“Not those,” he groans when I bend over to grab my shoes.
“Why not?” I laugh. “I have dance today and don’t want to be racing around to change clothes.”
“The way they hug your ass. I don’t want everyone looking at it. And that pink is so bright it is like a beacon so everyone will be looking at your pants and your ass.”
“You’re being silly. I’m wearing these if you want me to have breakfast with you.”
After arguing about how my boobs look in my shirt for five minutes, we are finally out the door. I can’t help but feel like people are staring at us as we enter the cafeteria together and get in line with our trays. I don’t know if it because Killian is being affectionate with me in public or if they all saw that stupid video. For someone who doesn’t want to date me he is going above and beyond to act like a boyfriend.
Killian legit just pulled my chair out for me.
Hayley, Liam, Misty, Woodrow, Porter, and Ben join us.
“Hey, Killian,” Misty coos at him, and I shoot her an icy glare.
He smiles at her and I roll my eyes.
“What?” he looks at me.
“You can pick my friends, but I can’t pick yours.”
“It is too early for this, Liri.” He rubs his temples.
I stay quiet. I know I shouldn’t push him, but he infuriates me. He was all rude and wouldn’t let me even speak to Hunter last night but here we are at breakfast probably surrounded by a cafeteria’s worth of girls he has banged.
“Oh hey, Killian. I need my room key back,” Hayley tells him.
He shoves his hand in his pocket to retrieve it.
“You making house calls now?” Some asshole at the table behind us says.
“What?” Killian replies.
“Take me to your room and spank me,” the idiot singsongs making fun of me.
Before any of us can stop him, Killian is out of his seat and towering over the idiot. “Say it again,” he growls.
“I was only playing around, man. Damn.” He holds his hands up like he is prepared to shield his face. Does everyone know he punched Woodrow because of me?
I grab my bag and rush over to him. “Walk me to class?” I smile, taking his hand in mine.
“You better watch it,” Killian gives a final warning, and I tug on his hand until he starts moving his feet.
We get outside and I stop. “You can’t go around beating people up all the time.”
“Says who?” His jaw ticks.
“Says me.” I touch his face. “Look at me.” He reluctantly flits his eyes to my face. “Let them laugh. They won’t be taking me to their room to spank me.” My lips stretch up as he his eyes go big.
“You’d be into that?”
“I guess you’ll have to find out next time you invite me to your room.”
“You do realize the image you just put in my head, don’t you?”
“Nope,” I play coy. “Tell me about it while you see me to class.”
“You’re a demon. I bet if I checked your scalp, I’d find bumps where your horns hide.” he moves to touch the top of my head and I dodge him.
“Maybe.” I thread my fingers through his and start walking again.
“We could go to my room and play out this spanking fantasy you have.”
“That’s a tempting offer but this is me.” I stop outside of my creative writing class.
Killian presses me against the wall, his knee pressed between my legs. His head is angled down as though he is about to kiss me.
“Save it for your car or dorm room,” Professor Larson crows as she struts past us.
“That’s your cue to go,” I whisper to him, desperate for him to kiss me.
“I’ll be here when you get out of class.”
“Don’t you have a class to get to.”
He snaps his fingers. “Damn. There is that.”
“I’ll text you later.”
He brings my knuckles to his mouth and kisses them.
I hurry to get in my seat and the girl behind me taps me on the shoulder.
“Yeah?” I maneuver to look over my shoulder at her.
“Did you really ask Killian Hendrix to spank you?”
I roll my eyes. Then for fun, I tell her, “Among other things.” My mouth screws into an amused pucker when her mouth drops.
Maybe Killian was right. Maybe I am a demon because it really feels good to be bad.
When class is over Professor Larson asks for me to stay after.
“You wanted to talk to me.” I hope she isn’t going to lecture me because she saw me pushed up against the wall with Killian about to shove his tongue down my throat.
“Yes.” She removes her glasses and wipes them on her dark purple jacket. “I wanted to talk to you about your assignment.”
“Oh. Sure.” Now I almost wish she would yell at me for the scene in the hallway earlier. I prepare myself to hear that it was subpar or that she gave me a bad grade on it.
“That was remarkable work. I don’t say this often or ask it, because storytelling is a gift and not all my students possess it. I want you to continue writing Grayson and Camille’s story. You write first person extraordinarily well, Liri.”
I gawk at her. “Thank you.” I was not expecting that compliment.
“I’ll expect a new chapter in two weeks. You’ll be excused from the other assignments. This is your assignment now. No pressure.” She smiles. “That’s all. You can go now.”
I feel like I am in a daze as I go to my next class. She likes my writing. I’ve never considered myself much of a writer but maybe I could be good at it.
Chapter 21
Liri
“He said what?” Hayley gapes at me with her hand on her hip.
I’m sharing the highlights of my chat with Killian last night.
“Exactly what I said.” I’m as confused by the whole thing as she is.
“He wants to be with you but not date until he decides that he is good enough for you to have sex with…”
“That pretty much covers it.”
“Is he on drugs?”
“To be fair I think he was drunk, but he seemed to be fully aware of the conversation today. He’s been nice to me. It’s weird isn’t it?”
“Let’s back up to Hunter. I thought he was supposed to come over last night when he returned from his swim thing or meet. Whatever it is called.” She waves her hand around.
“He did well…Killian got here first and what the heck were you thinking giving him a key like that. What if I had been standing there naked when he came in or what if I had been talking to Hunter.”
“I didn’t. He stole it then sent Liam a message to tell me that he borrowed it.”
“Oh. You are forgiven then.”
“You would have forgiven me anyway now that you have your man.”
I look away. Heat creeps up my neck at the thought of referring to Killian as my man. “I don’t think that’s within the rules to call him my man. Not yet anyway.”
“What rules? Killian gave you rules?” Her brows arch.
“Not exactly. He has rules he is trying to follow for himself. He’s confusing. I’m confused.” I laugh.
“That makes two of us. So…what did happen with Hunter?”
I let out a breath. “Right. Back to that. I was waiting for him when Killian barged in here like a mad person declaring he needed to tell me something. During the middle of our conversation I received a text from Hunter that he was downstairs. Killian grabbed my phone and then that led to another ten-minute argument about me going to talk to Hunter. Which didn’t happen because Killian sent him this.” I grab my phone and go to my messages. “What the… he blocked Hunter’s number and deleted our conversation.”
“Wow. I am kinda speechless and that never happens. He’s got it bad.”
I’ve got it bad too.
“You know this means you can’t sleep with him. Like ever.”
“Why not?” Not that I am goi
ng to but that doesn’t mean the thought hasn’t crossed my mind.
“Because this is Killian, and he wants what he can’t have. And guys like him once the chase is over, they move on to the next in line.”
I frown but deep down I know she speaks the truth. For guys like him it is all about the chase.
Hayley stares at me. “You didn’t have sex with him, did you?” she accuses and my expression sours.
“No. We have barely kissed.”
“Good. Keep doing that. Nothing else. Don’t even let him cop a feel.” She smiles. “I never thought I would see the day that Killian Hendrix likes someone more than himself.”
“He’s not that bad.”
Then we both say, “Yes he is,” followed with a fit of giggles.
“What did the text he sent to Hunter say?”
“Sorry, I can’t come down. I’m busy with Killian,” I say it in a deep mocking tone as if I am Killian talking to her.
“What did Hunter say?”
“If he said anything, I don’t know being he is blocked, and the text is completely deleted from my conversations.”
“You going to say anything to him for fucking with your phone?”
“I don’t know. I definitely don’t want him thinking he can control me or tell me what I can do or whatever, but I don’t want to fight with him. It wasn’t easy for him to confess his feelings.” I still can’t believe he put himself out there to me. It feels like a weird dream where I am suddenly the popular girl at school, and all the hot guys want to date me.
“Are you going to talk to Hunter?”
“I should apologize to him.”
“I wouldn’t tell Killian. Not with him acting like a jealous freak.”
I tap my chin. “True.” Who knows what he would do. I thought he was going to break my phone last night.
“How did your life turn into such a clusterfuck?”
“Killian,” I tell her and smile when a text from him pops up on my screen. I didn’t think I would hear from him at all. It feels good to know he is thinking about me too.
Killian: Be ready in fifteen. I’m taking you out.
Liri: Is this a non-date?
Killian: Maybe…pack a bag too. You’re staying in my room tonight.
Liri: Hmm I might.
Killian: Don’t argue just do it.
Liri: Fine but I am not drinking or staying up all night.
Killian: We rarely have parties during the week. We frat boys do have our GPAs to maintain.
“Well looks like I have a non-date date.” I hold up my phone.
Hayley rolls her eyes. “These boys. They think they can boss us around.”
“Where’s Liam?”
“He’s working.”
I grab a tote bag and start piling my crap I will need for tonight into it. When I have everything together, I slip my room key off the ring and hand Hayley my car keys. “Killian is picking me up so if you need my car for anything it is all yours.”
“Thanks. I do need to go grab some stuff from Target. Do you need anything?”
“No. But make sure you leave my keys on my desk I have that appointment in the morning.”
“Will do. So wait.” She eyes my overnight bag. “You’re spending the night with him?”
“That’s what he said.” I grin. “Do you think it could be possible that he does like me?”
“Yes, but I also think the chances that he will do something monumentally stupid at some point is very high. I know he will hurt you, and I can’t believe I am saying this, but take it easy on him.”
“Take it easy on him! He’s such an asshole. I can’t believe it.”
“I know. It’s just he’s never dated.” She scrunches her nose.
My phone pings.
“He’s here. Talk to you tomorrow.”
“Have fun and remember you aren’t on birth control yet, no fucking.”
“Oh. My. God. Stop it.”
Hayley shrugs and I go out the door.
Killian is waiting outside the front door for me and takes my bag from my shoulder.
“You do know it’s one night?”
I smack his arm. “I still have an assignment to work on.”
“Missing one day won’t kill you.” He opens the door for me and sticks my bag in the backseat.
“So chivalrous,” I tease. “I’m already missing tomorrow.”
“I didn’t mention spending the day together.” He smirks and starts the car.
I turn the stereo down. “I have an early doctor’s appointment.”
“Are you sick?”
“No, it’s a woman’s thing.”
“Oh.”
“My mom wants me to get on birth control,” I explain then want to smack myself for telling him something that personal.
His Adam’s apple bobs. “You shouldn’t tell me that.” His hand moves over his crotch.
“It doesn’t mean I’m having sex with you.” He doesn’t realize I am telling myself more than I am saying it to him.
“Not yet.” He grins and turns the music up.
We get on the highway and after an hour drive, we stop off at a bar and grill type of place. I want to ask him if he didn’t want to be seen in town with me but keep my mouth shut, because I shouldn’t be thinking that way. His friends have seen us together already.
“You come here often?” I press, as he opens my door.
He looks nervous which is odd coming from Killian. He is always so cocky. “Not really.” His hand clutches mine as though I am his lifeline. The outside is a bit rustic looking and there are a few motorcycles parked along the front.
I want to ask why we are here, but when we walk through the doors of the place, the man behind the bar smiles wide.
“Good to see you, son.” I stare at the man. He moves around the bar and has a slight limp in his strut. “What’s the occasion?” The more I appraise him I can see a resemblance to Killian. They share the same dark eyes and strong jaw structure.
“This is Liri. Liri, meet my father, Conrad.”
Shock colors my face, and I hold my hand out. “Pleased to meet you.” I am smiling like a crazy person I know it.
The man takes my hand and pulls me into a hug. “Pleasure is all mine, darlin’.” I smile wider at his warm reception. “Well, have a seat. Susie will get your order.” He limps stiffly back to his position behind the bar.
Killian leads me to a booth and slides in next to me.
“I didn’t realize your family lived in the area.”
“Don’t make a big deal about this. They have good food.”
I bite back my grin and try to dial back my happiness. Killian introduced me to his father. That has to mean something, doesn’t it? “Do you bring all your friends here?”
“Not up for discussion.” He hands me a menu. “Order whatever you like.”
I scan the items listed. They serve a bit of everything. I don’t want to eat anything that will be cause for any embarrassing moments later, so I order bacon and cheese fries. I look around and there is a lot of racing memorabilia on the walls. There’s a photo hanging on the wall by our table, and I immediately recognize Killian and his father standing next to a race car. He looks like he is maybe ten in the picture.
“Did your dad used to race?”
“What gave it away?” he rolls his eyes and is being broody.
If coming here puts him in such a foul mood, why did he bring me here? “Don’t be a jerk.”
“I’m not. It’s just people are weird when they find out I’m the son of a legendary driver.”
“Is that where you get your cockiness?” I take a sip of my soda.
“Maybe.” He pauses and looks up the picture with a sad expression.
“So he’s retired now?”
Killian scratches at the back of his neck. “Yup. Had a bad accident about ten years ago or so that ended his career.”
“You must be proud of the career he had.”
“Not really.
He’s an asshole.”
“Must run in the family,” I tease but it must be the wrong thing to say because he shoves out of the booth.
“I gotta go to the bathroom.”
I frown and take another drink.
A plate slides in front of me. The waitress, Susie, gives me a friendly smile. “Don’t take it personally. Killian has unresolved issues with his father. You his girlfriend? He’s never brought anyone around before.”
“I’m a good friend.” I don’t think he would appreciate me telling some woman who works for his father that I am his girlfriend.
“Conrad and I have tried to repair that relationship, but he hasn’t forgiven us.”
“Are you his…mom?”
“Stepmom.”
“I feel extremely rude. My name is Liri.”
“It’s nice to meet you, Liri. You must be important if he brought you here. He doesn’t come around often.” Susie is a pretty woman. She’s curvy and reminds me of a pinup model you’d see in a car magazine or something for hotrods. She has big bangs and wears bright red lipstick. I like her style. It suits her.
I smile at her and she wanders off before Killian gets back to the table. “Your food okay?”
“It’s good. Thanks.” This boy continues to confuse the hell out of me. I don’t want to upset him by asking questions, so I keep the conversation on my own family issues hoping to relieve some of his discomfort.
“I’m going with Hayley to her mom’s this weekend to meet my father.”
“All weekend?”
“We’re driving up on Friday and coming back Sunday.” His jaw ticks but he doesn’t say anything rude.
“And this is the first time you will have seen him?”
“Yup.” I push a forkful of cheese and fries into my mouth. We discuss how I am nervous and afraid that it will be weird. Killian doesn’t offer anything about his family in return, but I leave it alone.
We finish our food and Susie brings us a banana split. “It’s Killian’s favorite.” She winks at me and places two spoons on the table.
I elbow him and he lets out a gruff, “Thanks.”
“Don’t be rude. She’s trying to be nice.”
“You know who she is then?” his voice is cool.
The Story of Killian & Liri (Cruel Love Book 1) Page 12