CHAPTER 23
CARA
“How are ye smiling that much when ye barely slept more than an hour last night?” Arran groaned as I walked into the kitchen a few days later.
It was true that I’d had another rough night, filled with nightmares, but I had resolved not to let that rule my whole day as I got dressed that morning. Aside from my crappy sleep, things were good.
Rafe was healing slowly, and behaving himself, mostly, working from his room for the time being. The doctor, who had been at the house every day since Rafe arrived home, was happy with his progress and assured us that he would continue to recover as long as he didn’t push himself.
Things had been quiet with Adamian and anyone else who might have meant us harm.
Best of all was my relationship. Things with the guys were just going from strength to strength.
We spent as much time together as we could, which was made easy for the time being, since Rafe was sequestered in his room.
We had all seemed to find this sweet spot where everything just worked.
The guys all got along, and they were united in most things, especially in taking care of me.
When we were all together it was light, easy, and almost playful most of the time, and then when I was with them separately, things were more intimate and deep.
I was becoming comfortable kissing and touching them all when we were all together. And it was made easier by the fact there didn’t seem to be any jealousy that I could sense. I was just happy when I was with them, and they eased my anxiety and darkness.
“I’m having a good morning,” I shrugged.
“Yer no plannin’ to go down te the gym alone, are ye?” he questioned as he looked at my outfit of yoga shorts and a sports bra, with my hooded jacket open over them.
“What’s wrong with that? I’m not injured any more. I have no need of a babysitter down there,” I reminded him sassily.
“Woah! Steady, lass. I’m allowed te worry fer ye, and ye still get lightheaded from yer concussion, especially when yer tired. I’d just feel better if you weren’t workin’ out alone.”
“The dizzy spells are getting better,” I told him stubbornly.
“I’m glad to hear that, but until they stop completely, we agreed ye’d nae be down in the gym, on the equipment, alone,” he said, trying to out-stubborn me.
“You all have to stop babying me at some point, you know?”
“Aye, and we will, but we’ll never stop takin’ care of ye.”
I growled in frustration as I stormed to the fridge. I’d lost the argument and I knew it, What could I say to that? Tell them not to care about me? Even I knew that sounded insane.
“Fine,” I gave in. “Cal’s coming with me. I already had this argument with him upstairs.”
“Then what was that all about? Were ye hoping for a more agreeable response from me?” he asked with a smirk.
“I was hoping one of you might see sense, but obviously not,” I huffed as I pulled a yoghurt and bottle of water from the fridge before slamming it closed.
“We love ye too much to ever see sense when it comes to yer safety,” he told me. He caught my arm as I walked past him, then pulled me in for a kiss that had me relenting and smiling by the time he released me again.
“You won’t always get your way so easily.”
“I probably will, but it’ll be fun to watch ye tryin’ te get yers too. Yer so cute and sexy when ye get all pouty like that.”
I sent him a glare, but it didn’t wipe the smirk from his face.
He was dressed for work, in black cargo pants and a polo t-shirt.
I knew he had various knives and weapons spread under that outfit, since I’d watched him get dressed the day before.
Maybe that should have scared me, but it just made me feel relief that he seemed to be prepared for every eventuality.
I knew he was no angel, but I could live with anything he had to do, as long as he got home safe each night.
Maybe that would sound ruthless to some, but that was the world I was born into, and the years I spent out of it had only proved to me that there were many people in the world who deserved to be taken out of it.
I trusted Arran, Dario, and Rafe to not harm innocents, and that was as much conscience as I felt I needed.
Life was harsh. The world was a dangerous place.
I was just grateful to have men equipped to deal with it surrounding me.
“You ready, gorgeous?” Cal asked as he walked into the kitchen dressed in running shorts and his trainers.
He’d had the last cast removed from his leg the day before, and now just wore an elastic ankle support. He’d been cleared for light exercise, which he was delighted about.
His t-shirt was thrown over his shoulder and I just sat transfixed for a moment as his golden skin and muscled body caught in the sunlight flooding through the bi-fold doors. His tattoos had me ready to drool and I once again marvelled at what works of art all three of my men were.
“Cara? Babe. You have to stop looking at me like that before I pick you up and carry you straight back to bed,” he told me, and that snapped me out of it.
“Sorry, but maybe put the shirt on if you don’t want me to stare,” I told him.
“The lad definitely want’s ye to stare, lass. Have nae doubt about that.” Arran chuckled as he got to his feet.
“Are you going to work?” I asked suddenly. I detested him and Dio leaving the house with the threat that still loomed over us. It terrified me.
“Aye. Dario’s got a meeting with Kean and he wants me there.”
“Where is Dio? I haven’t seen him since last night.” I looked between them both for an answer.
“He worked late last night and fell asleep at his desk. He told me when I met him on the way down here,” Cal explained.
“I just want to find him and get a minute with him before he leaves. Is that alright?” I asked, looking to Cal, I didn’t want to hold him up too much, knowing he had a ton of work to do for university that day.
“You don’t have to ask me, crazy girl. Go on. I’ll wait here for you,” Cal assured me. I leaned in to give him a brief kiss as I bypassed him on my way out of the kitchen.
I found Dio exactly where I expected to – in his office. He looked exhausted, but he even wore that look well. Of course the form fitting designer suit, and white shirt, which contrasted perfectly against his naturally sun kissed skin, helped.
He looked up the moment I entered and it made my heart flutter the way all stress left his face instantly in favour of a genuine smile the second he saw me.
“How’d you know?” he asked teasingly.
“Know what?”
“That I’ve been wishing for you to walk into this office and turn my shitty day around all morning.”
I smiled too as I cross the room and went right to him.
I reached up to put my hands on his shoulders and urged him down until his lips met mine.
The kiss that ensued was filled with all of the passion of our love-making, over a week before, and instantly had my body taking note and coming alight.
I had wanted a repeat ever since, but Dio was always so busy.
“Did you wish for that too?” I asked him as I pulled back, unable to wipe the small smile from my face.
“I’m always wishing for that, baby, every second you’re not in my arms.”
“I missed you last night. You said you were coming to bed?”
“Sorry. I meant to, but I had so much prep to do for the meeting I have this afternoon, then Kean called and I had to co-ordinate things for this meet with him this morning. It got so late and then I must have fallen asleep right here at the desk.”
“You’re working too hard, Dio. You need to at least get more sleep.” I reached up and smoothed back his perfectly styled hair, just needing to touch him.
“I don’t have much choice right now, Piccola. It helps that Rafe’s dealing with emails and paperwork from bed, but he can’t cover any of the meetings and I don’t want him anywhere near any family negotiations until he’s stronger. It all falls on me in his absence.”
“Maybe I could help? I’m good with computers and I’m a fast learner with most things. Maybe I could at least help with research or data or something?” I offered, desperate to lighten his load.
“You have your hands full enough just trying to keep your bull-headed brother in bed, where he needs to be,” Dio huffed. “How is he this morning? I haven’t had chance to check in on him yet.”
“I went up there when I got up, but he was still fast asleep. The doctor said he’s doing remarkably well when she was here yesterday, but that he needs to continue resting and taking things very easy.
She suggested he stay in bed for at least another week to give his lung time to continue healing. Rafe was not happy,” I explained.
“I’ll bet. He’s going insane up there. He’s not used to inactivity. He’s had a million different responsibilities to take care of since he was in his teens. It’s all he knows.”
“I’ll try to keep him busy today. At least if he’s distracted humouring me, he’s not trying to get out of bed,” I laughed.
“He’s not humouring you, Cara. He loves spending time with you.
I think it’s the only thing he likes about not being able to work.
It’s given him time with you. To be honest, I’m jealous.
I’m tempted to get myself shot just so I can get more time with you,” he teased.
I gasped and hit out at him, landing a slap to his bicep and likely hurting myself more than him.
“Don’t say that! Don’t even put it out there in the universe!” I hissed at him.
“I’m not sure that’s exactly how things work,” he chuckled as he caught my hand and pulled me closer.
“Just don’t get yourself shot. You come home whole every bloody day, you hear me?” I demanded.