Chapter 29
Chapter Twenty-Nine
SKYLA
“I can wash my own face,” I remind Beckett as he gently smooths the warm cloth over my skin, wiping away the cleanser he used.
“I know you can,” he replies as his eyes track the movement of the cloth. “But so can I, and I need to pamper you tonight.”
My sigh is one of contentment. He’s certainly in his aftercare mode. The shower was long and hot and luxurious. He took his time washing my body, and he was careful with my hair because my scalp was sore from where The Arsehole yanked on it. Beck made me feel so treasured, it almost brought tears to my eyes.
And now, not unlike when we were in LA, I’m sitting on the bathroom vanity, wrapped in a towel, my wet hair woven into a braid, and he’s taking care of my skin.
He reaches for my rose water, and I close my eyes as he spritzes it over my face, and then his fingers gently massage my moisturizer into my skin.
“Don’t make me get too accustomed to this, Mr. Blackwell.”
“Why not?” His voice is soft as if his movements have mesmerized him as much as they have me.
“Because I’ll grow to crave it, and then you’ll be on the hook for this treatment every day.”
The corners of his lips tip up and his warm hazel eyes smile down at me, and heat pools in my belly. The love and care he shows me is as intoxicating and sensual as everything else about him. He makes my body hum with desire.
“I’ll do this for you every day if that’s what you want me to do.” He kisses my forehead as he sets the tub of moisturizer aside, then he steps between my knees, wraps his arms around my shoulders, and pulls me to him.
He’s also only wrapped in a towel that matches mine. Needing to feel his flesh in my grip, I pull the terry cloth loose and let the towel fall to the floor, then tighten my hand on his arse.
“Have I ever told you what a mighty fine arse you have?”
I feel his chuckle against my cheek. “I don’t think you have.”
“Well, that’s a shame because for the love of all the gods, Beckett, your arse could end wars.”
He barks out a laugh and tugs my towel free, then carries me to our bed, where he gently lowers me to the mattress and crawls over me, hovering. His face is suddenly so serious I can’t resist brushing my fingers through his hair.
“What is it?” I ask softly.
“You’re surprisingly calm. I know I said it before, but baby, tonight was intense.”
I nod, watching my fingers as they comb through his dark strands. “I started to break apart,” I admit softly. “When I was finally in your arms, and I knew that he couldn’t hurt me anymore, I started to feel the way I did in LA. I was shaking, and I was panicking.”
He lowers to his elbows and gently pushes his fingers into my hair, listening intently.
“I know some of that is adrenaline because, God, a ghrá , I was terrified, but then I remembered that when we break, you’re always there to put us back together. No matter what I need, even when I don’t know what I need, you know. Your touch, your voice, your love are all I need to feel safe.”
“Baby.” He closes his eyes and lowers his forehead to mine. Then his lips are on me, kissing me softly and nibbling at the side of my mouth. I raise my legs onto his hips, and I can feel the hard length of him move against my slit, sending a zing through me. I’m already so wet for him, needing him inside me, but when I move my hips, urging him to push inside, he growls against my lips.
“I’ll come in three seconds if I move in now,” he warns me as he nibbles down my neck to my collarbone. “And I told you that I’m going to worship you tonight.”
“That’s what you’ve been doing, Beck.” I bite my lip when his mouth latches on to my nipple, sucking hard. “Ah, hell, that’s bloody good.”
“What else do you need?” He kisses over to the other breast and skims his teeth over my sensitive flesh before moving lower. “Tell me, baby.”
“Your mouth.” My voice is breathy, and I can’t keep my hands out of his hair. “On me.”
“It’s on you,” he reminds me before leaving a wet kiss just below my navel. “Be more specific.”
I whimper, but he doesn’t move lower.
Because he wants me to ask for it.
“I want your mouth”—I have to pause to lick my lips—“on my pussy. Please.”
With a growl, he shoulders his way between my thighs. Before licking me, he takes a deep inhale, breathing me in.
If it wasn’t so bloody sexy, I’d almost be embarrassed.
“This pussy is goddamn incredible,” he murmurs before he licks me from my entrance to my clit. My hips buck up off the bed, so he loops his arm over my stomach to hold me in place. “And all mine. You’re such a good fucking girl, Irish.”
I flush with his praise, and I feel him chuckle against me before he pushes two fingers inside me. My walls contract around him, making us both groan.
“Ah, Jesus.” I thrash my head back and forth, my breath heaving on the cusp of an incredible climax.
“Do not come,” he warns me, and I lift my head and stare down at him.
“What?”
“Not yet.” He shakes his head, pulling me closer to the edge. “I mean it, Irish. You can hold out.”
“For feck’s sake, Beck.” My hands clench around the bedsheets. I bite my lip. “I can’t.”
“Listen to me, beautiful girl.” I shake my head, but he keeps going. “Take a breath.”
“Let me come.”
He smiles against me, and I’ve a mind to squish him with my thighs.
“Beckett.”
He quickly pulls his fingers out of me, and I feel so empty, but then he climbs over me and slams his cock inside me.
“Now,” he growls against my lips. “Come for me, baby.”
There’s no way I can stop it. My back arches, my arms and legs clutch him to me, and I scream his name as I break apart.
“Yes, that’s it,” he says, and then he tenses and follows me over, rocking into me through his own orgasm, whispering words of love to me. “You’re so perfect. You’re everything, Irish. So fucking amazing.”
I couldn’t hold the tears back if I tried. They spill down my temples, and he leans down to kiss me.
“Don’t cry, baby.”
“I just love you so bloody hard, Beckett Blackwell.”
He sighs and brushes my nose with his. “I love you too, Irish.”
* * *
“Thanks for the ride,” Beckett says to Brad, who’s driving us to the airport, but first, we need to stop in to check on my boy. “This is easier than leaving my truck at the airport.”
“It’s no trouble,” Brad says. “Besides, I need to talk with the vet to make sure I have everything ready to bring our boy home with me.”
“I so appreciate this,” I add, twisting my hands in my lap.
I’m anxious to see Riley and make sure he’s really going to be okay.
I’m the first one out of the truck and running to the door of the clinic, where the vet is waiting for us.
“Where is he?” I ask right away.
“This way,” she says, gesturing for us to follow her. “He did so well through the night. He’d probably be okay to go home today, but I don’t think it’s a bad idea for us to monitor him for one more day.”
Finally, we’re taken into the back, where many kennels are set up but only a few are occupied, and I see my boy.
He whines when he sees me. Tears fill my eyes when she opens the door, and I’m able to get on the floor and climb in with him.
Riley is big, which means his kennel is, too. And I’m a small girl.
“Hello, my sweet boy,” I croon as I take his face in my hands. “I’m okay, baby.”
He cries, resting his head on my shoulder, and I can’t help but cry with him.
“I know, you had to be so scared. I’m sorry that you were hurt. But I’m just fine, sweet boy.”
He whines again and licks my tears away.
“We’re okay,” I repeat, resting my forehead against his neck. I can hear the vet talking to Brad about his care once he goes home tomorrow.
Part of me wants to tell everyone that I’ll take him to London with me, but I know that’s not what’s best for Riley. The trip over is rough on him when he’s healthy. It would be agony when he doesn’t feel well.
“I love you so much,” I whisper to him. “You were so brave. You scared that horrible man, and that’s exactly what you were supposed to do. I’m proud of you, baby.”
When I look over my shoulder, I see Beckett squat next to me and reach in to pet Riley’s neck.
“You guys okay?” Beck asks softly.
“We are. Happy to see each other.”
“I can see that,” Beck replies with a smile in his voice. “Are you sure you still want to leave today, Irish? No one will mind if you need a day to regroup.”
Part of me wants to say yes, but it’s time for me to go to work.
“No. We’ll go.” I take Riley’s face in my hands. “I have to go for a little while. You’re going to stay with Brad and Sadie while I’m gone.”
Riley tilts his head to the side, listening. He’s such a smart boy.
“Don’t worry about me, okay? I’ll be home before you know it. You be good.”
He whines again and rests the full weight of his head in my hands as if he’s hugging me, and my eyes fill with tears once more.
“I’ll miss you, too.”
“Irish, you’re breaking my heart over here.” Beck’s voice is rough, and he’s rubbing circles on my back. “Fuck the performance. We don’t have to go at all.”
I smile at that and wipe my tears away.
“Yes, we do. I’m just not good at leaving my boy behind.” I kiss him once more and then nod at the doctor. “Thank you for everything. I can pay you before we leave.”
“It’s been taken care of,” she says, shaking her head. I don’t miss the look she shares with Beckett, and I turn my attention to him in surprise.
“You didn’t have to?—”
“You don’t have to worry about anything,” he says, pulling me into his arms. “Not one thing, baby.”
Brad makes plans to pick up Riley the following morning, and then we’re back in the truck, headed for the airport, and the nerves settle in again. I’m not excited to be back here, where the worst moments of my life took place just hours ago, but when we arrive, I see my family’s jet waiting for us. Gallagher Resorts is written across the side, and even that is a comfort to me. I’m willing my brain not to think about anything that happened here last night.
I refuse to give him any more real estate in my mind.
He’s gone. He’ll never get near me again. No more taunts. No more messages. No more touches.
Beck and Brad meet the grounds crew with our luggage so they can stow it inside the plane, and I thank Brad before I climb the stairs of the jet. I know that everyone’s already here waiting for us, but when I turn to look at all of the faces, tears form again.
Connor’s watching me through his glasses; he's so stoic and strong the way he always is.
Dani and Billie are grinning, almost dancing in their seats.
Beckett’s brothers look so solemn, and I feel Beckett behind me. His arms wrap around my shoulders as I find Mik’s gaze, and I smile at him. He’s holding Benji’s hand tightly.
“You are all right then, malishka?” he asks me.
With a nod, I skim my gaze over everyone here. “Yes. I’m fine and well, and grateful that you’re all here for this.”
“Look at this cool airplane!” Birdie exclaims, making us all laugh. “There are snacks and everything.”
“She’s never going to want to travel any other way,” Dani adds, brushing her hand over Birdie’s hair. Bridger leans in to kiss her temple.
“Let’s do this.” Beckett kisses my head.
“I love you all,” I say before anyone looks away from me. “Every single one of you is important to me, and it’s a lucky girl that I am that you’re all here with me.”
“There’s nowhere else we’d rather be,” Blake says with that devastating grin. “We’re proud of you, Skyla.”
My gaze finds Connor’s again, and he’s almost smiling now, which has me blinking in surprise.
“Let’s go,” he says, gesturing for us to sit. “My sister has a date with the king.”