Page 73 of The Apprentice
“Don’t be silly, boy,” he drawled, the tic in his jaw pulsing. “I’m the one who’s supposed to fix all their golden boy’s mistakes.”
I didn’t know exactly how that felt, but I understood Daire’s need to please his parents. I’d been doing the same thing with Sloan, hadn’t I? I was so desperate for his approval that I would do anything for him.
“I’mproud of you,” I whispered, placing featherlight kisses over his pecs. “I’m proud to have you as my Daddy.”
The blinding smile he gave me made my words all worth it.
“Will I ever meet them?” I asked timidly. I held my breath and waited for his answer. We’d played this game of ignoring the feelings between us for so long that I wondered if he thought I was worth introducing to his family.
“If you want.” He smoothed his thumb over my chin and smiled. “Despite their flaws when it comes to Aodhan, they are good people. They’d love you.”
“Really?” I couldn’t stop the wide grin from spreading across my face.
He laughed. “How would you like to go somewhere tonight, boy?”
“Where?” I stared, mouth parted. His offer took me off guard. Like a date? No, that wasn’t possible. Right? “To see your parents?”
He made a wounded sound. “No, let’s not do that yet. I’d rather have you to myself for a little longer before Mom decides to take you from me. No, I was thinking we could go for a drive, do something together.”
“On your bike?” I fluttered my lashes at him hopefully, and his laughter was back.
“No.” He played with my lower lip when I pouted at him. “It’s too dangerous on the bike right now. The roads are too icy, and I don’t want you to get hurt.”
“I trust your driving skills,” I whispered, settling tighter against him. “You’re good on the bike.”
“I know.” It wasn’t arrogance in his voice, but confidence, and that was so fucking hot. “But I’d never risk your life like that. I promise when it gets warmer, I’ll take you out on it.”
“Really?” My excitement bubbled up and I had to hold back from wriggling. I’d asked Daire to take me on his motorcycle for as long as I’d known he had one, and each time he’d refused. He’d never once showed an inkling that he’d consider it, but now he was agreeing.Finally.
“Only if you hold on to me very tightly.” He cupped my cheek and slanted his mouth over mine in a soft kiss that had my toes curling. “We have to trust each other. You need to hug my backand move with me. Give me complete control. Only my special person is allowed on my bike.”
I stared at him with wide eyes. Was he admitting that I was that person? Damn it, he was. Excitement churned in my stomach and I kissed him hard. He rolled us over so he was on top of me, and I melted into his strong body.
“I love you, Daddy Daire,” I whispered against his lips.
He froze, and my stomach dropped. Panic welled behind my eyes. Had I gotten this all wrong? Did I fuck this up before it even began? Before I could spiral out of control, he stunned me with another brilliant smile. Somehow, he looked younger like this, even as his eyes crinkled in the corners. “I love you, too. For longer than I knew.”
The words blasted happiness through me until I thought my heart would burst from my chest. He loved me.He fucking loved me, too.I’d waited for this moment for too long and it was finally happening.
“So, you don’t have any guilt about the whole loving my dad thing anymore?” I didn’t care that he had feelings for a man I never really knew, as long as what he felt for me was real.
“You know....” He stroked the length of my face as he stared down at me. “I think I stopped feeling that way a long time ago. I held on to Eoin’s memory because he was the first person I loved.”
“But not the last,” I murmured with a grin.
“No, you get that honor.”
I bit my lip to hold in a gasp of joy. My body was floating and I had tingles all the way to my toes.
“Till the day I die, you have me, Fionn. My loyalty, my love, my everything. I am yours.” He cleared his throat and sat up on the bed. I followed him, head cocked curiously as he touched one of the many weaving tattoos with Celtic knots. He touched a spot and smiled at me. “Look closely.”
Frowning, I shuffled forward and leaned in to stare at where he was pointing. At first, I didn’t see what he was getting at, then I saw it. He grasped my hand and guided me to the tattoo before tracing my finger over the letters. The word blended in with the lines of the tattoo, and if one wasn’t familiar with where to look, they wouldn’t see it, but it was there. Cursive black ink was interwoven with the knots.
Fionn.
My name.
Mine.
