Page 58 of Three Irish Kings

I don’t know why the word pops in my head, but I push it away.

“Aye.”

“Are you taking care of me because you feel guilty for kidnapping me?”

I pause while rinsing out her hair. “No. Nothing like that. I just... I like it, okay?”

“You like taking care of others?”

I nod. “I do.”

She opens her eyes even though her face is wet, looking at me curiously. “You’re actually very kind, Cillian.”

I snort. “I don’t know about that.”

When her hair runs clear, I unplug the water, and she manages to stand on shaky legs.

I wrap her in a fluffy bath towel, and she smiles up at me, her hair wet and curling down her back.

“Will you stay with me, Cill? In my room?”

“Y-you wantmeto stay with you? Not Dare?”

She shrugs. “Dare can stay if he wants. Liam, too. But I want you to hold me, okay?”

My heart soars, and I try to tamp it down.

No reason to get excited. It’s not like she really means this. It’s just gratitude for the aftercare.

But in my line of work, and after the life I’ve lived, it’s hard not to notice when someone’s kind to you.

She walks on her own, a bit stiffly, and I wonder if she’s sore. God, she has to be, between me and Liam, and then her throat must hurt from Dare, with how big he is.

Liam and I are no slackers in that department, but Dare is... blessed.

When we return to the bedroom, Liam and Dare must have gone outside to talk or go to the kitchen. I can’t say that I care.

I want Isla all to myself right now, if I’m honest.

When she climbs into bed, she pouts at me.

I frown. “Are you feeling okay? Does anything hurt?”

“I’m feeling sad you won’t hold me.”

“Be patient.” I give her a smile, and she smiles back.

I undress my pants and climb into bed with her.

She presses her face against my chest before pulling away, tugging at my shirt.

“Want skin to skin.”

“I don’t know...”

“Come on, Cill. You just fucked me, you can be shirtless around me.”

I hate my body, it’s hideous. But I want to make her happy more, so I remove my shirt, dropping it on the floor.