Page 168 of Ruined Wrath
“I know,” I choke. “But it seems a little too convenient that the moment we go looking for answers, a riot breaks out.”
Ronan and Kieran share a look, but I don’t hang around long enough to hear their theories. Right now, I want to take care of Cormac.
I leave the brothers to talk among themselves, the soft murmurings of their conversation following me to the kitchen, where I grab an ice pack, a bottle of water, and some painkillers before heading upstairs.
The door to the bathroom is ajar, filling the bedroom with steam.
I consider giving Cormac some privacy, but my own selfishness takes over, and I decide to strip out of my clothes to join him.
When I step inside, the warm, steamy air washes over me, carrying with it the faint tang of blood.
He keeps his back to me at first, but as I run my hands over his shoulders, I feel him visibly relax, though it’s clear the aftermath of the riot is still raw in every inch of his body.
“I love you.” I lean in to kiss between his shoulder blades.
I reach for the soap and lather it between my hands before running it over his skin, washing away the remnants of blood that still cling to him.
He hangs his head, watching as the water slowly turns clear.
“Turn around.”
He does as I ask, and when I look up at his bruised face, my heart cracks open in my chest.
“Cormac,” I whisper, reaching up to gently run my fingers over his bruised cheek.
“It looks worse than it is,” he mutters.
I know he’s only saying that to make me feel better. There’s no way he isn’t in pain, looking at the state of the bruises on his ribs.
I wish I could take it all away. I wish I could go back in time and tell Cormac to take me home instead of walking through the doors to the prison. But I can’t.
All I can do is try to make him feel better right now.
“I love you,” I say again as I gently push his wet hair out of his eyes.
“I love you too.”
As I clean his skin, I follow behind with my mouth, kissing every inch until I feel every one of his muscles relax.
“I love you,” I whisper over and over as I kiss the bruises on his ribs and the cuts on his cheeks.
Only when every inch of him is clean do I finally press my lips to his. “I love you.”
His hands find my waist, and he pulls me against him.
“I love you,” he whispers before claiming my mouth.
“Cormac,” I gasp when I feel him hard against me.
“I can’t help it. There’s a naked woman in my shower.”
“I’m meant to be taking care of you, not getting you worked up.”
“Believe me, just holding you is taking care of me.”
His eyes flutter closed as he moves to rest his forehead against mine. For a moment, I listen to him breathe as the hot water cascades over our bodies, washing away the nightmare of the past few hours.
Eventually, I turn off the water and step out of the shower, reaching for a towel to pat Cormac’s wounds dry.
