Page 126 of Rebellion

He undid both of their belts before pushing his chair back and lifting her over and onto his lap. As he firmly wrapped his arms around her, she realized that was exactly what she needed.

Because she was nothing but safe in his arms.

She buried her face into his firm chest and breathed him in. He rubbed his hand up and down her back.

“You’re safe, baby. I have you. I’m not going to let anything bad happen to you.”

Nodding, she held onto his shirt tight. She couldn’t say anything yet, nor could she move away even though she knew she should.

“All right, lass. I’ll just wait until you’re ready to talk.” He started singing to her quietly. It wasn’t a song she recognized, and she was shocked to find that he had a lovely singing voice.

She leaned back and stared up at him.

“Wait a second.” He reached over and opened the glove box, pulling out a packet of tissues.

Wow. That was being prepared.

He drew a tissue out and reached up to wipe her face. She tried to grab the tissue from him to do it herself, but he pulled it back, shaking his head.

“Nope. You’re not in charge right now. I am. You’re not doing the thinking. I am.”

Did he really think she could just turn off her thoughts? Still, she acquiesced without an argument, because Colm, in dominant mode, was a force to be reckoned with. He dried her tears and held the tissue to her nose. “Blow.”

No way.

He gave her a stern look. “No thinking. Blow.”

She blew her nose into the tissue, her cheeks growing red. “I can’t believe you made me do that.”

“Why?”

“B-because it’s gross!”

“It’s just some snot and tears.”

“Great. Just what every girl wants on her first real date with a guy. To be snotty.”

“Well, technically, you’re not snotty anymore.” He grinned at her.

She huffed out a breath but found herself smiling back at him. “I’ve never heard you sing before. What was that?”

“Ah, it was an old song my Ma used to sing to me when I was upset.”

“You have a beautiful singing voice.”

“That will come in handy later,” he said mysteriously. “Unless you want to go back to the estate? What happened, baby?”

“I started to feel all weird. Like I was having an out-of-body experience, and then I couldn’t breathe properly and my heart was racing . . .”

“Panic attack,” he said.

Yeah.

“But why? Was it because we left the estate?”

“I . . . I don’t know. Maybe? That’s so silly, though. I know I’m safe with you. Just like I know nothing is gonna happen. I was dying to get off the estate.”

Colm cupped the side of her face. “It’s all right if it’s too early. It’s okay to take things slow.”

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