“You’re adorable, babe. I’m not bleeding out. Kenji will fix me up in no time.”
I walk into the kitchen, setting her on the counter, not moving from between her legs.
Her hands roam my body, looking for other injuries.
I should be focused on the pain, but the feel of her hands caressing my skin so gently stirs my lower half.
“If you don’t stop that, I’ll say fuck the bullet wound and fuck you instead.” I growl under my breath for just us to hear.
She freezes, her eyes meeting mine. There’s heat there, but overshadowing it is her concern.
“Let Kenji fix you up. I’ll keep busy.”
She goes to move off the counter, but I stop her.
“Kenji, take a look. Is it a through and though?” I call to him, my eyes never leaving hers.
I grunt when Kenji pokes and prod. Cleo reaches up to cup my face, love shining in her eyes.
“It is. I’ll grab the kit and stitch you up.”
When I hear him leave the room, I lean down, capturing Cleo’s lips. I start off slow, coaxing her into the kiss. She’s hesitant. She’s afraid she might hurt me, but she could never hurt me.
When I slide my tongue against hers, she makes a noise in her throat, causing my body to heat. My mouth chases the high she provides as we get lost in each other.
Nothing else matters in this moment. Only her. Only us here together.
I don’t care what the leader of the Irish says. Or my own people.
I will marry Cleo, sooner rather than later.
I’m tired of playing their games. I refuse to play by their rules any longer.
When a throat clears behind us, I reluctantly pull away, smirking at Cleo’s red, puffy lips.
“Hold that thought, princess.” I tap her nose before pulling back.
Then I move to the dining room table, sitting backward on the chair so Kenji can stitch me up.
“Is that real, surgical stitches?”
I look over as Cleo lowers herself from the counter to come sit closer to us.
“Yep. Kai here made sure I was surgically trained for situations such as these. He likes to bring knives to gunfights.”
I wince when she gasps.
“She didn’t need to know that asshole. Now she'll worry.”
I look over at her. She has her hands on her lips, but when she meets my eyes, I see strength.
She swallows hard then steps up to Kenji. “Well, if my man is going to come home with holes in his body, I suppose you should teach me how to fix them.”
A lump forms in my throat. “Baby, you don’t need to. Kenji will.”
She shakes her head. “You said I was going to be your queen, right?” When I nod, she continues, “Then as your queen, I will tend to your injuries. I don’t want to be a princess locked in a castle anymore. I want to be your equal. To be by your side, not hiding behind you.”
I give her a smile. “Then that’s where you’ll be. Always.”
