by Angel Payne
“To the bar?” Talia queried, seeming to read my thoughts.
“Absolutely.” I gave her one last hug and then dried my eyes and took the lead toward our cocktail oasis.
Talia yanked me back, practically ripping my arm from its socket in the doing. I flung a gape back at her, only to find her eyes already wide, staring at something over my head. “Holy. Shit.”
“What?” I patted my hair. “Is there something in my—”
“No, sweetie.” As she said it, the energy in the room shifted. The air molecules themselves seemed to change, to shiver with awareness…just like every drop in my bloodstream. “You look beautiful.” A brilliant smile overtook my friend’s lips. “But don’t take it from me.”
Before I turned, I knew he was there. My pulse raced with the certainty of it. My nerves tingled, and Lord help me, the deepest tissues of my sex stirred, already alerted to him.
Sure enough, I spun to watch Killian stalking across the dance floor, eyes riveted on me, parting guests like Moses through the Red Sea. The dancers suddenly stopped, staring at the commanding man in fitted jeans and untucked shirttails, advancing toward me with unwavering purpose.
The floor became my damn anchor. I was immobile, helpless to do anything but watch as he neared, captive to the beauty of his face and the darkness in his eyes. When he stopped and braced his legs, chest vibrating with the force in his lungs, I was painfully conscious of the stillness in the room—a mockery of the chaos in my senses.
“I—I thought you’d left.”
“I’m not leaving unless you’re with me.”
“I really need you to leave, Killian.”
“I’m not leaving unless you’re with me.”
“Damn it.” I hated the desperation of the whisper. “I’m confused. And—”
“And you don’t want to be. I get that. I don’t like being confused, either.” He wrapped a hand up to my elbow. It felt like the first time he’d ever touched me. The action wasn’t a command or even a caress. It was a pure entreaty of movement. An invitation. “But let’s face it together. We can handle anything, Claire, as long as we do it together.”
I let his stare penetrate me for another long moment before dipping my head, unable to confront what I saw in his face. The man was a walking lightning rod for commanding presence, but his power pinged off the charts right now. “Look, if this is a ploy to go somewhere and talk, then—”
“I love you.”
My stare jolted back up. “Wh-What?”
“It’s the truth. I mean every word of it. I’m done hiding. Here are my cards laid on your table, Claire Montgomery. I hope you’re ready to hear it all—and I don’t care who the hell hears. As a matter of fact, the whole damn world can listen in.”
Tears scorched my eyes again. I was certain my heart now lived at the base of my throat. A dizzying mix of joy and desire formed a mini tornado in my heart, though darkness swirled at the storm’s edges—and he knew why. More than anyone else on the planet, he knew why. He’d now been the target of Margaux’s machinations himself, and had to know the woman wouldn’t stop trying to rip us apart, especially after the way he’d called her out in the hallway.
“Stop,” I begged. “Please. This isn’t the place, or—”
“It’ll never be the place, Claire. That’s my point. There’ll be risks and ramifications, lots of them, for both of us. I know that. And yeah, I know you do too. I know what I’m asking of you, baby…of the danger that you’re risking—” That same strange cloud crossed his face before dissipating in a heavy swallow beneath the taut cords of his neck. “But we’ll face it all together.” He shifted closer, now leaning over me, cupping both sides of my face to compel my gaze toward the beautiful onyx depths of his. “Together.”
I greedily grasped my turn to gulp hard. He was so dark and beautiful, sincere and fervent…and he could be mine. This proud, passionate, smart, sexy, incredible man stood here, pleading to be my partner, my lover, my best friend…my prince.
Tears brimmed and trailed down my face. “Oh, Killian.”
“I love you.” He imposed the point now by pressing his lips to mine. “I. Love. You. I’ll say it a thousand more times if I have to.”
I attempted a little laugh. “Be careful what you offer, Mr. Stone.”
He grinned back. “Only what I’m confident of delivering, Miss Montgomery.”
“I’m beginning to think there’s nothing you can’t deliver.”
“True. As long as you’re by my side.” His fingers tightened, gripping my scalp, tangling in my hair. “The last four weeks have been the worst of my fucking life. Without you, I really am an enigma…a gigantic tangle of secrets that I don’t want to keep to myself anymore. I’m empty, lost…somebody I never want to be again.”
I forced a deep breath to permeate my body. “I’m—I’m scared.”
He lowered his hands into mine, meshing our fingers between our chests as he pressed even closer. His dark eyes widened, exposing a near-childlike vulnerability. “So am I. Like I’ve never been before. I want to share everything with you—everything—and I promise that I will. I just need some time.”
I pressed my fingertips to his jaw, loving how his stubble scuffed my skin. “Take all you need.”
“You already have the power to decimate me. You know that, right? But here’s my heart, and I’m giving it to you with everything I have. You’re my brass ring, my fairy queen, the one thing in my life I can’t imagine losing again.”
I gave up a tearful laugh. “If I look like half a person, it’s because I’ve felt like one for nearly thirty days.”
“Then let’s work this out. I won’t say things are going to be perfect. What happened in the penthouse with that little bitch was proof enough. But we can be stronger than that. We are stronger. Please tell me you get that. Tell me I don’t have to be without you anymore. I don’t want to spend another sunrise without you.”
He bent over to kiss the knuckles on my left hand, then my right, before pressing both of my palms over his heart. “It’s yours if you’ll have it, Claire Montgomery.”
Only then did I realize the entire room was still completely quiet, everyone seeming to wait on my response. I swallowed again, my throat tighter than before, tears coursing harder down my cheeks. The earth rocked beneath me. My head spun. My bloodstream felt like an early version of the fireworks show scheduled for the conclusion of the reception.
Because my every dream was coming true.
And I finally surrendered to the magic of it.
I lunged forward to kiss his perfect mouth with all the love welling in my heart. Killian met my assault with equal passion, tasting my tears, moaning from the force of my embrace. Might we have really found our way back to each other? As my heart acknowledged the affirmative answer, I wrapped my arms around his neck and held on, needing to savor his body next to mine, his heartbeat pounding against my own.
He kissed me again, so much deeper this time, dipping me back and nearly sweeping me off my feet. When we parted and I looked up at him, his eyes glittered like a hundred stars on a velvety night sky, perfectly reflecting the amazement in my spirit and the enchantment in my soul.
“Careful, Chicago.” I couldn’t help a huge grin as I evoked our old nicknames.
“What’s that, San Diego?”
“Your inner Prince Charming is showing.”
Chapter Nineteen
Killian
If princes froze in the middle of ballrooms grinning at their women like damn idiots, I had this gig nailed. I couldn’t have held back if I’d tried. Her smile took on an impish edge with her jibe, exposing dimples that I traced my thumbs over as I pulled her back to her feet. I kept her close, treasuring the feel of her, filling my senses with the smell and presence of her…
Loving her with every single part of me.
“Well, you’re definitely the authority on that subject,” I finally whispered.
She tilted her head, my inquisitive li
ttle fairy again. “Oh?”
“You fit the slipper, baby.” I shifted my hold to her nape, lifting her face so she’d have to confront the conviction in my eyes—and my heart. “I’d resigned myself to that space being empty, that I would never find anybody who’d fill it as perfectly as you.” I dipped my head until our foreheads touched. “I’m so fucking glad I was wrong.”
Her breath hitched. Because we were so close, I felt it too. When I lifted my eyes to hers, it was to watch tears glisten in their magical golden depths.
“Killian,” she whispered. “I love you too.”
A man’s polite cough broke into our reverie.
When we broke apart, I turned toward a sophisticated fellow who shared Claire’s easy smile, unique eyes, and proud chin. His hair was a few shades darker than Claire’s but just as thick, gelled into a formal style.
“Mr. Montgomery, I assume.” I clicked into efficient business mode but couldn’t stop my goddamn palm from sweating as I extended my hand. “My regrets for breaking into your special day like this, sir. My name is Killian Stone”—I slipped my free hand into Claire’s—“and I’m in love with your daughter.”
To my relief, Montgomery broke into a huge smile. “Lad, if we’re going to be broken into, I can think of no better reason.” He turned toward his bride, an elegantly attired Andrea Asher. “I’m certain you agree, dear one?”
“Indeed.” Andrea’s lips curled up as she said it, but the sentiment didn’t climb to her eyes. She’d likely had a look at Margaux, who huddled in one the ballroom’s alcoves like a cat thrown into the rain. I had no sympathy for the younger Asher. Out of respect for her mother and Claire’s father, I’d held back from hurling Margaux’s sad, vindictive ass right over one of the hotel’s balconies. Since she appeared genuinely bereft now, I supposed a spark of humanity still existed somewhere in her soul. The excavation team who went searching for it could count me out.
“Andrea.” I stepped forward and pulled her fingers up to my lips. “You’re breathtaking today. I’m not surprised why Claire never stops talking about you.”
Though Claire dug a fingernail into my palm, she had no other leg of retaliation to stand on. It wasn’t a lie. I simply didn’t embellish the truth, either.
“Killian Stone,” the woman chided, “you could flatter paint off a building.”
“Andrea, you know what a busy man I am. Flattery is a waste of time.” I straightened and delivered the next words with all the conviction in my heart. “But the truth is always worth the time and pursuit.” Gazing at Claire again, I emphasized, “Always.”
She blinked and shuffled from foot to foot. “I…uh…wasn’t able to get your lip gloss. I had the wrong key, and—”
“Oh, dear.” Andrea pouted.
A little woman appeared, reminding me of a Chihuahua crossed with an elf. Several photographers followed on her heels. “No worries, no worries! Colette has a key, darlings.” She produced a keycard from a sequin-covered binder in her grasp.
Andrea smiled at the weird creature. “Colette, you’re a goddess.”
“Of course I am.”
Andrea swept the card toward Claire. “Do you mind going back, Claire dear?”
“Of course not,” Claire replied.
“I’ll go with her,” I cut in. “Just in case she gets lost or something.”
Claire gave me a mocking huff. “I’ve been to the suite a hundred times tod—”
“I’m going with you.” I was still locked in enough business mode to make it a command she couldn’t ignore.
“Then you’re both complete dears. Thank you so much.”
“Colette is thankful, as well,” the Chihuahua crooned. “Annnn-drea must have luscious lips for the cake-cutting photos.”
Andrea pressed a hand to her neck. “How right you are, darling.”
Montgomery clipped an arm around his bride’s waist. “But my fairest, you are always luscious.”
“Oh, psshh, Colin. You know what I mean. Those photographers are from Us, People, and the Associated Press. It’s not like I’m going to actually eat any of that garbage, anyway.”
The man’s jaw tightened. “That ‘garbage’ is a two-thousand-dollar cake with imported chocolate filling and gold leaf flowers.”
“It still doesn’t get to spend a second of time on my hips, Colin. You know that.”
I took that as my cue to shake the man’s hand and offer one more line of congratulations before gripping Claire’s hand harder. I gave polite waves to the magazine photographers during their pursuit of us out of the door. Claire didn’t issue another word of protest as we passed the hotel’s security guard into the wing that was off-limits to everyone but the wedding party. I could barely stand still as she slid the key and opened the door. I took care of slamming the thing as soon as we were both through. I also took care of pinning her to the wall as fast as I could and getting my mouth on hers as hard and possessively as I could.
My senses barely registered the sound of the key plunking to the tile as they drowned in her magic once again. The lavender and wind scent of her. The silken, passionate warmth of her fingers. The jolting, amazing vibrations of the moans in her throat and the sighs on her lips. The way she opened to me. Meshed with me.
Fit me.
I missed her so much. Needed her so completely.
Wanted her so badly.
With a ruthless growl, I yanked up the hem of her gown and thrust my hands along her thighs, guiding them around my waist. “Hang on,” I instructed between breaths, swinging her around and carrying her like that to the couch. Once I set her down and shoved the coffee table away so I could kneel between her legs, she loosened her grip on my neck and pushed me off by a few inches.
“We— We can’t. Oh, Killian!”
I grinned. “I love hearing you cry out my name like that.”
Though I repeated the teasing tug to her panties, a second scream didn’t emerge. “You’re a wicked, wicked man.”
“Who loves you more than my own breath.”
“And apparently mine too. Oh— Ohhh, God! That’s…that’s…”
“A pussy I’ve missed very much.” Despite our jokes about breath control, neither of us held back our passion-filled gasps as we exchanged furious kisses, soon timed to the rhythmic thrusts I gave her tight, perfect tunnel. I pushed one finger into her. Two. Three. The throb in my cock picked up on our rhythm too, straining hard at the zipper of my jeans, proclaiming loud and clear how it didn’t approve of its captivity.
“Killian— Oh shit, we can’t. We— We— Ahhhh!” She gasped as I worked my thumb along her hard, moist pearl.
“Baby…your clit is telling me something else.”
“I’m supposed to go back to Andrea.”
“In a little while. Damn, you’re so wet, Claire. So wet and erect for me.”
“The— The— Cake cutting—”
I kissed her with brutal impatience. “If I can’t be inside you soon, fairy, they’ll be able to use my cock on all four of those layers.”
Suddenly, she giggled. Coupled with the tangle of her fingers in my hair, it was a moment I consciously savored—and thanked the Creator for.
“If that’s the case, then I want a slice of each, please.” Her lips drifted into a soft smile. I felt myself copying the expression, wrapped up in her beauty, basking in her love. Her gaze gentled to the shade of a summer sunset, just as she coasted a hand to the buttons still tethering in my dick. “Or maybe I’ll go for the more pleasurable option.”
“Thank fuck,” I growled, sucking her neck while she quickly opened my jeans. I pulled around and turned my attack into a full kiss again when she freed my erection from my briefs, giving her a groan when she cupped my balls and steadily fondled me.
With a guttural grunt, I reached around, caught her panties, and ripped. Her gasp exploded against my lips, her skin quivered beneath my touch, and her head fell back, opening herself fully to me. I jerked her to the edge of the couch and then rig
ht off, forcing her to fall onto my waiting cock. In one passionate thrust, I impaled her.
Connection.
Consummation.
Completion.
As I let my body soar higher into hers, I sank my gaze deeper into hers. I prayed she saw straight into the heart, the soul, and the spirit she alone had pulled out of their isolated enigma of a tower, into the light and clarity and power of her love. My maddening, challenging Miss Montgomery. My fairy queen. My princess who’d never demanded a glass slipper but was the only one who fit my life so perfectly.
I loved her harder, watching ribbons of desire wrap thicker across her features. I’d never grow tired of the sight. I’d never stop adoring this amazing woman, sent for me alone to worship.
When we were done, cleaned up and ready to return to the reception, I pulled her close for another tender kiss. I took my time, longing to memorize the moment with her. Moments I’d never forget. I shook my head at her unspeakable beauty. At the bewilderment that I felt in being the bastard lucky enough to love her. I’d never again deny the depth of my feelings for her.
“I love you,” I whispered.
“I love you too,” she replied.
Like a very good fairy tale, we were on our way to a happy ending.
But like the best fairy tales, we were only just beginning.
Epilogue
Claire
October…
“Come on, sleepyhead. You’ll miss your flight.”
Killian’s command wasn’t getting a moment of support from me, much less obedience. Instead, I groaned and covered my head with the warm covers of his bed again. In retaliation, he pounced on the mattress and began a barrage of growls, kisses, and tickles. This was definitely my new favorite alarm clock. Okay, second favorite. The amazing Killian Stone morning-wood alarm still topped the list. Sadly, I wouldn’t be getting that ringer this morning.