Cathal Chapter 4
“So, from the sound of it, your talk didn’t go so well,” Darragh said, amusement in his voice.
“You could say that,” I said dryly.
“What did you tell her?” he asked.
I told him, but as I did, I knew I’d come on too strong.
I let her see more of the real me than I intended.
But here was the thing. Even as she shouted at me and tried to take my head off with her water pitcher, I saw flashes of desire in her expression.
She wasn’t turned off by the thought of us having a real marriage.
The nurse and doctor asked me to leave the room so they could settle her down. I hadn’t wanted to, but I did it so I wouldn’t have to fight them and security. I’d win, but it was a hassle. When I finished telling my cousin what I had said, he shook his head and rubbed his forehead.
“Chríost, Christ, no wonder she lost it. You don’t propose like that, jackass,” Dar admonished me.
“I was being honest, and I wanted her to have no doubts. I’ll give her everything she wants and needs. I’ll protect her. I won’t sleep with anyone but her,” I defended.
“And those are all great things, but it’s all in how you frame it. The way you just described it won’t get any woman to agree. I think you need to just forget about it, Cathal. I’ll find someone else.”
“Like hell you will. She’s marrying me! I’ll figure out how to woo her. You just need to get her to the compound.”
“I told you, no coercion,” he snapped. We were back in that private office we had used earlier.
“I’m not suggesting it,” I told him.
“Cathal, I need you to talk to me. Why are you so gung-ho? I know what you told me earlier, but that’s not enough to cause you to be so pushy and unyielding.”
I stood and paced the tiny office.
“I don’t fucking know! It’s like I get around her and things just come out of me without my control. But once they do, I know that I don’t want to take them back. The idea of her marrying anyone else makes me want to punch something,” I admitted.
I had my back to him, so when I turned and found him smiling, I froze.
“What the fuck is funny?” I asked.
“That you have no idea what is happening to you. I’ve got to say, I’m damn happy it is.”
“I swear, Dar, if you don’t tell me what you think the cause is, we’re going to the ring when we get home,” I threatened.
“Go ahead, but it won’t change anything.
You want to protect her, give her everything she wants and needs.
You want no other man in her life but you.
You want it to be a non-platonic marriage.
Let me ask you this. What if it gets to the one-year mark and you find you get along? How will the divorce work?”
“Why would we get a divorce if it’s working for us?” I asked.
“Tell me you haven’t thought about it lasting longer than a year.”
I opened my mouth to deny it, then stopped. He was right. I had, even if I didn’t say it. I remained mute.
“That’s what I thought. All those things add up to one thing, cousin. I think you’ve just found your anamchara, and by Dia, God, it’s gonna be wild and fun to watch you woo her. But I have faith that in the end you will.”
His laughter filled the small space as I stood there, staring at him in shock.
But the thought of her being my soulmate warmed me.
Chríost, could he be right? If he was, I had to bring in the big guns.
I’d have to ask my mam, daid, dad, the other ladies in the family, and my married brothers and cousins to help me not fuck this up.
Bronagh was likely my only chance at a happy forever and my own family.
?
At four a.m., Dr. Bowen gave her the green light for discharge.
He wanted her to stay with someone for the next twenty-four hours.
She had a concussion, plus the laceration at the hairline they’d glued, and the nicks and bruises.
There were no signs of internal injuries or bleeding. Again, he stressed how lucky she was.
I knew this not because I was allowed into the room while she spoke to the doctor.
It was because she allowed Darragh in with her.
I’d almost stormed the room, but he convinced me the smart thing to do was to stay out in the hallway.
He told me he needed alone time to get her to agree to return home with us.
I almost paced a ditch in the hallway before he came out.
“She agreed to come home with us. I spoke to Faolán. He was the one who talked her into doing it. It seems he got tied up and can’t make it by six. He sounded worn out, and he wouldn’t say exactly what held him up, but his relief that she’ll be with us was evident in his voice.
“I told Bronagh she would have an entire suite at the main house. Now, hang on, don’t bite my head off.
I had to, Cathal. If we took her back and put her straight into your house, she’d run.
As feisty as she is, she’d likely try to scale the damn wall to get out if we refused to open the gate.
You’ll have to woo her from there. I have faith in your abilities.
Women flock to you. Just remember, she’s a strong woman with pride.
If you only dictate, she’ll never be yours.
You have to balance each other. You can be soft, so let her be hard. ”
Conceding he had a point, I said, “How long until we can leave?”
“The nurse in there with her is helping her to get dressed and having her sign discharge paperwork. And I already messaged Dr. Keim to come to the house tomorrow afternoon to give her his clearance. Mam and the aintíni, aunts, will be there alongside mamó. They can help you show her the Cathal we know and love.”
“Yeah, but what about the Cathal that lives inside of me that most others never get to see?” I asked.
“You’ll have to introduce Bronagh to that one, but if you make her comfortable with the first half, she’ll accept the second. I feel it. I know you believe that your wants and desires are far removed from what the rest of us crave, but you would be surprised. Nothing you do is deviant, Cathal.”
“I know, but there’s still such a stigma tied to anything that’s considered kink or BDSM even now. I’d hate to have her with me, and then she runs when she finds out I like to chase her, tie her up, and spank her as just the start.”
Just the thought of doing those to Bronagh made my cock want to perk up, but I held it back.
“Cathal, take time to get to know her. I suggest you take time off from Wicked and spend it with her, at least while she recovers. They can survive without you. You have excellent staff, and if needed, we’ll help cover.”
His suggestion was a good one. I was planning what I’d tell my manager and key staff, and what we might be able to fill some of that time with, when the door opened, and Bronagh shuffled out. She was slightly stooped and moving slowly. The nurse was right behind her, begging her.
“Ms. Bragan, you can’t walk out of here! Wait, and let me get you a wheelchair. It’s hospital policy.”
The nurse was young, probably only twenty-three or so, and her anxiety was apparent. Bronagh waved her hand in the air.
“I’m not riding in a damn wheelchair like I don’t have use of my legs. Where is the exit?”
I walked over to Bronagh. She gave me a narrow-eyed look.
“You’re still here.”
“I am, and I’m your way out of here without this nice nurse having a coronary and you not riding in a wheelchair. I have the perfect compromise,” I said cheerfully.
“Oh, and what is that?” my future wife asked.
“Just this,” I said as I bent and swept her off her feet and into my arms.
I cradled her bridal style. Her gasp of surprise made me smile. All Bronagh did was make sputtering noises.
“But you can’t do…oh, never mind. Her discharge paperwork, prescription, and personal effects are in this bag.
Please review them, and if she develops any of the symptoms on the first page, bring her back,” Nurse Sara, according to her badge, said in defeat.
She handed the bag to Troi, who held out his hand to take it.
“We will. Thank you,” I told her nurse, then I headed toward the exit.
“Cathal, put me down! People are staring. There’s no need to carry me. Fine, I’ll ride in the chair,” Bronagh stated.
“I don’t care if anyone is staring. And it’s a waste of time to wait for a wheelchair. Besides, it’s good practice,” I told her.
“Practice for what? Are you thinking of a career in nursing?” she asked sassily.
“No, for carrying you. That’s what one does on one’s wedding night. You carry your bride over the threshold. No worries, I’m more than strong enough to do it,” I murmured to her.
I heard a snort cut off. I thought it might’ve been Finnigan, but I wasn’t sure.
All the woman in my arms did was glare at me.
The urge to kiss her was there, but I resisted it.
In the waiting room, there was still a crowd.
When we came through the door, Vander was still there, along with Cashel and Seamus. They came to meet us.
“Reggie went to check the outside. We’ve got a couple of minutes until Brett comes to pick us up. He got permission again, it seems,” Vander explained.
“Permission for what? Who’s Brett?” My cargo asked.
“I’ll explain in a minute, but first let me introduce the crew.
These two are Finnegan and Troi. And these are Vander, Seamus, and Cashel.
” I made the introductions as we walked outside.
The morning air was cool. I was about to turn back to find her a blanket when Finnigan produced one.
I hadn’t even seen him with it. He put it over her.
“Thank you,” she said sweetly.
He nodded. I noticed he didn’t attempt to tuck it around her body. That would’ve gotten him punched. I juggled her until I could grasp the hanging side and pull it underneath her body and trap it with my arms. Reggie walked up to us right after I covered her.
“Brett is coming in. Let’s go,” he said.
The sound of the helicopter getting closer was evident. Bronagh’s mouth dropped open.
“Are you kidding me?” she whispered.
“Kidding about what?” I asked, swiftly making our way toward the helipad. The massive helicopter was descending.
“You’re landing a helicopter in the middle of the parking area of a hospital!?”
“Yes. We had to get here as quickly as possible, which meant we couldn’t drive.
It’s under an hour flying and three hours driving.
Since we had no cars to get us from the airport to here and acquiring some would take more time, Brett, our pilot, got permission to land long enough for us to disembark and then reboard.
This guy is Reggie. Everyone, this is Bronagh Bragan, my future wife. ”
There was an exchange of looks as they greeted her. Bronagh squeaked and then told me I must have the head injury, not her, which made me laugh. A minute later, we ducked, and all hurried to the helicopter door. Seamus opened it, and we all piled inside.
I placed her in a plush seat and secured her seatbelt around her and the blanket. I took the seat next to her after putting the headset over her ears to mute the noise. It would allow her to hear and speak without having to scream.
“Everyone ready?” Brett asked as he monitored gauges and pressed a few switches. It took us no more than two minutes to be ready for take off.
“Take her up,” Darragh told Brett.
I watched her stare out the window in awe. I guess she had never flown in a helo.