“Tell me what Keenan said, please,” she says when she’s dressed.
I don’t respond at first. But she won’t take silence for an answer. She places her fingers under my chin and drags my gaze to hers, framing my face between her hands. Her eyes soften, and for some reason water a little.
“I’m not naïve to the ways of the Clan, Lachlan,” she says, in that voice of hers that sends a thrill down my spine. So pure. So beautiful. So honest. “I know who you are. I know who Nolan is. And I know that the jobs you do are dangerous and outside the law. I can handle the truth.”
She can. And if she’s to have anything to do with me, she bloody well will. Goddammit.
I hold her wrists, her hands still framing my face, and nod. “Aye, Fiona. I’ll give you the truth as often as I can.” I swallow hard. “Your guard was killed last night. We don’t know how or why or who’s responsible.”
She nods, taking this truth as simply as if I just told her we were having chicken for supper. “Is Tiernan okay?”
I nod. “He is, but he’s in danger, of course.”
She nods. “But they didn’t touch me. They didn’t come anywhere near me.”
I shake my head. “They didn’t touch you, no. Whether or not they came near you is another story.” My blood heats at the very thought, and I quickly do a mental tally of the weapons I have with me. “No one will hurt you, Fiona. Never. I won’t allow it.”
“I know it,” she says, with complete confidence. “I’ve known that for a very long time.” She smiles.
“You’re safe with me,” I whisper. “If I could wrap you up in a fucking bubble, I would.”
She leans her forehead to mine. Her breath is sweet and warm, and I close my eyes as if she’s basking me in her wholesome and goodness. Hell, maybe she is.
“And this is why you can’t deny it anymore, Lachlan.”
My voice is tremulous. “Aye. But Jesus, Fiona, you’re so young.”
She slides herself onto my lap and places her head on my shoulder. “Bollox,” she says with a flinty note in her voice. “I’m not as young as you think, Lachlan. People like us… we age sooner than the rest, you know. How old were you when you were inducted into the Clan?”
I pause before answering, almost reluctant to give her ammunition in this argument. “Eighteen.” The youngest inductee into the Clan since its founding.
“And why did Keenan induct you so young?”
“I was ready.”
She sighs. “And you think I’m not?”
I rock her on my lap, my heart swelling at the nearness of her. Her scent, her breath, her sweet voice, and the way her heart thumps against my chest.
“Ready?”
“Aye.”
“For what?” I ask.
“You bloody well know what.”
I grin at that and pinch her little bottom. “Feisty thing, y’are.”
“Aye. As if a man like you could handle someone docile. You’d never have a reason to beat your chest or my arse, as it were.”
Fucking hell, I love this woman. I won’t entertain the thought of really dominating her, of really having my way with her. But there are other reasons that hold me back.
“Fiona, you’ve lost so much. So much has been robbed from you that never should have been. And hell, woman, I won’t be the reason you lose even more.”
“Lachlan, that’s the stupidest thing you’ve ever said.” She lifts her head off my shoulder and glares at me. “Why on earth would being with you make me lose anything?”
I smile sadly at her. “The very question shows how innocent you are.”
She scowls, and I tap my finger to her lips. “Now, lass, we’ll have none of that,” I begin, when my phone rings and I look at the screen. I stifle a groan.
Nolan.
“Nolan?” she looks at the screen and gives me a teasing smirk. “Better answer that.”
I narrow my eyes on her and slide her off my lap, but she sits right beside me and places her hand on my thigh. My cock twitches, and she grins.
“You’ll end right up over my lap before the damn day’s through,” I mutter, picking up the phone. “Hello?”
“Lachlan. Y’alright?”
“I’m good. I’m here with Fiona.”
He breathes out a sigh of relief. “Thank fucking God.”
“She’s fine, Nolan.”
“Course she is,” he says confidently. “She’s with you. Keenan tells me you took the private jet.” His confidence stirs guilt in me, but I shove it away.
“Aye. Couldn’t stand the thought of anyone hurting her.”
“Of course not.” I wonder if I imagine the sudden hardness in his tone.
“Have you spoken to Sheena yet?”
“She’s right beside me. Can you put your phone on speaker then?”
“Aye.”
I swipe it onto speaker. “We’re here. I had her check into a hotel room. Didn’t want her being tracked back to campus.”
“Fiona?” Sheena’s voice is stricken.