by Ryan Michele
“Morning. You ready to talk?”
His body shook as he chuckled. At least he was playful in the morning. Too bad this would be the last one I spent in this bed, and I couldn’t enjoy it. I was tenacious, and the time for our overdue conversation was now.
“Go ahead.” He nuzzled his face in my hair extremely close to my neck, and my body wanted to succumb to the desire he was inflicting. He appeared not to have a care in the world, all the while my body was getting totally uprooted by the second. “Talk,” he commanded, and I struggled to focus.
There were so many questions I wanted him to answer; this wasn’t going to be a fast run. I needed space. Being this close to him made my brain not want to fire on all its synapses, and I needed those with Killian. His touch was life fire.
I tried to pull away, but didn’t get far. I tried to pull my hands up and push him. Nothing. Not even a nudge. How hard and strong was this man? “Can you let me go?”
“No,” he said calmly. “You want space to shut me out.”
“This whole calm thing you have going on is pissing me off.”
He chuckled then pulled his head back so we were looking at each other. Even though it was dark because the shutters were still down, I could see a hint of the most beautiful sapphire eyes shining back at me, dragging me in and pulling me under.
No. Focus!
Taking in a steadying breath, I closed my eyes then opened them. It did nothing to break the connection I felt with him or to shut my body off.
First thing was break up the intimacy of this situation. “Can you please turn the lamp on?” I needed light to see him clearly and attempt to read something from him. I wasn’t getting any clues as to what would happen next.
He reached over without letting me go and flipped on the light. It was low and cast a yellow hue over the room instead of those bright LED lights that burned your retinas.
My breath caught. There wasn’t time last night to really see his face with all the running, driving, and yelling. Right now, though, I took in all the rough sexiness that was Killian Graham, and it was a gorgeous sight. He’d grown up since the last time I saw him, turning into a hunk of a man. My fingertips itched to touch his face and drag along all the contours. His jawline was strong, defined, and his lips were thin, but not so much so. In fact, subconsciously I found myself licking my lips and wondering what his would feel like against my own. His nose was a perfect balance in the center of his face. His cheeks were sculpted, and I simply wanted to feel every inch of the beautiful man in front of me. I clenched my hands to keep them in place. He smirked like he could read my thoughts. I ignored that and moved on to the pressing issue we had here and now.
“Are Bri and I actually in danger?” That was the most important of all the questions at this point. Bri and I had lives to live, and having someone after us would be horrible. We hadn’t done anything, but with the way Killian was acting, it appeared that didn’t matter.
I couldn’t stop staring at him. His face was perfectly symmetrical in a way I had never cared to notice in anyone before. Everything lined up in an exact balance. All of it gave him a gorgeous, yet dangerous look, and I had a feeling I wasn’t off the mark with the dangerous part.
There was a small scar in his left eyebrow. One would think it would be a shame to mar up a face like that, but all it did was make him even more attractive, more intriguing like you wanted to pull every bit of information out of him just to figure him out.
He smiled like he was reading my thoughts again, which I knew was impossible, but it sure felt like it. “My guess, no.”
I jolted back. “No? Then why…” His finger came up and pressed against my lips in a silent Shut up. I’m not done yet move. I shut up.
“The guys are still in lockup. The earliest they could post bond would be tomorrow afternoon. That being said, once they get out, there’s no way of knowing. While I doubt they have reached out to anyone on the outside, there is a small chance they have someone on the lookout.”
“So right now we’re fine?” I asked, slightly exasperated that he took things to such lengths when the danger wasn’t exactly present.
“Should be.”
I pushed on him hard and shouted, “Then why am I sleeping in your bed?”
“Because I wanted you here. Wanted you where I knew you were safe.”
How infuriating!
I wanted to tell him, Killian, your reasoning doesn’t make this okay! However, I didn’t give in to my frustrations. For now, I was going to let it go and switch gears. There was no dwelling and since I was safe, my ass was leaving. After I managed a few more questions. In the end, I had him literally beside me, so why not use the time to my advantage? I didn’t expect to have any other reason to talk to Killian, after all was said and done.
“Alright. How did you know I’d be there last night?”
His expression changed instantly, jaw hard and set. It appeared he wasn’t happy about this question, and I knew it without a doubt when he spoke. “You weren’t supposed to be there. Bri wasn’t supposed to be there. We had to change plans quickly.”
I bit the inside of my cheek. “So what were you doing there?” I knew why I was there, even why Bri was there. What I didn’t know was how Killian fit into all of this. Even though I tried this last night, it wasn’t going to stop me from asking again.
His lip tipped at the corner. “Already answered that.”
Dammit. He had a quick wit, that was for sure.
He leaned in, his lips just a hairs’ breadth from mine. Holy shit. Was he going to kiss me? My gut clenched, and tingles ran up my arms. Did I want him to kiss me?
Yes. Just this once.
When his nose brushed mine and he pulled back, I couldn’t help feeling a bit disappointed.
“Fine. Then what’s all this? Me staying here. You don’t even know me, Killian. Why have me here? In your bed.” I should have pushed him away, but something held me back.
“I want you here.”
“You’ve already said that,” I bit out, fighting my aggravation with his vague answers.
Without a single change in his tone, he replied, “And that’s all you’re getting for now.”
I did not like that answer, so I shoved him. He didn’t budge.
“Why?” I charged back. “I want answers, Killian. Why won’t you give them to me?”
“Because you’re not ready for the rest.”
I wanted to pull my hair out. He didn’t get to make that judgment. He didn’t know me well enough to tell me what I was or was not ready for. A cell started to ring, and I knew it was Killian’s from the tone.
“Fuck!” He reached over to the nightstand and grabbed the device, but he kept me close. “Give me a sec.”
Give him a sec! Whatever, I’d give him a lifetime at this point. I just wanted to get home and get on with my life as if I hadn’t spent the night with Killian Graham.
He answered, “Yeah.” I couldn’t make out what was being said on the other end of the line. “When?” Killian kept calm and held me to him while giving his attention to the call. “Right. Twenty.” Then he swiped off his phone. He released me quickly, and I knew something was up. “Gotta go. Get dressed, and I’ll take you home.” Instantly, I found myself a bit cold at the loss of contact from him.
He got up from the bed, his strong back sexy as hell and on full display as he walked to the bathroom. A tattoo laid on his side of a howling wolf. I’d need to ask him about that because it was beautifully detailed.
Killian didn’t shut the door, and I heard him peeing. I didn’t know why this meant something to me, but it did. That function was something you did with your best friend or boyfriend. Not with a woman you hadn’t laid eyes on in years. It was a different level of intimacy all together. Strange and something else that called for me to get answers.
Whatever. I rolled out of the bed, found my clothes, and tugged them on. This was what I’d wanted for a while now. To go home. I was going to seize
this opportunity and roll with it. The time for questions was over, and I needed to forget the last twenty-four hours and move on.
He barely looked at me when he came out of the bathroom and began to open drawers and toss clothes on. He also had no problem with dropping his pajama bottoms and giving me a glorious view of his bare ass that I would pack in my memory bank for all the lonely nights for years to come.
“I’ll go out…” I trailed off, just needing to get out of that room and away from Killian, needing space. After using the bathroom and taming my hair by throwing it up in a bun, I set upon escape.
My ass had barely sat on the stool at the kitchen island when Killian came in. “Babe. We gotta roll.”
I actually felt a little let down, not that it showed on any part of my body. But for him to go to all the trouble to get me here, put me in his bed, and lock us up tight, then say we’re leaving without an explanation why… It rubbed me the wrong way.
We went out the door and hopped into his SUV. He got on the phone and said very few words, like he was hiding whatever was on the other line—because he was. I wasn’t that damn dense.
It didn’t matter. Whatever was going on in his life didn’t mean it was going on in mine.
Once we got to town, I asked, “Do you need directions?”
He looked over, his face blank. It was a look I didn’t like, but it was there all the same. “No.” His reply, being far too simple, didn’t settle with me. He turned back to the windshield and drove me straight to my house without a word.
I didn’t ask him how he knew where I lived because I didn’t care. I needed to get away from him for a while and piece last night together in my head. Calling my brother was also on my to-do list. Elliot needed to explain how he could let Killian have his way last night.
Killian pulled up to my house, and I didn’t wait for him to put the SUV in park. I hopped out, got to my front door, and picked up a piece of dog poop. Okay, so it wasn’t real dog poop; it was just a hide-a-key that I had stashed in my bushes. So far it worked well. Who wanted to pick up shit? I saw it on Pinterest and thought what the hell.
Grabbing it and unlocking the door, I could feel Killian at my back as I turned around, hand on the door, not inviting him into my house. We’d had enough of this craziness, and I didn’t need any more for the day.
“Bye, Killian,” I said, starting to close the door. His hand came out, stopping it from moving. I waited. I had nothing to say. This little whatever it was, was over. Which meant he and I were over. Not that we’d even started.
“Jeep’s in the garage. Key’s on the counter.” I did not like the fact someone I didn’t know had been in my house. “You go anywhere, you let someone know where you are. Even if it’s just driving to the bar. You call Bri or anyone and tell them.” There was a lot to say about this one. “And let me add, Ellie, this isn’t over,” he said ominously.
He was wrong. The attraction. The time together. It was all over. Even the fact that he kept ordering me around. Yes, that was most certainly over. “First, I’m not a woman who wants to be watched over. Second, there is no this, Killian. So, yes, it is over. Have a great life.”
His phone started ringing in his back pocket. He closed his eyes with what appeared to be frustration. He opened them and then bore into mine, telling me in no uncertain terms that no, this was not done. Leaning in, he wrapped his hand around my neck, pulled me to him, kissed my forehead and was off. Poof, like a damn magician.
I didn’t get the last word. Nope, Killian was gone, and I was left twisted up inside without the first clue as to what came next.
I closed the door, locked it, pressed my back to it, then slid down the wood, my ass hitting the floor.
What in the hell was that?
My brother didn’t answer when I called the dozens of times, which wasn’t surprising. We had a good relationship, and he could read me. This meant he knew I was pissed about last night and didn’t want to hear it. But he would, even if I had to bang on his door and wake up his neighbors. I just had to attend to my bread and butter first.
When I got to the bar, Corey was there getting things sorted for the day, tablet in hand and punching away at it. Corey was my right hand here, doing schedules, inventory, and managing. Without her I’d be working every day and night non-stop. Everyone needed a break.
She was also a great friend. Hard not to be when we were with each other day in and out. She knew me well, and I trusted her with my business which was huge for me. Corey excelled at managing the bar for me.
Things weren’t overly crowded at this time of day. There were a few regulars, Redd and Hank, who sat next to each other every day, but they didn’t seem to say a single word to one another. They’d talk to me, or the other bartenders and waitresses, just not each other. Even though, day in and out, they bellied up to the bar in the same spots at the same times. Hank always arrived within twenty minutes of opening. He preferred draft beer to bottles, while Redd came in around the second hour of our doors unlocking. He wanted to have an ice-cold longneck bottle as soon as his ass hit the stool. They both changed their food orders regularly, but I could count on feeding each of them at least once and sometimes twice a day. It was strange, but somehow it worked. They were silent friends. A simple nod between them seemed to be a complete conversation.
Others were scattered throughout the place. Some in the booths to the left eating burgers while a few others were up on the landing that held the pool table, darts, and video poker. No matter what time of day it was, those poker machines were always in use.
Me. I worked too hard for my money to give it away. People had to know the house always won. One may get lucky every once in a while, but overall there was no comparison. Those who wanted to gamble, more power to them. It wasn’t my thing.
“What happened?” Corey fell in step with me as we went through the bar to the right where the office was located. My office was completely organized from top to toe. Yep, I was one of those people who liked to have everything in order when it came to the business side of the bar.
Everything was labeled, and the laptop had a ton of spreadsheets to keep everything organized. It helped that Corey was even more compulsively organized, and she handled most of the data entry.
“Sorry. Bri needed me and, well, the night went to hell.” I tossed my purse on top of my desk and set my phone beside it, running my hands through my long dark brown hair. How to explain last night? That was a tough one that some wouldn’t believe.
“And…” Corey prompted, her eyes wide, waiting for me. With the way I blew out of here last night without a word about where I was going, well, these questions weren’t surprising. It was out of character for me, but when your friend called you responded.
I sighed, falling back into the chair that rolled a bit with my movement. “Have you heard anything about Killian Graham?”
Her brow quirked. “Yeah. Who hasn’t heard of Killian is more like it. He’s like a legend around here.”
Legend.
A laugh almost escaped. Mostly for all the wrong reasons. There were so many stories going around about the things he did growing up, they could write a book or make a movie out of it. A lot of it was rumor, but there were a few eye witness accounts.
What could I say? I liked the bad boys. Always got me in trouble.
“Have you heard anything recently?”
Her hand went to her hip as her eyes narrowed. “What’s this about?”
“I’m getting to that. Just answer please.”
She rolled her eyes, but she didn’t mean it. “He’s not exactly on my gossip meter, Ellie, but I’ve heard his job is a mystery. People know kind of what he does, but not really. That’s about it.”
“I’ve never seen him in the bar.”
Corey shook her head. “Me either. You piss him off or something?”
If she only knew. I let the thoughts escape my mind and mumbled, “I don’t get it, and considering he and my brother have something
going, it’s strange he hasn’t been in.” I heard my name being called.
Bri was in the bar. I tossed a hand up to Corey. “Hang on to that thought.”
Peeking my head out the door, Bri saw me and charged into the office. Corey and Bri greeted each other, then Bri launched in. “What happened?”
At least I wouldn’t have to tell the story twice. Kicking the door shut with my foot, I launched into my night. From the time I got to the house to get Bri, to the time I entered my house. Everything.
“You’re shitting me,” Bri said. “No way,” Corey said, both speaking in unison.
“Yeah.”
“You slept in the same bed with Killian Graham, and he didn’t try to sleep with you, like really sleep with you?” Corey sounded astonished, and there for a moment, a feeling I didn’t like came over me. One that said I wasn’t good enough for him, but I tapped it down. Now wasn’t the time for me to get caught up in emotions. It had been a long time since I’d felt that way when it came to a man, and no way I was starting down that road once again. No man got to have that kind of power over me anymore.
Not only that, but Killian had a reputation with the ladies. Needless to say, I was glad I scrubbed the hell out of my body today. If Killian put me in a bed where he’d fucked another woman, that would seriously piss me off. It was gross!
“Do you think we’re okay?” Bri asked, chewing on her thumbnail. She had a tendency to do this when she got nervous. She should be, at least, according to Killian.
“He said they won’t be able to get a hearing until tomorrow. After that, who knows. Have you heard from Khloe?”
“Nope!” Bri explained with an exasperated tone. “Went by her place, and she didn’t answer the door. I’m going to swing by her parents’ house and see if they’ve talked to her.”
“And she was supposed to meet you?”
“Yep, but haven’t heard a word.” My brain kept turning over and over, trying to figure out what really went down last night.
Fuck, none of this was okay. Inside, I didn’t feel good about what was to come. “Did you know Landon was into whatever was going on in that house? Have you heard from him at all?”
