“Lachlan?” she whispers. “Am I dreaming?”
Bloody hell, I’m the one that’s dreaming. Relief floods me so fiercely when I see her safe, when I see her right here in front of me, I sit on the edge of the bed and reach out to her. The other night was the first time I’ve touched her, and I haven’t been able to get it out of my mind since.
I gather her in my arms and draw her to my chest. I close my eyes and hold her to me. Wordlessly, she lays her head on my chest and places her hand over my heart. It feels as if our heartbeats sync seamlessly, the pounding of one heart now, as I hold her.
It isn’t awkward like it should be, two people intimately wrapped in each other’s arms who’ve never touched each other like this before. Maybe there’s something about the magic of early morning, or maybe somehow we know. We’re meant to be just like this.
“Lachlan,” she says, so softly her voice is barely above a whisper. “When we spoke last night, where were you?”
“Home.”
She nods slowly. “I thought you were on an international mission.”
“I was. Just got back from Madrid.”
She raises her face to mine, her eyes lustrous and beautiful. “Oh,” she whispers. “And now… you’re here? How?”
“I took the Clan private jet.”
She blinks once, then twice, then closes her eyes and places her head back on my chest.
“You came for me. You knew I might be in danger and you flew over an ocean for me.”
“Well… when you put it that way…”
She laughs, the most beautiful melodic sound, and it stirs my heart. How I’ve wanted to hold her like this.
The clumsy bulk of the hoodie falls to the side, and I realize she’s dressed in only a t-shirt and thin cotton panties. I quickly look away.
“You okay?” she asks. Of course, she’s oblivious to the fact that she’s nearly naked and I can’t look at her. Oh, God, if I look at her…
I’m looking at her. I’m staring at her hungrily, with unabashed need and want, at the thin t-shirt that’s falling off her shoulder, and the tiny scrap of panties that barely covers the gorgeous fullness of her perfect bottom.
Without a word, I bend and brush my lips to her shoulder. She shivers and sighs, then giggles.
“Ack, Lach, that tickles.”
“Tickles?”
I roll her onto the bed and tweak her little button nose. Her t-shirt rides up and bares her belly, revealing a tiny silver navel ring. Now this I haven’t seen before.
She likely sees the look on my face, because she reaches for her t-shirt and tries to yank it down. “Go away,” she says. “Lachlan…”
But I easily push her hand away, then restrain her by capturing her wrists in my hand while I yank her t-shirt back up with the other.
“Lachlan,” she repeats, barely stifling a moan.
“When did you get that?”
She bites her lip. “Few months ago.”
“When.”
“After I graduated.”
Bloody hell.
“You don’t like it?” she asks, tipping her head to the side so her pretty red hair falls onto the pillow.
“Jesus, lass,” I groan, bending my mouth to her belly. “It’s hot.”
I shouldn’t be doing this, and I know it, but I can’t help myself. The relief at knowing she’s okay, that she’s safe and with me now, makes my heart feel buoyant and the cares of the world so easy.
“I ought to spank you properly for getting that.”
My cock lengthens and my belly tightens with the thought of dragging her across my knees.
She shivers, and her knees draw together. “Why?”
I bring my mouth to her belly again and kiss the sweet, seductive dip of her navel. I don’t speak the words out loud. I don’t tell her why she should ask permission, because I’ve never told her how I feel.
Because you belong to me.
Then I realize what I’m doing. I release her wrists and yank her t-shirt back down.
“I have to sweep the place, make sure you’re safe here.”
“Tiernan already did.”
“I know, but I still want to see.”
I check the showers, the closets, the windows outside her room. I check for bugs or cameras or any signs of intrusion, but I see nothing. When I’m finally satisfied she’s alone, the exhaustion of the night settles in over me. I sit on the bed. “All clear.”
She nods. “And Aisling?”
Frowning, I pull out my phone and shoot Tiernan a text.
“Tiernan’s checking on her.”
“Lachlan, you look exhausted,” she says.
“Haven’t slept yet.”
“Oh, no,” she says sadly, then her voice firms. “Now, then, you must get some rest.” She pats the bed beside her. “Please. Just for a little while?”
Keenan’s checking into her guard. Tiernan will check on Aisling. I’ve got my charge right here beside me.
I kick off my shoes, then stand and yank off my t-shirt. I strip out of my trousers and head to the bed. I won’t touch her. I won’t take advantage of her. I just need some sleep.