American Dynasty

T W E N T Y - T H R E E

Stella stayed silent for a while, processing everything that Flynn had just told her. Flynn bit his lip, waiting for her reaction. It felt like an eternity before she finally spoke.

"Where's Declan now?"

That was not the question that Flynn had been expecting her to ask. "I-I don't know. He joined the army and was shipped off to France to fight in the Great War when I left Ireland. I don't even know if he made it out alive."

Stella shivered, remembering the war that broke out only a decade ago. She remembered crying her eyes out when Matteo was drafted to fight near the end but Beppe stepped in and used his influence to pull his son from the conscription.

Flynn picked at his cuticles, his eyes becoming filled with tears against his will. "He was everything to me. He taught me how to fight for what I believed in and to be proud of my heritage. I was bullied constantly by other children because my mother was Romani."

"Romani?" Stella asked, frowning slightly.

Flynn hesitated, searching for the right word. "Gypsy," he said slowly and cautiously, "though sometimes that's not really preferred."

Stella nodded slightly. She knew of Irish travellers who had made New York their home. Beppe had oftentimes referred to them as Gypsies or other names that she was now sure were derogatory.

"He was my parent when we no longer had ours. I would do anything to have the chance to see him again," Flynn whispered. He closed his eyes, getting angry at himself when he felt the back of his eyes stinging. "But I know that he wouldn't be proud of what I've become. I'm exactly the person that he didn't want me to be. A violent, unloved, jaded, ruthless criminal," he said bitterly.

Stella instinctively grabbed Flynn's hand, wanting to comfort him. His eyes opened and flicked down, staring at their intertwined fingers in surprise. "I think we both know that's not all you are," Stella murmured, her heart pounding out of her chest. "You may be a jaded criminal, and I won't deny that-that sometimes you frighten me..." Flynn winced at her words. "But you're not unloved."

His eyes widened. "What?" he asked in disbelief.

Stella hesitated for a moment, her confidence faltering. "I..." Her voice cracked slightly before she cleared her throat and tried again. "I love you."

When Flynn stayed silent Stella felt her cheeks turn red in embarrassment and humiliation. She wanted nothing more than to melt into the ground as Flynn stared at her with an unreadable expression.

"Do you mean that, doll?" He spoke finally, his voice soothing and quiet.

"Yes," Stella whispered, finding it almost impossible to meet his intense gaze. She felt his soft touch against her chin and she forced herself to look up. Flynn's eyes scanned her face, taking in every single detail, every flaw that he found perfect. He leaned in cautiously, watching for her reaction. Stella's eyes stayed glued to his plump lips, her breath becoming shaky.

When their lips touched she felt a wave a tingles roll through her body starting from her head all the way down to her toes. Flynn wrapped his arms around her slender waist to pull her closer, getting lost in the kiss. Stella responded by raking her fingers through his hair, making him groan quietly. When they pulled away they were both panting heavily, their eyes glazed and their lips swollen.

"I love you too, Stella," Flynn whispered, caressing her cheek.

"You have my heart, Flynn Dempsey," Stella murmured, placing her hand on top of his. "Don't break it. Don't lose it. Don't you ever give it away."

"I'll protect it with my life," Flynn whispered, leaning forward to place a kiss on her forehead. He rested his cheek on her soft hair and held her close, his arms now wrapping around her small frame. They simply stood there, finding an indescribable comfort in the warmth of each other's embrace, not saying a word. They finally pulled away but still held each other, staring into one another's eyes with a sort of rare adoration.

An understanding seemed to pass between them as Flynn slowly scooped Stella off her feet so that her thin legs could wrap around his waist. With his hands firmly tucked beneath her thighs he carried her back into her bedroom. Stella gripped his shoulders tightly, not breaking her gaze from him. Flynn set her down on her bed, gently pushing her down so that she was laying on her back. He hovered over her, their shaky breaths fanning over each other's faces.

"I'll always protect you, baby girl. And I'll always love you."

Stella stared back up at him, her plump lips parted slightly. "Promise?" She whispered faintly.

Flynn pressed a slow, passionate kiss to her lips. "I promise," he said once he had pulled away. With trembling hands he began to undo the ribbon on the front of Stella's nightgown. He wasn't sure why he was so nervous, maybe it was the fact that Stella's eyes were still glued to him. But he managed to untie the bow and slip the airy fabric off her shoulders.

Stella shyly covered her exposed front, smiling bashfully. Flynn slowly pulled the nightgown from her body until she was completely bare to him. She could have been an angel from one of Michelangelo's paintings; Flynn would not have been able to tell the difference. He shed the rest of his clothes, and for the first time since his first girlfriend he felt nervous being with a woman.

Could he even call Stella a woman? No, she was the woman. The woman who could fascinate him with everything she did and bring him to his knees whenever she so much as smiled. And she was all his.