Page 107

They’d been too desperate for one another to notice that, earlier, and the realization made her smirk a little.

“Why do ye object to me caring for ye, Flick?”

It seemed like an innocuous question, so she shrugged as she reached to turn off the taps. “I am…not used to being cared for.”

“That doesnae mean ye cannae allow it.”

Didn’t it? “I do not know how,” Felicity admitted quietly, fiddling with the faucet, although it was already turned off. It was easier than looking at him, now.

“Ye take care of everyone else.”

From the corner of her eye, she saw the waistcoat land in the corner, then Griffin shrugged out of his shirt.

“I…” Her mouth was suddenly dry, her stomach tight. Why was she nervous? “I do not take care of everyone. I do not take care of anyone.” Her gaze and her voice dropped. “I want to,” she admitted, “But there was not anyone…”

He stepped into her line of vision. “Ye’ve been taking care of all of us since this deception started. Rupert thinks ye’re amazing for being willing to ask and answer questions, and Marcia loves ye for accepting her so readily.”

Of course she accepted his children for who they were. It was one of the things she’d admired about Griffin from the beginning; he was willing to allow his children to take their own paths in life, instead of imposing his goals on them.

But that felt too complicated to admit, right now. So she merely murmured, “They are wonderful children.”

“Aye, and so is Bull.”

Griffin’s trousers hit the ground and he kicked them off. Her gaze was drawn helplessly to his movements as he yanked off his socks and then his smalls, until he stood beside the tub, as naked as she was.

His cock hung, half-engorged already, against a thick patch of dark hair. She wanted to reach for it, to stroke it.

To taste it.

Her mouth watered at the thought.

Griffin seemed oblivious to her line of thinking. “Budge up, I’m coming in,” he announced, then continued his earlier thought. “Ye take care of Bull.”

She scooted forward in the tub, glad she’d turned off the faucets as he climbed in behind her and the water level rose.

It was distracting.

“I—I do not really take care of him. He is mostly grown. He does not need me.”

Bull was already his own person, no thanks to her.

“I think he does.” Griffin grunted, lowering himself to sit behind her and settling back. “He’s a good lad—no’ entirely the little shite I thought he was.”

“Thank you,” she said drily, staring ahead, waiting for him to get comfortable.

“Nay, I didnae mean it like that. I—”

“I understand.” She did. “You were worried for your family, and thought Bull was a threat to them. He is not.”

“I ken that now.” Griffin’s hand closed around her shoulders and he pulled her back carefully. “He’s…taught me a lot.”

She knew she had no right to be proud of the young man her son had turned into, but that didn’t stop the burst of delight in her chest. “He likes you very much, Griffin. I know his teasing might not seem like that, but he does. I think…” She swallowed, holding herself stiffly. “I think he needs you—I mean, needs someone like you in his life.”

Griffin didn’t say anything for a long moment, then took a deep breath. “I’m coming to realize I wouldnae hate—nay, that’s no’ right. I would like that. To be in his life. To help him grow.”

Oh.

Suddenly, one of his fingers jabbed into her shoulder. “Want to see something? Sit forward again.”