“I’m sure Cillian would have no issue with that.”
“He hasn’t come up here,” she states in an irritated tone.
“I mean, the lad did just have a bullet taken out of his leg, the muscle shredded up in the process. He looks quite pathetic, hobbling on those crutches.”
“You think that’s a good enough excuse?”
“How about I think you scared the fucking shit out of him when you went all Godzilla at the dinner table?”
She looks away for a moment, eating her dessert. I swear she smiles.
“If it makes you feel any better, I quite love your fire, blondie.”
“Why did you let Finn treat me that way? Why did you drug me, Declan?” she accuses.
“Let me get my razor, and I’ll explain everything as best I can. Finish your dessert.”
It’s an excuse for me to figure out what I want to say. But it also gives me enough time to rummage through my bedroom and get my straight-edge blade before heading back to Lorcán’s room. She’s finished her food and follows me into the bathroom.I grab her by the hips and sit her on the vanity as I grab the small stool in the corner to sit on.
I rub the shaving cream on her legs, feeling the soft prickle of her hair. She doesn’t speak, just watches me do this act of service.
“I’m better at actions than words, blondie. I know drugging you wasn’t right, that it would upset you. But you grew up in your father’s house. Did anyone ever act against his orders?” I ask her.
She watches me intently as I hold her foot against my chest while slowly and methodically shaving her leg for her.
“No, what my pápa said always went.”
“I might be part of the O’Brien pack, well, not officially, I suppose,” I smirk, running the blade towards her. We’d have to fully bond with her and register as a pack for that to happen. “But Seamus is in charge of the family, and he mostly handles things in Ireland and on the east coast. Here? Finn’s in charge. His orders were to bring you back to the house by any means. You were already panicked from running into Lorcán, and I didn’t think you’d come with me willingly. Plus, I think Finn was pissed with you for attempting to sell your heat at the High Roller.”
“How did he—” she stops mid-sentence and sighs, shaking her head while making sure to keep her leg steady. “Travis.”
“Aye.”
“Was it all a job for you?” she asks, insecurity laced in her words.
“At first,” I tell her honestly. “I never had any interest in an Omega. Never thought one would want me in the same way, not with Cillian and Lorc in the pack.” Her head tilts, noticing my omission of Finn’s name.
I sigh, the blade slowly making work of her toned, long legs.
“Then I saw you at the pharmacy, how you wanted to choke that woman out, and I wondered if maybe I was wrong. Cillian had to go to Boston to handle some business, and we got along so well. Everything I said and felt was real between us.”
“Is that why you didn’t sleep with me?”
I pause my shaving and look up at her.
“Don’t give me too much credit, blondie. Maybe a part of me was holding back, wanting you to know the truth before we did that, but I can’t deny I wanted to.”
“I feel used,” she says softly.
“I’m sorry for drugging you.”
I kiss the newly shaved, smooth leg before moving to the other one.
“Would it be so bad to choose to stay and be with us?” I ask, not looking up, not daring to see the expression written on her face.
“All of you have hurt me in some way or another. Finn doesn’t want me here, and I don’t know how I’m supposed to trust the rest of you.”
“What if I made a promise to be nothing but honest with you from here on out?”
