by Henry, Jane
I smile. “Oh?”
She smiles back. “Will you ask me properly?”
I kiss her cheek, spin her around, and pull her to me. Wish I could drop to one knee.
“Aisling. Will you marry me?”
“Aye,” she says with a grin. “Of course I will.” She grins. “Get me a bloody ring in time, will you?”
“Naturally.”
My no-nonsense woman. I bloody love her. I’ll get a ring on her finger and take my vows, and claim her as a woman of the Clan.
I hold her to me, so grateful we can leave the past behind and move on to bigger and better things.
The rest come back from the funeral and make their way inside eventually. The staff’s prepared a reception. I find Lachlan and Fiona in the library, dressed in jeans and t-shirts not an hour later. Fiona opens her arms to Aisling.
“Come here and give me a big hug. I’m grateful for you! That funeral was actually quite hard today.”
Aisling gives her a big hug. “I bet,” she says. “I found it hard myself. But I’m glad to be here.”
Everyone assembles in the dining room for a large feast. The smell of freshly-baked bread, tomatoes, and garlic waft through the air as the staff brings plate after plate of delectable foods to the tables.
“What is all this?” Aisling asks.
I merely shrug. “Just a little spread.”
“Little? Jesus, Tiernan, there’s enough here for an army.”
Lachlan chuckles, standing behind us holding Fiona’s hand. “Don’t you know, lass? We are an army.”
Keenan arranged this with me, preparing for Aisling to shed her old life and embrace her new place in the McCarthy family home.
When everyone’s arrived, I clear my throat and stand. “Welcome, everyone.” The room goes quiet.
“Today, I’ve an announcement to make.”
Aisling’s cheek flush pink, but she doesn’t look away. All eyes are on me now.
“It’s tradition for a man of the Clan to publicly announce when he’s to claim a woman, as she becomes one of us.”
Murmurs of agreement go up all around us.
I reach for Aisling’s hand.
“Meet Faidha,” I say, pride in my voice. She will take my name, put a ring on her finger, and become McCarthy family. Just like I did.
“And it’s time to make this announcement. Faidha belongs to me. I’m claiming her as mine. I’ve given her a ring, and we’ll wed on the first of the month.”
The room erupts into cheers, and well-wishers approach to clap us on the back. I’m so damn proud I feel as if I might burst.
Cormac opens bottles of champagne, and Fiona gives both of us a hug.
“I’ve finally accepted that you two are going to be a thing,” she says, her eyes dancing. “But I’m happy for both of you. Never knew anyone who could take a man like you,” she says with a playful jab. “Nor a man who could handle a lass like you.”
“Oh aye, they’re well-suited for one another, aren’t they?” Lachlan says.
I nod. He would think so.
“How’s Tully?” I ask.
He grimaces. “Keenan says he’ll be in the hospital a little while, but he’s doing well.”
Aisling’s brow furrows. “I’d like to visit him. Can we?”
“Not until he’s home, but we will. Right now, I think we need to be sure everything’s settled first.”
“Oh, aye,” Keenan says. “It’s why I told Danny Cook you’re not ready to go back to the ring yet. But when you’re fully healed, we’ll book it.”
I look at him sharply. Even Aisling grips my arm, and I swear Fiona’s holding her breath.
“You mean it, Keenan?”
“Oh, aye,” Keenan says. “I won’t let a fucking douche frighten away the McCarthy Clan. You bested your last opponent but haven’t returned to the ring since. And I think it’s time you went back and showed them what you’re made of.”
“Do it,” Aisling says, her eyes gleaming. “And Faidha will come and watch.”
“Not now,” Keenan says. “But in time, we’ll have you back in the ring. And anyone who comes to watch will know you’re McCarthy clan stock.” The note of pride in his voice makes me stand up straighter with my arm around Aisling.
“Aye,” I say. “Sounds like an excellent plan.”
We eat our meal and thank those who congratulate us. Fiona puts us through on a call to the hospital to Tully, who’s recovering slowly but getting there. He congratulates us, and Aisling’s eyes shine with tears when she says, “Thank you, Tully. Thanks for what you did.”
“I wish a world of happiness to you both,” he says. “You deserve it.”
I suppose the old me would’ve balked at the notion of “deserving” a world of happiness. I don’t give it much thought, really. I focus on my job, my duties, my responsibilities. But now I’ve got this strong-willed, brilliant, absolutely stunner of a woman on my arm who’s declared herself my fiancée. And damned if I’ll do anything but devote myself to a new purpose.
Dedication to the Clan.
Dedication to Aisling.
She reaches for my hand and squeezes it. I squeeze her back. We thank the staff that congratulates us, Maeve and Caitlin. Megan and Carson, and Cormac and Aileen. Boner and even Malachy’s come to visit from St. Albert’s. I look around this room, beaming with pride at the woman at my side. Sometimes you just know when something’s good and right, and maybe even meant to be.
Aisling looks at me, her eyes beaming. It’s been a hard road for her, and it’ll be a hard road for her yet. I lean in and kiss her, tasting her sweet essence and devotion. There will be challenges ahead of us, but after what we’ve been through, we’ll face them together.
Only this time, we won’t be alone. We’ve got an army behind us, but most importantly… each other.
Epilogue
Aisling
Six months later
“Honest to God, Faidha! Your man’s strong as a fucking ox.”
Cousin Megan’s on her feet, cheering for Tiernan as he fights. Watching him fight’s a bit of a mixed bag with me. On the one hand, I marvel at his strength and expertise. The papers tout him as Ireland’s most talented bare-knuckled fighter of the decade, and I wouldn’t argue that point. It’s been six months, and he’s undefeated. But it’d be a lie to say it doesn’t affect me. I’m not sure how anyone could be impassive, knowing every time her man stepped into the ring he could be badly injured. But I manage.
His leg’s fully healed, though it gives him a bit of a twinge from time to time.
The crowd erupts as Tiernan’s opponent falls to the ring, and the referee holds Tiernan’s arm up in the air.
Victory.
“Bloody brilliant,” Tully says, sitting to my left. He’s only back from hospital now for a few weeks, and already eager to join us at St. Albert’s. I suspect I know why, and it has something to do with a certain doe-eyed teacher who looks at him as if he hung the moon.
My transformation seems nearly complete. Very few at the school had any inkling as to why their headmaster ended up arrested and incarcerated, and once word got out among the parent council that it had something to do with an illicit affair, they hushed it up right quick. Keenan offered Malachy the job, and Malachy took the position with honor and pride.
“Never fancied myself head of the school,” he said. “But I love these boys, and I’ll do my best by them.”
We all knew he would, and it’s why Keenan appointed him to begin with.
His first job as headmaster was to appoint Tiernan head instructor of ealaíona comhraic. Though Tiernan’s specialty lies in boxing, he’s excellent at all the traditional forms of fighting. He’s not only a natural in the ring, his role as older brother and brother of the Clan make him an excellent teacher as well. He’s firm but kind, holding the boys to high standards. But they respect, and even revere him.
As for me, I’ve been hired as an art teacher, and I absolutely love it. Tiernan and I
wed in a small, simple ceremony at Holy Family, and Father Finn heard us take our vows. It was actually freeing to shed my old identity and take on my own. I thought it would be odd at first to have a different name, but I suppose married women have been doing just that for centuries. Faidha Hurston is who I am now.
The Prime Minister has put to rest his pursuit of his son’s murderer, due in no small part to the exposé that made headlines several months after “Aisling’s death” that he was having an affair with his secretary. Many thanks to Sheena’s hand in that revelation.
“Christ!” Lachlan says, wincing. I can barely bring myself to look at the ring, certain Tiernan’s been hurt if Lachlan’s reacting that way.
“Scaredy cat,” Fiona says with a laugh. “You can hardly stand these fights, can you?”
I brush her off. “I fucking love them.”
She rolls her eyes. “Sure you do. You won’t even look at the ring when he’s fighting.”
What she doesn’t know is that the reason I temper my gaze has to do with how it affects me, not because I’m afraid. Every time I see Tiernan’s sweaty, massive body, all flexing muscles and raw, masculine strength, it gets me hot under the collar.
“Lair,” Fiona says playfully. “You’ve looked everywhere but the ring, you wimp.”
I elbow her in the ribs. “Fuck off, you.”
I call her bluff by focusing myself squarely on the ring. I ignore the crowd, the cheers and hollers, the noise and heat, and watch Tiernan.
Oh, God. Jesus Christ on a cracker, he’s so fucking sexy I can hardly contain myself. Goddammit, I knew this would happen.
He’s unencumbered with those ridiculously large gloves they have in America, his large hands lightly fisted and ready to strike. He’s doing what I’ve seen him teach the boys time and time again. Bob and weave, light on your feet, wear him out. I gasp when his opponent strikes him, landing a punch to his gut that momentarily winds him. But the next second, Tiernan strikes back, his body moving with grace and power only he possesses.
“Go, baby,” I whisper under my breath. I can’t seem to bring myself to cheer for him like the others do. “Get it.”
My belly clenches when he strikes his opponent. My heartbeat races when he strikes again. My mouth goes dry, and a low hum of need begins to coil in my belly. Jesus, he’s magnificent like this, bloody mastering the ring, and I want him in me right this very minute.
Bloody hell, I knew this would happen.
My panties dampen, and I clench my thighs together watching him win. Strike. Blow. Pivot and move, it’s the sexiest, most masculine thing I’ve ever fucking seen. Then it’s over. His opponent’s flat on his back, and Tiernan’s declared victor. The stadium erupts.
“Faidha, no!” Fiona yells my name to prevent me from running up onto the ring to congratulate him. Even now, she doesn’t want me to be recognized, but I don’t hear her. I leap onto the ring, shove past the security guards, and lift the heavy rope that keeps me from him. I think for one brief moment I see a familiar face, but I look away. I can’t be bothered now. I can’t let fear hold me back. I’m Faidha Hurston, and I want my man.
High on adrenaline and victory, Tiernan sees me, opens his arms, and I throw myself at him. My legs wrap around his hot, sweaty waist, and my core clenches with the need to have him.
I throw my arms around his shoulders, as he leaves the ring, dodging the press, moving past the judges, skirting the crowd and heading to his private dressing room. Before we even leave the arena, his mouth’s on mine with an insistence that tells me I’m about to get fucked, and hard.
I pull my mouth off his long enough to whisper in his ear, “That was fucking brilliant.”
He grins. “You broke your rule, didn’t you?”
He knows I don’t stare at the fight because it makes me want to jump him, but he has no such qualms about this himself.
“I did,” I groan. “Fuck me.”
It’s both a curse and a plea, as he kicks the door to his dressing room closed. He slides me down his body, his hands on the hem of my dress. There’s a loud tearing sound as the dress gives way like the wrapping on a present. Ah, well. That one had a good run before it’s joined its predecessors in the land of clothing Tiernan’s destroyed.
He quickly balls it up and tosses it to the side. My panties are next, and when he sees them, his eyes go narrow.
“Thought I told you I didn’t want you wearing these here.”
Crap, I came straight from school and didn’t think to change. He tears the panties off me next. I can hear people milling about in the hall just outside this room, laughing and chattering, hooting and hollering. I wonder if they’ll hear me getting spanked and fucked.
He shoves me against the wall, and my pulse spikes. He kicks my feet apart to spread my legs, then runs his fingers through my hot, slick folds.
“Who owns this pussy?”
“You,” I breathe, just before he slams his palm against my arse. I come up on my toes and gasp, but he’s only begun.
“Who told you to leave the panties at home?”
“You,” I repeat, bracing for the next searing strike of his palm. I whimper at the pain, even as my belly contracts and my clit literally throbs.
“And what happens when you disobey me?”
I’m panting, so ready for him I can smell my own fucking arousal, my legs trembling. “I get punished.”
Another crack of his palm, then another.
“You bloody well do. Ought to fuck you senseless and leave you waiting for yours for your disobedience.”
Oh, God, not that. But he likes this game, and I follow his lead.
“Whatever you say, sir.”
He grabs my hair and yanks my head back so hard I scream. “Good answer,” he says in my ear before he sinks his teeth into my shoulder. Both pain and arousal war within me as I scream and writhe, but it’s no use. He’s got me pinned against this wall, and I’m not leaving until I’ve been soundly punished and soundly fucked.
I feel his hot, thick cock at my entrance. He swipes through the damp folds, groaning, licking the space on my shoulder he’s just bitten, as he grates out curses and oaths in Gaelic. Without preamble, he thrusts his cock in me, and I nearly sob from relief. My pussy clenches around him, my core already contracting with pleasure.
We don’t speak anymore, as I’m focused on holding my own while he ravages me. Stroke after stroke, thrust after thrust, every savage move makes my heart beat even faster, my pulse quickening. I try to grab onto the wall, but find it’s no use. I’m drowning in this moment with nothing to grab hold of. But it doesn’t matter, because this is Tiernan, and Tiernan fucking loves me.
“Jesus, woman,” he groans, holding my hips so hard he’ll leave marks. “The harder I give it to you, the harder you come. Do you want to come hard, Faidha?”
I moan out loud, I don’t care what anyone thinks.
“Yesssss.”
The noise of the people outside seems to amplify with my screams as he pounds me, the slap of flesh on flesh beating in time to his palm crashing on my ass. My need to come escalates, and I’m moaning under the onslaught of the vicious strokes of his cock and palm.
“Not yet,” he growls in my ear, and I whimper with need and want.
“Please,” I beg, my voice affected and hoarse. To my own ears it sounds like it belongs to someone else. “Please.”
He yanks my hair and pain radiates along my scalp.
“Tiernan!”
He moans, the sound so sexy I almost lose my mind right there, right then, since I know he’s on the cusp of coming.
“Come,” he grates in my ear, and on his command, I shatter. The world goes bright then dark as my pulse goes crazy and my body erupts into ecstasy. I scream his name as I’m gripped in the throes of bliss, his hot seed lashes into me, his head on my shoulder. He grips me so tightly it’s painful, but I love it. He’s a man drowning and I am his anchor.
He fucks me until we’re spent and panting,
still riding the aftershocks of climax. He brushes my hair to the side, his movements slowing by a fraction.
“I love you,” he says in a hoarse whisper. “And I love that you’re mine.”
I smile, utterly content and at peace. All is right in my world. I have a new identity, a new chance, a second family, a new home… and a future ahead of me with the man that I love.
“I love you, Tiernan,” I say with a content sigh. “And I love that you’re mine.”
He holds me to him, skin to skin. Soon, we’ll get dressed again. I’ve a change of clothes in his dressing room, and the women of the Clan know better than to ask questions. We’ll go back to our home and get ready for bed. A light will be on, waiting for us. We’ll get some sleep and prepare to go to work in the morning, choosing to commute to work so we can have our home here still.
A home where the two of us are loved and welcomed. Where the two of us belong. Together.
From the author: Thank you so much for reading Tiernan: A Dark Irish Mafia Romance. I hope you’ve enjoyed this book!
For those of you interested in more from the McCarthy Clan, Tully: A Dark Irish Mafia Romance will be released in January of 2021. You can pre-order HERE.
Also, as a thank you to my readers, I’ll be sending a totally free bonus McCarthy Family Christmas Novella to my newsletter subscribers in December, so be sure to SIGN UP HERE. Finally, if you’d like to read the other books in the series, read on for titles and links!
Thank you!
The McCarthy Clan
About the Author
USA Today bestselling author Jane Henry pens stern but loving alpha heroes, feisty heroines, and emotion-driven happily-ever-afters. She writes what she loves to read: kink with a tender touch. Jane is a hopeless romantic who lives on the East Coast with a houseful of children and her very own Prince Charming.
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