Chapter Eleven
For almost two hours, Mona stayed by Aedan’s side, reading his mother’s letters out loud. He hadn’t said anything. At one point, he turned so he could rest his head on her lap. Absentmindedly, she caressed his hair back while reading to him.
His mother sounded delightful. She told him about all the things she had been doing in Ireland, the places she’d been, the people she’s met. Ailin even described toys she’d purchased for him, letting him know his room was ready for him to come home. That meant, she had been preparing to take him back, to bring him home. She’d finished high school and struggled through getting a degree to become a teacher. Once she had her first job, the letter began speaking of visiting Baltimore to pick him up. She was nervous that he wouldn’t know who she was and wouldn’t want to be with her.
Soon, the letters then took on a dark, almost panicked turn. It looked as though the replies to her missives had stopped and she was demanding to know what had happened. One explained that her visa to visit had been revoked and she suspected Bronagh of having something to do with that.
The postmarks became longer apart then, until one final letter of her writing to her dead son. Mona’s heart broke then for she realized the depth of the abuse Aedan had suffered at the hands of his aunt. He went stiff on her lap after the final letter and she leaned over to see his eyes were pressed closed. She caressed his cheek, kissed his head and simply hugged him to her stomach as best she could.
“I’m so sorry, Aedan,” Mona whispered.
“She thinks I’m dead because Bronagh told her I was. My mother believes I’m dead all because her own aunt wanted her to suffer. And even then, my mother still wrote a final letter, saying goodbye—I can’t imagine that kind of love.”
“Baby, you can now prove you’re alive. The bright side to all these letters is, we now know your mother wanted you back. She’d been planning to get you back. Something must have happened with Bronagh to make that change and for her to tell your mother you were deceased.”
“But what?”
“Why don’t we ask Bronagh?”
Aedan rose to look at her, his eyes like a raging storm. “She won’t tell me anything. I barely managed to get this from her as is. The only reason I got them was because she accidentally made it slip trying to hurt me. If I want answers, I will have to find another way.”
“Okay. So, we go to Ireland.”
Aedan tilted his head. “We?”
“I’m invested in this too.” Mona pouted at him. “Besides, you shouldn’t go alone. Maybe you’d prefer to go with Kiera or one of the Collins. I mean, they might know you better and will know what you need better than I would.”
Aedan said nothing. He framed the sides of her head and pulled her into a kiss. There was a tremble in the smooch, one that broke her heart and caused the tears she’d been fighting to topple down her cheeks. When he tried pulling back, she wrapped her arms around his neck and kept him close.
“Mona. You’re crying.” Aedan leaned back. “Tell me what I can do, a stórín.”
“Just emotions from the letters and the moment. I’m fine, I promise.”
“This is a lot, I know.” He wiped her tears away with two large, work roughened thumbs.
“I can’t disagree with you there.”
“I didn’t want to bring this home to you.” Aedan confided. “I should have been able to deal on my own but…”
“Would you stop?” Mona asked. “I love that you trust me with this. That you would show such vulnerability to me—it makes me hopeful for a future with you.”
He smirked.
“No, Aedan Callahan. That is not a proposal.” Mona leaned back and folded her arms.
He snapped his fingers with a grin.
“Why don’t we see what we can find in the kitchen for dinner.” She caressed his cheek. “Maybe we should stay in tonight.”
“I…okay.”
For the rest of the night, Mona gave him space. Once he was sleeping, she remained awake, fighting hard not to toss and turn. Eventually, Mona gave in, kissed his head and climbed out of bed. She stared down at him and marveled at how peaceful he looked in that moment. No one would be able to guess at the turmoil surging through his mind.
Eventually, Mona changed into her paint covered overalls. Before leaving the room, she unsnapped the sides of his prosthetic and set it against the wall in the usual spot. She pulled the sheets back over him, kissed his nose and hurried into her office to check her emails. There were a couple offers for commissions. She had some time before she went away with Esme—shit, the trip!
How could she go away now? Aedan just found out his mother wanted him back, but his aunt ruined that. His mother thought he was dead and he wasn’t sure how to process all of that. Though their relationship was new, Mona knew she needed to stand by his side. Honestly, she would have wanted him to do the same for her.
Mona sighed, printed off the commissions and hurried into her art room. She’d started a painting before but her motivation to finish it just wasn’t there. She left it covered and picked up a brand-new canvas. After thinking for a bit, she grabbed paints, brushes and one of her towels, and set to work.
There was no direction in her head. All she knew was that she had to put paint to canvas or her head would explode. Though she didn’t know how long she’d been at it, Mona only lifted her head when Aedan called her name softly.
“Mmm?”
“You’re not in bed.”
Mona set her paintbrush down and turned on her stool. He was shirtless and leaning against the door. She allowed her eyes to travel down his tattoo covered body to his leg. He’d put his prosthetic back on but had only dragged on his boxers. She smiled while tracing his frame with her eyes back up to the two thick, black bands tattooed to his right forearm.
“Those bands.”
Aedan looked down then met her gaze. “People I lost in the explosion. Mona, why are you awake at this hour? I don’t like waking up and you’re not beside me.”
“I couldn’t sleep. I needed to unwind.”
Aedan sighed. “Baby, I’m sorry. I didn’t think how this would affect you.”
“No.” Mona shook her head. “I’m glad I can be here for you. My brain just won’t shut up, that’s all.”
He made his way into the room and stood before her. He took her hand and pulled her off the stool then led her back up the stairs to the bathroom. There, and without a word, he stripped her down then turned on the water. She watched him test it with his hand before accepting his help into the tub. Tears burned her eyes as he dumped body wash onto a loofa and gently washed every part of her. The water ran green in the tub from the paint that had dried to her hands and cheeks.
Aedan was tender. He was silent. He was, in that moment, the man she’d prayed for.
“Can you get in with me?” Mona asked.
“As you wish, a stórín.”
“Can you get it wet?”
Aedan smiled. “Yes. How do you think I shower at home?”
She pressed her face into his wet chest. “I have so much to learn.”
“Don’t worry about that now.”
For the next little while, Mona forced herself to think of nothing but Aedan. She pushed her worries about cancelling her trip with Esme, of having to deal with Aedan’s hurt at dealing with his mother and aunt and of deciding if all of this was worth fighting for, the very back of her mind. She basked in Aedan’s hard body against hers, of his hands sliding over her flesh, of his mouth nibbling against her.
“One day soon,” Aedan whispered as he turned her to face the wall. “I will give you complete control of my body.”
Mona whimpered.
“You will have to hold the reigns and do to me what you believe will make me growl for you.”
“Aedan.”
“Yes, a stórín?”
“I need you—right now.”
He kissed her neck from behind and stepped from the shower. “Don’t move.”
When he returned, it was with a condom. Aedan stormed her body then in a slow, deliberate coupling that left her panting. She braced her palm into the wall, dropped her forehead against it and encouraged Aedan but pushing back into him and screaming for him. Aedan’s hands traveled up her body, around her to pinch at her nipples, to brace against the pulse at her neck. His mouth traversed the back of her neck, her shoulders and behind her ears.
She melted for him repeatedly, shouting her happiness.