“She told me that she’s your stepmother. I think she’s really pretty and seems nice.”
“You don’t know what she did,” he barks at me.
“You’re right. I don’t know anything about her or your dad, and if you want to talk to me about that then I am all ears. But if you don’t that’s okay too. I can only base my opinion from my brief interaction with them. Don’t be mad at me because I don’t hold your grudge that I know nothing about.”
I can tell he wants to be a dickhead but he’s trying really hard to hold back. His face is tense, and he has this hard look in his eyes.
I pick up a spoon and get a dollop of ice cream and shovel it in his mouth before he can be a jerk. “Eat up.” I grin and he grabs the other spoon and smears ice cream on the slope of my nose. “It’s like that huh?” I try to retaliate but he pins my arms down and licks the ice cream from my face and then he cuts off my giggles and shrieks with a kiss.
We break apart and I catch his dad and Susie grinning at us.
“I’m going to go use the girl’s room.”
Killian slides out of the booth and pulls me to my feet. His eyes burn into mine.
“I won’t be long.” I got the silent meaning behind his pleading look. Don’t leave me alone with them.
When I get out of the bathroom Killian is nowhere to be found. Conrad, his father, is behind the bar, and his face is turned down in an angry scowl. “He’s waiting for you in the car,” he tells me.
“Thanks. It was really nice to meet you.”
“You too. Don’t be a stranger.”
“I’ll try not to be.”
“Liri, my son needs a good girl like you.” He offers me a smile.
I nod not knowing how to respond to that. Susie waves bye from the other end of the bar where she is filling salt shakers. They seems so nice. I can’t help but wonder why Killian seems to hate them as much as he claims to.
Chapter 22
Liri
Killian is waiting in the car and when I close my door and start to buckle my seatbelt, he peels out of the parking lot. I clutch the edge of the leather seat. It will probably have claw marks from my fingernails biting into the material. He’s obviously upset about something that transpired between him and his father while I was in the restroom.
I place my hand on his thigh. “Please slow down.”
“I’m not going that fast,” he quips, but I notice he eases off the gas.
“Do you want to talk about it?”
“Nope.” he turns the stereo up loud, and I lay my head back with a sigh.
The ride back to Crestwood is tense and silent other than the angry rock playing.
“If you are going to keep ignoring me maybe you should just drop me back at the dorm,” I tell him even though that isn’t what I want.
“If that’s what you want.” He won’t even look at me.
“No, it’s not, but you are being an asshole to me, and I didn’t do anything wrong.”
He lets out a breath and turns down the street for the frat house. “My dad is a real asshole, Liri. He makes me so damn mad.”
I squeeze his hand once we have parked.
“What did he do that is so terrible?”
“I don’t want to talk about that.”
“Then what do you want to talk about?”
“I don’t want to talk.” He licks his lips. I undo my seatbelt and climb over the console. It’s a tight fit, but I manage to straddle his lap. I bring my mouth down on his and thrust my tongue into his mouth and it hits me. He hasn’t smoked once while I have been with him this evening. I smile into his lips but don’t say anything. I don’t want him to pull away. My arms go around his neck and he holds my hips. His fingers tease at my sides, rubbing up and down in a fluid motion.
“I don’t deserve you,” he whispers.
“I thought you didn’t want to talk,” I mock, leaning back against the steering wheel, and the horn goes off.
We both laugh.
“Come on, let’s go in before someone snaps a video.”
“We got paparazzi following us now?”
“You never know.”
Walking into the frat house and it being quiet and empty is weird. “Where is everyone?”
“Studying, work, practice…” he shrugs. “We don’t party nonstop.” I follow him upstairs to his room.
He puts my bag on top of a pile of clothes in a chair. The fact that he has a laundry chair makes him seem normal.
“What’s this assignment you need to work on?”
“Professor Larson pulled me after class and said she wants me to continue writing the story I tuned in.”
“Really? That’s great. You know she owns a small publishing company.”
“I didn’t know that.”
“You never know she may be grooming you for a book.”
I laugh. “I wouldn’t go that far.”
“I would. Don’t sell yourself short. I’m going to go take a long shower while you get some work done.”
“Okay.”
“Make yourself comfortable.” He grabs a change of clothes and leaves me to it.
I grab my notebook and get comfortable on his bed. His cellphone is on the nightstand and keeps going off. It’s distracting. I fight the urge to touch it. I know Killian grabs my phone without a care, but he would probably go apeshit if he thought I was touching his without permission.
Unable to concentrate on my writing, I put my notebook away and figure I will play catch up tomorrow after my appointment. I grab my clothes and put my pajamas on the bed. Pushing my pants down, I kick them aside and pull my shirt off. I’m standing in my bra and panties getting ready to pick up my shirt when the door opens. Killian quickly closes the door and the space between us.
He’s shirtless and only wearing a pair of black drawstring pants that ride low on his hips revealing his stomach muscles. He wraps his arm around my waist, and we are standing too close. The sexual tension brewing between us is thick. His mouth captures mine. This boy sets me on fire with his kisses. Gripping my hips, he holds me close, his fingers bite into my sides so rough it hurts.
I pull back when his hand slides up and fondles my breast. “I should get dressed.” I grab my shirt and quickly pull it down over my head and shoulders. I grab my pants but Killian swipes them and tosses them over his head.
“Leave these off.”
“I’m not sure that’s a good idea.”
He cups my butt, running his fingers over the curves. “Probably not.” His voice sends a tremble through my body and I feel parched.
“Um. You have water or something?” I’m nervous. I know Killian is used to girls ready to screw him straight away and part of me wants that, but I also know that will be the end of whatever this is. I’m not ready to give him up—to lose him.
“Yeah. I’ll go down to the kitchen and grab you one. I don’t want you wandering around the house like this.”
“Okay.” I close my eyes and try to slow my breathing. While he’s gone, I go to grab my pants off the floor. They are under the edge of the bed, and when I pull them out an empty condom wrapper comes out with them, and it is like a slap in the face. I know I can’t hold it against him, but it sucks to think that he sleeps around. That he’s been sleeping around.
I leave the discarded wrapper where it lays and go sit at his desk. Jealousy plagues me, and I hug my knees to my chest, resting my chin on them.
Killian returns. His hand squeezes the back of my neck. “I have your water.”
“Thanks,” I mumble and try not to sound sad but fail miserably.
“Liri. Look at me.” He swivels the chair around and I peer up at him. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” I give him a fake smile. “Just tired.”
“You were fine before I left. What is it?” He glances around the room. His gaze falls on the wrapper next to the bed. “It’s not mine. Sometimes when Hayley sleeps over with Liam, I give them my bed because he has a roommate,” he offers in e
xplanation, and I believe him because I don’t think she would lie about it for him. He has to know that I would ask her if I thought he was feeding me bullshit.
“Okay.”
“C’mere.” He opens his arms, and I leave the chair for his embrace. Killian brushes my hair back from my neck. His lips go to my collarbone peppering kisses up to my ear. His arms hook under my butt and he lifts me up. My legs wrap around his waist and he carries me to the bed.
We fall to the mattress, his body blanketing mine. My hands roam over the expanse of his smooth back.
“Look at me.” He holds my chin forcing my eyes to his. “No one before you matters. They could never compare to the way I feel when I’m with you.”
I want so badly to believe him and hope it isn’t a line to just get into my pants.
We continue to kiss but it isn’t enough. I want more. I know I’m in trouble here with him. I don’t know if I have enough control to tell him no. His finger strokes my breast over my shirt. I wiggle beneath him, squirming with desires I’ve never felt before.
“Killian,” I breathe out his name.
He bunches up my shirt and pulls it up over my head. His mouth leaving a trail of fire down my torso and back up to my mouth. Warmth pools between my thighs. I grab his hand and press it to the heart of my desire.
“Touch me.”
His gaze burns into mine and he pulls away. “I can’t.”
“What?” My heart drops.
“If I start, I won’t want to stop.”
“I trust you.” I weave my fingers with his.
“Don’t tempt me, Liri.” He says my name as if he is in physical pain. I know I am. There’s an ache between my thighs that won’t be soothed until he gives me what I want.
I swallow hard shocked by my own actions. “Then if you won’t do it I will.”
His jaw ticks as I slip my other hand inside my panties.
“Fuck,” he growls. “You are an evil temptress.”
I pout and he covers my hand with his.
“I need you,” I whisper into his mouth and kiss him deeply. His tongue moves with mine in sloppy strokes and heavy breaths pass between us.
Killian gives into me.
His finger slides through my slick heat. And when he hooks it inside me, I cry out.
Killian pull back to look into my eyes, and I feel like I am burning from the inside out.
“You have no idea the things you are doing to me, Liri.” He continues to please and tease me until I am unraveling at the seams. My body arches into his hand. My breathing quickens in rapid succession with my pulse. Killian moves his finger faster and faster until pleasure erupts in my core. I shudder, squeezing his thick digit within my walls.
Kissing my forehead, he lays next to me breathing merely as hard. I feel like those pesky butterflies have carried me away to a far-off place in a dreamlike trance.
Reaching over I skip my fingers along the waist of his pants and undo the string. “I want to touch you,” I tell him. “But you’ll have to guide me.”
“I can do that,” the words leave his lips in a hiss.
Inching my fingers inside his pants, I meet his heated flesh. My thumb brushes the underside of the bulbous head, and I wrap the rest of my fingers around him, unable to fully grip him. “Like that,” he encourages, as I stroke him. I know I’m not skilled enough to please him like this. I move over him and straddle his crotch, rubbing the thin layer of my panties over the head of his erection.
“God, Liri,” he moans my name and it sends a wave of pleasure and pride shooting through me. “Don’t stop.” He grips my hips and I grind against him. His manhood presses up so hard that it almost feels as though he is inside me, and I know that one day soon, I’m going to give him all of me and he’s going to destroy me.
Killian rolls us over. He looms over me gripping his thickness in his fist, jerking against my belly. His essence washes over me in hot spurts. His lips come down on mine. “You’re going to be the death of me, Liri Hart.”
I can’t stop the happiness that fills me at his words. I’m falling fast and hard. There’s a nagging voice in the back of the head that sounds a lot like my mother telling me to be careful and protect my heart, but it is far too late.
He takes my shirt and rubs it over my stomach.
“Hey, what am I supposed to sleep in now?”
“This.” He snaps my bra strap.
“I need to go the bathroom and brush my teeth and stuff.,” I complain.
“Hold that thought.” He rolls off the bed and opens a drawer in his dresser. “Put this on.”
I stare down at the baggy sweats and oversized sweatshirt.
“You’re kidding, right?”
“Nope.” He kisses my nose and attempts to dress me. His efforts are useless. Even with the pants triple knotted and pulled as tight as can be the moment I stand up they fall down to my ankles.
I grab my leggings and pull them up quickly before he can try to argue with me. I keep his sweatshirt on though because it is comfortable, and it smells like him.
Chapter 23
Liri
Killian drops me at the dorm early so I can grab a shower and get ready for my appointment. When I get in the room Hayley is just waking up and she looks awful.
I drop my bag on my bed. “What’s wrong?”
“I think Liam’s cheating on me.” She sniffles and wipes at her eyes.
“No way. Why would you think that?” I think she is mistaking a bad dream for reality.
“I decided to surprise him with dinner. I knew he was working late, and I picked up some food after I went to the store. I sent him a text and asked him how his night was going, and he said he was working hard to help Mack, his boss, replace a transmission. Anyway, when I went by the garage Mack was there, but Liam wasn’t, and he said he got off at his normal time.” She hugs her pillow to her chest. “He lied to me. I drove around for two hours looking for him. I tried texting Killian to see if he knew where he was, but he didn’t reply so I figured you guys were busy and I…” she sobs out and buries her face in her pillow.
“Whatever it is, you two will work it out I’m sure. If Liam lied to you, he must have a good reason.”
“Maybe.” She sniffs.
“Do you want to go to my appointment with me?”
“No. I can’t miss class, but I’ll catch up with you later.”
“Okay.” I frown and get in the shower. I hate seeing Hayley upset, but her and Liam are good together. I can’t imagine him risking their relationship to hook up with someone else. I see the way he looks at her.
Hayley is already gone to class when I head out for my appointment.
“Liri.” I hear my name as I am getting ready to cross the street to go to my car. I spin around and see Hunter jogging toward me.
“Hey,” I greet him and rock back on my heels feeling super awkward.
“Have you been getting my text? I thought we were doing good. Did I do something wrong?”
“No. It’s not you, and I know how that sounds, but it’s not. I shouldn’t have told you I would go out with you when I knew I liked someone else. That wasn’t fair, and I know I owe you an apology for the rude text you received from me.”
“Are you dating that Killian guy?”
“Kind of. It’s complicated.”
“You know he’s bad news, right? I thought you were smarter than that.”
“You don’t know him like I do.”
“I guess not. I’d still like us to be friends though. Is that okay?”
“Of course. Can we catch up later? I have an appointment and don’t want to be late.”
“Sure. Just be careful. Guys like that.” He shakes his head. “They don’t deserve girls like you.” He caps his fist with his palm then jogs away. I want to tell Hunter he doesn’t know me either, but I need to get going.
**
My appointment was easier than I thought, and I decided to go on the pill. I won’t start it until I
get my period which will be next week, and I set a daily reminder on my phone so that I won’t forget to take it every day. I try to call my mom before I leave the parking lot but she’s not picking up, so I leave a voicemail for her that I survived my appointment, and she will be happy to know I will start my pills next week. Since the appointment went quicker than expected I still have time to run by the dorm to change and make it to my dance class. Though I guess what I should be doing is heading to the library to work on my next chapter. I won’t be able to do it this coming weekend when I go with Hayley to visit her mom and see my father. The closer it gets the more nervous I am starting to feel.
I don’t want to back out of going, but I am anxious to see him after all this time. I’m an adult now, and the last time he saw me I was two years old. Mom said he tends to get mean. I don’t want my visit to upset him.
On my way back to campus I swing through a drive-thru and order a cheeseburger combo. I am starving to death. I haven’t eaten all morning. I eat on the drive and the amount of crumbs in my lap is a travesty. I should have worn a bib.
I park and do my best to dust myself off. My phone rings, and I figure it is Mom returning my call, but it’s Theo, my stepfather.
“Hey, squirt.”
“Hey.” He never calls me. We have always gotten along and stuff, but we aren’t overly close either. Growing up he was always working.
“Is everything okay? I tried Mom earlier, but she never answered.”
“Everything is fine here. I think she was getting her nails done.”
“Oh.” I don’t tell him she had them done on Saturday, but it makes me wonder why she would lie to him. Maybe she meant hair or something. I shrug it off.
“Are you liking all your professors?”
“Yup. Things are going great.”
“Your mother tells me that you are going to see James this weekend.”
“I am supposed to.”
“You don’t sound excited. Are you okay? If you aren’t ready you don’t have to go. Don’t let his family pressure you.” I want to remind him that they are my family too but don’t. Theo has been the one to raise me, and I would never want to hurt his feelings. He’s the only father I have ever known. Though sometimes Uncle Cooper has felt more like my dad than anyone. I haven’t seen much of him the past few months though. He stopped coming around about the start of summer. He probably has a new girlfriend. He goes through them frequently.
The Story of Killian & Liri (Cruel Love Book 1) Page 13