She hummed in response, and I knew she was already on her way into a deep sleep.
I stared at her while she slept, and I was very aware that I felt an enormity of happiness by simply holding her. She was as sexy as she was beautiful but holding her at that moment was nothing sexual, and that scared the shit out of me. I never had an interest in a girl past her looks and whether or not I could fuck her, but with Bronagh, it was so much more than that. I had never gotten stupid butterflies from just holding a girl before. I never held one all night in my bed .... In fact, a girl was never in my bed for anything other than sex.
I reached out and ran the tips of my fingers over her creamy, soft skin.
“What are you doing to me, pretty girl?”
CHAPTER SEVEN
Eighteen Years Old ...
I was a hot-headed asshole.
My entire body was tense as I drove Bronagh to the hospital. I was so mad at myself for acting like a dramatic little bitch when Kane called me and told me Bronagh and Gavin Collins were looking mighty comfortable in McDonald’s. Like my brother knew I would, I took the bait, showed up, and fought Gavin for no other reason than he liked Bronagh and had her attention. I was possessive of her, and as I glanced at her, I knew I’d have to change my ways because she had gotten hurt and that was absolutely unacceptable.
“Are you okay?”
She jerked her head in my direction. “Does it look like I’m okay?”
No, she looked like she was in pain, and it turned my stomach.
When I didn’t answer her, she yelled, “Answer me!”
I sighed. “No, because you’re just going to yell at me no matter what I say, so I’m keeping my mouth shut.”
She grunted. “That’d be a fuckin’ first.”
When I didn’t reply again, I felt her look at me, and it drew a laugh from me.
“I’m not going to argue with you, babe, so stop trying to bait me.”
She sounded murderous when she hissed, “I’m not your babe.”
A sharp pain jolted across my chest.
“I forgot,” I said with a forced smile. “Sorry.”
She shook her head at me, then looked down at the hand she had cradled to her chest.
“God, this hurts so bad.”
One glance at her face told me she was about to cry, and it tore me apart inside.
“Bronagh, please don’t cry.”
She sniffled. “I can’t help it. It really hurts.”
“I know, but we’re almost at the hospital,” I assured her. “I’ll make them fix it, okay?”
I watched as she rooted for her phone from her bag, and I exhaled a deep breath when she put it to her ear. She whimpered in pain, and I heard Branna’s voice as clear as day as she began shouting.
“Bronagh? Baby? What is it? What’s wrong? Did Gavin hurt you? I’ll fuckin’ kill ‘im—”
“Branna, shut up.” Bronagh cut her off with a cry. “Gavin didn’t hurt me, but I am hurt, and I’m on my way to the hospital.”
“The hospital?” her sister shrieked. “Why? What happened? Are ye’ okay?”
Bronagh managed a snort. “Dominic happened.”
I sighed again.
“Dominic?” Branna snapped, then growled, “I’m goin’ to kill your little brother.”
“Not if I kill him first,” I heard Ryder bellow.
I groaned out loud and silently hoped I could explain what happened to them before they ended my life. Bronagh finished her phone conversation just as I pulled into the hospital. I found parking near the emergency room’s entrance and hustled her out of the car. When we got inside, I stayed right on Bronagh’s heels. After she was checked in, we headed inside the waiting area that was absolutely packed with people.
Bronagh took one look around the room and glared up at me. “I hate you.”
I nodded. “I hate me, too. We’re gonna be here all fucking night.”
“Leave then,” she argued. “No one is askin’ ye’ to stay.”
I raised a brow. “If you think I’m leaving you here, then you don’t know me very well.”
“I don’t know ye’ at all.”
I rolled my eyes and tugged on her good hand, leading her towards the only spare seat in the room. She didn’t like me leading her, so she gave me a little kick on the shin as we passed by people, earning us chuckles.
“Trouble in paradise?”
I snorted at the stranger. “Nah bro, this is foreplay for us.”
Bronagh was mortified, and her red face told me so.
“I’m sorry, I was only playing.”
I saw her eyes widen ever so slightly when I sat down on the empty seat, then her lips parted with shock when I placed my hands on her thick hips, turned her away from me, and then tugged on her so she fell nicely onto my lap. I adjusted her body so she was resting comfortably on my crotch. I slid my arm around her waist and applied a bit of pressure. When her back was moulded against my chest and her head rested against my shoulder, I relaxed and so did she, though I was sure she wanted to remain rigid.