by Ryan Michele
While I kept my office very organized, my house not so much. It was lived in. There were pieces of mail here and there, dishes in the sink, a loaf of bread on the counter, which was probably moldy because I couldn’t remember the last time I used it. I was sure it needed to be tossed out, but I hadn’t gotten around to it yet.
The funny part of that, though, was most of the cabinets in the kitchen were empty. Yes. Empty. It was just me in this space. I had no animals because I was gone so much, even though I really wanted a dog. The dog deserved more than a sometimes here mom, and I wasn’t in a place to give that. Again, a dog was a want, not a need, so it had to be shelved for a different season of life for me.
My plates, bowls, pots, pans and cups all fit into two cabinets with room to spare. There was food in two more, and that was about the extent of it. It was everything I needed, but I had to admit, not getting the kitchen gadgets sometimes was hard. I figured I didn’t need four rubber scrapers, no matter how cute they were.
I had dinner at the bar, so I grabbed a bottled water from the fridge before locking the front door and shutting off the lights from the entryway, living room, and kitchen.
With the house all locked up, I jumped in the shower, slid on some pajama shorts and a cami top, then climbed into bed without a second thought. Between today and last night, getting a good night’s sleep was my goal.
The problem was it was cold and a bit too soft.
Damn Killian.
His bed was not overly soft nor extremely firm. It was also far from cold with him in it.
Closing my eyes, I drifted into a dreamless slumber.
Cocooned in warmth, I snuggled in deep and tried to get closer, to what I had no clue, but whatever it was felt so damn comfortable.
My eyes fluttered open, and panic invaded.
My bed. I was in my bed.
But I wasn’t alone.
My cheek rested on a hard, well-defined chest. One I remembered implicitly from last night. Holy fuck. How did he … what did he…
Using my hand that was laying on his pectoral, I pressed down on him hard and lifted my body. His eyes flew open, and he tried to make a grab for me. Luckily, I had a bit of an edge and was able to get to the side of the bed before he was able to hook me around the waist. Again.
He pulled me back and laid me flat out on the bed.
“What the fuck?” I shouted in his face. “How did you get in here!”
“Calm down,” he said, pinning me to the bed with his weight coming on top of me.
“Calm down? Are you kidding me right now?”
He grinned. “Nope.”
“I cannot believe you broke into my house!” I squirmed, not getting anywhere and trying really hard not to inhale his sexy scent.
“Told you we were sleeping next to each other tonight,” he said with authority, and anger bubbled inside me.
“And breaking into my home is okay, after I told you that wasn’t happening?” My heart was beating so fast in my chest. I really wanted to say it was all from anger and frustration with this man, but I didn’t want to acknowledge it was turning me on like mad.
It was official. I was screwed.
Killian leaned down and swiped his nose over my jaw. Momentarily, I forgot to breathe because who the hell needed oxygen when a sexy man did such a quiet but powerful gesture. He felt my body relax under him, according to his smiling eyes.
I shook off the daze I had found myself in and sucked in a deep breath. “Seriously, Killian. I could have panicked and shot you in the head. Or cut you. This is ridiculous. Why are you in my house?”
He let out a small laugh. “We need to get you better locks and a security system in this place. It’s not safe.”
I felt my eyes narrow. “What?” He totally ignored the fact that I indeed could have shot him in the head or cut him.
“Babe. It was way too easy to get in here. Don’t like that shit.”
“You! You don’t like that shit? You?” My temper reached red hot. “Since when do you have anything to do with me!”
He smirked, and it pissed me off—more. “Since last night.”
My eyes rolled into the back of my head. “This isn’t cool, Killian. You can’t just show up at my house and get into bed with me.”
“Do you remember when you were at Shanagan’s party?”
This threw me for a moment and pulled me out of the here and now, forcing me to think back. When we were in high school, Bryce Shanagan had parties all the time. As in every weekend, even sometimes on the weeknights. With me being a freshman and having an older junior brother, I only went to a few. While Elliot and I were close, his tolerance to having his little sister around when he was trying to hookup was non-existent. Killian was with Elliot each time I was there, not that I was singling him out. Killian had a presence about him that always seemed to draw me in, even all those years ago.
Elliot didn’t like me attending and made it widely known, but that didn’t stop me one bit when I wanted to go. I was not some wallflower who did what her brother said without batting an eye.
Standing up to him usually caused a scene, making us the center of attention. I remembered the party that changed it all for me.
Once Killian got in on it. It was the last party I attended there.
“You threw water on me,” I accused, looking up into his dancing eyes. Yes. This ‘take what he wants man’ had dancing eyes. This was something new. I committed it to memory.
“Yep.”
“Everyone could see my bra through the white shirt.”
Killian chuckled. “Why did you think I did it?”
“You wanted everyone to see me?” This man was seriously incredulous.
“I sure did.”
Pressing my hands against his chest in hopes of getting him to move did nothing. “Well, you got your show. That was a great party.”
“If it was so great, then why didn’t you come back?” he asked, and I really wanted to punch him in the face.
It wasn’t that he doused me with water; it was the fact that since everyone saw what was under the shirt, way too many guys gave me their attention. While I was cool with most of that, one got a little too handsy. Which was something I never told anyone, but Bri.
For that reason, we never went back to another party there. It didn’t have anything to do with my brother or Killian or the water.
This was something I’d never tell Killian. It was one of those things that was smashed deep inside and locked away, never to be let out again.
“We just didn’t.” He stared at me for a bit too long. I actually found it difficult to keep my gaze up and barely managed. Whatever it was he saw, he let it go.
The deep sapphire in his eyes turned to iris as he didn’t waver in keeping his gaze locked on mine. “It was the first time I really saw you.” There was a raw honesty in his tone, but it wasn’t sinking in.
This was bizarre because he’d seen me tons of times. “What?”
His hands went to either side of my face, capturing me and gaining every drop of attention. “Saw you, Ellie. Beautiful. Smart. Sassy. Huge ass attitude. Always a charmer. Fight, determination, strength. The whole package.”
My eyes shut for a moment, liking and memorizing everything he said. “O … kay.”
He smirked then rubbed his nose against mine. He pulled back, and all those warm fuzzies inside me swarmed. “I wasn’t ready for you, then. Saw you and knew the time wasn’t right then. Now. I’m ready for you.”
What on earth did that mean? He wasn’t ready for me? Now he was? What? “I’m lost here. Let’s break this down crayon style.”
His brow quirked, and his lip tipped. “Crayon style?”
“You know. Like in kindergarten. Spell it out and do it slowly so I can catch up here.”
He laughed, and his face changed into this carefree man. It was a sight. “Right. I wasn’t a one-woman kind of guy then.” I said nothing and waited. This was a fact. He never stayed with any girl m
ore than a week or two. More often than not, she wasn’t the only arm piece or side piece or night partner he had. Not that I was keeping track or anything…
The girls came to him in droves, and after he got his fill in our school, he branched out to others. This wasn’t a secret to anyone.
He was still quiet, so I asked, “And what? Now you are?”
“For you.”
Me? He had to be joking. Killian never once showed interest in me. Not back then and now, I had no clue what he was playing at. This was so off the wall it made no sense.
“So you’re telling me that you want to be a one-woman kind of man, and since you saw me somewhere I wasn’t supposed to be, that one woman is me?”
The thoughts went crazy in my head. If I hadn’t been there getting Bri, would he be in my bed right now? Would he have even acknowledged me? Years he’d been gone, and now this. Something was off.
“No, you weren’t supposed to be there. But fuck, babe, I’m glad to be here with you.”
My heart felt like it was going to pound out of my chest. Sure, the attraction was there; it always had been. I didn’t think our bodies would have any problems working together. It was all the other shit that would get in the way.
There was no way this ‘playboy’ had decided one day to change his ways, bump into me, and say, Congratulations you’re the winner of Killian’s love life! No. I didn’t believe that for a second.
“Are you sure you shouldn’t be in a padded room somewhere? Maybe we should take your temperature. You might be feverish.”
He burst out laughing so hard his body shook. Having it move on me sent my body into overdrive. Damn, this man had a way of getting to me. If I got this overworked from a laugh, hell knew what would happen if we… Stop it, Ellie!
He sobered up and began to stare deep in my eyes. I had no clue what he was looking for, but whatever it was, he liked it. “I’m gonna kiss you now.”
Before I could say a word, his lips came down on mine in a combustion. My hands flew to his shoulders, nails digging in and trying to hold on for dear life. His lips were talented, moving smoothly this way and that, taking me along for a ride. I had been kissed before, but this was a cherished moment. We melted together.
More of his weight fell on me as one of his hands sifted in the back of my hair, pulling it tight. I relished the tension and craved his touch.
His tongue touched my lip and, without thinking, I opened up wide for him. His taste invaded me, and I lifted my head and met him full throttle.
Each time his tongue swept into my mouth, new electric charges surged through my body. I started writhing under him, needing more and wanting him to ease the ache he was building inside of me.
He pulled away, looking deeply into my eyes. “You want me to make you come?”
By this point, there was only one answer because all thoughts and reason vanished. I wanted him. No, my body needed him. Trying to rub myself on him wasn’t getting me far in this position.
“Yes,” I breathed, and his eyes lit with approval and desire. He was craving me just as much as I was craving him.
His hand came between us, and his fingers went under my pajama shorts. It had been too long since a man had made me orgasm, and here I was begging for it. The tips of his fingers grazed my outer lips, and my hips bucked at the sensation.
Yes. I needed him to make me come. I needed him to make me fly.
A loud banging came from the front door, and my head popped up. “Shit.”
“Ignore it,” Killian rasped, studying my face with precision. “I want to see you come for me.”
And I so wanted to come; therefore, I did what any woman not in her right mind would do—I absolutely ignored it.
Only the banging came again. The doorbell went off. Bang. Bell. Bang. Bell. The orgasm that was right there for the taking started to dissipate.
“Fuck! Let me up.” The moment was gone, and my body, my mind, and even my soul were tense.
“I’m gonna fucking kill whoever’s at the door,” he said, rolling off of me. I hopped up and ran out of the bedroom door, but not before getting a glimpse of Killian in sexy blue briefs. Damn, he filled the material out good, his hardness pressing to get out of its confinement. Good to know I wasn’t the only one wound up without a release!
At least he had to put on some pants before coming out. Hopefully, I’d get whoever the hell was here sorted and out of here. Then I’d screw my head on straight and get Killian out of here before I did something completely stupid. Like let him make me come.
The banging came again. “Hang on!” I yelled, making it to the peephole and looking out. “Fucking hell.”
It came out softly and with a bit of a groan. On the other side of the door was Baker.
Baker, who came by when he was in town for sex. There was no getting around it. This was how we were because we were anything but a we! I met him at the bar, and we'd struck up a bit of a friends with benefits deal. A deal we hadn’t had in a long time. A year maybe was the last time or longer? I hadn’t seen him or thought about him in ages.
Right now, though, this wasn’t good. Even knowing it wasn’t good, there was no choice but to answer the damn door.
Opening the door, Baker’s smile grew wide. “I knew you were here.” He scooped me up in his arms, my feet dangling down, and he kissed me. Baker had kissed me so many times, and it always knocked me on my ass and made me feel good inside. This, though, after Killian’s kiss, wasn’t working. Not only that, I didn’t want his lips on me. It felt very wrong, so I pulled away using my arms to push on his chest to get some distance from him.
“What. The. Fuck,” Killian growled, coming into the living room, hands on his hips, jeans unbuttoned and no shirt.
There was no denying the man in front of me. The man who moments ago had my body alive under him. He was pissed as all hell.
I felt my stomach plummet.
“Who’s this?” Baker asked, still holding me up in the air. I tried pressing against him to get him to release me.
He didn’t.
This pissed me off.
While I didn’t know Killian all that well, or at all, I assumed he wouldn't like another man kissing the woman he just had his lips on. And I wasn’t wrong.
“Put. Her. Down,” he gritted through his teeth, his jaw ticcing. Yep. Definitely angry.
Baker didn’t move. So I jumped in. “Put me down, Baker.”
It took him several beats, and that was a beat too long because Killian stalked over to us, pulled me with ease from Baker’s arms, and placed me behind him. Lord. If that wasn’t a macho man claiming move, I didn’t know what was.
Killian stood tall, giving off this vibe that actually made me feel a bit of fear. It was like this wall around him was giving off ‘don’t fuck with me vibes’ and at any moment he’d turn into the Hulk and tear everything up in his path, including, and especially, Baker.
“What’s this?” Baker asked, and it didn’t please Killian, so I braved the lion and stepped in.
“This is Killian. A … friend of mine?” It came out more like a question than a statement because I really had no freaking clue if we were anything at all at this point. And in such a tense situation it felt like poking an already hyped-up tiger.
“A friend?” Baker questioned as I tried stepping around Killian. He didn’t allow me to, stepping in front of me with every move I tried to make.
“You wanna let her come to me?” Baker asked stupidly.
“No,” Killian answered, cold as ice. So cold I felt the shiver run down my spine.
“Baker, why don’t you leave, and I’ll call you later.”
Killian growled low.
“I’m not leaving you here with him,” Baker decreed what I found to be stupid on his part. Baker was hot and may have been able to hold his own. Killian, though, looked as if he could rip Baker in two parts.
Low and gravelly, as if he were trying to keep himself under control, Killian asked, “Wanna t
ell me why your lips were on his?” without taking his eyes off Baker.
“That’s none of your fuckin’ business,” Baker barked, and Killian had, had enough. Quicker than I’d seen anyone move, Killian had Baker against the door, his arm against Baker’s throat.
Baker was clawing at Killian’s arm, and Killian wasn’t even flinching. I rushed up behind Killian. “Let him go.”
Baker was about a foot off the ground, his feet flailing, trying to get a shot at Killian, but he was coming up embarrassingly short.
“This is my woman. You even think of puttin’ your lips on her, and you will not like the consequences.”
Grabbing Killian’s strong muscled arm, he didn’t budge. I could feel the flex under my hands. I didn’t want to admit it because the situation totally warranted my undivided attention, but Killian was hot as fuck in this moment, giving me some great memories for my battery-operated boyfriend.
“Killian!” I screamed, trying to get his attention.
“Fuck you,” Baker grunted.
“Gonna play it stupid. Good. Then I’ll see ya again. Now get the fuck outta here.” Killian strangely kept ahold of Baker, opened the door, then shoved him out.
I tried to scream at Baker, but the door was already shut and locked.
Anger fueled me. “You have got to be shitting me!”
Killian’s fierce eyes sliced to me. The man was beyond pissed, and it made me take a step back.
“That’s good. Better take a couple more,” Killian warned, and I did so thinking whatever this was just got a hell of a lot more complicated.
6
Ellie
“I think you should go now.”
Killian continued to stare at me, and the way he clenched his fists sent shivers coursing down my spine. “Who is Baker to you?”
I felt it prudent to answer the man. “He’s an ex who stops by when he’s in town once in a while.”