“Does Matt ever ask about his father?”
“He used to. Not so much anymore. It’s hard to explain what happened without hurting him or making him feel unwanted. I never lied, but I didn’t provide details, either. I think he kind of figured things out for himself as he got older.”
“He’s an amazing kid.”
“Yeah, he is.”
“And you are an amazing woman, Faith.” He kissed the top of her head. “I’m sorry you had such a hard time of it, but it brought you here, to me, and I can’t say I’m sorry about that.”
The strangest sensation rippled through Faith, a kind of humming that was centered deep in her chest and radiated outward. It was soothing and pleasant, just like the way Kieran’s hand rubbed up and down her back. It felt so good to be in his arms, to soak up the warmth from his body and feel the rise and fall of his chest. Suddenly exhausted, she let her eyes drift closed.
*
Kieran knew by the heavy, even sound of her breathing that she had finally fallen asleep. He held her tenderly in his arms.
“No one will ever hurt you or Matt again, Faith.” Kieran whispered the promise.
Chapter Fourteen
Faith awoke feeling comfortably cozy and unusually rested, not to mention hungry. It was only when she attempted to stretch that she realized she was not on her bed at all, but sprawled across an expanse of warm male flesh. Kieran lay beneath her, his arms protectively at her waist, sound asleep.
She took the rare opportunity to study him closely. There was a dark shadow of stubble gracing his cheeks and the underside of his jaw; his hair was splayed like wild black silk over the arm of the sofa. In sleep, his youthful face looked even more so, so peaceful and angelic.
So impossibly good.
As if he sensed her watching him, he opened his eyes without giving any other indication that he was awake. Faith sucked in a breath. She didn’t know if she’d ever get used to the power in those eyes.
“Comfortable?” she asked with a little smirk.
Kieran’s fingers flexed at her waist. “Very.”
She propped herself up on his chest. “You’re still here.”
*
Fighting to withhold his sigh, he studied her face. How could she not see it? She was such a beautiful, intelligent, caring woman, yet she seemed either unwilling or incapable of believing that he wanted nothing more than to be with her. Damn those that ever made her view herself as anything less than the gift she was.
“Is there a reason I shouldn’t be?”
Her eyes clouded. “I thought once you knew, you might feel differently.”
Kieran pulled her up and over his body until she was nose to nose with him. “Well, you’re right about that,” he breathed. His hand cupped the back of her head, bringing her to him for a searing kiss. He was beyond trying to explain it to her with words alone. He would just have to show her.
“I’m sick,” she protested weakly when he allowed her a short break to breathe.
“I don’t care,” he mumbled, nibbling her lower lip.
“I’ll get you sick, too.”
There was no hesitation. “Then you can take care of me.”
Her eyes softened, and her body melted into his. “I can do that.”
“I’m in love with you, Faith O’Connell,” he said. He hadn’t meant to just blurt it out like that, but apparently parts of his brain had had more than enough of his ‘be-a-good-friend-until-she-realizes-what-she-is-to-me plan’. They decided to conspire against him and get on with it already. His cock, feeling impossibly thick and hard beneath all her soft female heat, was totally on board with that. His heart and lungs froze, no doubt waiting to see what would happen next.
Faith’s eyes widened and she sat up, straddling his midsection. He couldn’t stop his abs from rippling and contracting beneath her inner thighs and other, far more sensitive places. Her hands flattened against his chest, the one currently exposed to her short nails. Kieran closed his eyes lest she see the stark, raw hunger she was inciting with such actions.
“You love me?” she blinked in disbelief.
There was no sense denying it now. He could try to minimalize it, but more parts were ganging up on him. They wanted her. Now.
“Yes,” he confirmed, his voice lower and huskier than usual. The Eeyore pajama bottoms were worn thin enough that he could feel her feminine heat resting just above what was fast becoming one of his hardest erections ever, and he swore if she continued to paw his chest with her little tiny claws he could not be held responsible for his actions.
At least she wasn’t running. If anything, she seemed genuinely surprised by his blurted admission. Stunned, even.
“Since when?” she asked.