I was blatantly ignoring the fact that we were the exact same height and so was Gavin.
“I need ye’ to be her friend,” he pressed. “I love ye’, Alannah, and I want ye’ to be around me son, but Kalin won’t let that happen if ye’ both keep … whatever feud ye’ both have goin’.”
“Feud?” I repeated, wide-eyed. “Gavin, she glares at me and gives me foul looks whenever me and you hug or talk to one another. How can ye’ not see she has a problem with me? I would never, never treat a person like she treats me. I’m nice, and she is makin’ me not nice, which goes against everythin’ I am as a person! I’m even nice to Micah Daley when I see ‘er, and she is the devil!”
Gavin’s shoulders slumped, and I knew that he agreed with me.
“I’m convinced that she thinks we secretly like each other, which is so stupid because anyone with eyes can see how much I love that irritable arsehole in the bedroom.”
“You’re so sweet, baby.”
“Bite me!”
“I will later.”
I scowled as I refocused on a now amused Gavin.
“Look,” he said, straightening up. “I’m goin’ to ‘er apartment to talk about this once and for all because I want you two to be friends before me kid is born.”
I didn’t move.
“I’ll be ‘ere if she wants to talk to me,” I said. “I look like the back end of a dog, so I’m not leavin’ this apartment.”
Gavin frowned. “Bear, ye’ don’t—”
“Don’t waste your breath,” Damien called from the bedroom. “She’ll insult you if you compliment her or be nice in any way possible. Trust me, buddy.”
I glared over my shoulder but said nothing as I turned back to face Gavin, who was silently chuckling.
“I’ll be back later.”
I pushed away from the wall. “Don’t be surprised if Kalin gives you hell over this.”
Gavin left my apartment seeming very determined while I headed into the bathroom and took a long, hot shower. I was just about finished when I felt a cold breeze touch my skin before it was replaced with strong hands. I closed my eyes when Damien’s naked body pressed against me, and his lips found their way to my neck. I felt how hard he was, but he didn’t touch me in a way that showed he was in any hurry to take me, which surprised me. We hadn’t had sex since I got hurt, and I didn’t blame him for not touching me.
I had been a massive bitch.
“I’m sorry,” I said, lowering my head. “I’m so sorry for bein’ rude to you.”
I felt Damien’s nose rub against my neck.
“Everyone must think I’m a bitch,” I continued before I lifted my hands to my face. “I feel horrible.”
“Baby,” Damien said, his voice gruff. “Everyone knows you were physically hurting, and that it messed with your mood. We all know you aren’t a mean person, trust me.”
I leaned my head back against his chest. I was physically hurting, but it was my nightmares that had me sleep deprived. They hadn’t gone away. I closed my eyes, and tears fell before I could stop them. I sniffled, and Damien sighed as he turned me to face him.
“Don’t cry, freckles,” he said. “No one is mad at you.”
“It’s not that,” I said, swallowing.
Damien pushed my wet hair out of my face.
“Then what is it?”
I stared up at him. “I don’t want to worry ye’.”
He tensed. “Tell me. Now.”
I had to tell him. Keeping my thoughts to myself was eating me up inside.
“I’m havin’ nightmares,” I whispered. “About Morgan.”
Damien’s eyes widened ever so slightly. He didn’t say a word as he reached over my shoulder, turned off the shower, and hustled us out of it. He wrapped a towel around his hips and grabbed a large one to wrap around me. He led me out of the room and into our bedroom. We both sat on the end of our bed and stared at each other.
“How long?”
I didn’t play dumb. “The last few weeks,” I answered.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” he asked, and I heard the hurt in his voice.
“Because.” I wiped under my nose. “I didn’t want to worry ye’.”
“Alannah,” Damien scowled. “We’re a couple … partners. We deal with issues together, never apart.”
I bobbed my head. “I know, and I’m so sorry. I just … I didn’t want ye’ to think about ‘im.”
“I always think about him, about my past, but that shouldn’t stop you from talking to me.”
“I’m sorry,” I repeated. “I thought I was doin’ the right thing, but I wasn’t. These nightmares are killin’ me.”
“Tell me about them.”
I exhaled a deep breath.
“He always has you and your brothers tied up, and either hurts you badly or kills ye’, but lately …”
“Lately what?”
“Lately, he’s been slittin’ me throat, and that is when I wake up.”