“I love you,” I promise, holding her tight. “We have ten more minutes and then we are gone.”

“What in the world could pull you from this amazing party that is celebrating us? I mean, we haven’t even hit up the chocolate fountain.”

I smile. “A repeat performance, of course,” I tease, my eyes bright with laughter.

She laughs. “A repeat performance. That sounds like a party, but so does that fountain.”

“I’ll have them bring the damn fountain to the room if ya want, but I will have ya naked in my bed in twenty minutes tops,” I say, squeezing my arms around her.

Her body shakes in my arms as she throws her head back, her laughter loud and so happy. Looking up at me, she cups my face, her thumb caressing my jaw as she searches my eyes.

“I love you like this. So happy, no cares.”

I nibble at her thumb as I hold her near. “Oh, I have cares, mo stór. I care what you feel, what you want, and what makes ya happy.” She smiles as her face warms, her eyes glazing over a bit. “But the reason I’m like this is because of ya. You’ve changed me. Bewitched me with your love and outlook on life. I want nothing more than to give ya everything and anything you might need.”

It’s like she doesn’t even process what I say, but then she has to have because she says, “All I need is you.”

Holding her close, I kiss her nose before falling into the depths of her sweet eyes. “Ya got me.”

It isn’t as easy as I’d like to pull her away.

As much as she says she didn’t want the party, she seems to be enjoying herself. She talks up everyone at the party, ignores the questions about the trial that is in a couple weeks, and even all questions about her wedding dress. I don’t get what’s the big deal about her dress, but it seems every lady we talk to, they want to know. I, for one, just want the damn day to get here so all this hoopla can be behind us for sure.

Especially the trial.

Every time I think about her sitting up there, reliving that night, I swear I want to come out of my skin. I don’t like the thought, not one bit, but she seems to be ready for it. I thought she was mad to wanting to pay for that gobshite’s ma’s housing, but I can tell it makes her happy. That pleases me, it does, but it’s not only that. She makes me proud. She has such a big heart. It’s one of the things I love most about her. While I could care less about helping that family, it does feel good to do something for someone who didn’t have control over her wanker of a son. Like Amberlyn said, it wasn’t her fault.

I still won’t forgive the arsehole though.

Sliding my hand down the inside of her arm, I lace my fingers with hers before kissing the spot by her ear. She looks up at me, and I can see the desire in her eyes. She is finally ready to leave. Taking her hand with my other, I let go of her fingers and place my hand at the small of her back as we head for the exit.

But in true fashion, my ma stops us.

She looks regal tonight, not that she ever looks any different, but tonight she really does look like a queen. Her hair is up in a huge bun, her whole body glittering with diamonds. Her dress is big and puffy, a light pink color. All she’s missing is a crown.

“Where are you going?”

“I’m dead on my feet, Ma, ready for bed,” I explain, my hand sliding against Amberlyn’s bare back.

“But the party isn’t over.”

“For us it is.”

“But you were late!” she all but yells.

“So? It’s our party. We’re ready for bed,” I say before reaching out to squeeze her shoulders. “Goodnight, Ma.”

“Goodnight, Mrs. O’Callaghan,” Amberlyn says as we step around her and into the hall. I’m surprised she doesn’t follow us but thankful too. I want to take my fiancée to bed. Walking closely together, we head toward the stairs, saying goodnight to all the people who pass us. It wasn’t that bad, I guess, but still I’d rather be in bed than prancing around this damn party.

“It wasn’t that bad,” Amberlyn says and I laugh.

“Funny, I was thinking the same thing,” I tell her, holding her close. “Yeah, it was bearable.”

“I had fun.”

“Grand, me too,” I agree. “But it did bother me that everyone brought up that wanker and the trial.”

She shrugs as we turn the corner, taking the next set of stairs. You’d think that my family would invest in an elevator, but when Lena and I suggested that, our parents told us we were mad. Something about keeping the original bones of the house, and while I agree, I swear it feels like I am climbing the stairs of Hogwarts or something.

“It’s really no big deal. I’m not nervous at all,” she assures me. I look over at her to see if her face says something else, but she looks confident. “I’ll go in, tell the truth, and he’ll go away. It’s pretty cut-and-dried. There are three witnesses who saw what happened. He has to pay for his crime, and the attorneys say there is no other way it can go. He’ll go away, which is what is best. Can’t go around shooting people ’cause you are upset.”

“Especially the woman I want to spend the rest of my life with,” I say, kissing her temple.

“Are you nervous?”

I shake my head. “No, like ya said, it’s cut-and-dried. The lawyers think they’ll try to bring up the fact that we don’t like each other, but still that doesn’t give him the right to shoot me. I’m worried for Lena though.”

“Yeah, me too. They’ll more than likely bring up their relationship.”

“Yeah, even though it won’t do anything. Their breaking up doesn’t give him the right to shoot you.”

“Absolutely,” she agrees as we finally reach our room. Wrapping my arms around her waist to keep her from moving anymore, I run my lips up and down her neck, nibbling at her ear and neck before sinking my teeth into her shoulder. She gasps out, her hands grasping mine as she leans back into me, lengthening her neck for me.

“Mm,” I whisper against her neck as my hands travel up her body, cupping her breasts through the fabric of her dress. “Let’s take this off.”

“In the room,” she gasps out, her ass pressing against my growing cock.

“Yeah,” I agree, walking with her, our bodies pressed together as we head into the room.