Luck of the Irish: Complete Edition (34 page)
Read Luck of the Irish: Complete Edition Online
Authors: Liz Gavin
Later, they met Jen and her boyfriend, Adam, for lunch. A potentially awkward meeting turned out to be a very pleasant one. Keira and Jen hit it off straight away while Adam and Declan talked for hours as if they had known each other forever. They promised to keep in touch when they went their separate ways.
Once they got to the apartment’s street and were entering the building, Declan had a mischievous smile playing on his lips. Keira raised an eyebrow, “What?”
“You’ll see.”
She couldn’t believe her eyes when she opened the door. There was a trail of red petals leading from the entrance door to the dining room table, where an amazing diner set was arranged, and a candle stick was blazing. The trailed continued towards the bedroom door.
“How? Why? When?”
The questions came out of her mouth all at once before she took a deep breath to calm herself down and choose one question, “Why?”
“Because when you left Dublin, I promised myself to treat you to a romantic evening you would never forget. I knew I had to win you over and romancing seemed the best strategy, at the time.”
Lacing her hands behind his neck and leaning into his wide chest, Keira smiled and looked up, “You have already won me over, baby.”
“I always keep my promises, love. Even the ones I make to myself,” he returned her smile with a devastating one o0f his own as he nestled her soft body against his hard one, holding her by her tiny waist. “Besides, one should never take a chance of losing love, losing romance. I must keep reminding you that you’ve made the right choice.”
Looking around them, Keira had no doubt about it, “Well, I’d say you might be on the right track, sir. What else have you planed for tonight?’
“Oh, the possibilities are endless. But, we should eat first. Màire would never forgive me if we didn’t taste her diner.”
“So, that’s how you managed to pull this off? How very ingenious of you.”
“Well, Keira, you know what they say – you don’t need to know everything as long as you know the phone number of whoever does know stuff.”
All through dinner, Keira couldn’t wait to get Declan into the bedroom and he noticed it. It was obvious in the smiles he gave her. Or in the way he flirted with her. Or in the warmth of his hand covering hers on the table. She was in a hurry to end the meal but he seemed to drag it on endlessly.
When they finally stood up, she held the collar of Declan’s shirt and pulled him down to kiss him deeply. His hope of taking things slowly went up in smoke the minute their mouths connected. They yanked off each other’s clothes as they moved to the bedroom leaving a trail behind them, mixed with the rose petals.
The same red petals covered the bedspread and framed Keira’s white skin when they tumbled together on the bed, without breaking their kiss. Their hands caressed and explored, aroused and soothed each other. Her long nails scratched his back when he nibbled the underside of her breasts. His muscular thighs tangled with her soft ones when she flipped him onto his back and straddled him. Squeezing his hips between her legs, she teased him with her own fevered body. He threw his head back on the pillow and closed his eyes as she leaned down and captured his lips between her teeth. But he stole her breath away when his hot palms cupped her breasts and his fingers played with her flesh. Her own fingers moved between their bodies until they found his hardness and guided it inside her warmth.
As she moved her hips in slow circles, Declan moved his up and down. His hands moved down to her tiny waist to guide her as she planted her palms firmly on his chest for purchase. She tweaked his nipples when the first waves of pleasure hit her. He winced but the quick stab of pain soon became searing hot pleasure and he lost himself in her sweetness. He opened his eyes when he heard her gasps but his own voice had deserted him. He wouldn’t be able to utter a sound even if his mind weren’t deliciously spiraling up through the vortex of passion they had created around themselves. Keira was also riding another mind numbing climax and was barely able to notice Declan’s arms encircling her and locking behind her back when she collapsed onto his chest.
Most of the times Keira and Declan made love, words weren’t necessary. The way their bodies completed each other, the way their skin felt against each other, and the way their hearts beat together made up for all the words they didn’t say to each other because those feelings were much stronger and meant much more than mere words.
* * * *
Next day, they went back to Cork and told Colin and Brandon that they would move to town and open the restaurant there.
“That’s excellent news, brother.”
“Yeah, Colin is right. We couldn’t be happier for you two.”
“Keira and I have already started looking for a little apartment.”
“Nonsense. You can stay here for as long as you need. You’ll have a lot of expenses with the restaurant and the wedding. When is it going to be, by the way?”
“In six months,” Declan answered. “Thanks for the offer, Colin, but I’ve got some money in the bank to cover the expenses. It will be enough. No worries about that.”
“Besides, we could use a little more privacy. We’re eager to try new positions in different rooms of the house but we’re afraid someone could walk in on us. We don’t want to scar your daughters for life, Colin.”
“Touché, Keira,” Colin bowed his head slightly.
“Bravo, hon,” Declan kissed her cheek and hugged her tight against his body.
Brandon laughed out loud before stating, “I guess we can say she’s a Slane woman, now, brothers. Mission accomplished. Welcome to the clan, Keira.”
* * * *
Six months later
Claire had started planning the wedding before the Ashes left Ireland, and she continued to do so, from the other side of the Atlantic. The ceremony and the reception were beginning to seem more Claire’s dream than Keira’s.
One evening, after one of her mother’s endless phone calls, Keira plopped herself on the sofa beside Declan, closing her eyes and covering her face with her right arm.
“I swear I’d rather elope. Please, let’s do it. There’s still time.”
“You’re just saying it because your mother made you angry now. You’ll feel better tomorrow.”
“I don’t know about that,” she slowly opened one eye to look at her fiancé. “I’ve never wanted a big wedding. Come to think of it, I’ve never imagined how my wedding would be - period. Now, she wants me to have this fairy tale wedding and she’s trying to convince
me
, that’s what I’ve always wanted. I can’t take this insanity much longer.”
“You don’t have to do that. Tell her that you want a small wedding.”
“You obviously haven’t met my mother.”
He looked puzzled and she explained her meaning, “You’ve met her, of course, but didn’t have time then to get to know her. My mom can be really overbearing.”
“I won’t argue with you on that.”
“You’re a smart man.”
On the night before the wedding, Keira and Declan had the same dream. They dreamed they met his mother in the same luminous room they had met in their previous dreams. She hugged both of them at the same time before stepping back and looking at them.
“I’m so happy for you, my darlings. For a long time, I prayed you would find each other. I knew it was all it would take for your hearts to recognize the fact that they beat to the same rhythm.”
“What do you mean?”
“You are soul mates, Keira. You were born to be together. Nobody else would do.”
“Mom, if we were soul mates, why were we born in different sides of the ocean? We could have never met.”
“That wasn’t going to happen, son. You would eventually find a way because you wouldn’t be happy otherwise.”
Declan looked at Keira then turned to his mother, “Now that Keira’s here with me, I know I would have done anything to find her if she hadn’t come to me. Still, this is a dream and I know that, when I wake up, I won’t remember any of this. How would I have been able to know that my soul mate was somewhere else, away from me? That I needed to find her?”
“Son, when the soul wants, the soul finds a way. Your soul would have known it. But things worked out fine and tomorrow you’ll get married,” she held Keira’s hands in hers and smiled when the Claddagh sparkled under the intense white light. “I’m glad Declan accepted my suggestion. It looks great on your finger, honey.”
Keira was so overwhelmed that her only answer was to hug Iris tightly. When she finally let her mother-in-law go, it was Declan’s turn to hold his mother in his arms for as long as he could. She slowly started to fade away but they heard her voice clearly inside their heads, “I’ll be with you always.”
In the end, their wedding was a big, beautiful, and romantic occasion, with their families and friends gathered at the hotel, overlooking the bay. It was a warm day and the sun shone brightly in the sky behind Keira and Declan, while they exchanged their heartfelt vows. Keira had agreed with her mother in almost every aspect of the ceremony, except the vows and the hand fasting ritual. She had put her foot down on both.
“Declan, your love has given me a better understanding of myself. Through your eyes I have seen a different side of me – stronger, more self-confident and more independent. You have made me a better person, not only because you believed in me, but because you helped me believe in myself. Today, before our families and friends, I promise to love you and cherish you for the rest of our lives together – which means, forever.”
“Keira, before I met you, I had never believed in eternal love. I had never believed soul mates existed. Now I know that my heart knew your heart before we were born because mine leapt inside my chest the moment you walked into my bar. I knew you were the one for me although I didn’t know you were already mine. And not knowing it drove me into being the man you deserved, a man capable of winning your admiration and your love. Today, as you give me the honor of becoming my wife, I promise you I will devote myself to proving my worth to you, for all eternity, because that’s how long I will love you.”
“Clasp your hands together,” the justice of the peace instructed them before he started winding a white ribbon around their hands. “This ribbon symbolizes spiritual purity, truth, peace, and devotion, all things Declan and Keira want to bring into their marriage. As I wind it around their clasped hands, so do all the wishes, dreams, prayers, and love that their families and friends have brought here and offered them, today. Finally, this knot I’ve tied around their hands means that Keira and Declan are eternally bond and they never wish to be parted from one another.”
There were very few dry eyes in the audience as the groom kissed the bride.
A year later
After O’Hallon had been sent to prison for life, Keira’s own life returned to normal. Even though they hadn’t noticed it before, it seemed as if they had been holding their breaths, waiting for the final act of that drama to unfold. When it did, both Declan and Keira were relieved because the defense attorney had tried to get a verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity. Justice prevailed, though, when the jury saw the clear premeditation behind O’Hallon’s acts, which contradicted any attempt on his lawyer’s part to establish insanity.
Feeling safe again, Keira decided to go back to school and get a degree in Architecture. Declan immediately agreed and encouraged her.
“Are you sure you’re okay with that, Declan? I can postpone it until next year to stay in the restaurant with you a little longer. It’s a lot of work.”
“I know it is, hon, but I’ll hire a manager to help me.”
“Can we do it already?’
“Oh, yeah! The restaurant is doing much better than I had anticipated. We’ll be fine.”
She hugged, kissed him and giggled.
“I can’t believe you giggled like a little girl, Keira Faith Ashe Slane.”
“I can’t help myself, baby. You make me so happy I feel like laughing all the time. What can I do? In you, Declan Patrick Slane, I’ve found what I had been looking for – everlasting love.”
* * * *
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
When I was in Second Grade (just a couple of years ago, really), my teacher told my mother I should start a diary because I needed an outlet for my active and vivid imagination. You see, I was a talkative child who would disrupt her class by engaging my colleagues in endless conversations. I loved telling them the stories my grandfather used to tell me.
I guess the teacher wasn’t a big fan of my stories. Or maybe she preferred a quieter group of students. Either way, my mother bought me a diary and I happily wrote on it for a month or so. Then, I gave it up. I didn’t see the appeal since I was writing for my own enjoyment only. I missed the audience my friends in school provided me. I went back to disturbing my dear teacher’s class.
Since then, I’ve been a hungry reader. I read anything and everything I can get my hands on – from the classics to erotica. And that’s how I got the courage to start writing down some of my naughty fantasies. Nowadays, I’m a writer. I write erotic romances and some erotica, too.
Living in New Orleans improves my creativity tenfold. It’s such a vibrant, gorgeous and wonderful city but NOLA also has a darker, wickeder side that has always captured my imagination.
So, welcome to my world of steamy, sexy Alpha males and naughty, independent women. Add a touch of the paranormal in the presence of some wicked souls and you'll get the picture.
Sit back, fire up your Kindle and enjoy the ride!
Liz Gavin
***
***
UPSIDE DOWN IS AVAILABLE NOW
by
Liz Gavin
Carol Anne Sullivan is a tough New York stockbroker. She’s suffered enough in order to learn a hard lesson - never let love spoil her relationships. Her boyfriends know that rule from the start. She’s domineering and assertive but also faithful and fair while her relationships last.
Mark Aikens is Carol’s boyfriend. He’s been in love with her for a while but his submissive side hasn’t allowed him to rebel against her golden rule and to tell her how he feels. Fear of losing her forever might spur him into action.
Cindy O’Rourke has admired Carol from afar. So, she jumps at the opportunity to work for her idol. Little does she know, things will never be the same for her after that job interview.
Carol has been going through a rough patch: world economical crisis, dysfunctional parents, demanding clients, faulty equipment. Without much time for herself, her love life is suffering. So what is the big deal if she fantasizes about a new employee when her boyfriend, Mark, can’t give her what she needs? The big deal is - the new receptionist, Cindy, is a woman who threatens to turn her world upside down.
This is the steamy tale of an unconventional love triangle, which should be read with an open mind and an open heart. Sometimes, love comes to our lives in unexpected ways but with such overwhelming power that the best course of action might be to surrender to it.
EXCERPT
I relaxed in my chair and got to work on my computer. Some time later, Mark entered my room with papers for me to sign. I checked the contracts and signed them up while monitoring the electronic NYSE market on my computer screen. I had been doing that for so long that it was like second nature to me, something I did without much thinking. When Mark didn’t leave after I had returned the papers, I looked up and met his mesmerized gaze glued to my face.
“Do you need anything else?”
“I’m sorry, Ms. Sullivan, I didn’t mean to stare or intrude. It’s just that I’ve been working with you for almost two years as your assistant, plus three years or so with the trading team before that, but I’m still fascinated by your genius. I don’t know how you do it. How can you be right so often in a volatile market such as ours?”
I chuckled and gestured for him to sit down on the chair across from me. It gave me time to think about his comments before asking him.
“What exactly would you like to know, Mark?”
“Anything you’d like to teach me, Carol. I’m sorry. I mean, Ms. Sullivan,” he was embarrassed at his slip of the tongue.
“We are alone, Mark. It’s fine if you call me Carol,” I studied his eager expression for a moment. “Are you asking me to explain to you how I know which stocks to sell and which ones to buy?”
“Basically, yes. If it’s not a big commercial secret, that is. I’d love to understand how your mind works.”
I smiled at Mark and pondered at how to best answer him.
“Believe it or not, this is
not
an easy question. In fact, I’ve been asking it myself for a while. What I can tell you, though, is that I’ve always been good with numbers, with making quick decisions under pressure. Those qualities are an essential part of my business success. But I wouldn’t be able to explain my working system, even if my life depended on it, simply because I don’t know how.”
I paused to try to translate my feelings into words and he seized the chance to speak.
“Carol, the way you buy and sell the stocks at the best time possible is uncanny. Of course, you get it wrong once in a while, but your winning rate is legendary,” he sounded like a young boy praising his athletic hero or something like that. It was so endearing I needed to keep my emotions in check. “Sometimes it seems supernatural.”
“You flatter me, Mark. You know how it goes. The team gathers information on the companies whose stocks seem more promising. They report back to me so that I can analyze the companies’ numbers. I compare their production data and check on their business background just as any other thorough broker would do.”
“Yeah, right!” he scoffed. “Then, when the bell rings in the NYSE, you sit behind your computer to monitor the electronic trading session and make millions of dollars, both for the company and for our clients, just like that,” he snapped his fingers to illustrate his point. “That’s no explanation at all, Carol.”
“Mark, sweetie, I’m not being evasive nor trying to hide any tricks. When I look at the computer screen, something happens, which I cannot explain. I just ‘know’ how the trading session will unfold. Like you said, I don’t get it right every time but my rate is pretty high, indeed.”
“That is why you’ve got to be so respected in Wall Street.”
“And so feared,” I volunteered the part he had left out.
He looked so cute when he blushed like he was blushing at my sarcastic comment.
“Come on, Mark. I know my reputation. It is my job to know it, by the way.”
“Nevertheless, it’s an unfair reputation. If you let people know the real you they wouldn’t fear you,” he looked at me with adoring eyes as he put his hand over my shoulder to squeeze it lightly.
My alarm bells rang like crazy at his remark and his expression. The conversation was getting too personal and sentimental, too fast, so I turned to my usual self-defense secret weapon for these situations – mockery laced with self-deprecating words.
“My pet, you of all people should know that is not true. If they knew what I can do with a whip and a pair of handcuffs they would run to the hills screaming in terror,” I laughed then returned my attention to the computer effectively ending the conversation.
Mark was smart enough to know his time with his mentor was up. He stood and left the room but I quit pretending to work as soon as he closed the door without a sound behind him. I stared at it for a long time wondering how much truth there could be in his words. I was going to turn thirty soon and that got me thinking.
“Maybe this is supposed to be a kind of milestone in a person’s life. Who knows? It might be a good time to rethink my choices. There would still be time to make up for possible mistakes and wasted time, right?”
For some reason, his words stuck with me so that I had trouble concentrating again and needed to make an effort to forget them in order to work. Many people depended on me – employees and clients alike. I had a huge responsibility I couldn’t neglect because I was going through an early midlife crisis. So, I took a series of deep breaths, stretched my arms over my head, then, went to the in-suite bathroom to wash and shake off the last distracting feelings. When I sat back behind my desk there wasn’t a shred of insecurity or self-doubt in my mind. I was back on bitchy Wall Street-broker mode again. Life was good!
* * * *
Check out these stories by
Liz Gavin
***
Available also in Portuguese
If you want to contact me, please, write an email to
[email protected]
COVER DESIGN – Created by Elessar Books by editing an image from
Big Stock Photo
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