“Then what was that all about? Were ye hoping for a more agreeable response from me?” he asked with a smirk.
“I was hoping one of you might see sense, but obviously not,” I huffed as I pulled a yoghurt and bottle of water from the fridge before slamming it closed.
“We love ye too much to ever see sense when it comes to yer safety,” he told me. He caught my arm as I walked past him, then pulled me in for a kiss that had me relenting and smiling by the time he released me again.
“You won’t always get your way so easily.”
“I probably will, but it’ll be fun to watch ye tryin’ te get yers too. Yer so cute and sexy when ye get all pouty like that.”
I sent him a glare, but it didn’t wipe the smirk from his face. He was dressed for work, in black cargo pants and a polo t-shirt. I knew he had various knives and weapons spread under that outfit, since I’d watched him get dressed the day before. Maybe that should have scared me, but it just made me feel relief that he seemed to be prepared for every eventuality. I knew he was no angel, but I could live with anything he had to do, as long as he got home safe each night.
Maybe that would sound ruthless to some, but that was the world I was born into, and the years I spent out of it had only proved to me that there were many people in the world who deserved to be taken out of it. I trusted Arran, Dario, and Rafe to not harm innocents, and that was as much conscience as I felt I needed. Life was harsh. The world was a dangerous place. I was just grateful to have men equipped to deal with it surrounding me.
“You ready, gorgeous?” Cal asked as he walked into the kitchen dressed in running shorts and his trainers.
He’d had the last cast removed from his leg the day before, and now just wore an elastic ankle support. He’d been cleared for light exercise, which he was delighted about.
His t-shirt was thrown over his shoulder and I just sat transfixed for a moment as his golden skin and muscled body caught in the sunlight flooding through the bi-fold doors. His tattoos had me ready to drool and I once again marvelled at what works of art all three of my men were.
“Cara? Babe. You have to stop looking at me like that before I pick you up and carry you straight back to bed,” he told me, and that snapped me out of it.
“Sorry, but maybe put the shirt on if you don’t want me to stare,” I told him.
“The lad definitely want’s ye to stare, lass. Have nae doubt about that.” Arran chuckled as he got to his feet.
“Are you going to work?” I asked suddenly. I detested him and Dio leaving the house with the threat that still loomed over us. It terrified me.
“Aye. Dario’s got a meeting with Kean and he wants me there.”
“Where is Dio? I haven’t seen him since last night.” I looked between them both for an answer.
“He worked late last night and fell asleep at his desk. He told me when I met him on the way down here,” Cal explained.
“I just want to find him and get a minute with him before he leaves. Is that alright?” I asked, looking to Cal, I didn’t want tohold him up too much, knowing he had a ton of work to do for university that day.
“You don’t have to ask me, crazy girl. Go on. I’ll wait here for you,” Cal assured me. I leaned in to give him a brief kiss as I bypassed him on my way out of the kitchen.
I found Dio exactly where I expected to – in his office. He looked exhausted, but he even wore that look well. Of course the form fitting designer suit, and white shirt, which contrasted perfectly against his naturally sun kissed skin, helped.
He looked up the moment I entered and it made my heart flutter the way all stress left his face instantly in favour of a genuine smile the second he saw me.
“How’d you know?” he asked teasingly.
“Know what?”
“That I’ve been wishing for you to walk into this office and turn my shitty day around all morning.”
I smiled too as I cross the room and went right to him. I reached up to put my hands on his shoulders and urged him down until his lips met mine. The kiss that ensued was filled with all of the passion of our love-making, over a week before, and instantly had my body taking note and coming alight. I had wanted a repeat ever since, but Dio was always so busy.
“Did you wish for that too?” I asked him as I pulled back, unable to wipe the small smile from my face.
“I’m always wishing for that, baby, every second you’re not in my arms.”
“I missed you last night. You said you were coming to bed?”
“Sorry. I meant to, but I had so much prep to do for the meeting I have this afternoon, then Kean called and I had to co-ordinate things for this meet with him this morning. It got so late and then I must have fallen asleep right here at the desk.”
“You’re working too hard, Dio. You need to at least get more sleep.” I reached up and smoothed back his perfectly styled hair, just needing to touch him.
