Page 10 of Cillian

“What do you think about the lass? Do you like her?” Stealing another glance in her direction, her mother and another female family member helped her stand to her feet. My cheeks burned red as once again, I took in a bird's eye view of her beauty.

“I didn't reckon she'd be so pretty,” I said, a smile forming that I couldn't fight. Bellamy patted me on the shoulder, handing me a wallet sized photo of my bride that he pulled from his waistcoat pocket.

“Good. Hold that for safekeeping.” My once good mood shifted into a field of frustration.

“You tosser! You know what she looked like the whole time?”

He shrugged.

“What did it matter? You were gonna do what we told you to do, but yeah, there was this part of me that wanted to see your freckled arse humbled. Look at your tickled arse. Can't stop smiling.” I couldn't even hide it.

“I can't help it. I just…I guess I never really gave myself a permission to really look before. Pa was always beating the importance of us bringing home Irish girls. Are they always that beautiful?” Bellamy laughed.

“Why do you think I can't stay away? Sure as hell wasn't to be reckless and rebellious. With every beating Pa inflicted to keep my cock loyal to white girls I told myself, that if you have to beat someone into loving certain people, then you weren't meant to be you attracted to just one thing. What's the matter? You look nervous.”

Embarrassment flushed my cheeks again, this time for a different reason. I was no stranger to laying down with a woman, but my lineup had been nothing but Irish girls with no prior experience to whether Black girls would have different needs. Or functions. Hell, I didn't know where to start.

“As you know, I ain’t never been with no Black girl before. What do I have to…” I hesitated, struggling to find the words. “Is there anything different or special I got to do when… you know when it's time to do the vertical?” At that Bellamy smugly laughed, the way one might when they weren’t taking you seriously.

“Oh, Cilly boy, you and the others make me laugh. A Black woman is a woman. She ain't no fucking Martian. There isn’t anything different you have to do, but the way I see it, the Sullivan curse is either going to work for you, or against you. All that perverted shit you like to do ain't gonna be something you can easily do until she trusts you. You think a Catholic girl is hard to convince to let you choke her when you fuck her? A broad that’s Pentecostal is going to prove harder just to put your hands up her skirt. And a Southern Baptist lass, forget about it! Her legs are gonna be harder to pry open than a can of sardines.”

That was to be expected. Most women wanted to convince you that they weren't that kind of girl, and the ones that fought the hardest with words, melted at the promise of pleasure. Now, I may not have held many women in high regard, but I still had a reputation to uphold. Couldn't have any woman leaving my bed unsatisfied.

“So Black girls, do they…” I started, my voice lowering to a whisper. “Will they let you put your tongue down there?” He made a subtle gesture with his hands, his expression twisting into a grimace.

“Ehhh, it's a hit or miss. Some are enthusiastic, others not so much. It depends on how well you do it, I reckon. But first rule in point. Be very, very, very generous. I’m talking foreplay, kissing, touching, the full monty. You tank the first time and she may not be so eager the second time. Just treat her special. This is your wife now. I shouldn't have to tell you that in God's eyes, it ain't right if you mess around on her. That's one thing I can say about Pa. He might not have been a romantic but I've never known him to step out on Ma.”

He was right. Our father was the furthest from a passionate lover but he took care of our family, and saw to it that our mother never had to work, whatever that was worth.

“And another thing, be good to her. Those Black lasses, the one thing they got others beat on is that they're fucking loyal. You go around and fuck up enough times, you'll chase a good one away. There was this one lass, met her before the time was right time for us. Could have been the one.”

It was an unspoken fact that Bellamy had had a long-term girl that Pa spent years trying to sabotage to get him to stay devoted to the family. He never brought her around and we never asked about it because he would’ve never told any of us anyways. But for the first time I was curious.

“Whatever happened to her?” Bellamy laughed, but it was a sad laugh. One that didn't reach his eyes.

“I fucked up the right amount of times. Haven’t seen her since. Biggest regret of my life was not proving to her that I worshipped the ground that she walked on. Kind of left an emptiness in my heart. A part of me don’t want to feel that way about anyone again. Hurt too much to lose it the first time.” Hearing him speak on it, I never knew my brother had a sentimental side. He was always the ladies’ man. A sweet talker that had women fighting to chat him up. The idea of him doting on one lass was foreign to me.

“I didn't know Bell, I'm sorry. Did Pa know?”

“Who do you think likely orchestrated it? One day I was checking up on her and the next, any trace of her was gone. I know you know where that leads. If she’s still out there, I just pray that she’s safe and alive. And I hope she stays the fuck outta Boston.”

“Damn, that’s fucked up.” He slapped my shoulder, shifting the focus back on me.

“Yeah, that's enough about my jaded love life. How are you going to spend your first night married?” My smile returned.

“Well, I haven't shagged in over three years, so if my night goes well, I'll be knee deep in pussy. Don’t blame me if I’m a little late reporting for work in the morning. If you know what I mean,” I joked, to where Paddy materialized, catching me in a slight headlock.

“You may not even know how to use it proper after three years wanking. Might want to take it slow tonight before you put the Sullivan curse to shame,” he jested. There may have been a list of things I was rusty at, but things like pleasing a woman you never you forget how to do.

“Where’s Tadhg?” I asked.

“Oh, he's just outside talking to the father about some last-minute changes. We're going to front your father-in-law the cash to open up a club and bar in Roxbury, and the plan is to start expanding into Black neighborhoods. Your new Pa claims that Black folk got money to spend and we got money to earn.” As if on cue, Tadhg returned outside with my father-in-law, signaling me over, as our guardians walked us to the car that would be taking us to our new flat.

“This is Seamus. He'll be seeing you off to where we put you up in. Figured a nice drive there together would give you a chance to get to know each other,” Tadhg said, as I opened the door for her, her small frame climbing into the car, as I closed the door behind her. Her father cornered me, leaving me with a stark warning.

“You watch that girl. She's a whole ass firecracker. Gave me trouble all the time. I'm only telling you because she's your problem now. Don't let that angelic look on her face fool you.”

Four

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