Page 63 of Three Irish Kings

“Me? I’m an open book.”

I snort.

He chuckles. “Well, ask me whatever you want,a ghrá.I’ll tell you anything you want to know.”

“Your parents?”

He shrugs. “Piece of shit junkies who either spent their time high or acting as each other’s punchbags. When I was five, they decided punching me was a better option. By the time I was eight and several trips to the hospital later, never taken by them, of course, and never telling anyone the truth, one of them OD’d, and I was taken from them. I got shipped around to fuck knows how many foster homes before I turned sixteen and ran away to the city.”

“They punched you? When you werefive?”

Who does that? I can’t imagine. Of course, I didn’t have my father around much, and he was also a piece of shit, but he’d never hit me, and my mother took good care of me.

My heart aches for little Dare.

“Aye. Unlike when they hit each other, I didn’t hit back, so… “

“Cowards! I’m sorry you had to go through all that. And to be homeless and alone at sixteen…”

“Better than what was waiting for me at any of those homes. And after a couple of years on the streets, I met Liam and started doing little jobs for him. He took me in and protected me, which is more than I can say for anyone else until then. I started hanging with him and Cill from that point on.”

“They’re like family to you.”

He nods. “Aye, they are. Both of them.”

“So, you didn’t grow up in the life?”

“Nah. I mean, I’m Irish, so I was always aware of it. But I didn’t start doing jobs until I met Liam. And by then, I was an adult.”

“Eighteen isn't much of an adult."

“For legal purposes, I was. And I had lived what felt like lifetimes by then, so…” He shrugs and gives me a smile that doesn’t quite reach his eyes.

“You’re a tech whiz, right? What made you choose that line of work? Where did you learn?”

He shakes his head. “Tit for tat,a ghrá.Tell me something about yourself. Something the other guys don’t know."

I raise an eyebrow but turn slightly to whisper in his ear. “I absolutely despise macaroni and cheese.”

He barks out a laugh. “What? That’s like, the best food on the market.”

I wrinkle my nose. “I hate how slimy it is.”

“Ah, so it’s a texture thing. That makes a little more sense. Still think you’re crazy, though.” He smiles at me, drawing me ever closer.

His morning wood pokes my hip. I couldn’t miss it. He’s huge.

“Get that thing away from me.”

Dare laughs again. “Can’t help it,a ghrá.He likes you.”

“Clearly.”

He shifts me, propping me up in his lap, and I straddle him easily.

I want to grind down against his erection but stop myself, not wanting to start something I can’t finish given my level of soreness.

“So, how was last night for you?”