“Oh, God…” Kiera’s head fell backward, her hands gripping his shoulders as he thrust into her. She locked her legs around his ass, pulling him deeper. “Just like that…”
He reached out one hand and fumbled with the knob on the machine behind her, turning it on. It began to vibrate beneath her, and luckily it wasn’t very loud, especially with the laundry room door closed. He briefly considered the possibility of getting caught, but figured they still had another five minutes before anyone would even be moving into the dining room and notice them missing.
Kiera gasped at the sudden onslaught of sensations, falling forward and moving with him as the vibrations did everything he wanted them too. “I’m so close!”
“Come now, Keeks,” he urged her, almost nearing the finish line himself. When her breath came quicker and he felt her body pulsing and spasming around him, he let himself go. They clung tightly together as he tried to catch his breath. “I think I’m going to like practicing.”
Kiera laughed then kissed his cheek. Sliding off the machine, she pulled her clothes back on and fixed her hair. “Maybe next year after everything is settled? We could try then?”
He nodded, buttoning back up his pants. “I can’t wait. I think you’d be an amazing mom, Keeks.”
“You’d be an even better dad.” She moved the basket from in front of the door. “But speaking of parents, we should get downstairs before yours realize we’ve gone missing.”
“When do you want to tell them the big news?” he asked.
She shrugged. “Whenever you’re ready.”
“Maybe after dinner? I don’t want to show up Jimmy and Sophie’s news.”
“They’re having a baby, Quinn,” Kiera said. “The news that we’re moving back to Woodlawn can’t possibly compare to their announcement.”
“That’s probably true. I can’t wait to tell them though. They’re going to be so proud of you and your new job—not to mention the fact that it brings us back to the area.”
“Or that you bought your old firehouse plus the house next door. She’s going to want to help us with settling into our new house, or converting the firehouse into your new studio.”
Quinn chuckled, leading his wife down the stairs to rejoin the family. “Ma might literally float away from all the good news today.”
“I’m sure you’ll do something to piss her off and bring her back down off cloud nine.”
“You know me so well,” he replied, kissing the top of her head and laughing.
“We’re going to be so happy back here with our families, Quinny.” Kiera wrapped an arm around his waist as they got to the bottom of the stairs. His family was still rambunctiously talking over one another and laughing in the living room just like they’d been going before the duo had snuck off. Quinn saw that Kiera’s mother, Patty, had just arrived with her stepfather, Jay, so their timing returning was perfect. “I love you.”
“Love you more, Keeks.” He kissed her temple, relishing in how lucky he was to have finally won over the woman he’d spent his entire life in love with. “Always have. Always will.”
Chapter 10
Christmas Eve
Kane Kavanagh
“Ma, do you need a tissue?” Kane asked, motioning for his twin brother to go grab some. Nora sat beside him, her hand in his. She looked as concerned as he did.
“Or maybe some water?” Nora asked.
Tears poured down Dee’s face as she cried into her hands at the dinner table in the middle of the most lavish Christmas Eve dinner they’d ever had. Everyone was trying to comfort her and offer her food and drinks, but she just kept crying.
The entire family was spread between the dining room and living room at Kieran’s house at multiple tables they’d rented just for the event in order to seat everyone.
“I’m fine!” she finally managed to choke out, pushing away Seamus’ offer of a glass of whiskey. Then, on second thought, she grabbed it back from him and drank it down in one go. When she brought her head up again, her cheeks were stained with tears but she was smiling wide. It looked a little crazy, to be honest.
“Shit, guys. We broke Ma.” Quinn snuck the last crescent roll out of the basket in front of them, which normally Kane would have fought him on but he had too much on his mind to fight bread thieves tonight. “Someone get her new batteries—stat!”
“Feck off, Quinny,” Dee said, laughing between her tears. “I’m just so happy! Jimmy’s having a baby! Quinn’s moving home! Fiona’s have a baby! Casey’s in love! Everything is just so wonderful. I know you’re not kids anymore, but you’ll always be my kids, and you have made me the happiest mother this Christmas. In fact, I don’t need any presents. This has all been presents enough!”
“Does that mean we don’t have to help with dishes after either?” Kane teased, handing her the box of tissues Kieran had just passed him.
Nora smacked his arm. “Kane, really?”
Dee grabbed a tissue from him and shot him her signature don’t-even-think-about-it look. “I spent all damn day cooking this meal, so I’m not touching a fecking plate after. You’d better listen to that woman of yours.”
“It was worth a try,” Kane said, squeezing Nora’s hand tighter. “This one always makes me do the dishes, too.”
Nora grinned. “Not sorry.”
“Hey, I’m retired.” Kane spooned another helping of mashed potatoes onto his plate. “I should be doted on and spoiled day in and day out, like Pops!”
Seamus barked out a laugh from the head of the table. “Spoiled? Your mother’s got me checking my blood every five minutes, exercising, eating rabbit food, and I still check in on the gym regularly. No such thing as retirement in marriage, kid.”
“Excuse me for wanting to keep you alive,” Dee replied, wiping the remaining tears from her cheeks and clearing her throat. Her usual sarcasm dripped from her words as she collected herself.
“Kane’s the one always dragging me to the gym,” Nora admitted. “You’d think now that he’s done with fighting professionally, he’d let us just get fat and happy, but apparently not.”
Kane laughed. “I’d love you any size, kitty. More cushion for the pushin’!”
“Your parents are literally sitting right next to us, Kane.” Nora rolled her eyes, though he doubted she was ever surprised anymore at the things he said. He loved how she always gave him a hard time, but he loved even more that she accepted him the way he was and loved him for it.
“Mom, what is cushion pushing?” Murphy turned to his mother, Clare, a few seats down from Kane. All the other children were seated at a different table, but Clare had insisted Murphy stay seated next to her. Kane had completely forgotten about that, since he’d assumed most of the kids were out of earshot.
“Um…” Clare looked bewildered and shot Kane an annoyed look. “Pillow fights. They were having pillow fights.”
“Yeah, pillow fights,” Kane agreed, nudging Nora. “Right, kitty?”
“Yep, just a pillow fight.” Nora nodded her head then put her hand next to her mouth and whispered to Murphy loudly enough that everyone could hear, “and I always win.”
Kane wiggled his brows. “I’m nothing if not generous.”
“Okay, I’m honestly going to throw up from all these mental images.” Casey picked up a roll and threw it across the table, hitting Kane right in the forehead. “Can you stop talking about…pillow fighting?”
“Five minutes ago, I’m crying because of how wonderful my children are,” Dee began, rolling her eyes. She leaned over and scooped the tossed roll from the floor, then fed it to one of the dogs under the table. A few years before, Kieran and Rory had both adopted dogs Jimmy had found abandoned during his shift. They’d named them Turk and JD and brought them to all the family gatherings, which always thrilled the kids. “Way to swing the pendulum back the other direction.”
“Seriously,” Seamus agreed. “You’re all acting like children.”
Kane grinned as the table fell into random, raucous con
versations. Kieran and Shea had decorated the home for Christmas, and everything was red and green. It was beautiful, and Fiona was clearly happy to be part of today’s celebrations even if Kieran had had to carry her down to the table for dinner. Kane was happy for his twin and loved seeing the affection on his face when he looked not only at his wife, but at his son, Gavin.
Nora never asked, she never pushed, but he knew she wanted children one day. They were blissfully happy together, just the two of them, but he had no doubt that one day she’d be a wonderful mother.
“Pops? Quinn?” Kane called out to his father and brother, the rest of the table still distracted in their own conversations.
Seamus lifted one brow. “Now?”
He nodded. The nerves in his stomach were fluttering, but he pushed them away just like he’d always do before walking into the octagon. It was show time.
Quinn stood and discreetly handed Kane the ring box, hidden between their large hands and out of view. “You got this, bro,” Quinn whispered, clapping him on the back before returning to his seat.
Seamus stood at the head of the table and clapped his hands loudly. “Everyone shut up.”
The room fell silent. His dad had a way of commanding attention that no one else there did.
Seamus sat back down, and Kane stood up this time.
“What’s going on?” Nora whispered, tugging on the sleeve of his sweater. “Sit down.”
He ignored her and revealed the small red ring box in his hand, opening the lid. Gasps and hushed cheers rang out around the table.
Nora’s eyes widened, her hands folded against her chest. “Kane…”
Pushing his chair out from the table, he turned to face her and got down on one knee. She immediately began to cry and for a moment, he was worried he would, too. His normal jovial, sarcastic self seemed completely out of reach, and instead, all he wanted to do was embrace the woman who’d changed his life for the better and tell her how much he loved her.
“Nora, when we first met almost nine years ago, I was a goddamn idiot. Hell, I still am most days. It took two years to get you to fall in love with me, but once you were mine, I knew there was no way I was ever going to let you go. You’ve been by my side through every moment of my career, my life, my family…you’ve made me a better man. I will never be the man who deserves to be with a woman as wonderful as you, but I’d like to spend every day for the rest of my life trying. I love you, Nora Hannigan. Will you—”
“Yes!” Nora lunged forward and through her arms around his neck, kissing him hard.
“Will she what?” Shea asked from the other side of the table. “He didn’t ask anything.”
“They’re getting married!” Fiona explained to her teenage sister, who struggled with social cues due to her autism spectrum disorder. “He asked her to marry him!”
“Oh.” Shea nodded her head, then went back to eating her chicken nuggets, carefully separated in one straight line on her plate.
“Wait, wait,” Kane said, interrupting their kiss and pulling back. Shea was technically right, since Nora hadn’t let him finish the sentence. “You’ll marry me?”
“Of course, you idiot!” Nora kissed him again, then he took her hand and slid the diamond ring onto her finger. “I’ve been waiting half a decade for you to ask.”
“ME, TOO!” Dee shouted, crying again and clapping her hands. “FINALLY!”
He grinned at his future wife, ignoring his mother. “Sorry about that.”
The entire table broke out into cheers and congratulations, getting up to hug the newly engaged couple. Kane took Nora in his arms and dipped her right there in front of everyone as she squealed with laughter. Bringing her back up, he held her tightly to his chest and kissed her.
“We’re getting married.” Breathless, her eyes sparkled as her smile took over her entire face. “I’m going to be a Kavanagh officially.”
“You always have been,” Kane told her, teasing. “We never would have let you go.”
“That’s the truest thing he’s ever said,” Dee added, wrapping her arms around the both of them as everyone else piled in on the group hug.
“Oh, God! Too much love!” Kane groaned as he attempted to push his family off them.
“No such thing!” little Murphy shouted, wiggling his way into the center of the hug.
Chapter 11
Christmas Eve
Kieran Kavanagh
“Ready to go open presents?” Kieran asked his wife, Fiona. Side by side at the dining room table, most of the Christmas Eve feast they’d just devoured had already been cleared away. Tradition was that now everyone would open one present around the tree together. The rest of the gifts would be opened Christmas morning at their separate homes.
Fiona nodded. “I can walk myself, though.”
“Nah, I got you.” He stood and scooped Fiona up in his arms.
She looped one arm around his neck and rested her free hand on her pregnant belly. “You’re almost as bad as your mother, you know that?”
“Um…what?” He wasn’t sure he’d ever been compared to his mother before—or if that was a good thing.
Fiona tipped her head back and laughed. “You are! She finds out that I’m on bed rest and moves in to take care of our every single need. You find out I’m on bed rest and you’ve barely even let me move.”
“Is it overkill?” He laughed, maneuvering his way around the rest of his family, and settling Fiona on the large chaise section of the couch. She pulled a throw blanket over her legs and Gavin came toddling up to them, putting his arms up to join her. Kieran lifted his son and placed him next to Fiona.
“Not overkill. Just sweet,” she replied. Circling an arm around her son, she kissed the top of his head. “Are you ready for a present, Gav?”
“Yes!” The little boy wiggled in his seat, clapping his hands.
Shea joined them, sitting on the opposite side of Fiona. “Do I have to stay?”
“We’re opening presents, Shea!” Kieran reached under the giant Christmas tree that they had all decorated the other day and found the ones with their names on it. “You’ll like yours, I promise.”
The teenager didn’t reply, instead staring at the top of the tree and the sparkling lights wrapped around it. Kieran handed her a carefully wrapped gift that he’d seen Fiona put together last night—signed copies of a series of young adult books that Shea was obsessed with.
Gavin’s gift was next, and he jumped down off the couch and tore the wrapping off so fast that pieces of colorful gift wrap ended up everywhere. A bright red tricycle was revealed and he hopped right on and began attempting to peddle around the living room. The kid was young, but he’d definitely gotten the athletic gene in the Kavanagh family.
“Oh, my!” Dee cooed over her grandson, coming over and joining them. Everyone around them was opening their presents and she flitted around the room to each one. “Gavin, what an amazing present! You’re going to be such a big boy riding around town—ouch!”
Gavin rolled right over her foot.
Dee hopped in the air, moving out of the way and consoling her smarting toes. “I’m going to get a stop sign for him for his birthday,” she groaned.
“Sorry, Ma,” Kieran apologized. “You okay?”
“Yeah, I’m fine.” She shrugged it off. “I remember the first time you got a set of wheels. Couldn’t keep up with you.” She squeezed his chin, a sad nostalgic smile on her face. “Cherish these moments, Kieran. They grow up so fast.”
Kieran wrapped his mother in an embrace. “Merry Christmas, Ma.”
A loud retching noise next to them broke the moment. Everyone turned to see Rory and Clare’s son, Murphy, vomiting right on the living room carpet. He was still holding his wrapped gift in his hand while his parents were on the large couch with Brontë beside them.
“Murphy!” Dee rushed toward her grandson at the same moment Clare sprung from the couch.
“I’ve got him!” Clare grabbed a toy beach buck
et that was nearby and had just been unwrapped, holding it under her son’s head. She circled one arm around the little boy’s back. “Dee, I’ll handle this.”
“What is going on, Clare?” Dee put her hands on her hips. “Is he okay?”
“He’s fine,” Clare snapped. “I’ve got this.”
Rory stepped between Clare and his mother, shaking his head. “He’ll be fine, Ma. Don’t worry.”
“Rory, I…” Dee began, then faded away in a sigh. She stalked over to Seamus, who was surveying the situation from the edge of the living room. “Seamus, you need to do something.”
“I’ll grab some supplies,” Kieran offered, not at all worried about his carpet but unsure what else to do. Kids vomited. That wasn’t anything new. However, the way Clare was behaving set off an unease inside him that it was something more. He wasn’t sure what to do or say, so…he was going to clean.
Murphy had stopped throwing up, but he was crying now. Clare had lifted him into her arms and was carrying him in the direction of the bathroom. Rory stayed behind and was doing his best to tidy up when Kieran returned with the supplies to help him.
“What’s going on, man?” Kieran asked in a low voice as they both crouched over the mess and cleaned. The rest of the room was awkwardly trying to busy and distract themselves, but the tension was palpable. “Rory, there’s clearly something wrong. Is Murphy okay?”
His older brother didn’t say anything for a moment, but when Kieran looked more carefully, he realized his eyes were brimming with tears. Kieran felt a lump forming in his throat. In his entire life, he couldn’t think of a single time he’d ever seen Rory cry. Happy, sad, angry…never. His brother was a pillar of strength and stoicism, barely even had a funny bone in his body, either. This sudden show of emotion was damn near terrifying.
“Rory…”
“Leukemia,” Rory finally spoke, and this time it was loud enough that other family members heard and all turned to look at him. “Murphy has acute lymphoblastic leukemia. His chemotherapy started this past week, and it’s made him really sick.”