“A lot.” I jabbed my fist to make a point, and I hit him gently on the shoulder, fast enough that he didn’t have time to jump out of the way. I wasn’t going to hurt him, so I planned on keeping my attacks light and playful. “The first time I learned how to hit someone, I was eight and Daideó Jack taught us.”
“Daideó?” He bounced on his feet and thrust his hand forward, and I ducked. We weren’t seriously fighting, not yet, and I could tell he wasn’t trying, which probably meant he didn’t believe I knew how to attack and defend.
“Cillian’s grandfather.”
Fallon jabbed his fist at me, and I ducked again.
“But Daideó Jack taught Cillian, Eamon, and me how to fight, and we kept learning after he died. When we moved to Dublin, we joined a gang there and we had to learn quick. It got bloody, so I would’ve done anything to keep Cillian and Eamon safe.”
Fallon stopped bouncing on his feet and dropped his hands. He rushed forward, and I thought he was going to tackle me, but to my absolute shock, he threw his arms around my neck in a hug instead. He dragged me against himself, and I let out a shaky breath as our chests rubbed. His nipples brushed across mine, and I hissed, cursing myself for focusing on the stimulation when he was trying to comfort me.
The hug was peculiar but nice. I couldn’t remember anyone other than Vail ever hugging me, and I relaxed into his embrace, unable to hold back a smile.
“I’m supposed to be putting ye at ease,” I murmured against the skin of his shoulder, taking a moment to breathe in the rich musk of his sweat. While I thought it should be a horrible scent, it was the opposite, and I had to push away the urge to lick a stripe across the flesh that joined his neck and shoulder.
“You are. I like this.” His whispered words caused a shiver to spread down my spine. He sounded so content. “Can’t we just stay this way all day?”
I snorted. Ah, there it was. He was trying to distract me.
The cleverness of Fallon Maher knew no bounds. If I was Cillian, it might’ve worked. All he’d need to do was get rid of those shorts and he would’ve had Cillian by the balls, but I wasn’t him, and I’d promised Aspen that I would take care of Fallon. That was exactly what I was going to do. Caring about someone meant not falling for their distracting tricks. No, I would make sure Fallon stayed safe and healthy.
I poked him in the ribs on the side that wasn’t hurt, and he let out a squeal that must have slipped free unintentionally because it was far too high for something normal. His cheeks turned a deep red when laughter spilled from me.
He gave me a soft glare. “You didn’t hear that.”
“Oh, I did.” I grinned and danced out of his reach as he went to punch me, then laughed harder. “Ye’re going to the doctor, aye? There’s no getting out of this appointment. If ye don’t keep it, Nick will tell Aspen, and it’ll be me arse that’s chewed out, not yers.”
Fallon winked. “Aspen’s gentle and really good at ass play. I know you’re an ass virgin, but it’ll be nice, I promise.”
I shook my head at him as I ripped at the straps on the gloves, which wasn’t easy with both of them on. “There ye go again, tater tot, assuming ye know stuff about me without ever asking.”
He straightened. “Rowen Shaughnessy, are you telling me you have done ass stuff involvingyourbuttocks?”
I rolled my eyes at his dramatics. “Don’t say buttocks again. Ye’re not me grade three schoolteacher, are ye?” When I finally got the gloves off, I threw them on the small table, then helped him get his wraps off, too. “Now, this is what’s gonna happen. Ye’re going up to the bathroom and ye’re gonna have a nice, long hot shower. Relax a bit, and then when ye’re done, we’ll make breakfast and eat with Vail before he leaves for work. Then we’re heading to the city. As a reward, I’ll take ye somewhere nice after the doc, all right?”
He narrowed his eyes at me. “Somewhere nice, huh? Like where? The Virtue?”
I gave him an unimpressed stare, and he cackled with laughter. “No, and don’t be a smart-arse. Mention that around Cillian or Aspen, and they’ll put ye over their knee.”
He held up his palms to me, but his gaze sparkled with amusement. “I’m not saying a word.”
I shook my head and waved my hand at the door that led into the house. “Go. I won’t smack yer arse, but I’m making notes for Aspen.”
“Just one question. This somewhere nice isn’t the church, is it? Because Father Shay’s hot, but I’m never confessing my sins. I’d be in there for days.”
I heaved a sigh. “Fallon, now!”
He laughed as he bounced past me, happy with himself, and the stupid thing was, he had me smiling, too.
* * *
About three hours later, we found ourselves sitting in front of Nick.Dr. Nicholas Berrywas scrawled across a gold nameplate taking up one corner of his desk. Fallon was rubbing his hands together. The good mood that Vail and I had managed to get him in had disappeared as soon as we’d entered Aureate Wellness. Even though we were early, Nick had taken us into his office, and I wasn’t sure if that was a good thing or not.
I reached over and grabbed one of Fallon’s hands, entwining our fingers and gripping them tightly to stop him from fidgeting. He glanced at me, a small smile curving his pretty lips. It wasn’t the emotion I was used to seeing from Fallon, but it was better than nothing.
“Breathe,” I whispered quietly, and he nodded, though I didn’t think he took my advice.
Nick stared at the info on his computer screen, tapping his chin thoughtfully. From this angle, I saw some of Aspen in him, and it was clear they were cousins. They had the same nose and chin, despite his somewhat long face, though Nick was prettier. The sun that filtered through the window to his left lit him up and made his umber skin appear flawless. If I didn’t have Vail—and Fallon?—already, I might’ve considered asking him out for a date. Aspen had never introduced us before Fallon got hurt, but that was a typical Aspen thing to do. He kept everything close to his chest.
