Page 109 of Our Little Dove

We spend the next few hours sipping on the exquisite whiskey as the tension of the day slowly melts away. The warmth of the alcohol spreads through me, mingling with the warmth of something more that simmers beneath the surface.

Alex picks up the phone lying between us to check the time before she stands up with a stretch. “I don’t know about you two, but I could use some fresh midnight air,” she suggests, a glint of tipsiness in her eyes.

Without waiting for a response, she heads towards the doors that lead to her backyard. “Sure, I could use a smoke,” I exhale as Kieran and I exchange a glance before following her outside.

The cool night air brushes against my skin, carrying with it the scent of smoke as Kieran lights a cigarette beside me.

Alex plops down on the patch of grass beside the pool with a warm smile on her face, complimented by the shade of her alcohol flushed cheeks. “Come join me,” she purrs as she lays down and looks up at the stars.

Kieran hands me his cigarette before lighting another for himself as we move toward Alex and lie on either side of her. The quiet hum of the night surrounds us, broken only by the occasional sound of crickets.

“This is nice,” Alex muses softly, breaking the silence between us.

I nod in agreement, feeling a sense of peace settle over me and Kieran lets out a low hum. Despite the turmoil that constantly swirls around us, moments like these make everything feel just a little bit lighter.

As we lie under the vast expanse of the night sky, the stars twinkle like distant promises. I steal a glance at Alex, her eyes fixed on the celestial beauty above us, a soft smile playing on her lips.

I lift onto my elbows and move my gaze towards Fintan, his profile illuminated by the gentle glow of the moon. His expression is one of contentment, a rare sight on a man who is always full of wit and sarcasm.

We may not have chosen an easy path, but in moments like these, I know there is nowhere else I would rather be.

A shooting star streaks across the sky, drawing a gasp of wonder from Alex. She sits up, her eyes wide with excitement. “Did you see that? Make a wish!” she says eagerly, her voice carrying a childlike enthusiasm that is both endearing and infectious.

I close my eyes for a moment, my mind racing with all the things I could wish for. But right now, there is only one thing I truly desire – for this seemingly fragile bubble of happiness to last. This may be a bond forced in fear, trauma and sex but to me it’s more than that.

When I open my eyes, I see Fintan watching me intently, as if trying to decipher the unspoken wishes written in the depths of my soul.

There is a softness in his eyes as he watches me, a tenderness that tugs at my heart. In moments like these, it’s easy toforget about the complexities of our somewhat unconventional relationship and how it started.

Alex shifts until she is facing us with a serious look on her face like she needs to get something off her chest. Curious, Fintan and I sit up before she reaches out her hands toward ours as she intertwines our fingers with hers.

The touch sends a jolt of electricity through me, igniting something within that I can only assume are the butterflies people always talk about.

“I love you,” she whispers, her voice barely above a breath. The words hang in the air, heavy with meaning and emotion. As if sharing the thought, Fintan and I move forward simultaneously to wrap our arms around her.

Fintan peppers kisses along her neck and shoulder as I inch back and place my hand on her chin, ensuring I have her eyes on mine. “I think I speak for both of us when I say, we love you too, Alex.”

“Sure do,” Fintan breathes as he nuzzles into her neck before turning her face toward him and kissing her. She breathes heavily as she kisses him back fiercely before sitting back on the grass.

Fintan turns to me and we share a kiss that is not quite like the ones we shared before. This is gentle, passionate and fuck if it doesn’t make my dick grow hard as Alex snakes her fingers into our hair and places kisses on our cheeks while my lips are sealed to Fintan’s.

I could stay like this for hours and the thought of having sex out here under the stars is exhilarating, but our passionate moment of peace is short-lived as Alex’s phone suddenly rings inside, shattering the spell we were under just a second ago.

Igroan and roll my eyes in annoyance as I straighten off the grass and slink toward the door to find my phone.

I find my blaring device lying on the kitchen counter and snatch it up to see who would bother me at —yeah, nearly one in the morning,I note as I glance at the clock above the window.

Joel’s name is flashing on the screen and as soon as I swipe to answer, loud music blares from the tiny speaker, causing me to nearly drop my phone.

If it isn’t Molly squealing at me through the phone, it’s Joel calling me while he’s at Hell’s Playground. I will most definitely need a hearing aid before I turn thirty.

“Alex?” Joel practically screams over the line. I grimace before answering. “Joel, for the love of fuck, walk away from the goddamn bar! I’m hanging up if I can’t hear you over the noise!”

Fintan and Kieran join me in the kitchen as soon as they hear Joel’s name and Fintan mouths“put it on speaker”before they take a seat at the table.

I pace around with the phone, now on speaker, as I wait for Joel to make his way somewhere quieter. “Come sit, baby,” Kieran whispers as I round the island.

I sigh and make my way toward the two men focusing hard on the noise coming from the device in my hand. I place it on the table so we can all hear what Joel has to say.

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