Page 50 of A Merciless Husband
As if Kerry hears my thoughts and takes it as a personal challenge, he grabs my hands and pulls me into his chest, spinning me around to the beat of the music. I laugh, the joy bubbling up inside of me straight from my soul, as he twirls me around to the sound of the fiddle. Other couples notice and decide to join us, until there’s a whole group of people spinning and dancing on the street by the water.
Kerry laughs, too. He looks free, almost boyish, as we dance. My heart seizes at how happy he seems, his elation lighting up his handsome face.
I want to see him with this expression for the rest of my life. I realize I’ll do anything for him. Anything to have these kinds of moments with him, over and over.
As we walk back to the car, hand in hand, I feel lighter than air. Kerry’s still smiling, smaller now, and it’s somehow even more intimate.
It’s quiet for our two minute drive back to his mother’s cottage. I think about what I thought a life with Kerry would be like when we first met, and I can honestly say I thought it’d be theoppositeof this. I always pictured it how my grandmother lived: with hollow luxury. I look up at the cozy cottage as we pull into the driveway. It’s nothing fancy or grand. But it’s filled with so much love and warmth that it’s anything but hollow.
Thisis what a life with Kerry will be like. I couldn’t be more thankful.
I wish I could’ve met his mother. I can feel her in the cottage, see her in how it’s decorated. Maybe if she hadn’t died, Kerry wouldn’t have had to become so detached from his emotions.
Maybe it’s foolish of me, but I meant what I said to him on the ride here. I don’t care if he’s in the mafia or not. I know Kerry won’t do anything stupid to put us into danger. Well, notmuchdanger, anyway. He’ll take care of me. And, yeah, maybe Ishouldprioritize morals more, but I can’t bring myself to care. Not after putting everything and everyone first for so many years. I’ve finally found this one person that makes me undeniably happy, and I refuse to let him go.
Kerry hops out like the car is on fire, making me jump. He sprints around the car just to open my door for me before I can. He gives me a mischievous grin and holds out his hand. I can’t help but laugh and shake my head as I slide my hands in his. Hehelps me out, locking his fancy European car that I don’t even know the name of.
There’s a few grocery bags waiting for us on the front step. Kerry guides me with a hand on the small of my back, scooping them up. I arch my brow at him as glasses clink together from within.
“What?” He laughs.
I look at the bags in his hand and then back at him. “What are those?”
He smirks and lifts up one shoulder with a shrug. “I may have ordered us some things while we were out.”
I chuckle and scoff as we go inside. “What sort ofthings?That could mean anything when it comes to you.”
“True. It could.” He flashes me a grin but doesn’t offer any other answer. I roll my eyes at his purposeful vagueness, but can’t stop the smile that lifts my lips.
We left a light on in the kitchen before we left, guiding us into the otherwise dark house. Kerry sets the bags on the counter before turning to kiss me on the forehead. “Go and sit on the back porch. It’s always been my favorite spot in the house. I’ll be out in a bit.”
I arch a brow, the pull of my curiosity too overwhelming to resist. I try to dart to get a look at what’s in the bags before he can stop me, but he’s too quick. He grabs my waist, spinning me around, laughing. “You naughty girl. Quit that and go do as you're told.”
I stick my tongue out at him, making him laugh again. Still, I turn and head to the door leading to the balcony outside, but not before Kerry pinches my butt as I pass him. He just laughs as I squeal and rush for the door before he can do it again.
The sound of the distant crashing of ocean waves greet me as I open the door. The full moon glitters on the water down below. I didn’t realize that the cottage is up on a cliff, overlooking theocean. There are a few houses in front of us, but far enough below that it doesn’t block the view. I tuck my coat around me as the wind blows, chilly but not unbearable with my extra layers.
The waves crash against the rocks, spraying water in the air, visible even from this angle as I sit in a wooden rocking chair. That water must becold.But it’s hypnotic to watch.
I can see why this would be Kerry’s favorite place. There’s something about this view that’s intense, the dark ocean stretching out endlessly before you. I can imagine a young Kerry feeling the dangerous depths of his emotions reflected back at him in this view. It kind of forces you into deep contemplation.
The door opens, jarring me from my thoughts. Kerry emerges, carrying a million things. A wine bottle under an arm, two wine glasses dangling from one hand, a large wooden tray in the other, and a plate in his mouth. Yes, the man that rules Ireland’s underworld has the edge of a plate gripped between his teeth.
“Kerry! You could’ve asked for help!”
He just grunts in response, and I quickly stand to take the wine glasses and bottle, setting it on the glass table between the chairs. He sets a charcuterie board down, and then grabs the plate out of his mouth. It’s a plate full of chocolate covered strawberries and truffles.
I huff. “As if I wasn’t full enough from dinner.”
Kerry laughs, opening the wine with a bottle opener he had stashed in his pocket, the stubborn man. “Yes, but what’s a honeymoon without some wine, chocolate, and cheese? Besides, I’d love nothing more than to sit out here with you for a few hours.”
I hadn’t even realized there was a small steel box fireplace in the corner of the patio. There’s already some logs in there, ready to go, and Kerry opens it and works on starting a fire. I smile as the heat of it washes over me. I scoot my chair forward, andKerry chuckles, dashing inside before I can even say anything. He returns a moment later with a couple of blankets, and wraps a big fuzzy one around me.
He sighs as he sits on the chair next to me and pulls a blanket over his lap, too. We’re both silent for a long moment, staring out over the ocean. It’s comfortable, peaceful.
“Never thought I’d have this.” His voice is quiet, as if he whispered it to the wind and not to me. I turn to look at him, and he’s watching the ocean intently, brows furrowed. When he notices me looking, he turns his intense gaze upon me instead. “Someone to sit here with. To think with. Someone I can let my guard down around.”
I smile, knowing that he really means it. “Me neither. It’s just kind of always been…me. Alone in my solitude. I assumed it always would be. Especially when my grandmother told me about the arranged marriage, no offense.”
