Page 46 of Where We Bloom (The Blackwells of Montana #3)

Chapter Twenty-Six

CONNOR

B illie’s right. I do love being in Galway, but I missed being with her, in our bed, in Montana. Maybe I’m becoming a sentimental arse, but we have memories in this bed. A history here.

This house, here in this town, is our home.

It’s my angel’s birthday, and she’s sleeping soundly next to me.

Last night, she insisted on unpacking her things herself and putting everything away just so—she’s particular about her clothes—and it was darling to watch her coo and fuss over her pretty new finds from New York.

Then we ordered in dinner from Old Town Pizza and curled up to watch a movie before we slept.

Jet lag is a bloody bitch.

But now, it’s her special day, and I’m going to make it unforgettable.

Her skin is warm and smooth as I urge her onto her back and kiss her neck. She whimpers as she stretches her arms over her head, and I pull a nipple into my mouth as my hand roams down her soft stomach, over her thigh, and back up again.

“Good morning,” she murmurs, her raspy voice full of sleep as her fingers weave into my hair.

“Aye, it is,” I agree, kissing down her rib cage, her legs scissoring, my cock stirring when she gasps. “The best day of the goddamn year because you were born on it.”

I nudge my shoulders between her thighs, spreading her open, and skim my fingers through her already soaked lips.

“So wet for me, a ghrá. ” I have to taste her, to consume her. I drag my tongue through her slit, up to her hard bundle of nerves. As I push two fingers inside her heat, she lifts her hips and moans.

“God, Connor.”

“Aye, baby.” Curling my fingers up, making a come-here motion, I rub over that rough spot that makes her lose her bloody mind. “Come on my mouth. You’re such a good fecking girl.”

Her walls clench around me, and she lets go, flooding my hand with her release. I growl as I sop her up, loving every sound, every shiver coming from her spectacular body.

Pulling back, I grip her thighs and flip her over, pull her hips back, and bite her arse before landing a loud crack with my palm.

“Fuck yes,” she moans, making me grin.

My girl likes it a little rough.

Fisting my dick, I drag the crown up and down, from her clit to her tight ring of muscle, and back again .

“Is this what you want, angel?”

“Yes. Please.”

She’s pushing back, seeking my cock. “Tell me.”

“Fuck me, billionaire.”

I slam into her, bracing myself on either side of her, and nibble my way over her shoulder as I fuck her. I push my hand into her hair and fist it at her nape, holding her where I want her.

“Who do you belong to?”

“You.” God, I fucking love her raspy voice. “Only you. Always.”

“That’s right, mo rúnsearc. Only me. I’m the only man who will ever be lucky enough to touch you like this. To see how perfect you are when you come apart.”

“Oh my God.”

I grip her hips and pound her into the mattress, then pull out and flip her back over because I need to see her eyes.

She wraps her legs around me as I sink into her tight heat again and cup her face, brushing my thumb over the apple of her cheek.

“Only you,” she says, lifting those hips to meet me.

“You’re everything,” I whisper against her lips.

Tears fill her eyes as she frames my face and kisses me. I’m so damn helpless against this woman. She brings me to my knees.

With only a few more thrusts, she quivers, her walls tighten, and she cries out as she succumbs to her climax, pulling me over with her.

And when I’ve managed to catch my breath, I pull away and clean us up, then cross the room. I open the secret coffee area I arranged to have installed while we were away and make her a cup.

“You already had it done?” she asks, sitting up and wrapping the sheet around her.

“You wanted it.” I shrug as I cross to her and pass her the steaming mug, then drag my finger down her flushed cheek. “So you needed to have it.”

“You spoil me, you know.” Her eyes smile at me as she takes a sip.

“Complaining, bumble?”

“Never.” She chuckles and pushes her hand through her hair, then stands, naked as the day she was born twenty-eight years ago, that coffee in hand as she walks to the bathroom. “I need ten.”

“Take all the time you need.”

After pulling on a pair of gray sweatpants, I walk downstairs to first check in on the project I had done while we were gone, and when I’m happy with what I see, I make my way to the kitchen.

Cassie snuck in this morning and left waffles, crispy bacon, and fluffy eggs on a tray in the warming oven, so I take it upstairs to my girl.

“Wow, how long was I in the bathroom?” Billie asks when she sees me walk through the door. She’s already pulled on leggings and my old sweatshirt that she stole out of my closet in Ireland, which I don’t mind in the least.

She’s sexy as hell in it.

“One of the few times I’ll reach out to Cassie,” I inform her as I set the tray on the bed. “She snuck in early this morning and left it for us. We can eat this here or take it downstairs.”

“Here,” she decides, crawling to sit on the bed. I sit opposite her, and we dig in. “I’m freaking hungry.”

“Well, eat up, bumble, because today is just getting started. I have something to show you after this.”

She stops chewing and frowns at me. “Connor, you’ve already given me so much. You don’t have?—”

I reach over and press my lips to hers, licking the tiny drop of syrup from them. “Stop, mo chroi. Let me make today special.”

Her expression softens, and she rests her free hand on my leg, giving it a squeeze that I feel up to my groin. “You make every day special, billionaire.”

Jesus Christ, what she does to me.

When our meal is finished, I take her hand and lead her out of the bedroom. Once we’re at the bottom of the stairs, we head down the hall, past my office, and I hear her gasp.

“This place is way too big if I missed the fact that you added on while we were gone.” She laughs.

I stop her before we reach the new area and frame her face. “Close your eyes.”

She grins at me so wide and happy that I have to kiss her before she does as she’s told.

“Keep them closed.”

“Okay.” She’s still smiling as I lead her to the entry of the room. French doors open silently as I guide her forward, and once we’re inside, I step around to stand at her side so I can see her expression .

“Open your eyes, mo chroi .”

Those beautiful eyes widen, her jaw drops, and her hands fly up to cover her mouth as she takes it all in.

“Robin’s egg blue,” she whispers, her gaze skimming the shelves that line all the walls. A large window looks out to the mountains, but aside from that, the rest of the room is for bookshelves.

“Look up,” I whisper.

She gasps, and tears fill her eyes.

The ceiling is wallpapered with blues and yellows, hints of pink. And the light fixture is crystal.

“Holy shit,” she whispers. “It’s too beautiful.”

“Never.” I kiss her cheek and then her neck.

“The chairs are amazing.” They’ve been placed in the center of the room, with their own ottomans and tables for snacks and drinks. “I’m glad there’s two of them. You can sit with me.”

“That was the plan,” I reply, happy that she’s okay with me being in here with her. “The shelves are empty because I knew you’d want to arrange them your own way, but I did have your library from your old place carefully boxed up and brought here. They’re in a guest room, ready when you are.”

Her eyes are bouncing everywhere, still trying to take it all in. They land on the one section of shelves that isn’t empty, and she hurries over.

“Connor.”

“Yes, my angel?”

Her hand lifts as if she wants to touch, but then she pulls back again .

“Baby, tell me you didn’t … I can’t … Connor. ”

“Hey.” I wrap my arms around her from behind and bury my lips in her hair. She clings to me, her eyes still pinned to the books before us. “Take a breath.”

She does, but it’s shaky.

“These look like really old books.”

“They’re all first editions,” I reply as my eyes skim the titles.

“And”—she swallows hard—“ Wuthering Heights has Ellis Bell as the author. Oh my God.”

“You can touch them.”

“I don’t have gloves.”

I grin. “You know, I read somewhere that the gloves do more damage than your hands. Touch them.”

Carefully, she reaches for Wuthering Heights , and a tear slips down her cheek as she opens the cover.

“No way.”

“What is it?”

She shakes her head and turns to me, those eyes shining up at me, and it’s enough to crack my heart open.

“It’s signed by Ellis Bell. How in the hell did you make this happen in a matter of days ?”

“Money talks, baby.” I tip her chin up and kiss her lips softly. “Now, I know you’re a wee bit overwhelmed, but there’s one more thing in this room you haven’t noticed.”

She closes her eyes and leans into me. “I can’t do anymore. This is too much. I don’t deserve?—”

“Finish that sentence, and I’ll turn you over my knee, Billie. ”

She blinks up at me in surprise, but her lips part, and her pupils dilate.

“Thank you,” she whispers.

“You’re welcome, but we’re just getting started. Come here.”

“Wait.” She carefully places the book back on the shelf, then slips her hand in mine. “Okay.”

I had blue fabric draped over the piece that Kane sent over, and when we approach it, I pull the fabric off and toss it aside, and my girl gasps again.

“Stop it.”

I laugh at that and tug her to me. “The blues and greens in this piece remind me of the mountains here, and when Kane sent me a photo of it, I knew you had to have it for this room.”

“Connor.” She’s crying now, wiping at tears.

“He had it hand couriered over from Seattle, so it would be here when we got home.”

She turns and launches herself against me, wrapping her arms around me tightly, and presses her face to my chest.

“Tell me these are good tears, mo rúnsearc .”

“So good.” She sniffs and wipes her face. “So glad I didn’t put my makeup on yet.”

With a chuckle, I kiss her forehead. “I do need you to be ready to leave the house within the hour.”

She blinks up at me, frowning. “What? Why? I plan to spend all day in here, organizing my books and pretending I’m Belle from Beauty and the Beast .”

“You’re so fucking adorable.” I shake my head and kiss her once more. “That will have to wait. The surprises are just beginning for the day.”

“Connor.” She takes my hand before I can pull away. “I’m so grateful, so stupidly grateful, but you know I’m not here for this. I don’t need you to spend all this money on me. I’m not a gol?—”

I narrow my eyes, and she smartly folds her lips together.

“We’ll never ever say that word. Do you understand me?”

Her shoulders droop, and she nods.

“You’re mine, Billie. And in turn, I’m yours.

Everything I am, everything I have, is also yours.

I’m a wealthy man, and I make no apologies for that because I’ve worked my arse off for it.

As have you. I will shower you with whatever your heart desires because making sure that you’re happy and cared for is my number one priority. ”

“This is more than happy and cared for.” The side of her mouth tips up in a rueful grin.

“It’s a privilege to give you everything I can. I will give you the world, angel.” I kiss her forehead, breathing her in. “Just as it’s a privilege to sit and talk with you. To make love to you. The simple, the mundane, and the extraordinary. We can have it all.”

“Thank you for sharing it with me. I’ll never take it for granted.”

“You have forty-five minutes to get your sexy arse ready to leave the house.”

“I’ll be ready.” She wipes her eyes and turns to look at her new library once more. “Holy shit, billionaire, this is incredible. Way to show off your billionaire status.”

I bark out a laugh, shake my head, and leave her to ogle.

“Forty minutes, angel.”