Page 22 of Brutal Heir

A streak of sunlight blasts through the dark velvet curtains, somehow finding its way directly into my eyes. I groan, rolling over on the silk sheets. The cool, luxurious fabric used to bring me happiness, now it’s only a stark reminder of the incredible sex life I once had.

Memories of the night before flood my mind and now not only am I pissed, but I’m fucking embarrassed. How the hell am I supposed to face Rory after she caught me with my dick in my hand?

Dio, if she had any idea I’d been imagining driving intoherpussy as I throttled my cock, I would never be able to face her again. After only a few minutes alone with her in the bathroom as she tried to undress me, the light touch of her fingers, the faint hitch of her breath, every second of it was permanently carved into my memory. That snarky redhead was all I could think about last night.

I couldn’t believe that for the first time in months, I’d gotten hard at the sight of a real woman, instead of the shitty porn I’d been indulging in. Only of all the women… why her?

I should have been happy. It meant the doctors were right and physically, there was nothing wrong with my dick. It was all mental.

So how the hell did that lazy bastard perk up at the sight of that fiery little leprechaun?

“Rise and shine, lazy bones!” The adjoining door whips open as if my thoughts had conjured her, and the Irish she-devil fills the entryway, her smile much too bright for this early in the morning.

“Damn it, Rory,” I snarl, hoping she’ll leave me alone if I’m a big enough asshole. I’m in no rush to face her after last night. “Didn’t they teach you manners across the pond? Here in America, we knock before we enter a room.” I throw a pillow at her before rolling onto my side and pressing another fluffy cushion over my head.

From the corner of my eye, I catch her easily dodge the down-feathered missile and stalk closer. “On my side of the pond, we’re not lazyfeckers. We get up with the roosters, along with all the other residents of the farm.”

“Ah, now I get it,” I grumble into the pillow. “You grew up in a barn. That explains so much.”

A cackle parts her lips, and I can’t help but lift my head to more fully take in her expression of absolute delight. She looks like mischief incarnate, pure chaos wrapped in soft skin and flaming hair, ready to drag me straight to hell and laugh the whole way down.

“You’ve got jokes,” she rasps out. “How completely unexpected from the dark and broody billionaire.”

“Millionaire,” I correct. Not sure why the word tumbles out.

“I’m so sorry for you.” She grins wickedly before crouching down in front of me. She’s wearing another pair of bright green scrubs, these plastered with smirking leprechauns, reminding me a hell of a lot of the woman sneering at me. “Well, are you getting up or are you planning on spending the entire day in bed?”

I groan as I glance at the clock on the nightstand. “It’s not even seven.”

“And we’re going to physical therapy in an hour. That doesn’t give us much time for the bath and breakfast?—”

“No bath yet,” I snap and force myself into a sitting position. I regret it immediately as my skin stretches, chafing beneath the bandages I clearly did a shit job of wrapping.

“You promised me,” she barks right back.

“I promised we would do it today, I just never specified when.”

“Listen to me, Mc—Mr. Rossi,” she amends, the first time she’s addressed me so formally, “as your nurse, your welfare is my top priority even if you fight me every step of the way, you stubborn, arrogant, pain-in-the-arse. This is not the boardroom of Gemini Tower, this is my domain and in here, I am in charge.”

Now it’s my turn to laugh, a deep belly chuckle I can’t remember the last time I heard come out of my mouth. “Let’s get something straight, tiny tyrant, this is my home and more importantly, my body. I will have the final say when it comes to all things pertaining to it.”

“We’ll see about that,” she growls, narrowing her eyes.

Sliding to the edge of the bed, I push the comforter off and lower my bare feet to the floor. Rory’s eyes drift down my bare chest, and there’s nothing clinical about her gaze this time. Brilliant emerald irises take in every dip and valley of the ornate canvas that was once my torso. But there’s no pity there, no scientific scrutiny of the bandages or the healing scars. No, Iswear there’s desire in that fiery gaze. AndDio, that one blazing look has heat rushing my veins, and I can feel myself harden. Again. Suddenly, it’s not only my muscles that are stiff, but also another very obvious part of my anatomy.

As if she senses it, her gaze drops to the enormous boner straining against my boxer briefs. I should feel mortified, a tiny part of me does, but the other part, the part that I was afraid was broken and long dead is fucking thrilled by the sight.

A small gasp escapes her lips, and I’m snapped from the highly inappropriate fantasy quickly unfurling in the dark corners of my mind. It involves those pouty pink lips wrapped around my cock and cum spilling down that cute chin. Shit, I should not be having these thoughts about my new nurse.

Reaching for the comforter, I toss it over my lap, and Rory’s wide eyes lift to mine.

“About that,” I mumble, “morning wood and all.” The woman must think I’m an animal, first last night and now this.

“Right, of course. Totally natural.” She waves a dismissive hand. “I have brothers so it’s not a big deal.”

“Good.”

“Good.” Wrapping her arms across her chest, we remain in a silent standoff for a long moment.