“That’s so sad.” She thought of the sweet dog she had come to enjoy seeing and petting. Her heart ached at the thought.

“It is, but when I got him, I showed him a new life. Showed him that there were other options out there, aside from a life of fighting. I guess it gives me hope, you know? Like maybe there are other options out there for me, too. That maybe by teaching these tough, beaten-down dogs how to trust and love again, maybe somehow I’ll learn that, too.” His voice trailed off and she squeezed her arm around him tighter, hugging him.

She stayed silent as she listened, reveling in this other side of him. He always seemed to surprise her. One day she would see the rough fighter who punched her boss, the next day a man feeding a stray dog, and the next a broken man sharing with her the most private parts of his pain.

“Does that make any sense at all, mhuirnín?”

“I think so. You’ve played different roles and lived different lives, just like those dogs. A few years ago you were only known as Rory Kavanagh, son of the famous Kavanagh clan.”

“Irish troublemakers.”

“Then you became champion mixed martial arts fighter Rory ‘Knockout’ Kavanagh.” She traced circles on his chest with her fingers.

“Top ten in the country,” he said proudly.

“And now? Who do you want to be now?”

“I’ve been wondering that for some time.”

“Have you come close to figuring it out?”

Rory’s eyes darkened at her words.

“I think I’m getting closer, and it’s only because of you.”

Clare felt a stab at her heart, a pain whose origin she couldn’t pinpoint. All she knew was that she hurt for Rory; she could feel the vulnerability in his words. It was hidden, but it was there. It was laced so thick between every word, she wanted to take it all away.

She wanted to give him all the answers he had been searching for.

She wanted to be those answers.

“Kiss me again, Rory,” she commanded, freeing him from his promise earlier.

“Maybe tomorrow.” Rory chuckled, and she felt the ripple in his chest against her cheek as she narrowed her eyes, not liking his answer.

“Seriously?”

“Mhuirnín, I would never tell you no.” Rory flipped over on top of her, maneuvering quickly as his voice dripped with desire and his lips closed over hers.

She froze in surprise at his sudden movement, then melted into his arms. His hand pushed underneath her shirt, his fingers cold against her skin. She welcomed the chill, since she felt like she was on fire. With his help Clare shimmied out of her top, throwing her shirt to the side.

“You’re not wearing a bra?” He raised his brows, looking surprised as she blushed fiercely.

“Problem?”

“Hell, no.” He wet his lips with his tongue before dipping his head down and finding a pert pink nipple. He tugged gently, bringing it to attention as she arched her back to get closer to him.

He moved up to find her lips with his, their tongues meeting and twisting in a slow, deep dance. She felt his fingers trace her collarbone, and she shivered under the intimate touch. He continued to trace his way across her bare chest, then stomach, until he found the waistband of her pants and hooked his fingers into it.

Pausing for a moment, he pulled his weight from her, kneeling over her as he removed her jeans in a few quick motions. She licked her lips as he slid his shirt over his head, revealing hard, defined abs. She scrambled up to her knees at the sight, facing him.

“I want…” Clare faltered as her eyes flickered across his firm body. She knew that he was waiting for her to finish what she started, but her hands slid over his chest instead. She gulped nervously as she felt an ache settling between her legs.

“This is your ring, mhuirnín.” He was reminding her that she was in control tonight.

“I want to give you the same pleasure you gave me the other day, but don’t grab my head. Don’t force me,” she clumsily stated, flushing with embarrassment at her request.

She had only ever had unpleasant oral sex, during which she felt forced or unable to breathe. Like it wasn’t her choice. She wanted to do this on her own; she wanted to be in charge of just this one part of him.

“Babe,” he tilted her chin up to look at him, his eyes imploring hers seriously, “I would never make you do anything. I’m yours tonight. I’m yours for as long as you’ll keep me. Do you believe me?”

“I do,” she exhaled, realizing that she really did believe him. He’s mine.

Clare’s hands rested on his chest, pushing him back lightly. He took her cue and sat back, then lay down. Her hands trailed down his abs, circling around his belly button and then traveling with the small line of hair that disappeared into his jeans.

Not so deftly, she unbuttoned his pants, avoiding touching his shaft as he sprang free. He helped her remove his jeans, then let her slide her hands up his legs. She stopped as her fingers bumped over the raised scars that jaggedly traversed one knee.

“Does this hurt?”

He shook his head. He was embarrassed about the ugly scar, even more so of the weakness it implied. She could read it all over his face as he watched her carefully.

Leaning forward, she dropped her lips to his leg and grazed the scar, leaving small kisses along its length. She could feel his eyes piercing her, and she hoped she wasn’t upsetting him. She just wanted him to know that she didn’t mind, that she liked every part of him. Scars and all.

Moving her head up, she hovered over his member for a moment before she took him inside her mouth while his body stiffened underneath her. Letting her lips glide up and down, she had to force herself not to smile when she heard him moan. She occasionally licked the head with her tongue, making a flicking motion as he pushed himself toward her. Her hand gripped the bottom of his manhood, moving with her slick, wet mouth.

Out of the corner of her eye she saw his hand fisting the blanket beneath them, and she noticed every muscle in his body was stiff and tense. She decided to tease him ever further, swirling her tongue around him and squeezing her lips tighter as she picked up her pace.

“Clare, babe, please,” he groaned, banging one fist against the floor. His other hand took hold of her shoulder and gently pushed her up, sliding himself out of her as she looked up at him in confusion.

“Did I do it wrong?” she asked nervously.

“Are you kidding me?” he growled hoarsely, as he pressed her naked body down to the mat and climbed on top of her. “I can’t hold it any longer and I want it to be deep inside you when I let go.”

She blinked in surprise, her breath hitching as he pushed her knees apart and pushed his tip against her most sensitive nub. She cried out as the sensation tore through her, and he used that opportunity to bury himself completely inside her. Clare lifted her hips to meet his next thrust, matching his force and wanting to feel him at her peak again.

He didn’t disappoint, reaching between their bodies to squeeze her nub with his fingers and rub fiercely. He moved rapidly in and out of her and she shoved her face into his shoulder, biting him as a muffled scream pulled through her and her toes curled deliciously. Her climax racked her body hard, electrifying every part of her as she struggled to find air.

He stole her nipple, sucking it into his mouth and twirling his tongue around it as he picked up his pace and rocked against her forcefully. The action intensified everything that she was already wading through. Finally shuddering, he pressed as deeply into her as he could and molded his body to hers.

They lay there quietly for a moment, letting the torrents of sensations run through them until they were finally able to regain their composure.

He breathed, sliding out of her and falling to her side. “Are you on the pill?” She just nodded, still smiling blissfully as he wrapped her against him.