Page 25 of A Seductive Beauty
“Yes, boss.”
I watch as Shane steps back and my personal physician enters the room.
“Hello, Mr. Tiernan, what have we got here?” I look at Dr. McGowan. He started working for my father years ago and I retained him. He’s very good and I’ve set him up with his own private practice, which keeps him from reporting certain injuries that usually need to be reported.
“This is Fiona. She was assaulted.”
“You poor little lass.” He approaches the bed, and I stand and move to the sitting area, not wanting to leave her alone. I listen as she answers all his questions and allows him to examine her. “Okay, nothing broken, just very bruised. She needs to rest. I’ve got some meds here, but she said she drank this evening, so wait a couple hours to give them to her.” I nod, and he walks out of the room. I continue to sit and watch her as she drifts off to sleep.
Chapter Seven
Fiona
I come awake, my body aching everywhere, the soft sheets rub against my bare legs. I move slightly, pushing my arse back into the heat behind me, and hear a groan. I whip my head around and see Aidan looking back at me. His blue eyes take me in as I grunt from the fast movement I made.
“Careful, beauty.” His voice is gruff and raspy sounding in the morning.
“I thought it was a nightmare.” My voice cracks as the memories assail me. I remember the man grabbing me after I walked out of the loo. I tried to fight him, but he smacked me across the face. After he dragged me out the door into the parking lot, he punched me several times. I fell and he kicked me before yanking me up by my hair and dragging me further away from the door. He continued to beat me until I looked up and saw my savior. Aidan stood there with blood dripping from a sharp knife and vengeance in his eyes. I knew he wouldn’t hurt me, but the man who attacked me was lucky to survive that moment. I close my eyes as the memories and words the man said fill my head.
I feel Aidan’s warm hand press against my cheek, but I still jolt in fear.
“Shhh, Fiona, it’s just me. You need to be careful so you can heal.”
I open my eyes, trying to blink the tears back. My face hurts along with my ribs and my left hand. I look down so Aidan can’t see how nervous I am. My hands tremble slightly as I brush the blanket, smoothing it out.
“Why did this happen to me?” I don’t know the man. I’ve never seen him before, but his insults made me think he knew me.
“I don’t know, but I’m going to find out. You can take some pain meds now. Would you like me to get you some food and tea before you take them?”
“Why am I here?”
He rolls from the bed, wearing only a pair of fitted black boxer briefs. Muscles move across his back. His legs are long and trim. He turns to look at me and I see the smattering of chest hair. My eyes move over him, devouring everything until he clears his throat. I look back up to his mesmerizing blue eyes. His thick dark hair falls across his forehead.
“You’ll want to keep your eyes up here, beauty, because you aren’t ready to see what you do to my body.” I don’t understand what he means, but I nod and keep looking at him. “You are here because this is the safest place for you. No one can get to you here.”
“So this is your home?” I sit up and the blanket falls away. I remember him putting me in his shirt, but during the night it came unbuttoned. When his eyes focus on my chest, I look down to see one of my breasts is peeking out the opening. I quickly adjust the shirt and drop my eyes.
“Yes, this is my house.”
“But this is your room.” I don’t look up because I’m afraid of what I’ll see.
What if I’m only here because of my safety?
What if it’s only pity?
Can I take that? I doubt it. I know how this man makes me feel. I know what I want from him.
I bounce on the bed slightly as he pounces on it. I look up and see him crawling toward me across the bed. I can’t look away from his eyes. Those blue pools that I feel myself drowning in. His hand reaches out and lifts my face up toward his.
“If you are under this roof, you’re in my bed,” he growls before his lips land on mine gently but firm. He pulls away. “I will kiss you like I did in my office again, but not until this lip is healed.” His thumb brushes under my full bottom lip and I nod. I want that kiss again.
I watch him as he moves off the bed. He turns his back and drops his briefs before he steps through the door into the washroom. His arse cheeks are firm, and the image of my fingers digging into them as he moves over my body causes my heart to stutter.
“Ugh.” I lie back and pull the pillow over my face to hide the blush I know is there.
A little later he steps out in perfectly pressed suit pants and a black shirt. His closet must be off the bathroom. I climb out of the bed and make my way around him so I can visit the loo. I smell his spicey soap and close my eyes as I take in a deep breath of him. I use my fingers to comb through my crazy hair. Then I use my finger to brush my teeth and the soap by the basin to wash my face. I remember him and the doctor using a washcloth to clean the makeup off my face last night. When I step out of the loo, he’s standing at the doorway.
“I’ll be back. Climb back in bed. You are resting today.”
