Page 109 of King of the Cage

I was part of it, while also being very aware that I hadn’t really been alone with Bran since all of this had happened.

Since I’d decided to stay.

After dinner, Bran yawned widely, slapped the table for attention, and calmly announced, “Thank you all for coming, but if you could all kindly fuck off, I’d like to be alone with my wife.”

All eyes turned to me.

“Don’t look at me, I’m perfectly happy entertaining for hours,” I protested, my face burning. How was I blushing like a schoolgirl at the thought of being alone with this man? So much had happened, so quickly, that Bran being in the hospital had put thebrakes on the rollercoaster of the past few weeks. Now, my head had had time to catch up with the rest of me. I was nervous.

“Did you hear that, champ? Your wife’s not satisfied with your performance,” Declan began.

Laughter rang out around the table, until Aoife stood.

“Brandon’s right. It’s time to go and leave these two alone. Come on now,” she said in a tone that sent both Doc and Declan to their feet.

Bran remained seated and waved to the rest of his family as they filed out the door. He wasn’t moving that easily yet, and it tired him out. I wasn’t even sure he could walk without the crutch. It felt wrong to see someone so vital and strong so badly hurt.

I closed the door behind them and tried to steady my pounding heart.

My mouth was dry, and my palms were damp when I spun around. Bran hadn’t moved. He sat at the table, watching me.

“Are you tired?” I asked.

Bran shook his head slowly.

“In pain?”

Another headshake.

I huffed at his difficultness. “Don’t tell me you’re still hungry?”

His eyes darkened, and he nodded. “Fucking famished.”

“I don’t think we have anything else to eat,” I muttered, avoiding his dark gaze.

“I can think of something.”

“Bran…” I blew out a breath, exasperated and turned on, honestly. I faced the door and fastened the deadbolt. Compared to Casa Nera, his house had little to no security for a Mafia heir, apart from his nifty little escape route behind the bookcase. Maybe he’d never needed more than that. Hewasthe weapon. I wondered how he’d feel about security now? Had this shaken him? My mind raced, latching onto tangents.

Why was I so nervous?

“You need to rest. You’re not meant to exert yourself too much,” I lectured, reaching for safer ground. I swiveled away from the door and gasped.

He was right there in front of me. I hadn’t even heard him move. He towered over me, his hands coming to rest on either side of me.

“Then I guess I better just lie down…”

I tilted my head back to gaze up at him. “Yes, you should, and that’s all you should do.”

His lips quirked. “Fine. I’ll need a hand over there.”

I raised an eyebrow at him. “Yet you made it over here to corner me just fine.”

“I was motivated. You, my wee selkie, have been staying out of arm’s reach.”

I slid my shoulder beneath his arm and directed him toward the huge bed dominating the room.

“Because I can tell you’re going to try and ignore Doc’s rules.”

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