Free Becoming the Whiskey Princess by Toni Aleo

I throb against her, wanting her, but then she pulls away.
    “I think the moment was ruined.”
    “Yeah, a bit, but I’m sure we can bring it back,” I say, cupping her by the back of the head and pressing my lips to hers. Just as I am about to move my tongue into her sweet, hot mouth, a knock comes to my door.
    “Declan, son, I need to talk to ya.”
    “Fucking shite,” I mutter, and when I meet her look of horror, I shake my head. “I’m sorry, one second.”
    “I want to die,” she mutters and I glare.
    “Not funny.”
    She smiles. “You get to joke about things that aren’t funny, then so do I.”
    “Not about that,” I say, smacking her arse playfully. She smiles as I slowly set her beside me. I get up, pulling my boxers on before reaching for the door. Meeting my ma’s embarrassed regard, I glare as I shut the door behind me.
    “Ma, really?”
    “I’m sorry for interrupting, but you ran off from dinner. We needed to speak to the both of you about the engagement party.”
    “Well, obviously we wanted to be alone.”
    “Sure, but we needed to talk.”
    “Yeah, but knock next time.”
    “How was I supposed to know you’d run off to fornicate?”
    “Because we are engaged! I don’t know, Ma, shite, knock on a door!”
    “I said I was sorry. Still, we have lots to discuss.”
    “Well, I guarantee ya, it won’t happen tonight. You’ve embarrassed the living shite out of her, Ma,” I say, pointing to the door. “And me.”
    “I’ll say it again. I’m sorry, but like I said, we have a lot to discuss.”
    “I don’t care!” I yell, and I hate that I did that. I don’t raise my voice to my ma. I have way more respect for her than that, but all I see are the tears in Amberlyn’s eyes. I’m pretty sure her first time has been ruined. While a part of me wants to go back in there and take her, I know this can’t be her first time. Closing my eyes, I let out a breath before meeting my ma’s unhappy gaze. “I’m sorry, but Ma, I don’t care about planning shite right now. I want to spend time with my fiancée, who is healthy and alive. Please, give us time to be us.”
    “We don’t have time, Declan. It’s coming up very fast,” she says with a shake of her head.
    “Ma, please,” I say, rubbing my temples. “You’re driving me mad, for sure.”
    She sets me with a look, but before either of us can say anything, the door opens and Amberlyn appears. Her face is bright red, hell, even her skin is glowing, and she doesn’t look my ma in the eyes as she says, “They’re right. We don’t have much time.”
    “I understand that, but we’re a bit busy, yeah?”
    She looks up at me, and I know we might have been, but we’re not anymore. Which is probably for the best. “We have the rest of our lives to be busy.”
    I hold her gaze for a moment and then turn to my ma who is also as red as Amberlyn is. “Ma, we’re coming. Let me get dressed.”
    “Grand, thank you.” Thankfully, she leaves, and when Amberlyn goes to pass me, I stop her. Wrapping my arms around her waist, I kiss the side of her mouth.
    “You’re not mad?”
    She shakes her head. “Mad is the least thing I am. Embarrassed and horny is more like it.”
    I smile. “I owe you busy time.”
    “You do,” she says with a nod. “Soon, I hope.”
    “Very soon.”
    And that’s a promise.
    Now, I gotta find the time and I gotta make sure the damn door is locked.

“N o way!”
    I look over at Fiona, a deadpan look on my face. I am still completely embarrassed from the other night. All I see is Mrs. O’Callaghan’s wide eyes and her look of utter shock. I never wanted to look her in the face again, but not even twenty minutes later, I was at the table planning my engagement party. It was easy to say, I could not make eye contact without burning with embarrassment. Ugh. The horror. To top it all off, I have to go wedding dress shopping with her and Lena, along with my aunt and Fiona. I’m so excited to see her, I