Page 17 of Severed Rivalry
“Point taken. Just know that thelittle timeyou asked for was shattered when I heard her speak. You asked, and I planned to honor it. Then I heard her voice and something snapped in my brain. I couldn’t not know for myself. More so, I couldn’t wait even that small amount to see you again. And if there was the chance…” His voice trails off, and his eyes slam shut.
Burrowing my body into his, I take a deep breath and squeeze him. “I’m glad you’re here. Even if I was shocked you were on my front porch.”
“Me too.”
He places a kiss to my forehead, and I can’t stop the sigh that falls from my lips. This man. He used to do that… kiss my forehead. Something about it always felt protective. Sweet. Possessive but in the way that was safe. I’ve missed it and didn’t even recognize it until now.
“There’s so much more to say.”
“I know, Angel, and I want to hear it all. But since it won’t be another fifteen years before we chat again, let me hold you right now, and trust that tomorrow and the next day and the next, we’ll have the time.”
I nod, rubbing my temple into his pec, and exhale the worry and exhaustion. I’m warm and safe, cocooned in the shelter of his body.
My mind wants to race, but it might as well be laced with Xanax. It drops to a pace that feels like slow motion. There’s nothing compelling me to be frantic. There are my deep inhales and slow exhales. There’s the rise and fall of Cian’s chest and the bristle of his five o’clock shadow that catches my hair now and again.
Eventually the weight of his arm around me gets heavy, and his breathing tells me he’s asleep. I pull back just enough to study him.
I’m sure as a kid he was blond. He was in the summer I knew him too. He’s older now, and his hair and brows are deeper, a light brown, but I’d bet it would fade to gold given any time in the sun. His stubble leans red. Not full ginger, but that rusty color that should clue everyone in to his Irish heritage.
His jaw is square and solid as if he would be too pretty without the corners to his face, so God gave him that to tamp down the pretty into a more ruggedly handsome appearance. His cheeks hollow just enough that his face appears square. On a woman, it wouldn’t work. On him, it’s amazing.
His full lips are parted. The bottom one is pillowy. It takes all the discipline I have not to stretch and put my mouth on his, roll him to his back, and taste it.
“Angel.” Those lips form his name for me before curving up in a grin so wicked, it threatens my panties.
Busted. “Yes, Ci.”
“You’re looking at me like you want to eat me. I have no problem with that, but your daughter?—”
I throw a hand over his lips, with more force than needed. “Don’t finish that sentence.”
“It’s a fact of life,” he says through my fingers. “It’s something we’ll need to negotiate.”
My spine goes stiff, and my voice goes lethal. “She’s non-negotiable.”
Cian’s face morphs from confusion to hurt. “Sariah.” He gives me a little shake. “You know me better than that. I meant we need to figure out how we negotiate life how it is now… That’s not anything negative about Renée. I have things too.”
“Oh. I’m sorry. I mean, I am… and I’m not.” Because it’s true. I’m not trying to be mean, but I certainly won’t allow Renée to be reduced in any way. I know that life. I know the language that surrounds it. I’m the bulwark against the waves that want to crash against her.
And I will not fail.
“I knew you’d be a good mom. I didn’t know you’d be fierce.” His eyes melt as he speaks. His words come in tandem to his body pulling me closer. “I like it.”
I sigh and nuzzle into his chest. The world, the last fourteen-plus years, all the noise falls away. “I missed you.”
“Missed you too. There’s lots left to say and I can’t promise perfection, but I want to see you. I want to know you and get to know Renée. Can I take you both to dinner tomorrow night?”
The grin that plays on my lips is met with a lightness in my soul. In fact, those might be butterflies doing some synchronized choreography in my belly right now. “I’d like that. Full disclosure, though. My girl is in full-blown hormonal-teenager mode, so be warned.”
“Don’t forget, I lived with Ayla. And she’s a redhead and all that comes with it.”
“You moved out before she hit this age if I remember correctly.”
“True. She was a nightmare.” There’s humor in his eyes as they drift from mine to my mouth. His head drops to put me out of my misery.
His mouth is on mine. Again finally. And not a stolen kiss where my daughter could see.
One just for me.
