“I should’ve told you sooner. But everything happened so fast. And now that I know you love me—” He thumbed her jaw, tilting her gaze to meet his. “—I won’t hold anything back.”
His tone darkened, dominant, velvet over steel.
“You’re mine. You always were. And this baby? It’s just proof the universe agrees with me.”
She nodded, trembling beneath his touch, and he leaned in, slow, controlled, and all-consuming.
When his mouth met hers, it wasn’t just a kiss. It was a claim. A promise. A vow.
And when her breath hitched and her moan spilled against his lips, it lit a fire in his gut.
“I love you, Shannon,” he growled against her mouth. “And I’ll spend the rest of my life making sure you never doubt that. You, the baby, your career, your future—I’ll be right beside you through everything.”
49
Shannon
“Why are we here?” she asked as the Mustang slowed to a crawl.
Rolling green fields stretched in every direction, fenced paddocks dotted with glistening horses.
A large sweeping stone wall announced the entrance:Unity Equine Facilities.
Jamie’s hand tightened around the steering wheel. “Because I own this place.”
She blinked. “You’re kidding. You own Unity?TheUnity? One of the most prestigious racing yards in Europe? I didn’t even know there was a site in Fermanagh.”
“It’s the original,” he said, eyes locked forward.
“It’s called Unity because we’ve built facilities all over Europe. Each one feeds into the brand. But this—” he nodded at the view beyond the windscreen, “—this is where it all started. Every major trainer and investor in the industry wants in here.”
The car rolled up a long, pristine lane lined with white fencing and manicured hedgerows, ending at a sprawling stone barn conversion and a cluster of expansive, high-end outbuildings at the rear.
“Jamie…” her voice trailed off as she looked around in wonder. “This is crazy. All this time…you never said a word.”
His grip on the wheel tightened, knuckles whitening. He parked the car, then turned toward her, gaze dark and intense.
“Our first meeting didn’t go well when I offered you money, remember? You told me you weren’t some damsel who needed rescued or bought. I respected the hell out of that, but it also meant I held back.”
He reached out, his fingers threading through her hair before trailing down to her jaw.
His thumb pressed beneath her chin, the rest of his fingers framing her face with a firm, possessive grip. He tilted her head until her eyes were on his. No room to hide.
“I never needed you to match my income. That wasyourboundary, not mine. And even now—especially now—you’re the mother of my kid. The woman I worship. I’ll give you the world, love.”
Her lips parted, but he was already leaning in, his voice dark and low.
“You fell for me before you knew any of this. Don’t pretend otherwise.”
“Who said I fell for you?” she challenged, brows lifting playfully.
He arched a brow, gaze narrowing as his hand moved to her thigh.
“Oh, you can play coy all you want, but there’s no denying it.”
Shannon smiled, a hand flying to her mouth to hide it.
“Fine. I like you. A bit.” She joked. “That’s not the same.”
