is a confirmed bachelor.”
“Or so he’d like me to think,” Moira quipped, snapping a tea towel at his long legs.
Finn drew back with a laugh. “Ma! I’m delicate!”
“Delicate, my arse!” she retorted. “The only thing delicate about you is your ability to commit.”
Something dark flickered across his gaze, but it was there and gone so fast I couldn’t be sure.
By the time he extended his hand, his gaze was once again clear and guileless.
“Good to meet you, Bridget.” Holding onto my hand, he cocked his head to the side.
“Maybe you’ll be the woman to tie me down.
Think I can steal you away from my big brother? ”
I laughed at their outrageous flirting, but Kian’s large frame immediately stepped between us. “Back off, Finn. I’m not so mature I won’t take you outside.”
“Jesus, Mary, and Joseph,” Moira exclaimed. “Can we not go fifteen minutes without the threat of bloodshed?”
Lachlan made a show of looking at his cell phone. “Nearly made it to nine,” he stated.
Finn laughed. “That’s because Kian didn’t catch your dirty wink.”
Conversation interspersed with snorts of laughter flew fast and furious around me.
Kian smirked and dipped his head down to murmur in my ear. “Well, you’ve met my uncivilized brothers.”
I smiled. “Just your sisters to go. I trust they’re more civilized?”
He snorted. “They’re bloody feral.”
I smiled, delighted to hear Kian’s voice taking on the roll and cadence of his very Irish parents.
Within the next two hours, all three of Kian’s sisters showed up.
Neve, the oldest, was blessed with quick wit, a sharp tongue, and I suspected, a warm heart.
Morrigan, the middle and closest in age to Kian, was as quiet and observant as he was, but her edges were sharper.
The youngest, Teagan, offered a ready smile and cracked dirty jokes barely under the radar. She had me in stitches.
Isaiah beamed the entire day.
Sitting around the huge dining room table after dinner, I expected everyone to slowly begin filing out. Instead, it became apparent they were all staying.
“You all live far from here?”
Morrigan shook her head. “None of us live far, but Ma keeps our rooms made up for occasions just like this one. We’re all staying tonight to spend time with the Iceman.”
Isaiah grinned.
Moira drummed her finger against her bottom lip. “Where should we put our Bridget?”
Both Finn and Lachlan spoke up at once. “I’ll share.”
“Fuck off,” Kian snarled.
Moira rolled her eyes. “Sure, don’t they know she’s yours? Stop letting them under your skin.” Her voice sharpened. “And watch your bloody mouth.”
Kian nodded, not taking his eyes off his brothers’ innocent faces.
I looked on, bemused. “We’re just—”
“We’re heading up to the cottage right after dinner,” Kian interrupted. “We need to get an early start tomorrow.”
I raised my eyebrows at this development.
Finn smirked. “Now how’s Bridget supposed to fall for me if you whisk her away?”
Moira shook her head at him. “There’s far too much of your father in you.”
Eamon rumbled from his seat at the head of the table. “If you’re a good girl, in an hour or so there’ll be far too much of his father in you.”
Moira blushed like a bride while Kian laughed, and both Lachlan and Finn groaned. “Dad!”
Teagan held up her fist to her dad for a bump.
Neve shook her head, and Morrigan snorted.
Eamon stood up. With a small smile, he crossed to me and dipped his chin.
His blue eyes softened. “It’s good having you, Lass.
” Turning to Kian, he continued, “Get ready to head out. Best if you get there before it gets dark. It’s all set.
Lachlan and Finn went up yesterday to ready it for the both of you. ”
Kian angled a suspicious look at his brothers who smiled back guilelessly.
Oh, no. Would there be snakes in the beds? Salt in the sugar? What manner of pranks would these two get up to?
“We’re heading out, bud,” Kian announced, pulling Isaiah into his arms for a tight hug.
My heart warmed when Isaiah came to me next. Pressing his head to my stomach, he wrapped his skinny arms around my hips.
I closed my eyes, remembering Jakey at that age. Could I have done anything differently? Anything to ensure I might have held onto at least a bit of him?
He tipped his chin back and looked up at me, his little chin trembling. “You’ll take care of my dad, Bridge?”
Startled, I met Kian’s stricken gaze before focussing on Isaiah. I cupped the back of his tawny head. “I’ll take the best care of your dad, Iceman.”
He nodded and allowed his grandpa to lead him away as the anxiety I never knew he had spiked with the prospect of separating from his dad.
Finn’s teasing voice carried down the hall as we left. “He’s a might territorial, isn’t he?”
Kian huffed out a soft laugh and shook his head as he handed me my purse.
“May as well have pissed on her leg,” Lachlan’s deep voice responded.
I giggled, my smile huge as Kian snorted.
“Pissed on her leg,” Moira exclaimed exasperated. “Give your brother some peace.”
“He’s had enough peace, Ma,” Lachlan stated quietly, but his deep voice carried. “That one will give him life.”
Kian stiffened beside me.
I slipped my hand into his and squeezed, letting him know I wasn’t taking anything to heart.
After a moment, he squeezed back and offered me a wry smile. “You ready?”
I nodded, having no idea what would be waiting for us two hours down the road. “Ready as I’ll ever be.”
I was wrong.
The cottage was beautiful. After seeing the house, I expected something grandiose, but it was quaint. Charming.
Cozy.
Like Goldilocks and The Three Bears meets Hansel and Gretel only no one’s eating anything.
I snorted to myself. Unfortunately.
I loved it.
I was poking around the tiny kitchen when Kian’s exasperated cursing reached me.
I ran down the hall to the bedrooms, following the sound of Kian’s voice. “What?”
“Those fucking bastards,” he fumed, his hands on his hips.
He shook his head and began to laugh, then groaned and rubbed a rough hand over his face.
“Those assholes took all the beds out except for this one.” He laughed again, tipping his head back to look at the ceiling.
“It must have taken them hours. And they took all the extra sheets, blankets, and pillows. I’m surprised they didn’t take the bloody couch. ”
I moved to stand beside him, looking down at that wide, inviting expanse. Tired, my defenses down, I sighed deeply. “I’d be lying if I said I don’t want to be held.”
Kian angled his head to look down at me, murmuring, “It’s been a long time?”
For fuck’s sake, Bridget, move over. I need my space.
“Years.” I blew out a long, slow breath without looking at him.
How much self-control is one woman supposed to have?
Kian ventured, “Held means…”
I rolled my eyes. “Wrapped in your arms, not your dick.”
He laughed and bumped me with his arm. Dipping his head toward me, he teased, “I’m flattered. I know I’m packing but it’s not quite long enough to wrap around you. I mean, it’s close.”
I snorted and crossed my arms over my breasts. I needed a padded bra. “You’re never getting in my vagina. I don’t want a lobotomy from your massive willy.”
“It’s called screwing your brains out,” he murmured.
My breath hissed through my teeth at the bird’s eye visual my mind conjured of Kian’s tight ass grinding between my thighs.
My head fell back, and my eyes fluttered. “Kian,” I breathed.
“Fuck,” he growled.
When I opened my eyes, he was gone.