“No.”
I flopped the sun hat in my face, trying to ignore her question.
“And why not? A sex-on-a-stick athlete with a voice that melts my ovaries professed his undying love for you on international television and you haven’t reached out?”
I sighed, wishing I could forget all about Killian’s interview a day ago. “No.”
“Come on, Watsy, you are going to have to give me more than that.”
She threw a bottle of suntan lotion at my head, narrowly missing my temple and instead sending it flying across my backyard. Soaking up the rays and talking some serious gossip was a favored past time for us, but today I really didn’t feel like participating. Especially since that gossip was about me.
“Jayc, it’s after the fact. He did it because he was backed into a corner. And it also did fabulous things for his image. I taught him well.”
I scowled, thinking about how well I’d done my job.
“I don’t think he had to do it at all. Killian did exactly what you’d always wanted. Legitimized your relationship.”
“That wasn’t what I wanted. I never asked him to claim me or flaunt me around in the press. I wanted to know his true feelings. For him not to hide me, to just not give a crap what other people thought.”
“Isn’t that what he did?”
I froze, because this voice was not Jaycee’s. I felt the wind whip at my side from Jaycee snapping up, her back straight as a board in the lounge chair.
“No fucking way…”
I was scared to look. Scared to breathe. I knew he was in the same space as me, the same country. He was standing in my childhood backyard.
Slowly I sat up, shading my face with my hat. Only after taking a deep breath and adjusting my body so that it was prepared for the blowback of what I was about to view did I remove it.
Killian.
The sight of him alone sucked the oxygen out of my lungs, leaving me in a perpetual state of gasping. Not that I’d forgotten how handsome, gorgeous, sexy, rugged and dapper he was. I had just avoided looking at pictures of him since I’d gotten home almost a month ago. And here he was, in person. If I’d only seen an image of him, I’d have probably felt dizzy. But here was the real live person, standing mere feet away.
It felt like the earth had divided on a fault line and was about to swallow me whole.
“Leah…” He looked pained, ecstatic and apologetic all at the same time.
“What are you doing here?” My tone was harsher than I’d meant it, but a part of me was happy about that.
“I had to come. I had to see you. I’m so sorry I stayed away…I’m sorry for everything. Did you…did you see the interview?” He shuffled his feet nervously, and that was one thing I’d never seen Killian be. Nervous.
“She saw it.” Jaycee stood, stealing the cards I wasn’t about to show him. She picked up her towel and turned to me. “I’m going home. Call me later.”
That little brat. She knew she was leaving me alone with him.
As she passed Killian I saw her feel his bicep and he cringed. “Sorry I had to. Don’t worry, I’m not after you. You’re just too pretty not to touch.”
I snorted, because Jaycee was just too Jaycee at this moment.
Killian moved closer to me and I swear a tidal wave of sex and heat took me under. Even if I hated him, which let’s be honest I really didn’t, I couldn’t help my mouth watering and the wetness that suddenly coated my bikini bottoms.
“I’ve missed you.” He whispered, standing above me.
I fought the urge to launch myself at him. “Killian, you had time to miss me while I was in London for two weeks and you were gallivanting around with lanky brunettes.”
Okay, so that pretty much gave him all of my cards, but I had more anger in me than I’d thought.
“Baby…I’m—“
“I’m not your baby. Not anymore Killian.”
His face fell. “I love you. I went on bloody TV and told the world I love you. Isn’t that what you wanted?”
Hearing him say those words to my face felt like a punch to the gut and a warm balm on my heart. He threw his hands up, the petulant child coming out once more.
“Killian, I never wanted that. I never wanted some grand gesture or to parade what we had around. I just wanted you to be secure enough with me and us that you didn’t care about the media. That you didn’t care about going out in public and holding my hand, or that you didn’t care when stupid pictures of us sharing an intimate moment got leaked.”
He burst then. “I KNOW! I KNOW! And I’m so bloody sorry. Jesus, Leah, you have no idea how sorry I am. I was fucking scared, alright? I was scared! With everything that happened with Eve and then with us. You and Taylor and the whole kit chaser thing, and then Judarski. I was spooked out of my bloody mind! But I’m not anymore. I love you. You were right, I am a coward and a small, small man. But you make me better. You are the greatest thing this world has ever blessed me with, and I’m a bloody fool for ever letting you walk out.”
I could feel the tears coming down now, fast and salty and scalding. Killian bent down, scooting towards my lounger on his knees. I turned my face, tried to rub the wetness from my cheeks by shrugging into my shoulder.
“Hey,” he grabbed my chin, brought it around so that we were looking each other in the eye. God how I’d missed those glacier blue pools. “I am so sorry. So bloody sorry. But I want to spend the rest of my god damn life making it up to you. I’ll always be apologizing, what with my stubborn ways. And you’ll be whipping my ass into shape. But I’ll do anything. Anything, Leah. I’ll bloody move here and play in the MLS. Which I’ll have you know is a joke, but I’d do it for you. I’m smart enough to know that nothing worth doing comes safe or easy. There will always be an obstacle, and sometimes we’ll get penalties or be thrown out of the game. But I love you. And I know you love me too.”
I let out a choked sob before his mouth came down over mine, and I couldn’t help but capitulate under his perfect lips. Killian went at my mouth like he’d been stranded on an island for years and I was the ship that had come to rescue him. We melted into each other, his taste, smell and feel so much like home that I could feel the tears mixing between our passionate embrace.
“Leah…” Someone clearing their voice in the background shook me out of my Killian coma.
I snapped my head away from his, glancing towards the sliding glass doors where my mom stood with her hands on her hips, a half embarrassed smile on her lips.
“I think we’d all like to meet Killian.”
I smiled sheepishly while Killian rubbed his hand up the back of his neck. Grabbing my cover up and throwing it over my body, I hoped my mother couldn’t see my nipples, hard as diamonds, poking through my bikini top.
We walked back into the house, the fact that Killian was here, in Oklahoma, still very much surreal. He was so out of place. With his European swagger, polished looks and heart melting accent, I’d never pictured him anywhere else but the poshest streets of London. Even his wardrobe stood out. He had on tailored jeans and a simple t-shirt that probably cost about $200, with brown leather loafers that I knew for a fact were sent personally to him by a designer.
Compared to my family, who were all in similar states of summer undress, the heat being almost unbearable today, he looked like royalty.
My father was awkwardly trying to appear stern but amiably at the same time, not knowing what to do about me bringing home a man that was mentally closer to his age then my own. Mom was clucking around the kitchen, asking Killian if he wanted something to eat or drink. I didn’t have the heart to tell her that he probably would throw up if she fed him sweet tea and fried chicken. My sisters just stood off to the side, trying not to gawk at the incredible hunk who’d landed in our kitchen. Hell, I pretty much tried not to gawk too.
This is how it went the entire day. My family awkwardly trying to relate to my non-boyfriend who’d flown to the States to try and win me back. And Killian
being just as awkward. I knew it had been awhile since he’d had a family to be around, but it was amusing watching him try to act respectful and offer to help with things like cooking and cleaning.
After dinner, a taco surprise casserole, Killian and I had offered to do the dishes. I knew it was his ploy to get alone time with me, but I didn’t mind. I didn’t really know how I felt yet. So many emotions had registered in my brain and heart today; Sadness, anger, excitement, hope, lust, need. And love. Love had been the overlying winner.
“Thank you for trying today.” I didn’t look at him as I pulled a soapy wet plate from the sink and handed it to him to dry.
“I’d do anything for you, I meant it.”
His simple answer caused my heart to catch fever. “I meant with my family. I know this bonding, familial stuff isn’t easy for you.”
“I’m not an alien, Leah. I know how to be social, I just don’t like it all the time. But your family is great, I get it now. Why you are the way you are, why you don’t fully understand me. You grew up with all of this.” He waved a bowl around in his hand.
“Yeah, taco casserole and all. Now you know why I escaped to London for a bit too.”
He smirked. “Yeah, that was a bit hard to stomach for this Londoner. But seriously, I am glad I came. Even if it ends up that you don’t feel the same way I do, it was worth it to see your face.”
I set down the sponge and rinsed my hands, turning to him. “I’m glad you came too Killian. And of course I feel the same way. There was never any doubt that I love you. I just don’t know if I can trust you. What you said to me…on that day I left your apartment…”
I broke off, trying to control the lump in my throat threatening to turn me into a sobbing mess.
He grabbed my hands. “Baby I know. I am an asshole, really bloody unworthy of you if you ask me. But it doesn’t mean I won’t try. I have to, because without you it doesn’t mean nowt.”
His accent, the way his voice inflected, got me square in the center of my chest. “Well we couldn’t have your life not mean nowt, now could we?”
The blue of his irises sparkled. “Does that mean?”
I pushed up on my toes and dusted my lips over his. “I love you, Killian. Let’s give it some time, see how things go. When are you going back?”
“I’m only going back if you’re coming with me. I told you, Leah, I’ll do anything. I’m too old to be wonky about what I want. I want you. So I’m not going anywhere, not without you.”
29
Killian
When I said I’d do anything for her, I’d meant it.
But I hadn’t thought that would be sleeping on her parent’s couch for two weeks and eating meals that leaked grease every time you poked them with a fork.
I’d told Leah I wasn’t an alien, but in Oklahoma, I kind of was. The epitome of fashion here was leather flip flops and frayed jean shorts. On men. Men wore jean shorts.
And the gym here. Not that I didn’t love being with Leah, and surprisingly her hilarious family members, but my god. The bloody wankers at the fitness center here were like steroid popping, muscled robots. Their training regimens and gym etiquette was like nothing I’d even seen before, and I smirked when they stood around drinking smoothies and talking about reps.
Because those were really the only two things I did here. I worked out at the local gym, and spent time with Leah. I’d been in America for two weeks, and while it was bloody amazing to be back with her, we hadn’t reached any kind of decision. Our relationship was getting stronger by the day, our connection becoming solid and loving once more. I sensed I had gained her trust back, but we still hadn’t talked about what was going to happen.
Leah went to work each day at the small firm that had hired her after graduation. She didn’t complain, but I also knew she didn’t love it. And August was creeping closer and closer with each passing minute. I had to report for pre-season practice soon. Or I had to sign with another team, or ask for a loan. We had to figure something out, but I was too scared to ask her for fear of ruining the routine we had slipped into.
I was in Walmart, a completely foreign yet amazing store to me, looking for shampoo that was over five dollars when I saw him. You couldn’t miss him, the beefy body and brown buzz cut. I had looked at so many pictures of him and Leah in the paper and online that I would have known him anywhere.
And it turned out, he definitely knew what I looked like too. We stood in the aisle, the overpriced crap grooming products sitting on the shelves between us.
“I never thought I’d actually see you in person.” He chuckled, running his meaty hands across his jaw.
I debated popping him right there, but decided against it. There actually hadn’t been any press snooping around since I’d been staying in Oklahoma, and I liked it that way. Physically assaulting another world class athlete, although his kind of football was bollocks, would definitely have them flocking to her small town.
“Yeah, I thought Leah was going to stay in London as well, but looks like we had to make a stop back here for a while. Don’t worry, she’ll be coming back home with me where she belongs soon.”
I knew if Leah was there she would have punched me in the shoulder and rolled her eyes at my macho speech, but I wasn’t above staking my claim where this asshole was concerned.
“Yeah? Is that right? I don’t think Leah’s that forgiving, bro. You might have your work cut out for you.” He smiled again, but it wasn’t malicious. “Listen, whatever she decides, just know that Leah Watson is the most amazing girl on the planet. And letting her go will be the worst mistake you ever make in your life.”
I stared at him, shocked but totally in agreement with his statement. “I don’t plan on ever giving her up.”
He came closer and laid a hand on my shoulder before walking away. “Good. Don’t hurt her. Or I will have to kill you.”
I didn’t plan on it.
* * *
When I got back to Leah's, the house was eerily quiet.
The Watson's house reminded of those quaint, homey abodes you always saw on TV shows or sitcoms. Her father had his favorite recliner in the living room, pictures of the kids hung all over the walls, artwork and grades framed the fridge and shoes cluttered by the front door. It was done in neutral shades, I could tell her mum had taken the time to design it specifically to their tastes. It wasn't flashy or modern like my place in London, but it almost felt better like this.
I could see myself making a place like this with Leah someday.
I was scrounging around in the fridge for some much needed food when footsteps had me peeking around the door.
"Find anything good in there?" Leah smiled, her white teeth standing out against her bronzed skin. If you could call that bronzed. Leah's tan was what I looked like at my very palest, but I found her freckles adorable and sexy.
"Americans eat like calories and trans fat don't mean a thing." I grumbled, shutting the door.
"No, most people just don't eat like their bodies are well oiled machines that only take in the finest of nutrients. Not that I'm complaining." She ran a finger up the middle of my chest over my shirt and my balls instantly tightened, heat scorching up my shaft.
I palmed her waist and pulled her toward me, basking in the feel of her warm flesh. She wore a tank top and soft shorts, leaving almost nothing to my imagination. Not that I didn't fantasize about that beautiful naked body under me almost 24 hours a day. We hadn't been physical since I'd been here, what with her parents being around and me trying to suck up for two weeks.
But I knew Leah was warming to me, almost at the point of forgiving me, and I could no longer ignore my dick's urgent pleas.
"Where are your parents?" I all but growled as I lowered my lips to her temple.
"State Fair, they'll be gone for a few days. They took my sisters too." She gave a breathy sigh as I fluttered my hand up her rib cage.
"So we're alone?" I pulled the strap of her top slowly over her shoulder, kiss
ing each freckle beneath it.
"Has anyone told you you're kind of thick?" Leah put on her best British accent as she mocked me.
I raised my head, lifting one eyebrow in her direction to let her know I did not take kindly to her teasing. And then I smacked her right arse cheek, hard. The way it bounced back against my hand, the moaning shout that burst from her lips, it all had me harder than a steel pole in under a second.
"Should I fuck you on this floor for being a naughty tease, or make love to you in your bed?"
Her eyes went watery when I mentioned making love, so I decided for her. Scooping her up and holding her close to my chest, I kissed her sweetly as I walked us up the stairs to her room.
Leah's room was a soft white with shades of blue everywhere. She still had some of Taylor's high school memorabilia lying around, but most of it I'd made her chuck in the bin when I'd arrived. I didn't want to see that rubbish. Getting rid of it had left the room slightly empty, and I realized just how much the twit had stolen her identity right out from under her. It made my blood boil.
I laid her down on the small full bed, my hands lingering on the soft skin under her kneecaps and her freckled shoulders. She looked so innocent here, so young. I almost forgot sometimes about our age gap, but being here in her childhood bed made me feel old. But it was also a hell of a turn on.
"What?" Leah shifted uncomfortably, and I realized I'd been just staring at her longer than I should have.
"I was just thinking about how bloody hot it is that I'm going to be inside of you on your childhood bed. That makes me a pervert, doesn't it?"
Her cheeks went pink. "No...I was thinking about what a turn on it was to have my older British boyfriend make love to me in my childhood bed."
We smirked at each other and then I lowered myself slowly on top of her, my limbs making contact with hers at the same moment our lips brushed together.
Our kisses were unhurried and languid, lazy in our assault of each other. Each stroke of a tongue was extended by minutes, each caress lasted hours. We were getting to know each other again in the most intimate way.
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