Page 42 of Bartered Innocence

“So I did.”

His confirmation solidifies any walls in my heart that were crumbling for him, and I pull away from his hold. “Don’t make a big speech about respecting boundaries or whatever bullshit when the whole time you didn’t respect mine.”

I head back to the house, knowing he’s following a few steps behind me in silence. There’s nothing he can say to change our past, no matter what our future entails.

Chapter17

Rian

I knockon Declan’s door and smile when Aoife opens it with a returning grin, rubbing her swollen belly.

“I’d say it’s good to see you, but it usually isn’t if you’re stopping by. Dec is in the back. Hungry? I’m finishing up some dinner,” she says in greeting.

She moves to the side so I can come in.

I kiss her cheek, placing my hand briefly on her bump. “You look good, Aoife. How’s the baby?”

With a grin she leads me into the kitchen, a slight waddle to her walk. “He’s kicking up a storm. I could have lived blissfully without knowing what bruised ribs from the inside feels like.”

I laugh, warmth spreading in my chest. “Declan's gonna have a son, aye?”

Her pale cheeks color with a tint of pink. “He refuses to find out. I just feel it, ya know? He’s my boy.” Aoife rubs her belly, smiling fondly.

“I’m sure he’s scared shitless. We all thought Cillian would be the first one to become a father, considering how much he whores around.”

She laughs, her eyes twinkling with mischief. “Something tells me you’re not far behind. I saw the photos and the way you looked at her at the wedding.”

I rub my thumb across my bottom lip. “I guess it depends how fast my swimmers are. I don’t mind practicing.”

“Are you talking to my wife about sex, ya bastard?” Declan grumbles. He steps behind Aoife, pulling her into his chest as he kisses her temple and rubs her belly. “How ya feeling, chicken?”

“Like a balloon about to pop. And hungry.”

I snap my fingers. “That reminds me. Deirdre said to call her so she can prepare some meals for the birth.”

Aoife’s eyes widen. “She doesn’t have to do that.”

Declan snorts. “If ya don’t tell her, she’ll make the same meal twice over out of spite and then come check ya ate them.”

Stifling my laugh, I nod. “Remember that time Cillian complained about the mashed potatoes.”

He groans. “We didn’t get them for a whole year, she forced us to eat them baked the whole time. I will never forgive him for that.”

Aoife snickers. “None of ya thought to just try to make them yourself?”

Declan and I exchange a glance and she sighs.

“Men,” she mutters under her breath before waddling away to the living room.

He watches for a second before turning to me with a smile. “That sight never gets old.”

I raise an eyebrow. “Aoife walking like a penguin?”

“I heard that, you asshole!” she shouts.

Declan chuckles. “Nah, her all swollen with my kid. It gets me going more than I thought it would. You’ll see when you put one in Isabelle.”

He waves me over to his computer room before I can reply, and I leave it at that. Isabelle and I aren’t being careful, and I would love her getting pregnant. It’s not something that will seem real until it’s happening, so I push it out of my mind. A situation to think about and deal with if it arises.

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