Page 112 of The Science of Attraction

Paddy considered his wife for a long moment, then his gaze slowly turned to me. “L-Liam will go first. He’s my s-s-son’s boyf-friend.”

CHAPTERTHIRTY

Jules

Warm hands wrappedaround my freezing cold fingers and a hit of citrus filled my senses. My heart jumped in my chest.

“Hey, sweetheart.” Liam’s lips brushed my cheek. “How’re you doin’?”

It took me a minute, but my eyelids slowly peeled back and, oh god. Tears flooded my eyes. He was so close I could reach up and kiss him, if only I could move. And he looked good, so fucking good. So real. So amazing. I opened my mouth to tell him all of that—and also that I loved him—but all that came out was a soft cry and more tears.

“Oh baby, don’t cry.” Liam cradled my face, kissing them away. “Jules, honey, please don’t cry. It’s okay. It’s okay.” He kissed my hair, my forehead, my face, and finally brushed my lips, gently, carefully, like I might break. “But if you ever do this to me again, I—” His voice cut up and he took a shuddering breath. “God, Jules, I thought I’d lost you.” He pulled back, his eyes travelling my body. “Are you okay? Are you in pain? Do you need anything?”

“I’m fine,” I finally rasped. “A bit groggy, is all. But I can talk. Iwantto talk.” I reached up with my good arm and cupped his damp cheek. “Jesus, look at you.” I brushed my thumb under his eye. “I don’t need anything except you, and maybe another of those kisses.”

He smiled and took my hand, kissing the open palm before bending forward to slide his lips over mine. I grabbed hold of his silky hair to keep him close and ran my tongue along the seam of his lips. He groaned and opened for me, our tongues sliding lazily together, the taste of him a healing balm for my shattered body.

“Sorry,” I muttered when we finally separated. “I taste gross.”

“You do.” He grinned and kissed me again. “But I don’t give a shit about that.” He went to pull the chair closer, but I tugged at his sleeve.

“No, up here with me.” I shuffled over as far as I could without revealing just how much every tiny movement cost me.

“Jules, stop.” Liam eyed the narrow space dubiously. “You’re too sore. I can’t?—”

“Please?” I wasn’t above begging. I was desperate for the warmth of his body against mine. Needed it more than I needed anything else.

He sighed, checked behind to make sure we were alone, and then squeezed awkwardly alongside. It was a tight, precarious fit, but the feel of him did more for me than any drug.

“So, how much does it hurt?” He fingered the shoulder dressing gently.

“Like a bitch,” I relented and told him the truth. “But it’s more the broken collarbone than the bullet wound, if I’m honest.”

Liam frowned. “Can’t they give you something more to get rid of it? Do you want me to ask?—?”

“They’ve given me what they can,” I assured him. “But with the concussion, they’re being cautious.”

“Shit.” Liam slumped. “Of course.”

I changed tack. “So, how’s Marty?”

Liam looked surprised, then rolled his eyes. “Well, I haven’t killed him... yet. Which is a fucking miracle after what he did.” He breathed out a long sigh and I knew there were stories to be told about what had gone down while I’d been out of it. “He’s okay. Shook up. They made him stay back on the station with Stuart.”

I nodded, not knowing how to feel about any of what had gone down. “It was an accident,” I said, the sound of the shot echoing in my brain.

Liam gave me that exasperated look again and I sighed.

“I know that doesn’t excuse what happened,” I added. “But I shouldn’t have gone after him like that. It was stupid.”

Liam snorted. “Damn right it was. But it was also perfectly understandable. If I hadn’t had Connor to watch, I’d have wanted a piece of him myself.”

I tipped his chin up and kissed him. “He’ll never change. I know that now.”

Liam slid an arm around my waist and cuddled close into my good side. “No, I don’t expect he will. Doesn’t make it okay, though.”

We lay in silence for a moment, Liam’s fingers finding the hem of my hospital gown and sneaking under to play lightly over my skin. I nuzzled his hair and tried not to think about the two holes in my body where someone had fucking shot me.

Shot me.

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