3. Kerry
Kerry
Feckin’ hell. She feels so good against my lips, better than anything I could’ve imagined. It felt incredible to devour her, to give her the space to indulge her desires and let loose.
But Jesus Christ, I might’ve embarrassed myself, too, if I had any shame left.
Which I didn’t, thank Mother Mary and Joseph for that.
Not just from my eagerness in eating her, but from my…
well, overeagerness that left a wet spot soaked through my trousers.
I’ve come in my pants like a fucking teenager.
I shouldn’t be too surprised, considering I haven’t had sex with anyone in five years. Not since I first fell for Amy.
My knees ache when I stand, but I ignore the pain. I’d endure that and so much more for Amy.
Amy sits up more expectantly. I smile at her, cupping her cheek. “You should get cleaned up, leannán. We have a few things to finish here, and then we’ll be heading to Ireland first thing tomorrow. But I’ll need you for one of the things we need to finish up tonight.”
Amy’s face twists with confusion for a moment, taken aback. “What? Cleaned up…? But we…you haven’t…”
I arch a brow and gesture to the front of my trousers.
“I think you’ll find that I have, actually.
I’d be embarrassed, except I can’t blame myself considering it’s you that caused it.
We can do more later. When I get you to Ireland, I don’t intend to let you leave my bed except to pick out a ring and bring you before a priest to marry you. ”
I turn and walk back to the kitchen area of the suite before I can do something stupid, like get hard again.
Amy scrambles up and starts getting dressed. “What are we going to do?”
“We’re going to cut your grandfather out from the docks entirely. And I think your sweet smile is exactly what’s needed to do just that.” I feel my heart rate pick up at the thought of finally being free of her pestering family.
Amy’s voice is quiet, hesitant. “And how exactly do you intend on doing that?”
I head to the master suite to get changed, pausing in the doorway to look back at her, a grin on my face. “Which part, leannán? Taking down your grandfather, or whisking you off your feet and taking you to my home and my bed?”
An adorable flush colors Amy’s face. “Well, I meant my grandfather.”
I tsk. “Ah, a cryin’ shame. I’d far rather talk about the latter.”
Amy clears her throat, still looking charmingly flustered. “Well, another time, perhaps. So…my grandfather?”
I lean against the doorway, watching her fidget under my gaze.
“First things first, the docks. Secondly, let the news pop that Asteros don’t pay their debts.
Thirdly…get in with Marshall, who used to work for him.
I’m already pretty set on that last one, but there’s just a quick conversation I have to have with him, that’s all. ”
My sweet leannán crosses her arms, her eyebrows arching, her nervousness shifting into sassy territory. I love it. I’ve given her a taste of power and now she wants more of it. I’m all too happy to indulge her. “You must trust me if you’re telling me all of this.”
I can’t help but stare at her for a long moment.
She needs to know the weight of how serious this matter is to me.
“I know how he’s treated you, leannán. I know that you feel you deserve better.
And you’re right about that. I also know you’ve felt better with me, I can see how you react to me, love.
You’re not fooling anyone, least of all me.
You hold no loyalty to your grandparents.
You may not want them dead, but…” I lift my shoulders in a shrug that’s probably far too carefree for a man who just declared war on someone else, but this is just my way of life.
It’s just like any other day of the week.
“I think you feel just as furious about the stunt that he’s pulled today as I do. "
Amy walks over to the dining room table to pick up the glass of wine I poured for her earlier, before we got distracted, and takes a long sip.
“I don’t like this game that he’s playing, no.
I don’t like that he’s using me like a pawn.
” She lifts her chin, as if she’s trying to exert more confidence than she feels.
I push off of the doorframe, taking a few steps towards her before I can help myself. “Then we’ll work together to show him just how wrong he is to do that. We’ll show him that you’re not a pawn, but the Queen, and you can outmaneuver him.”
“Does that make you the King?” Amy chuckles.
I shrug and grin again, joining her at the table to pick up my whiskey and take a sip. “Maybe. Although I’d like to think I’m not quite as useless as that particular piece in chess is.”
The smile she gives me is one I’d like to see everyday for the rest of my life. “I actually think it’s more like you’re the Queen and I’m the King, gender roles be damned.”
I lift up my glass to hers in a cheers. “Ah, I like that. You might not be able to make as many moves as me, but that doesn’t change the fact that the whole game is pointless without you.
You’re the most important piece there is.
” Amy’s eyes widen and dilate, and she takes in a breath like I’ve said something miraculous.
It’s only a matter of time before she’s used to it, though.
I don’t plan to stop telling her the truth anytime soon. “I’ll cheers to that, lovely leannán.”
Amy lifts up my glass of wine, clinking it against mine more solidly. “Cheers.”
“I think we should go to Ireland as soon as possible. It’s not safe for you here. I’m going to see if O’Neil, the owner of the docks, will be willing to meet tonight. If so, we’ll go attend to that and leave in the morning, okay? I don’t want to linger here more than a day or two more.”
Amy pauses, thinking. I know it’s not like her to wish ill on anyone, and this will definitely harm her family.
She doesn’t know it, but this war that her grandfather will likely affect every single member of her family.
But it’s clear she’s done with letting them hurt her, and that she wants their power taken away from them now that she’s seen how he uses it.
There’s a flicker of anguish in her eyes, like she’s torn between her sense of loyalty and duty, and the desperate need to never feel helpless again.
“Yes. I’ll go with you.”
Amy
The wind has a bitter bite to it as I stand next to Kerry on the docks, watching the workers load and unload crates as we wait for Mr. O’Neil. The man had been kind enough to agree to a last-minute meeting that night.
I look down at my phone, re-reading the text I got from my grandmother that I got on our ride over here for the fifth hundredth time.
Amy, there’s been a change of plans…the Irish Demon no longer wishes to marry you…
“You should put that away. Don’t fret over it, it’s what they want.” Kerry’s demeanor has become cold and calculated since I received it. I can tell his fury towards my grandparents has doubled. He’s ready to get revenge, and I don’t think I feel like stopping him.
I sigh and slide my phone into my pocket. “I just can’t believe them. They could’ve just told me the truth, even if it was watered down. They didn’t need to outright lie to me like this. It’s just cruelty at this point.”
“It is,” Kerry agrees without hesitation. “But cruelty keeps pawns under their thumb.” He looks down at me, gaze softening as he reaches out and caresses my cheek. “Remember, leannán, you aren’t a pawn, no matter what they think.”
I nod and lean into his touch, making him smile. He only drops his hand when another car pulls up behind ours.
A short, squat redheaded man hops out of the car, leaving it running. “Alasdair! I’d say it was good to see you again, but I suspect the circumstances of this meeting aren’t great, so forgive me if I don’t. Now, what the hell happened?”
Kerry turns to the man, dipping his head in a polite greeting. “O’Neil. Regardless of the circumstance, I think it’s good to see you again. Thank you for agreeing to meet me despite the vitriol that Astero must be spewing.”
“Yeah, well, as I mentioned the last time we spoke, I noticed some suspicious behavior with him. But I liked you from the start. I knew that old bastard must not be telling the whole truth when he told me his side of the story.” O’Neil scoffs, and then his eyes land on me. “Oh, pardon my language, miss.”
I chuckle and reach my hand forward towards him. “It’s all right. I’ve heard worse, trust me. I’m Amy. Amy Astero.”
O’Neil immediately beams and takes my hand, shaking it. “Ah, what a lovely lady you are. And you make a handsome couple together. You remind me of my own wife, you do.” He turns to Kerry with a wink. “Don’t mess it up and lose her, Alasdair.”
“I try my best every single day.” Kerry chuckles before taking a deep breath.
“Now, you want to know what happened? It’s simple.
Astero felt threatened. He brought up your name in particular.
I think he caught wind that you might be interested in cutting him out, and that right pissed him off.
I’ve got a couple leads as to who might’ve tipped him off, but, in short, I believe it’s a bastard that my allies made an enemy of.
He told me he wanted the wedding off to prevent me from getting access to these docks, and dividing Astero and I would be the fastest way to do that. ”
O’Neil sighs and shakes his head. “Ah, the classic game. Well, Astero is a fool to fall for it. You don’t burn bridges like that.
Besides, a love like yours can’t be ruined so simply.
Did he really think his granddaughter would just drop the man she loves so easily and do as he says?
He always did talk about women poorly, like objects and not people. ”
I clear my throat to speak up again. “I don’t think he realized we’re in love.
He’s never been a very observant man.” It felt nice to speak ill of him.
Freeing. Empowering. “I think he assumed I was only doing this because it benefited the family.” Of course, that was the truth at first. But this man didn’t need to know that.
“But you’re right, he’s always treated women badly.
Myself included. And I’d like to leave that and be with someone who treats me right.
” My gaze drifts to the tall Irishman next to me, who’s smiling like he’s just been crowned King. Or, rather, Queen.
O’Neil is practically swooning as he looks between us.
It’s quite a funny expression on an older man, who seems like a tough and seasoned New Yorker.
“How beautiful. Well, you came to the right place. I can’t help but love romance and everything that comes with it.
So, I’m in.” He claps his hands together.
“I’ll switch over the contracts right away.
My docks will be yours and we’re cutting old Astero out of it.
Out with the old, in with the new Astero.
” He winks at me like I’ll be accessing the docks, not Alasdair.
“After all, I’m still keeping my word and keeping it in the Astero family. ”
Kerry chuckles. “We’re glad to hear it. I’d like to have a peek at his storage crates, too, if you don’t mind.”
“I don’t mind at all.” O’Neil beams at Kerry like he’s been waiting for a way to make my grandfather suffer. Maybe he has been, I don’t know.
“Wonderful. I’ll attend to that soon enough, perhaps in a few months, whenever is convenient for you.
I’d like to wait until after I’ve gotten my future bride settled in Ireland, though.
” Kerry slides his hand down to the small of my back, making goosebumps break out all over my skin.
“We’ve postponed our wedding until all of this is resolved.
We didn’t want business and family drama ruining our big day.
But, once it does happen, won’t you come to Ireland to attend it? ”
You would’ve thought that Kerry just offered the man a million dollars by the way he smiles at my ex-but-future-fiance. “I would love nothing more than to bring my lady across the pond to visit my ancestors’ home and do just that.”
Kerry holds his hand out to O’Neil, who gladly accepts it with a shake.
Step one of cutting my grandfather out of things is officially accomplished.