He peels off his sweatpants so that he’s completely naked, and still very much hard, and carries me into the en suite. Reaper follows and settles himself on the bed. I strip off my t-shirt, my panties and shorts still on the kitchen floor along with his clothes.
I don’t ask him any questions. I just wait for him to talk.
He turns on the shower and within seconds, the room fills with steam. He walks into the enclosure, and I follow. “Cillian and Wolfe ambushed me at the gym,” he finally says. “Ronan was there.”
“What?”
He stands under the hot spray with his eyes closed for a long minute. “They thought if we fought, we could work through all the bullshit between us.” He lets out a heavy breath. “But they were wrong. He’s gone, Adriana. There’s nothing left of my brother, not the guy he used to be. He just looks at people like chess pieces. Just like my fucking father.”
I squirt some body wash in my hand and lather him up, gently to avoid hurting him. I shake my head at all the bruises on his midsection glaring at me. “Jesus,” I say. “So you guys just, what? Beat the hell out of each other to try to repair your relationship?”
“It’s how we work out our problems. Kind of the Molloy version of relationship therapy.” He shrugs as he scrubs his hair.
“Okay, well, if we ever get into an argument, please don’t expect me to climb into a metal cage so we can battle through our differences,” I say with a sly smirk. “I’d prefer to talk things out.”
He smiles, but it fades fast. “Ronan called you a liability again and said I was wasting an opportunity by playing house instead of positioning us to take over DiMicheli territory. It pissed me the fuck off.”
My jaw drops. “What did you say to that?”
“I told him your dad woke up and that his takeover fantasy was dead.”
My ears prick up, sensing something deeper in his tone. Something he’s not saying. “And?”
He’s quiet for a second too long. “Ronan said somethingabout the marriage contract. He asked what happens now that your father’s awake.”
I look up at him. “You’re wondering what happens to us.”
He averts his eyes, his jaw tensing. “Yeah.”
I cup the side of his face that he’d turned away and tilt it back toward me. “The contract isn’t why I’m here, Lochlan.”
“I know. But?—”
“No buts. My father waking up doesn’t change how I feel about you.”
His hands settle on my hips. “And howdoyou feel?”
My heart flips like it always does when he looks so deep into my eyes, I can feel him caress my soul. I never expected this… him… but somehow, in the most unlikely of circumstances, we found connection. And it’s more precious than I ever imagined it could become.
I swallow hard. “I’m falling in love with you, Lochlan. I think you already know that.”
His tense expression relaxes, relief washing away the apprehension. “I’m not just falling. I’m already there.” He dips his head low, his forehead grazing mine. “I’m in love with you, Adriana.”
I can’t stop the smile from stretching across my face. We stand there, bodies entangled under the steamy spray, and my heart is fuller and filled with more hope than it’s ever been. “We’ll talk to my father when he’s stronger. Explain that it’s real now.”
He pulls me close, water cascading over us. “I don’t want to lose you.”
“You won’t.”
I wake to Lochlan’s hands sliding down the slope of my back and over the curves of my hips. I let out a little moan and back myself into his chest. He brings a hand around to my front andtraces small circles over my clit, the other hand kneading my breast.
“That feel good?” he murmurs against my hair.
“Yes,” I whisper, thrusting backward against his hand. He toys with me, alternating between teasing my clit and plunging his fingers deep inside of me. I clench tight, riding them hard as his cock thickens.
“Fuck,” he growls. “I need to be inside of that pussy.”
His cock grazes my pussy lips before sliding into my slick opening. “You’re already so wet. My cock is covered in your juices. Tell me how much you wanted this, Adriana.”
