Page 81 of Taming Achilles

“Gonnae no’ dae that.”

“Oh, for fuck’s sake what does that even mean, you Scottish lump!” I tried to slap his chest, but it hurt to even raise my arms.

“It means ‘don’t do that’.” His voice was uncharacteristically calm and soothing. “Don’t push me off of you now. Not when you’ve finally given me the truth.”

“Fuck you.”

“When you’re healed, if you like.” He ran his hand over my face and planted a kiss on the end of my nose. “But not now. You need rest. And we need a plan.”

“A plan for what?” I grumbled, still refusing to look at him.

“As I see it,” he put one arm around the nape of my neck. “You’re not willing to let me die. And I’m not willing to live without you.” My eyes flicked up to him. “You have the full backing of Caledonia Security, and a dozen assets that all love you.”

I opened my mouth to speak, but he placed a thumb over my lips.

“I’m not as outright jealous as you are, love,” he chuckled. “But Brett and Ajax care about you and would move heaven and earth to protect you.” He smiled, gently. “You’ve never asked for help. And I know that’s your father’s fault. He raised you to think that you were on your own. But you’re not.”

He kissed me on the lips, gently. Barely grazing.

“It’s time you let us in, and let me help you.” He grabbed my face in his hands and forced my eyes up. When I finally focused, and could see those warm, brown eyes staring at me, he finally said, “It’s time you let me be your man. Let me protect you.”

Chapter 39

Geordie

The sun was rising, casting her hospital room with a golden glow. It matched the colour of her hair.

Lea was always coming in and out, double checking the nurse’s work, flipping through the charts and grunting. She was there during rounds, quizzing the doctors as much as he quizzed his interns.

She never came in while Pippa was awake. I assumed that was for the best. Even for an MI6 agent, being around someone as reputedly ruthless and thorough as the Ferryman would make anyone nervous. And considering her status as Callum’s ex, I had every reason to be wary.

“I called Dr. Laurent,” Lea casually said, leaning back against a blank wall, her arms crossed. Then she smirked. A little bit of mischief in her eyes. “Well, I actually had my brother call.”

I shook my head. She was talking about Chloe Laurent, who we all had called Cabbage. It was an old homage to the French endearment “petit choux”, or little cabbage. I wasn’t sure when that started, but despite becoming a doctor, and entering the world stage as one of the greatest humanitarians of our generation, she was still always just Cabbage.

Pippa had been a big sister to her. It was a bond that I suspected was closer than me and Callum.

“She’s on her way here to see her,” Lea said. “I’m surprised you didn’t call her yourself.”

I bit my lip, before deciding to confess.

“I couldn’t stand how excited she was to be a bridesmaid for … well … you know,” I said nodding to Lea’s wedding ring. An obnoxiously large pearl.

When Pippa was engaged to Callum, no one was happier than Cabbage. To her, it was a match made in heaven. Her two favourite people were getting married. Two people she had regarded as both parents and siblings. In her mind, her family would be complete.

Her excitement stabbed me in the heart. She was sure that I would be the best man, and she would be the maid of honour, and we would all have a raucously great time. She didn’t know how she burned me with every word.

“We’ve fallen out of touch,” I finally said.

“Well, she’s on her way here, and she intends to spend some time with the patient,” Lea said. “I think she believes she’ll be staying in her penthouse and taking care of her.”

“Fat chance,” I groused.

Lea smiled. “Would you like my brother to distract her? Keep her away for a bit?”

“Are you playing matchmaker?”

Lea shrugged.

---