Page 70 of Whiskey & Witches
Using one foot, she lightly shoved his chest. “Maybe if you rubbed my poor, tired feet…”
“Mmm.” He inched the thick wool sock off her foot as if performing a striptease, then ran a thumb along the arch, applying just enough pressure to make her moan her pleasure. He massaged her foot in silence for a few minutes, and she rewarded his efforts with appreciative little noises.
Because she was watching his face closely, she saw the moment he turned serious, and she braced for the question she’d rather avoid. “Are you all right with what you did today, Ro?”
He hadn’t looked at her, and she was left to wonder if her vicious act bothered him. Withdrawing her foot, she sat up and tucked her legs under her to remain facing him. She took time to think about her response, not wanting to come across as a cold-hearted bitch.
When he looked at her, his eyes only displayed concern, and she released a sigh. “I’m all right with it,” she said. “Seamus was responsible for all of Aeden’s woes, for Meg’s death, and for the loss of ten months of our lives.”
“Not to mention all the pain he put you through,” Carrick reminded her in a hard voice.
“Sure, and that, too. But it’s beside the point. The man tried to kill our son today. For that, he needed to die.” She met his stare head-on. “And I’d do it again a million times over, without any regret, if it would keep him from harming another.”
Carrick watched her for a moment longer, then nodded. “Sure, and I love that you’re a badass.” He grinned and grabbed for her other leg, whipping off her sock when her foot was secure in his grasp. “Now, I’ve a job to do.”
“What’s that? Rubbing my feet?”
“Spoilin’ my woman.”
She laughed and blinked away the relieved tears building behind her lids. “Spoil away, darling.”
After giving her feet the royal treatment, he reached for the button on her jeans. “There are other areas that need massagin’.”
Feeling like a girl of twenty again, she jumped up and raced for their bedroom with Carrick hot on her heels. He tumbled her onto the bed and kissed her with all the pent-up passion they’d denied themselves this year. Pulling back, he stared deeply into her eyes, and she absently noted his were close to their standard emerald shade.
“I love you, Carrick O’Malley. I’ve loved you from the moment I saw you, and I’ll love you until the moment I shut my eyes in permanent rest.”
A beautiful smile curled his lips. “You plucked the words straight from my own mouth, Ro.” He brushed the tip of her nose with his. “This year has been the longest of my life, and it’s grateful I am that you’re back where you belong.”
The mood shifted, and all the things she once believed needed saying faded away to nothingness. All that mattered was here and now.
They tore at each other’s clothes, needing skin-on-skin contact to reaffirm their love. With his mouth and hands, he started at her temple and began to worship the healed skin of her face.
Kissing the lid of her previously blind eye, he chuckled.
She raised her brows. “What?”
“I’m simply amazed at the Aether’s abilities. He’s like a god, isn’t he?”
“Yeah.” She ran her hands over Carrick’s bare shoulders. Memorizing the texture and savoring the feel of him.
“I’ll admit to being jealous he could help you when I couldn’t.” Carrick didn’t meet her eyes as he said it and instead trailed his fingers over the pale skin of her breast.
“We were never meant to have power like his,” she said gently, cupping the side of his jaw and guiding his face up so he’d see her sincerity. “He’s a tool designed by the Goddess to keep people like Moira and Seamus in check. You’ve no need to be jealous, Carrick. It’s you I love.”
“You weren’t seduced by him at all?”
“No.” She smiled. “He’s too beautiful for me. It’s bad enough I’ve to fight women off to keep you. Can you imagine beinghiswife? The poor thing must be exhausted. It’s no wonder they never leave their estate.” She dropped a quick kiss on his lips. “It’s thrilled I am that you’re jealous. It means you still want me for your own.”
“Always, Ro.” Carrick captured her mouth and kissed her thoroughly.“Always.”
Carrick drew backand straddled Roisin. She didn’t try to hide from him, and she had no reason to. Her body was perfection. Restored to its original form prior to the accident. He ran his fingers over her lower abdomen, noting the faint stretch marks from Aeden’s birth were absent.
“I’m sad to see those gone,” he admitted.
She raised up on her elbows and glanced at her belly. Gasping, she touched herself then shook her head. “Should I look in the mirror? Did he make me twenty again?”
“You don’t have a wrinkle on your lovely face,” Carrick said with a smile.
