And that was when the time for talking faded.
And I gloried in her pleasure, reveled in her orgasm, and found my own peace in her.
My love.
My woman.
My wife.
Aela: How do you feel about becoming Cameron’s godmother?
Aoife: Really?!
Aela: Really.
Aoife: I’d be honored.
Aela: You sure? I know we don’t do the religion thing but I want him baptized.
Aoife: I understand. I wanted Jake baptized too.
Aela: You know what it means though, don’t you?
Aoife: That I’ll see them at the ceremony?
Aela: Yeah. How do you feel about that?
Aoife: I think I’m ready. Lena doesn’t push things. Senior’s not so bad now either.
Aela: You sure?
Aoife: For my godson, yes. I’m sure.
Aela: I don’t want you to feel pressured.
Aoife: I don’t. I don’t have to say yes, Aela. But it’s worth it. They’re his grandparents, and they should be there. I don’t have to talk to them or even look at them to play my part in the ceremony.
Aela: I’m so happy you feel that way. I really wanted you to be there for Cameron.
Aoife: I’m there for Shay too. You know that.
Aela: You’re so maternal. I think I skipped that gene.
Aoife: That’s a lie. You’re an awesome mom.
Aela: Can I tell you something?
Aoife: Of course.
Aela: It’s delicate.
Aoife: Go for it. I’m a big girl.
Aela: I forgot how difficult it is to have a newborn.
Aoife: Of course you did. Do you need some help?
Aela: I couldn’t ask you to do that.
Aoife: You can. He’s my godson. Who else should be there for both of you right now?
Aela: I just really want to have a shower.
Aoife: I know, sweetheart.
Aela: And I want to hear my favorite songs without crying.
Aoife: I can’t help with that. But I can take over while you get showered, and I can even bring over food if you want.
Aela: I’m crying.
Aela: Why am I crying?
Aoife: Because you’re tired and hormonal and YOU JUST GAVE BIRTH. Be kind to yourself, sweetheart.
Aela: It’s so hard. And Declan’s being awesome. He’s there and doing stuff and trying to help and I just want to bite his head off.
Aoife: Well, he did this.
Aela: Yeah, it’s totally his fault.
Aoife: Lol. I’ll be over in an hour or so, okay?
Aela: Thank YOU <3 <3 <3
Aoife: Just take it easy until I get there. All right?
Aela: I will.
Aela: Aoife?
Aoife: Yep?
Aela: I already loved you but I’ll love you even more if you bring your brownies with you.
Aoife: LOL. You got it. <3
Fifty-Six
Declan
When Seamus walked through the doors of the workshop, both black eyes were squinting as he immediately shook his head. “Mom won’t like it here.”
I frowned around the empty expanse. “What’s not to like?”
“It’s not right.” He huffed under his breath. “Didn’t you ask her for specs?”
“Of course I did.” I shoved my fists onto my hips. “What’s wrong with it?”
“Not enough light.” He peered up at the ceiling. “She likes overhead illumination.”
“I’ll bust open the fucking ceiling then.” I rolled my eyes. “Or buy her more lamps. You know how difficult it was to find this after the last two?”
“Telling ya, she won’t like it, Dad.”
I wasn’t entirely sure what there wasn’t to like considering the shopping list Aela had given me and which my crew had scoured the city to attain on her behalf. The fact she’d dropped the First Lady’s commission hadn’t changed her specs, God help me.
Either way, I’d bought the place now, and we’d have to reno it to fit her exacting standards.
Seeing as renting hadn’t worked out, I was hoping that buying a place, gutting it, and shaping it to her specifications would move things along.
I already knew my woman was a pain in the ass, but this had taken a lot more effort than I’d expected, and Shay’s immediate dismissal didn’t put me in a better fucking mood.
She’d gone through two ateliers in the past six months, and I was running out of places to put her exacting ass.
Walking over to him, I chucked him on the chin so I could get a better glimpse at his eyes. “I let Brennan start teaching you how to fight because I didn’t want you to be in a position where you couldn’t defend yourself, Shay.”
He jerked his head back and away from me. “I’m not going to let them talk smack about us.”
I narrowed my eyes on him, wondering if it was that people were talking smack or if it was the fact Shay had a new brother and he was finding it hard to adjust. I knew that I’d hated it when Eoghan came along. Feeling displaced sucked balls.
“People always talk smack—”
“I don’t get it,” he rasped. “I don’t get that they’re terrified of us, of Grandda, but they talk this much shit about our family.”
“Because terrified people do stupid stuff.” I smiled at him. “Never heard of posturing? Bet your ass their fathers aren’t talking smack about us.
"They’re just dumb fucks, kid. I need you not to get into fights over this shit because it doesn’t matter.”
“I don’t like it,” was his stubborn retort.
“Since when did you defend Grandda, anyway? Thought you were still pissed over him not liking having to share restrooms with trans people.”
He shrugged. “He’s old.”
“So?”
“We have to forgive old people and teach them to be better than they are. Anyway, it wasn't about that this time.”
My lips curved despite the fact that nothing about this situation was a laughing matter. "What was it?"
Those two argued as often as Aela and I kissed. That was to say every time they clapped eyes on each other.
"He said the ballet was for girls again." He stuck up his chin. "We argued."
“Not sure you can teach an old dog like Da new tricks, Shay.”
“We can try.”
"You can," I agreed, "but just live your life how you want to. Don't let him stop you. That's the best way."
"Is that what you did?"
"No. It's what I should have done."
His gaze was measured as he took me in before he peered around the studio. “You need to get a skylight installed before you show Mom. She’ll tell you this place isn’t right otherwise.”
I grumbled under my breath, “Such a pain in the ass.”
He gave me a toothy grin. “I’ll tell her you said that.”
“You can,” I retorted. “I’d tell her myself.”
“No, you wouldn’t. It would probably make her cry right now.”
“Nah. Not your ma. Most women would cry, she’d just throw something at me.”
His grin widened. “That’s my mom,” he declared, his pride clear.