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“You asked me what I wanted? There’s a lot of things, but in a nutshell, I just want you.” Shrugging, he added, “And I’m kind of hoping that you’re going to say that you want me, too.”
letting me know with every thrust of his tongue that he really did like my trouble.
“I’m going to do a lot of things for you, Shannon.”
“And I’m going to buy you a lot of stuff.”
“I am.” He stepped closer. “I am so fucking serious about you.”
“I suppose now’s a good time to tell you that I get a little obsessed with the things I love, huh?”
“I just want to be with you.” He shrugged almost helplessly. “All the fucking time.”
“That might change,” I said softly, shaking from the impact of his words. “I wouldn’t hold your breath,” he replied.
Oh god, I was being lifted off my feet as he drew himself back up to his full height.
“It’s like a Great Dane and a Chihuahua trying to mate, but they somehow make it work.”
“Stop worrying.” Taking my hand in his, he entwined our fingers and tugged me toward the archway. “I’ve got your back.”
Whatever this was, I knew I would hold on with both hands for as long as I could because the prospect of dealing with everything in my life and not having him to look forward to was incomprehensible now.
“Oh, and fuck with her and I’ll bury you all—” He cast a meaningful look around the table before adding, “Are we clear?”
“But I swear to god, lad, if I have to look at her with one more bruise, I’m the one who’s going to be in Cork prison, not her da. He’ll be in a fucking graveyard with his son beside him if either of them puts their hands on her again.”
“Until one day I looked up from my life and there you were. All blue eyes and full of secrets.” He cleared his throat several times before saying, “And I’ve never felt more connected.”
“That from the very first day you walked into my life, you changed me. That very first time I saw you? You sparked to life something inside of me.” Releasing a heavy sigh, he shrugged again, eyes locked on mine. “And I haven’t been the same since.”
“You make me happy,” he whispered. “I want to stick with that. I want to stick with you.” “Johnny…” My voice trailed off as I contemplated the importance of what he’d just said. “You make me happy, too.”
“I like where we are, Shan.” His words curled around my heart like a comfort blanket. “We’ll get there when we get there,” he added after a contented pause of silence. “I’m not in any hurry.” I felt his lips brush the top of my head. “Not with you.”
while he used his other to hold mine.
Without my brain’s permission, my feet had led me straight to him. When he opened that car door, I didn’t need to ask any questions before climbing inside because I knew I would go anywhere with him. Whether he knew it or not, he had offered me a temporary lifeline and I had grabbed it with both hands.
We spent the day doing absolutely nothing and that meant absolutely everything to me.
“I meant it when I said I need you for keeps.”
“I’m going to keep you,” he whispered and his hot breath fanned my face. “If that’s okay?”
“I’m on your team,” he added huskily. “Do you get that? I’m totally with you, Shannon Lynch. One call, that’s all you need to make, and I’ll come. I won’t let you down, and I won’t leave you alone in this. I promise.”
“I’m not in your corner, Shannon,” Johnny replied in a gruff tone. “I’m standing right beside you.”
“Well, I don’t want easy. I want you,” he cut me off by saying. “Just the way you are.”
“All I need you to do is keep talking to me,” he added, starting the engine. “Just keep letting me in.” He turned to look at me. “And I’ll keep you safe.”
“It’s the girl,” I corrected, giving her hand a squeeze.
“I’m keeping you, Shannon Lynch.”
Pride roared to life inside of me. Go on, baby. Don’t let them push you around.
“I already told you, I need you for keeps,” I replied gruffly. “There’s no expiration date between us.”
I did. Her.
He had become the safe place where I could let down my defenses. I wasn’t focusing on my family all the time. I wasn’t dwelling on the negative because I had the best version of positive in the form of my boyfriend.
Once I climbed in that car with him, the best part of my day would begin.
“You drive me crazy, Shannon like the river,”
“I love you, Shannon like the river,” he said, breaking through my depressing thoughts. “Only you.” Leaning back so that I had no choice but to lift my face and look at him, he smirked. “Like, a crazy fucking amount.”
“Let her do it,” Johnny interrupted. “I meant to hang it up ages ago anyway.”
“I’m right here with you,” he whispered in my ear. “I won’t let anything happen to you.”
“It doesn’t matter,” he coaxed, turning me around in his arms. “He can’t touch you.”
“You,” Johnny snarled, chest heaving, when my father stood up and faced him. “Are the worst piece of shite I’ve ever had the misfortune of coming across—and that is saying something considering I’ve traveled the fucking world.”
“Only god fucking knows how you managed to father her,” Johnny was roaring. “Because I sure as shit don’t understand how something so good could come from something so fucking toxic.”
“I’m the one trying to sort through a life’s worth of damage you’ve caused her. You fucked your kids up and you don’t even care. You’re a fucking disease and you deserve to be put down like the dog you are!”
“Don’t fucking look at her!” Johnny roared, hitting my father again. “You keep your goddamn eyes off her!”
and I’m going to continue fixing the holes you’ve put in her. And if you ever touch her again, I’ll know about it. One fucking bruise, I’ll see it and I’ll know who put it there,” he snarled, chest heaving. “And then I’ll come for you, and when I do, God himself won’t save you.” He shoved my father again. “Are we clear, you poisonous piece of shit?”
feeling the commitment he was offering me wrap around my body like ivy. His touch calmed something deep down inside of me, soothing the terror enveloping me from being in my father’s presence again.
“But you’re no father to anyone,”
“Yeah.” I blew out a shaky breath and nodded, knowing there was nowhere else I wanted to be than with him. “I’ll stay with you.”
His hand tightened around mine. “I’ll keep you safe.” “Come here,” I whispered, holding on to his hand with a death grip. “I need you close.”
“He won’t break you, because I won’t let that happen. Not ever.” “I love you, Johnny Kavanagh,” I choked out, clenching my eyes shut as I grabbed his arm and held it to my chest. “Most in the world.” “I love you back, Shannon Lynch,” he said quietly in my ear and I felt the connection I had to him in the deepest part of my soul. “Most in the world.” “For keeps?” I breathed. He kissed my shoulder. “For keeps.”
Shannon Lynch changed me.
