She hugs me and lays her head on my chest, and I kiss the top of her head.
“I love you, Fiona.”
“And I love you.” It’s getting easier to talk now, as if her very presence has thawed me from ice. “Marry me, lass.”
Her head snaps up and her eyes go wide. “Marry you?” Her voice is barely above a whisper. “Is that a question?”
“Aye, of course it is,” I say, shaking my head. I’m definitely feeling better now. “Fiona Hurston, I have loved you for as long as I’ve known you. I want you by my side, and I want you to bear my name, my ring, my children. You’re my everything. You’re my entire fucking world.”
She grins, her eyes shining with unshed tears. “You’re my entire fucking world.”
I take her necklace and give it a little tug. “I’ll get you a ring to match this, soon as I get out of this goddamn bed.”
The door swings open and Sebastian enters. “You’re not getting out of this goddamn bed for days,” he begins, but I shake my head.
“You know me better than that, doc.”
He shakes his head. “Fine. Up to your room and let your nurse take care of you and I’ll let you go now, under the one condition that you allow me to come up and check on you twice a day.”
“Deal.”
An hour later, I’m settled into our room with Fiona. She takes to her role with ease, helping me in bed and getting me food sent up from the kitchen while filling me in. I’ll get the rest of the story from Keenan later.
“So Calum promised safety and protection, but Byrne was behind all of this,” she says, pouring water into the electric kettle before she plugs it in. “And Calum was fooled, as were we all.” She goes on and on about switching identities and the hidden agenda of the madman that wreaked havoc on us.
“Bloody hell,” I mutter. “Could’ve been so much fucking worse if you hadn’t caught on.”
She waves her hand at me and shakes her head. “I only pieced together what I’d seen, really,” she says. “The rest sort of fell into place.”
“I don’t care what you think, you’re bloody brilliant,” I tell her. Honest to God, we missed the signs right under our noses.
She raises a brow at me coyly. “Perhaps because you were distracted by other things?”
“Oh?” I ask, feigning ignorance. “Like what?”
“Like the stunning beauty of your future wife,” she says, rolling her eyes.
“I certainly haven’t forgotten that rolling your eyes at me will get your pretty little arse whipped.” My cock jerks.
She climbs into bed beside me and lifts the blanket, snuggling right up to me. I’m thankful this bed is so much bigger than the hospital bed.
She lifts my t-shirt and grazes her hand over my chest, careful not to hurt where I’m sore. She drags her thumbnail over one nipple, and I hiss in a breath, my cock aching.
“Fiona,” I warn hoarsely.
“What?” She gives me an innocent stare, peels the covers back, then positions herself right between my legs. She kisses my hard length straight through my pants, and I groan.
“May I?” she asks, her fingers on the clasp.
Jesus, Hell. Where did she learn that? She’s never asked permission before.
“Of course,” I say on a hoarse whisper.
I watch as she unfastens my trousers and retrieves my swollen cock. She kisses the side, then runs her tongue along the length, suckling a droplet of pre-cum like it’s goddamn candy. She moans, cups my bollox, then continues to suck my cock.
My head drops back on the pillow and I moan. It feels so fucking good, I can’t think beyond the next stroke of her tongue.
“I missed you so much,” she says, before she drags her tongue along my shaft. “So much.”
“And I missed you,” I whisper. “Bloody hell, woman. How long’s it been? Am I Rip Van Winkle?”
“Long enough,” is all she says.
A knock comes at the door and I tuck myself away with reluctance.
“Later,” she whispers.
“Do not answer the door unless you bloody well know who it is,” I order, as she heads for the door.
“We’ve sorted the guard, Lach,” she says over her shoulder. She squeals when she looks through the peephole. “It’s Tiernan!”
She yanks the door open, and Tiernan comes in. He looks exhausted.
“You alright, brother?” I ask.
He shakes his head. “I’m alright. How about you?”
“I’m fine,” I say, sitting up in bed.
He rolls his eyes. “Went to see your bloody friend,” he says to Fiona.
She furrows her brow. “Aisling? Why would you see her?”
“She decided she needed to come home for a visit. I suspect she’s worried about you. Got her last night.”
“Thank you,” Fiona says.
“Got a question for you, Tiernan.”
He looks to me. I swallow hard.
“I’d like your sister’s hand in marriage. Would you grant your blessing?” She has no father, so it’s only right.