Finding Ronan’s Heart by Melanie Moreland

Chapter Twenty-Four

Beth

“Ihad the best day ever, Beth.” Evan grinned, fighting the exhaustion bearing down on him. He’d had a session with Aiden, swam in the pool, talked to every BAM man, and picked Paul’s brain about the green project they were working on. He’d eaten more than I had ever seen him eat, laughed often, and had exhausted himself so much, he was struggling to stay awake. He’d fallen asleep in the car, and Ronan had carried him inside, laying him on his bed. He woke long enough to brush his teeth before crawling back on the mattress.

I brushed back the hair on his head and kissed his forehead. “I’m glad.”

“They have a family,” he mumbled. “I like them.”

Ronan spoke behind me. “They liked you, bud. Everyone liked you.”

Evan’s eyes drifted shut. “I like you, Ronan. You’re the best big brother I could ever dream of,” he mumbled, his voice getting quieter as he slipped back into sleep.

I glanced over my shoulder, meeting the tear-bright gaze of Ronan. He held out his hand, and I took it, letting him lead me from the room. Lucy was asleep in her room already, not even stirring as Liam had carried her inside. Her day had been full, too, with all the attention and activities going on. She had rarely left Liam’s side, although Ronan got a few of her snuggles and kisses she lavishly bestowed on people. I was pretty certain everyone received a few from her today.

We bypassed the living room since Liam and Paige were in there and headed downstairs. In my room, Ronan encircled me in his arms.

“I agree with Evan. Today was the best day.”

“Your family is great.”

“I know. They always are, but somehow you being there today made me feel closer to them.” He ran his nose along mine affectionately. “As strange as that sounds, it’s true.”

“Your dad—all the guys—made Evan feel so special.”

“He is.” He slipped his fingers under my chin, looking down at me. His gaze was tender and soft. “You are as well.” He bent his head and kissed me, his lips ghosting over mine. “So special to me, Beth.” He groaned as I opened for him. “God, I love you.”

There were no more words. With our lips melded together, we slowly discarded our clothing, worshiping the skin that was uncovered. Ronan was gentle as he laid me on my bed, his warm body covering mine. Endlessly, we kissed and touched, neither of us in a hurry. I gasped as he licked my nipples, sucking them to hard peaks under his tongue. He stroked me, teasing my clit until I was begging and ready for him. I ran my hands up and down his broad back, marveling at the strength of his muscles. I licked at his neck and bit down on the lobe of his ear, liking his response. The way his arms tightened, how his cock felt as I reached between us and stroked him, the heat and heaviness of him perfect in my hand. I guided him to my center, and he hovered over me with a frown.

“No condom?”

“I’m on birth control. It’s been years for me.” I knew he’d been tested and was clean. All I wanted was to feel him—just him—inside me. Moving. Bringing me pleasure. I wanted to give it to him. I wanted him to forget everything and everyone but him and me.

He slid inside slowly, groaning as I closed around him.

“Jesus, you are so perfect. I feel you, baby. So perfect,” he uttered, his neck arched, the muscles taut and straining. “I never knew how good it could feel.”

He began to move. Long, unhurried thrusts, hitting me exactly where I needed him. Waves of pleasure coursed through my body. He kissed me, his tongue mimicking his actions. He groaned and hissed. Made low sounds of satisfaction in his chest. Murmured my name. Whispered he loved me.

I shook and whimpered. I felt his possession, his love, through every inch of my body. The way he held himself in check, careful to not hurt me, but wringing every possible ounce of ecstasy from me as he could. He slipped his fingers between us, using his thumb to draw tight circles around my clit, and I was done. I arched my back as my orgasm hit, my muscles locking down and milking his cock. I rode out the waves of intense fulfillment, chanting his name like a prayer as I came apart under him. One orgasm bled into another, and tears slid down my cheeks at the intensity of our lovemaking.

He kept moving, burying his face into my neck as he came, wrapping me close, holding me tight as he rode out his orgasm. We stilled, wrapped around each other, our bodies slick with sweat, still joined. Neither of us moved, too sated to break our connection.

“I love you,” I whispered into his ear. “I love you so much, Ronan.”

His arms tightened.

“I am never letting you go,” he vowed. “You are everything to me, Beth. I love you, little bird.”

I snuggled closer.

That was all I needed.

* * *

I was still smiling as I stepped off the bus the next afternoon. I hadn’t stopped smiling all day. Ronan had spent the night, and in the early morning, I had followed him up the stairs to let him out the side door. Outside, Liam had Paige wrapped in his arms, kissing her goodbye. They were as surprised to see us as we were to see them, but Liam gave Ronan a high five as he went by, and I disappeared back into the house, trying not to laugh.

When Paige came inside, she poured a cup of coffee and sat across from me, not saying a word. Then our eyes met across the table, and we both started giggling.

It was a great way to start the day.

My phone rang, and I answered. “Hello.”

“Hey, little bird. Home yet?”

“Almost. What’s up?”

“Nothing. Wanted to hear your voice, check on your day.”

“It’s been a good one.”

“Yeah?” His voice dropped to an intimate growl. “Any particular reason?”

I began to answer when I saw Evan sitting on the front step, Paige beside him. Her arm was around his shoulders, and his head was down. I began to hurry, crossing the grass, the dried twigs from the tree breaking under my sneakers. Paige looked up, sad, and Evan lifted his face. His lip was cut and bloodied, his eyes swollen from crying.

I made a funny sound, and Ronan’s voice became concerned. “What’s wrong? Beth—what is it?”

“I have to call you back,” I breathed. “Evan,” was all I said, hanging up and kneeling in front of him.

“What happened?” I asked. “Did you have an accident? Why didn’t the school call me?” I pushed back his hair, shocked to see a bruise by his temple as well.

He pushed away my hand and held the cloth back to his lip. “I fell,” he said sullenly.

I met Paige’s eyes and saw the subtle shake of her head.

“Evan,” I said firmly. “What happened?”

“Can we just leave it?”

“No,” I snapped. “We can’t. Did you fall, or did something else happen?” I covered my mouth. “Did those kids who were picking on you do this? Did someone touch you?”

For a moment, he said nothing.

Then he nodded. “Yes.”

* * *

Ronan

I made it to Beth’s as fast as I could, cursing all the traffic around me. I drove like an asshole, not caring if I got a ticket, but I was grateful I didn’t. I pulled up to her house, seeing her and Evan on the step. He was leaning against her shoulder, and her arm was wrapped around him. I shut off the engine and hurried over, dropping to my knees in front of them.

“What happened? Bud, are you hurt?”

He looked up, pain and embarrassment in his expression. His lip was cut, and a bruise was forming on the side of his mouth, plus one on his temple.

I had him follow my finger and asked him a bunch of questions. He seemed fine other than the cut and bruises.

“What happened?”

“I fell.”

I looked at Beth, knowing there was more to the story.

“He fell,” she acknowledged. “But he had help.”

“Tell me,” I demanded.

He sighed, shuffling his feet and looking down. “We were in class and talking about the BAM project. We were discussing different aspects, and Mr. Humphries said something I knew was wrong, so I spoke up. I told him why he was wrong. I said exactly what Paul had told me. Mr. Humphries asked how I knew such technical information, and I told him that I’d met Paul and all the BAM guys and talked to them. He was excited and asked some other questions, and it was good, you know? To be able to answer in class and know what I was saying was right.”

I nodded, knowing how much that would mean to him.

“Anyway, after school, some of the kids called me names. Said I was lying about meeting the BAM men. I told them I wasn’t. I told them my sister was dating someone in the new company. They pushed me around a little and called me a liar again.” He huffed. “I got angry and pushed back.”

“Did they hit you?” I asked.

“No. They’re too smart for that. They picked on me and moved before they got noticed. But as I turned to walk away, someone yanked my crutches out from under me and I fell. I hit my face on the cement.”

“Little fuckers,” I growled.

“Ronan,” Beth tsked.

“They are,” I insisted. “The same kind that used to push my dad around because he couldn’t fight back. I loathe little cowards like that.”

“Your dad got picked on?” Evan asked, his eyes wide with shock.

“He was skinnier than you. Shorter, too.”

“Wow.”

“Ask him when you see him this week. He’ll tell you all about it.”

“Did you get picked on?”

“No, I was always big for my age. But my dad made sure my brothers and I always looked out for other kids. We never used our strength to hurt anyone or intimidate them. He knew what that did to a kid.”

His lip trembled. “That’s good,” he mumbled.

“I’m going to talk to the principal tomorrow,” Beth stated.

I nodded, knowing how little good that would do, even though she had to do it. Those little fuckers would taunt him even more when his big sister came to stick up for him. She could confirm what he said, but I wasn’t sure that would help Evan’s case much. They would assume she was lying as well. After seeing him fall, their bullying was going to pick up even more.

I stood, looking at them. I pulled my phone from my pocket. “I’m ordering dinner, then I have some work to do.” I looked at Beth. “Can I have a little alone time with Evan?”

“Paige was looking after dinner.”

“You go tell her I’ve got it covered. Evan and I will be in in a moment.”

She hesitated, and I leaned close, kissing her forehead. “Please,” I breathed out.

She stood and went inside, and I sat beside Evan. “You know what boys were there?”

“Yes.”

“Where did it happen?”

“Around the corner where I wait for the bus. It was a little late today.”

“Anyone else around who can verify it?”

He paused. “Jenny was there. She helped me up.” He held up the wad of cotton in his fist. “She gave me this to stop the bleeding on my lip.”

“This Jenny—she your girl?”

He muttered something I didn’t catch. I bent closer. “What?”

“I’d like her to be. She’s really nice. But she’s quiet, and she gets picked on too. Her mom works, and she lives in an apartment. She goes home alone every day. She walks because it’s right around the block.” He sighed. “She has pretty red hair, and she talks to me. Sometimes she sits and has lunch with me.” He peered up at me. “We share our lunch. She never has much, so I pretend to be full so she can eat more.”

My heart almost burst with pride for this kid. His parents had done a tremendous job raising him and Beth. She had carried on instilling him with goodness, and he was awesome.

“You have any information on Mr. Humphries?” I asked casually. “An email or anything?”

He nodded. “We all have teacher contacts in case we need help. He is one of mine.”

“Will you share it with me?”

He looked confused but agreed.

“I’m gonna help you, bud. You just have to trust me.”

He slipped his little hand in mine and squeezed. “I do, Ronan. You—you’re like a big brother and a dad all rolled into one.”

I wrapped my arm around him with a hug. My dad always said things were better after a hug, and he was right.

“I got you, kid.”