“What’s the fun in that?”
“This wasn’t my idea. I wanted to call.” Theo looks like his head is about to pop off his shoulders his face is so red.
I move around to the back of the couch so my mother can’t see me, and I mouth to Killian, “Do they know?”
His brows knit and he gives me a weird look but doesn’t answer me. I sigh and roll my eyes. I move to where Killian sits in the recliner and stand next to him. “I guess you have introduced yourselves to Killian.”
“I thought we could take you two to dinner and talk about the fact that you have moved in together so quickly,” my mother gets right to it.
“Dinner sounds great. You can get to know Killian, but there is nothing to discuss about us moving in together. I love him.”
“Sweetheart, you don’t know what love is. You’re eighteen. We both know where that got me at your age.” She is about to start in on me, but I don’t want to hear it.
“I’m not you. Killian isn’t James.”
“I love your daughter and I’m not going anywhere,” Killian tells her, and she seems to grow more agitated.
“You guys think you can sit here and play house with Theo footing the bill. It isn’t going to happen.”
“Dad?”
“Oh, is he dad now? You’ve been calling him Theo for so long I thought you forgot the meaning of the word.” She laughs.
I can feel anger steaming out of Killian’s ears but he’s keeping his composure.
“Ashley, we agreed that you were going to give them a chance. I’m not happy that you did this without at least talking to us first, Liri, but I told you I will do anything to make you happy, and if Killian here is who makes you happy, I am going to do my best to support that. Financials have nothing to do with that,” he states coolly shooting my mother an icy glare.
I look between the two of them, and I notice how far apart they are sitting. All my life they were always kissing and touching in some small way. There is a distance between them I have never seen before. I squeeze Killian’s hand needing his touch to ground me.
“Now that we have staged our parental ambush, I’d like to invite you to dinner. Killian and I can get to know each other, and your mother can sit and push her issues from the past onto the rest of us.” My stepfather stands. My mother looks mortified and angry. “The car will be here around seven.” He nods at Killian and looks to my mom again. “Let’s go.”
“I’ll go when I’m good and ready. You know, Liri, when I told you to get the bad boy out of your system this isn’t what I meant. And it certainly isn’t why I put you on birth control.”
“Where do you get off, lady? Who talks to their daughter like that?” Killian snaps. “Get out of my house.”
“Your house?” She mock laughs and for the first time in my life I feel hatred toward my mother. “My husband pays your rent.”
“Actually, I don’t,” he cuts in. “Liri hasn’t taken any money out of her account for rent. She bought the furniture or some of it.”
“Well I.” My mother’s words fail her, and I am nothing but disappointed in her. She gets up from the couch and doesn’t bother to say goodbye. She follows my stepfather out the door, and I don’t know whether to laugh or cry.
“Are you okay?” Killian looks up at me with so much concern and love. I am glad he was here.
“Honestly, I’m just disappointed. The ways she behaved just now disgusts me. I thought my stepdad would be the one we’d have to argue with. Never in a million years did I think she’d behave that way to you…to us. I’m sorry.”
“I was prepared for them to hate me. I’m the bad boy who corrupted their angel.” He smirks.
“And here I thought I was the one corrupting you by making you call yourself my boyfriend,” I tease.
He pulls me into his lap and kisses my throat. “Stop. I’m all sweaty and gross from class and I need a shower.”
“I’m only going to dirty you up again.” His teeth rake over my collarbone. I turn into him and he holds my face with the palm of his hand. “Don’t worry. She isn’t going to scare me away. If telling you that I love you didn’t send me running for the hills a pissed off mother won’t.”
“Good, I’d chase you down and drag you back.” I peck his lips.
“I like the sound of that,” he murmurs into my mouth, kissing me again.
“Killian, you do know that I love you, don’t you?” I have been wanting to say it back, but the timing has never felt right.
“I didn’t tell you because I wanted to hear it back. I said it because I felt it, Liri.”
“I’m feeling something else right now.” I squirm and rub my hand over the bulge in his pants.
“You make me crazy.”
“You make me want to get naked.”
“I can help with that.” I grin and he pulls my shirt over my head.
He gets a serious look about him and his playfulness has dissolved into raw desire. His fingers rub along my hips soft as a feather. My nipple is in his mouth and I grind against him. The chair rocks with us, and I scream when Killian pushes the lever and we jerk with the chair as the foot piece pops out.
“I want you screaming my name.” We fall back in the chair going with the back as it lowers. We struggle to get our clothes off, and I get a weird cramp in my toe that nearly brings me to tears, but the moment Killian fills me the pain disappears.
We’ve not done it with me on top before. I like it. I like being in control. I love seeing Killian being open and real. No games. No lines. Just him and me. His fingers dig into my hips as I rotate them moving in a circular motion, riding him. He makes me feel crazy and wild. I throw my head back and enjoy the way it feels as he moves in and out, arching up, hitting me in the right spot.
“Eyes on mine, baby,” he demands.
Giving Killian what he wants, I open my eyes and train them on those dark orbs that swallow me completely.
“I love you and nothing or no one will ever break us apart,” he promises, and I desperately want to believe him. That nothing or no one could ever change the way we feel about one another and that it will always be this good.
I slow my movements wanting to savor this and commit it to memory. The way his jaw is clenched and tense. The way sweat glistens on his forehead. The perfect bow of his top lip. The sound he makes when I pull away then slam back down on him hard. The way his eyes never seem to leave me. He’s always watching me. Making me feel beautiful.
“I’m close, are you?” I ask breathlessly.
“Almost there,” he grunts and circles my clit with his finger bringing me closer to the edge of the cliff of carnal bliss. Heat rises within in me and my body jolts. “I love watching you when you do that,” he says, softly with a look of awe on his face. “Your lips pout into a perfect O,” he tells me.
“Not as much as I love watching you.” I circle my hips faster and faster, grinding down harder as I bounce on his thighs. Killian closes his eyes, his head going back, mouth parted. I grab him by the hair and pull his head forward. “Eyes on me.” I slow my movements down until I have his full attention. He raises up and the chair moves with him. His arms snakes around my back, holding me to him. Our lips meet and he thrusts his tongue into my mouth as we rock slowly, the warmth of him spilling into me.
“I’ve never wanted anyone the way I want you,” he whispers and bites my neck.
“You have me, Killian. You have me.”
**
For dinner with my parents I am wearing the black dress Hayley insisted I get. That seems like so long ago that we were having fun shopping together. I miss her and hate that we never talk anymore. I’m going to reach out to her soon and try to reconcile our friendship. I love spending all my time with Killian but there are times I find myself wanting to call or text her.
Tonight however, I have to go to this dinner. I don’t want to. I want to snuggle up on the couch with Killian and continue watching The Vampire Diaries and feeding each other popco
rn. I have him hooked on it now. The historical aspect of Damon and Stefan’s backstory appeals to him. I never realized what a history nerd I was dating until he was telling me all these crazy facts about the Civil War.
I finish curling my hair and dab some perfume on my wrists. I exit the bathroom and grab my heels from the closet. I want to show my mother that I am becoming a woman. I don’t mean to disrespect her or pretend that I won’t ever need her. I always will, but Killian is part of my life now. Nothing is going to change that.
“Damn.” He lets out a whistle. “I don’t know what I want more. To show you off or selfishly hold you hostage and peel that dress back off you.”
I smile. “How about you take it off me later…after you show me off.”
“Sold.” He buttons his silver cufflinks then grabs his suit jacket. I’ve never seen him in anything but jeans and tees and his leather jacket. I was shocked to learn he even owned a suit.
“I am loving this polished look,” I move in for a kiss.
My phone pings with a text. I swipe a finger over my screen. “The car is here.”
Killian holds his arm for me to take.
My stepfather and mother are seated on opposite sides of the car. I join my mother reluctantly and Killian slides in next to Theo. The silence that stretches between our party of four on the way to the restaurant is awkward and tense. I wish we had stood them up.
They take us to an overpriced place with gross food. I’ve never been one for foods I can’t even pronounce the name of. I order a salad and what I think is a steak or something like a steak.
“Killian are you enrolled at Crestwood?”
“Yes, ma’am,” he responds politely.
“And what are you majoring in?”
“Art history.”
“Well I guess you and Liri have more in common than I suspected.”
I squeeze Killian’s hand under the table and take a sip of my water. They offered us wine, but I think my mother wanted to see if we would drink it. The last time she was here I thought she was okay with me making my own choices.
“We have lots of similar interest.”
“And your family. Are they from the area?”
“My father is Conrad Hendrix perhaps if you are into sports you know the name.”
“As in racing?” Theo perks up.
“The one and only.”
“Was a real shame when he had to retire. I was a huge fan. You must be proud to carry his name.” I can feel Killian going tense next to me. I trace tiny circles on the inside of his wrist.
“Do you plan to follow in his footsteps?” My mother questions and he is saved from answering by the arrival of our salads.
I stab a cucumber with my fork and shove into my mouth. As I am chewing someone my stepfather knows approaches our table.
“Fancy meeting you here.”
I look up and nearly choke on my food. Hunter and his parents are standing behind mine.
“Liri, dear I believe you mentioned Hunter last time I was in town,” my mother says and sneers at Killian.
“Well Mother, maybe they can join you for dinner. Killian and I are leaving.”
I grab Killian by the hand and leave the dining room without looking back.
“Can you believe her? I know she did that on purpose. I’m sorry. I never would have dreamed of her acting this way.”
“We can’t choose our parents, Liri. Though there have been times I wished I could. Why don’t you rejoin them. I’ll take a cab.”
“What? No. I don’t want to eat with them. I hope my mom is happy because I’m not speaking to her.”
“You shouldn’t have to choose.”
“No, I shouldn’t but I choose you. I always will.”
He smiles at me, but it is one full of sadness.
Chapter 37
Liri
After that disastrous dinner with my parents I received a text message from my stepfather apologizing on behalf of my mother. He asked if he could take me to lunch Just him and me, and I agreed as long as we could go to a joint that serves hamburgers, and I can dress down in my leggings that I wore to class today.
Killian is at some garage getting his car tuned or serviced. Whatever it is that he does before he has a race, but I shoot him a text to let him know my plans. We have been meeting for lunch when our schedules allow it. I had no idea that my boyfriend works part time at the university library. It makes sense looking back how he knew where the keys for the study room was and exactly where the books I needed were.
Liri: I’m meeting with my stepfather for lunch. He apologized and said it would only be the two of us.
Killian: I’m almost finished here and will grab something on my way back to campus then. I love you. I’ll see you after your ceramics class?
Liri: You better. I love you most.
Killian: More.
Liri: Most trumps more so we are clear.
Killian: I love you more than anyone has ever thought of loving you.
Liri: I know.
My stepfather picks me up outside of web design class. I’m not liking doing digital art as much as I thought I would. I prefer using my paints, chalks, and pencils. I slide into the opposite seat of him and place my bag next to me.
“Hope you don’t mind a bit of a drive. I feel like I never see you now that you are so far away at college.”
“It’s not that far.”
“I guess the house is just quiet. Your mother never seems to be home. She’s always doing wine tastings or going to a charity event. Book club. The movies. I never see her for dinner either now that you’re not there to keep her occupied.”
He’s lonely.
“I’m sure you have a lot to keep you busy.”
“No. It’s funny. I told myself that when you left home that your mother and I would travel and do things as a couple. All the things we didn’t do because when I married her, we jumped straight into family life. Not that I didn’t love getting to help guide you into adulthood. Being your father was a gift. I don’t know if your mother ever told you, but I could never have kids of my own. It wasn’t in the cards I suppose; you were my shot at fatherhood. I wish I wasn’t so busy making a living that I was missing out on all the little things. Sure, I have money. More than I could ever know what to do with but when I look back, I missed out on a lot with you and her. She resents that. Says I didn’t want to be home with the two of you, but I worked like I did to give you the advantages and opportunities you deserve, and I want you to know that I want happiness for you. I don’t know this Killian, but life is short. Don’t just make a life, Liri. Live it. Make all the little moments count.”
I can’t stop the tears. What he said right now hits me right in the feels. Though I think he needed to get these things off his chest more than I needed to hear them. There’s a sadness in my stepfather I have never recognized in him until now.
“Your mother loves you. She only wants different for you. Doesn’t want you repeating her mistakes but you’re a smart girl. You’ll make good choices and if you stumble, you’ll learn from it.”
“I hope so.”
The car stops and I look out the window. “What are we doing here?”
“You know the place? My driver said they had the best wings. You know your mother gets after me about eating bad.”
“Your secret is safe with me. Where is she anyway?”
“Having a spa day to destress.”
Of course she is, but I keep my smart comment to myself.
We exit the car once the driver has opened our doors. I really don’t want to dine here, but I didn’t want to make a big deal about it and have to explain to my stepfather how Killian’s father owns the place and that he’s a cheating scumbag.
I don’t see Mr. Hendrix when we go in, but Killian’s older brother Dillan is here. I don’t think he knows I’m dating his younger brother. I don’t see Susie either. Maybe they took the day off. I don’t want to have to tell Susie that I haven’t broached t
he subject of Conrad’s birthday party with her stepson.
My stepfather orders his wings, and I get a grilled chicken sandwich with sweet potato fries on the side.
“Can I ask you something?”
“Anything.”
“What was Hunter and his parents doing at the same restaurant as us? That was no coincidence.”
“Your mother may have been trying to play matchmaker.”
“Did she tell Hunter to date me?”
“Liri, I don’t like talking about your mother like this with you.”
“Don’t defend her or try to cover for her. Hunter told me that he interned for Uncle Cooper last summer. And he keeps showing up everywhere I go like he’s following me. It’s creepy.”
“Your mother just wanted you to align yourself with someone with a future.”
“Are you saying Killian has no future? I don’t need a man to support me, and I don’t mean that because you set up a trust for me. You could take it away, and I would have to get a job or do whatever, but she has no right. She gave me this bullshit talk about relationships, but all she was really doing was meddling in my love life.”
I shove my plate away.
“Liri, try to see things from her perspective. You saw your father is that the future you want? I did my homework on this kid. He’s reckless.”
“I thought you were on my side but you’re not. You only brought me here to talk me over to her side, didn’t you?”
“It’s not like that.”
“The hell it’s not.” I shake my head. “I think you should pay the check and drop me back at school. I’m no longer feeling well.”
“Don’t be unreasonable. You’ll see in time that a kid like Hunter with a good head on his shoulders is who you should be dating.”
“I need to go the bathroom,” I announce and rush off before he can say anything more to upset me. I take a few minutes to collect myself. I don’t even want to get in the car with Theo right now. My phone buzzes in my purse.
Killian: Things going okay?
Liri: He’s being a jerk.
Killian: Need me to rescue you?
Liri: He brought me to your father’s bar and grill of all places.
The Story of Killian & Liri (Cruel Love Book 1) Page 20