Page 59 of Three Irish Kings
My chest is littered with scars—cigarette burns from when I was a kid, before Ronan took me in. Then there’s my back, which... well, let’s just say I didn’t have the best childhood.
“Oh, Cill.” She traces her fingers along the old scars, and I shudder.
“You don’t have to touch me. Here, let me get the shirt back on so you don’t have to look at them.” I suddenly feel very vulnerable, open. Raw.
Isla just cuddles closer. “Don’t, please. Iwantto touch you.”
She presses her face into my chest again, breathing out and then placing her cheek on my skin.
My heart stutters in my chest as her eyelids droop closed.
What the hell have I gotten myself into?
I don’t sleep a wink, and at three o’clock in the morning, Isla wakes, looking at me with bleary eyes.
“Cillian? You’re... you’re not sleeping?”
I shake my head. “Couldn’t sleep.”
“Are you worried I’ll run away?”
“No.” The thought hadn’t crossed my mind. “Just... thinking.”
“What are you thinking about?” She sits up, cross-legged on the bed.
“Nothing for you to worry about. Go back to sleep.” I take her hand, tugging her back toward me, and she sways but doesn’t let me draw her close.
“You know me. Always a talker.”
I groan. “Don’t I know it. I’m just thinking about how much we fucked all this up if you’re really not Maggie Sullivan.”
“I’m really not.”
I look at her.
Can I believe her? Can any of us?
“Jury’s still out, but I want to apologize for grabbing you in that elevator.”
“Hey, I wouldn’t have had the time of my life last night if you hadn’t.”
“You can’t be serious.”
She shrugs, grinning at me. “I don't know. I had fun.”
“Do you always like it... so rough?”
“I had no idea I liked it like that, if I’m honest. But I won’t say I’ll always want it like that. What about you?”
“Rough. Always.” But as I watch her here in bed with me, my mind plays different scenarios, and a few sweet ones don’t look so bad.
So, maybe with her things could be different. Maybe I could make love to her once in a while, instead of just fucking. I haven’t ever felt that way about anyone, and I can’t say I’m not scared, because I’m terrified.
Her eyes search mine. “Are you sure you’re all right?”
“I’m fine,” I grunt, pulling her harder. This time, she falls against me with a giggle, and I put her in my lap.
She straddles me easily, and I hitch in a breath.
