Page 15 of Niall

Of the two of us, Finn was far more emotional, although he hid it well from the world. He had attachments he valued greatly. Once he’d met Una, he’d carried a quiet torch for her for years. He’d rarely looked at other women, and when he had tried, his heart wasn’t in it. One dinner with a girl ten years prior and his heart was taken. Even when they finally got together and she walked away, he never wavered. He waited, patient and understanding, until she realized her own feelings.

I was far more dispassionate. Aside from my mum and Finn, I had never felt any sort of attachment to anyone. I had a great relationship with our cousin, Sully, but I felt a disconnect with the rest of the world. I had never looked at a woman and thought of a future. Wondered what our kids would look like. Wanted to look after her. When I pushed myself to try, I failed. Every time.

But somehow, with her trusting eyes and quiet need, Anna seemed to be getting under my skin. And for the first time in my life, I wondered.

I wasn’t sure I liked it.

Or what to do about it.

The touch of a finger on my face brought me out of my musings. Anna stared up at me, her large eyes peaceful for the first time ever.

“Hi,” she whispered.

“Hi, Polly,” I said to tease her.

That worked. She smiled, bringing out the dimple high on her cheek. She slapped my chest, laughing. “Stop it.”

I chuckled. “If the name fits…”

“I’m not that small.”

“I disagree. I could tuck you in my pocket or sling you over my shoulder, not a problem.”

“I doubt that.”

I tickled her under her chin. “One day when your ribs heal, I’ll show you.”

The smile left her face. “Hey,” I encouraged her, wanting her smile back. “Soon.”

She nodded. “I slept.”

“You did. You only woke once.”

She furrowed her brow, as if thinking. “I sort of recall waking up. You were still holding me.”

“You sleep better when I do.”

“What about you? Did you get some sleep?”

“Yeah, I did.” I offered her a smile. “I sleep well beside you too.”

“Oh.” She looked pleased. “That’s good, right?”

“Sure.”

“Hmm,” she hummed, laying her head back to my chest. Without thought, I pulled her close, nuzzling into her hair. She sighed, lifting her hand and stroking my head. It was intimate and sweet, a warm bubble wrapping around us in the silence.

I shifted, suddenly acutely awkward as I realized my cock was pressed into her hip. And my hand had drifted to the curve of her ass. She knew I was hard.

“Sorry,” I muttered. “Nature.”

She lifted her head, amused. “I’m from the north, Niall. Not a nunnery. I know about nature.”

I blinked then began to laugh. She sat up. “I know about sex and all that.”

“All that?” I asked, trying to hide my amusement.

“Your…penis or cock—whatever you want to call it—and everything. We had books and the internet at school. Plus, girls talk. Just because I wasn’t kissed doesn’t mean I’m not, ah, aware.”