Page 36 of It Was Always You

He moves so he’s resting his face against my leg but doesn’t speak. I keep a hand on him, offering whatever silent comfort I can, and look up to see Jonathan, the head of the Irish mafia, crying, openly displaying his emotions, which has me blinking back my tears.

He rasps, “Doc, make sure to run all the tests on my future heir.”

* * *

A few hours and multiple tests later, it’s been determined I’m just over a month along, and our baby is a fighter. I have a few bruised ribs and a busted ankle, but time and rest will heal both of those. Doc has ordered bed rest, and with both Owen and Jonathan breathing down my neck, I know there’s no way my ass will be out of this bed anytime soon. Not that I plan on going anywhere or doing anything that will risk this baby, but still. It’s kind of cute how they’ve teamed up against me.

After Doc had laid down the law and left us, Owen also excused himself to run down to his apartment and grab a few things, but really, I think that’s just the best excuse he could think of to let me and Jonathan spend some time together. Or more accurately escape the semi-awkward conservation that’s due to take place.

“I’m surprised you didn’t comment about me and Owen breaking your rules.” I raise my eyebrows as he takes a seat on the edge of the bed beside me.

“He told me while we were looking for you, and honestly, he wasn’t being very subtle from the beginning.”

“And you’re okay with it?”

“Sweetheart, the way that man cares for you is all I could ever want for you. But if he ever hurts you I’ll kill him. I know this is still very new, and it’s not been the best introduction to knowing me, but I love you, and I’m so glad we can get to know each other. Also, I can’t wait to meet my grandchild.”

The tender expression on his face makes me want to cry again, realizing this must be the version of him that Mum knew and loved. Now, I have the chance to know this side of him, and so does my child. It fills a void I didn’t even realize was there.

“I love you too…D-Dad.” It’s the first time I’ve called him that, and the look on his face tells me just how much he’s been longing for it. I wanted to, but it just didn’t feel right at first. Then, everything got chaotic so quickly, but now, we have time.

Time to get to know each other.

Time to enjoy having a father-daughter relationship, before I become a Mum.

And I can’t wait to have that with him.

* * *

“You know, Doc didn’t say anything about needing a nursemaid, right?” I joke as Owen insists on not only running me a bath but washing me too. It’s fun to tease him and watch that little frown form between his eyebrows.

“I know, but I want to do this.” He soaps up my body and uses the loofah to clean every square inch of me. It’s extremely relaxing, and when he lingers on my stomach, covering it with his hand, I know he’s feeling our baby.

“Baby girl, I can’t wait to see the life we created together,” he says, kissing my neck while moving his hand lower, grazing my hip bone before plunging into the water and finding my pussy. As his fingers trail over my slit, I moan, and he silences me with a kiss as he thrusts two fingers inside me. Fuck, it’s been too long since I’ve felt his touch.

“I missed the way you moan for me. Did your pussy miss me?” he growls into my ear as he nips at the sensitive lobe, just the way he knows drives me wild.

“So bad,” I pant, holding on to his arm, scared he’ll stop and leave me dangling over the edge of this cliff.

“That’s right, so wet and tight for me. Come for me, come all over my hand. Show me how good I’m making you feel.” As he winds me up with his words, he also increases the speed of his thrusts, and with a flick of my clit while he nips at my nipple, I shatter for him.

He abandons my nipple in favour of swallowing my cries of pleasure by kissing me and then continues to stroke me until I’m a shaking, quivering mess gasping for breath and staring at him with hearts in my eyes.

“I love you, Owen, so fucking much,” I say, trying to reach for his pants, but he stops me with a shake of his head and grabs a towel.

“I love you too, Cora. And as much as I’d love nothing more than to fuck your pretty pussy, tonight is about you.”

He dries me off and carries me back to bed, curling up behind me.

Chapter 30

“Logan, good to see you again,” Jonathan says. While I’d much rather be in bed holding Cora while she sleeps, I also know if she finds out a meeting about Abigail’s future was happening and I missed it, she’d have my balls for dinner.

So here I am, seated on the sofa opposite Jonathan’s desk with Jack beside me, eyeing Logan like he’s the enemy as Jonathan leads him to a chair beside us. I can’t blame him. Logan doesn’t exactly scream ‘son-in-law.’ He’s the kind of guy you warn your daughter to stay away from. He’s huge, both in height and muscle, with even more tattoos than me. Everything about him screams hardened criminal. He’s forsaken the traditional suit for business meetings, instead opting for dark jeans, biker boots, and a black T-shirt that does nothing to make him seem approachable. As he takes a seat in the chair beside the sofa and the offered glass of whiskey, the room suddenly feels too small to contain both him and Jonathan.

“Thanks for agreeing to meet with me so soon. I’m sure you have things to sort out on your end, which is why I thought it important to share what I know about my father’s activities before proposing this…arrangement.” He struggles with even saying the word ‘marriage,’ which makes me wonder why he’s doing this if he doesn’t want to. As the new head of the Clan, thanks to taking out his dad, he can do whatever the fuck he wants.

“The girls thought they were to be auctioned off. What I’d like to know is what you meant when you said he was probably doing what he did to your mum. What he tried to do to Helen.” The thought of Angus having anything to do with Helen makes Jonathan look like he wants to murder dead things. I don’t blame him.

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