Page 37 of Snapped
Still, he couldn’t look at him, afraid he’d see nothing but disappointment or worse—resentment. Cirian’s fingers, gentle only when touching Rian, lifted his chin. The fear in Cirian’s eyes was still there, but the love they’d shared over the years that had only made them stronger with time shone there as well. It gave Rian the strength he needed to speak.
“He…Cillian…he…” Rian closed his eyes, sucking in a deep breath, “…he forced me…forced himself on me…” Rian choked on a sob, unable to say the word.
“Oh God, Rian, he raped you? Is that what you’re trying to tell me?” Cirian’s voice was low, menacing. Unable to speak around the lump in his throat or open his eyes to see the anger in his husband’s, Rian nodded. A rush of Gaelic fell from Cirian’s lips. Hateful, vile, disgusting terms Rian never thought would ever be directed at him. Then his entire body cried out in pain when Cirian pulled him into a bone-crushing hug, and he couldn’t hold back the scream that escaped him.
“Fecking hell!” Cirian realized what he’d done, and he released Rian, holding his hands while Rian rode out the pain before helping him get comfortable on the mountain of pillows once again. Unsure what to say, or if he should say anything at all, Rian sat helpless as he watched Cirian fill a glass of sherry, down it, then fill it again and pace the room.
Eventually, Cirian emptied his glass again then dragged a chair over to the side of the bed beside Rian. Still at a loss for what to say, Rian gripped Cirian’s hand tightly when he offered it. “I love ya still Ri, ya have to know that. What that monster did to ya changes nothing—our vows are between us and the lord above, and as far as I’m concerned, you’ve not broken them.”
They held on to each other and cried until there were no more tears to be had. Then they talked until exhaustion set in, trying to decide together whether or not they should tell Maya, Mia, and the twins. Secrets, half-truths, and lies were what made Cillian the animal he was when he tore through their lives, wreaking havoc and laying waste to everything in his path. So they’d tell their family. “Let’s wait until after the wedding, okay?” Rian said, already half-asleep.
“Of course, now sleep, love, safe in my arms.”
