Page 57 of Dylan
Damn. That’s my man.
Laughing at my thoughts, I fall back against the bed. I allow myself a moment before the reason I woke up reminds me that I need to get up. I stand on shaky legs and double over as soreness in my belly tells me I need to move a little more gingerly.
“But why do I still feel him? It’s like he’s still inside me,” I mutter to myself as I hobble to the bathroom.
I empty my bladder that’s screaming at me and then go to take a shower. Once I’m done, I find a robe on the back of the bathroom door and wrap it around me.
I can’t help but laugh as it swallows me. I could probably wrap it around me twice. I have to hold the hem up so I don’t trip over it.
If I can get to my gym bag, I can put on my workout gear at least. My stomach growls and I decide to go in search of Dylan and my bag. I should probably check on Ciarán while I’m at it.
When I pass by the room Ciarán was in last night, I find it empty. All his things are spread out as if he went through his haul this morning, but he’s nowhere to be found.
I head for the stairs to go down to check the kitchen. On my way down the steps, I begin to hear voices. The delicious rumble of Dylan’s voice sends goose bumps up my arms and across the back of my neck.
I bite my lip as I remember him speaking against the back of my neck while he thrust into me from behind in the wee hours of the morning. I will never be able to say my first night wasn’t one to remember. It may have been his first time, but he treated my body like someone who knew exactly what to do with it.
I freeze just out of sight as Ciarán’s words float to me. My heart squeezes as I listen to what he’s saying to Dylan. He’s taken to him so quickly.
“I think we’ve been lucky. I don’t think Theo and Sean will stay away forever. Lily had her moments. She wasn’t all bad all the time.
“However, she didn’t want to see Cee go either. She always got this look when Cee would say we were going to be gone one day. Cee did everything for them.
“If it wasn’t for her, there never would have been food in the house, and the place would have been dirty. She kept the gym going too. They never deserved to have her in their lives.
“They didn’t appreciate her and always demanded more without thanking her for a thing. Sure, they made me clean up and if I was around, it was like their legs and hands didn’t work.
“Ciarán, get me something to drink. Ciarán, where’s the remote? Ciarán, I’m hungry. Get me a sandwich.
“Ciarán, get my shoes. Ugh, I hated it there, but Cee always had it worse. She could have left when she turned eighteen, but she stuck around for me.
“They’re not going to let go. I know they’re not. I need to be ready to protect her when they come. That’s why I want to fight now. You make it fun and don’t make me feel stupid if I mess up, so that’s the reason I asked to train at your gym,” Ciarán says.
“I want ya to fight because ya want to. Not because ya fear some assholes from yer past. They are yer past, Ciarán.
“I’m here now. Ya and Ciara are safe with me and my family around,” Dylan says, his accent coming through thick.
Ciarán giggles. “That is so cool how you sound like a New Yorker one minute and then you sound like Taegan the next.”
Ciarán doesn’t seem to realize yet that Dylan’s accent slips when he’s angry. I’m sure he’s pissed off from hearing how we were treated. Ciarán actually gave a mild version of it all.
“Ciara and I will have to take ya home, so ya can learn more about Ireland. Taegan and her family are from a town not far from where Ciara and I used to live.”
“Why do you keep calling Cee that?”
“I used to know your sister when I was a little boy. When we were friends, her name was Ciara Walsh.”
“Oh. I wasn’t even one when Mom was killed. I don’t know anything about before then. I wish I was older to help Cee remember more.”
“I’ve got her there too, buddy. Finish your food and get back into that tape. That’s a good site to learn from. Mondo is a good buddy of mine. His fighters have great technique.”
“Your videos online are great too. You should start your own channel like Mondo’s for MMA fighters and boxers. That way, he doesn’t feel like you’re copying or stepping on his toes,” Ciarán says.
“You’re a smart kid, you know that? I’ll think about that one. It’s not a bad idea. The editing and stuff will take up a lot of time I don’t think I have.”
“I could help with that. We could even use one of my drones to record footage. Bro, I have so many ideas.”
“Slow down, killer,” Dylan chuckles. “I have a lot on my plate, but I’ll let you know when I’m ready.”
