by Krane, Kasey
I needed to eliminate the problem, now.
“And when I came to, they were both gone. I thought maybe Connor overpowered her, took her somewhere.”
“And left the car behind?” My father wiped his face with a hand. He started pacing the room.
“I was injured. Concussed. I needed to get home and recover. I had to trek back to the house but when I got there, I just passed out again.”
“And why the fuck didn’t you call us? The moment you had a chance.”
“I was fuckin’ injured. I just told you what happened. Besides, Connor’s a big guy and she’s a tiny thing. I figured he’d know how to take care of himself. I didn’t think much of it. I figured he just took her somewhere. Maybe he just wanted to fuck her in the woods. Teach her a lesson.”
Dad clenched his jaws tightly and squared his shoulders, breathing in deeply with frustration.
“He’s not at his house. Nobody has heard from him since last night. Something has happened and I can’t fuckin’ believe that girl did all this on her own.”
“Well you better believe it. She managed to get me,” I replied.
He shook his head as he stood behind his chair, glaring at me.
“I would love to meet this girl. Alive. Just to take a good look at this mythical creature,” he said.
* * *
And for that reason alone, I should have decided to get rid of Reese. Just to keep her away from my family. If she was confronted by my father and brothers and she spilled the truth—I didn’t know if they would forgive me for what I’d done.
“You need to find him,” my father’s voice interrupted my thoughts.
“What?” I blinked.
“You need to get out there and find Connor. And find the girl. It’s not like him to fall off the radar for this long. Even if he’s just having a fuck fest with this chick, it doesn’t make sense that he hasn’t made contact in so long.”
Even just the idea of Connor with Reese made my skin crawl.
Images flashed through my mind of her on her knees, staring up at me with her mouth open. I was so ready to take my cock out and slide it down between her lips. Feel the flick of her tongue.
Then Connor. The fat fuck. He wouldn’t know how to worship a body like hers. He wouldn’t know how to make her feel good.
Why did I want to make her feel good? Why did I give a rat’s ass what she felt?
“Okay,” I replied to my father. I needed to snap out of this.
“Fine. Go. And later, you can explain to me how you let some chick get to your gun.”
I walked to the door and gave him half of a salute.
Outside his office, I breathed a sigh of relief. It was done. I’d faced him. He’d take care of all the questions my other brothers had. Hopefully.
Now, all I needed to do was find Connor, clean up all the evidence, and make sure he would never be in a position to talk about last night.
I had to admit that I felt good about this. Eliminating Connor.
This had given me the perfect excuse and the perfect opportunity to remove him from the picture. Or maybe I was just telling myself that because I didn’t want him going anywhere near Reese.
I got back in my car and drove in the direction of Connor’s abandoned car again. I didn’t know where to start looking for him, but I hoped to find some clues at the site that I may have missed before.
And by the time I was ready to return to the house and face Reese again, I hoped I’d have made my decision on what to do with her. One way or another, she had to go.
I couldn’t keep her forever.
Ten
Reese
I was surprised to feel a rush of excitement mixed with relief when I saw Killian again.
I didn’t know how long I’d been sitting in the basement, with my ankles and wrists tied up with the ropes. The lack of natural light in there really messed with my brain.
I was relieved when he started to untie me, and excited because he was this close to me, brushing his fingers against my skin.
In all that time alone, I’d tried my best to not think about him, but there was no denying the fact that he was hot. My mind went there again as he stood over me now.
Strong muscular arms and legs, a narrow waist, wide shoulders. It wasn’t just his body, but it was that intense dangerous look in his brown eyes. His messy dark hair. The stubble growing on his chin.
I knew how strong he was because of the way he held me. Pinned me down. I knew how big his cock was because it tented his pants the moment I kneeled in front of him.
Killian and I together would be fire, but it wasn’t right that I thought this way. He was my captor. He was keeping me imprisoned here. What kind of messed up mind did I live with that allowed my body to react to him like that?
Great. Even more reasons to hate myself.
“Eat this,” he said, glaring at me from under his sharp brows.
There was a paper plate with some slices of bread and scrambled eggs. Another juice box.
I wasn’t going to demean myself by scoffing it down in front of him. In fact, I’d already decided I wouldn’t eat anything. Maybe going on a hunger strike might have changed his mind about keeping me imprisoned. I hoped.
“I’m not eating anything you give me,” I hissed back.
Killian searched my eyes, and for a moment I thought he was going to grab me and force the food down my throat.
Again, I felt that shiver of excitement run down my spine at the thought of him grabbing me. His body against mine. My breasts pressed up against his chest. My pussy was wet already.
“Fine. You don’t have to. Then I don’t need to bring any food down for you,” he replied, picking up the food.
I felt my stomach drop. I was hungry already and didn’t know how long I’d last without anything to eat. But now that I’d declared it, I’d have to stick by it.
So I stuck my chin up and shrugged.
“Great. I hope I’ll have to see you less too,” I said.
A soft smile curled on the edges of his lips. But instead of giving me an actual smile, he snarled at me instead.
“That’s cute,” he replied, before walking out of the room.
The lock on the door outside made me shudder. I needed to find a way to get out of here. Fast.
* * *
What was I thinking? How did I convince myself that he’d actually give a crap whether I ate or not. In fact, he was probably pleased I was refusing to eat. If I died from hunger and starvation, I’d just make the job easier for him, right? He wouldn’t have to do the dirty work.
I didn’t know how long I hadn’t eaten, but it felt like days.
I knew it hadn’t been that long, but it sure felt like it.
I was so desperate and hungry that I wanted to throw up. I wanted to scream.
It took every last cell of energy in my being to not scream his name, to not beg him for food.
I cried out with joy when I heard the door open again.
Killian stormed down the steps, peering at me. I jumped up and came towards him. He must have seen the look on my face. I’d never been this excited to see him before.
I lifted my hands up to my head, pressing my forehead. A dull ache throbbed at the back of my head. I still didn’t want to admit how hungry I was. I still didn’t want to give in.
“Are you here to check on me?” I asked.
Killian had a disturbing habit of saying nothing. His long deep silences made me uncomfortable, forced me to speak and fill in the gaps.
I went towards him but he stood there with his arms crossed over his chest. I noticed the way his biceps tightened under the fabric of his shirt. What would those arms feel like if wrapped around me?
“Something like that,” he replied.
I waited for him to say more, but he wasn’t going to. It looked like he was waiting too. For me to finally admit it.
A war of the minds ensued between us. A war that he knew he would win. My hunger strike didn’t
last long and it made me feel weak. I thought I was stronger than that.
I glanced down at my feet, refusing to meet his eyes as I said the words.
“It looks like you have something to ask me,” he finally said.
“I…I guess I want to apologize for what I said before. I shouldn’t have…I guess I should be more grateful for what you’ve done for me. What you’re doing…”
When I looked up and met his eyes again, I saw his face had softened a little.
Was he buying it? Did he actually believe I was grateful for him?
“Yeah, you should be grateful, but we both know you’re not.” Again, he spoke in that chillingly calm voice.
My nostrils flared in protest but there wasn’t a thing I could say. I didn’t know how he did it, but he always managed to see right through me.
“I’d be more grateful if you just told me what you want from me,” I snapped.
“Right now, I want you to admit you’re hungry and that you want me to feed you.”
I forced the lump down my throat. My lips were dry. That gnawing feeling heightened in the pit of my stomach. I was dehydrated to the point of passing out.
“I’m hungry.” I spoke meekly and he smiled.
He reached in his pocket and pulled out a fat candy bar.
“You deserve a treat for that,” he said, tossing it in my direction.
I was already salivating by the time I caught it.
“And additionally, I’ll let you enjoy that in peace.” With that, he left the room again and I tore into that candy.
* * *
He returned shortly after, and I wasn’t expecting him back this quickly.
This time however, I wasn’t feeling as weak and desperate as before.
As much as I’d hated asking him for food—that candy made me feel better. I actually felt like I was human again. Like I could function again.
He came down the steps, filling the basement with his looming tall presence.
I stood up to face him, with my hands clenched.
“Did you enjoy your treat?” he asked.
“Yes, thank you. I did.”
“If you want them to keep coming, all you have to do is behave yourself and be a good girl,” he added.
I drew closer to him and he stood stock still, blocking my path with his big muscular body.
The closer I went to him, the tighter the knots got in my stomach. The closer I wanted to be to him. I could smell him now. His deeply masculine scent.
I had to remind myself to focus again.
“I’ll try and be good, but I’m not going to make any promises,” I replied. This time I even threw in a smile. Killian’s eyes narrowed at me. He was reading me again, trying to figure me out.
I knew I didn’t have much time. This was my window of opportunity. At the top of the stairs, he’d left the door open.
I ran past him, bounding up the steps. I knew he was behind me, I could feel him right there at my heels.
“Help!” I screamed, running into the hallway. I didn’t know where I was going. I didn’t even know where the front door was. I screamed for help again but nothing happened. I kept running.
Until I felt his arm curl around my waist. He pulled me back and I fell with a thud backwards on his chest. He wrapped his other arm across my breasts, pinning me to him.
I was breathing hard and his mouth was right there at my ear, blowing wisps of my hair around.
“No more sugar for you,” he growled, dragging me back to the basement.
* * *
I thought he was going to throw me down on the ground when he carried me to the basement.
Killian had thrown me over his shoulder, wrapping his strong muscular arms tightly around me, then carried me down the steps. I flailed and kicked as much as I could, but it didn’t work. Nothing worked. He was way too strong for me.
But instead of throwing me down, he gently placed me on the floor.
Wasn’t he just full of surprises?
I felt parched. My lips were dry. I was worried about what he would do to me now. There was no denying it—I had tried to run away.
What was my punishment going to be?
Killian backed away from me. His shoulders heaved from the chase.
“What did I just say?” he growled.
It was on the tip of my tongue; an apology.
Maybe if I apologized, he’d forgive me. Forgive my misbehavior.
“Did you hear what I just fuckin’ said?” It was the first time he raised his voice. It startled me. I suddenly became deeply aware of the danger I was in. Reminding me again that I didn’t know him. I didn’t fully know what Killian was capable of.
“Yes, I heard you and I’m sorry for disobeying you,” I murmured.
I licked my dry lips and his eyes followed the movement. They settled on my mouth, then traveled down my neck.
I could feel my nipples going stiff. When he looked at me like this, it set my body on fire. I didn’t want to feel this way. I didn’t want to be attracted to him. But he was just so freakin’ hot.
There was a small voice at the back of my head that kept reminding me how much I liked it when he carried me. How hard and strong his body was.
I looked away. I had to. I felt like I’d spontaneously combust if I stared into those eyes for a moment longer.
Killian stepped closer to me and I inched towards the wall.
“I don’t think you fully understand where you are. What your position is,” he said. My heart thudded in my chest as he crouched down on one knee in front of me.
Our faces aligned. I could see the sharp angles of his face clearly. The width of his neck.
“I know I have no escape. I know what’s happening to me,” I replied.
He searched my eyes like he was trying to figure out if I was telling the truth.
I guessed he wanted to know if he’d successfully broken me yet.
“I hope, for your sake, Reese, that was the last stupid thing you do,” he continued.
My hands were shaking, but not because I was afraid of this man before me. It was because of the force of my physical attraction to him. I was turned on by everything. By his voice. His eyes. The size of his massive hands. I was experiencing outrageous inner turmoil. My body wanted him, while my mind knew he didn’t give a fuck about me.
“I don’t want to make you angry,” I said.
Killian drew in a deep breath.
Eleven
Killian
I knew I should have just walked away.
How many more chances was I going to give this girl to fuck me over?
She’d pretty much tried everything she could to get away. I knew none of her attempts were going to work, but it was adorable seeing her try.
However, I needed to lay down the law. The less the interaction between us, the fewer chances she’d have to try her plans on me.
But I couldn’t walk away. I just couldn’t make myself do it.
Reese Deville was sexy as fuck, and I was sure she knew it. I could see her stiff nipples through the thin material of the white t-shirt she had on.
I’d already pictured every curve of her body through the tight jeans she was wearing. She looked at me with her luscious lips, her big eyes all twinkly and pitiable.
I knew she was playing me.
What was she trying to do? Gain my sympathy?
Just because I’d helped her get away from Connor once, didn’t mean I was going to release her from my custody just like that.
“I don’t want to be angry with you, but you’ve pissed me off with all the shit you’ve pulled since you got here,” I replied.
She licked her lips and stared down at her hands. Her fingers were weaved together in her lap. She sat with her back pressed to the wall.
I kept picturing pinning her to the wall and just taking her.
“I’m sorry, Killian. I’m really sorry. It’s just instinct, I guess,” she said.
I had to hand it to her�
�this girl had all the right answers. How was I supposed to disagree with that?
“Well, you better fight that instinct before you do something completely stupid.”
She nodded once.
I straightened up, still fighting that urge to stay there with her. I should have left a long time ago. I shouldn’t have even made conversation or given her the opportunity to jerk me around.
“Have you decided what you’re going to do with me?” she asked.
“No.”
“What’s going to happen to me?”
“I said I don’t know,” I snapped.
She looked away again and I almost thought I saw tears in her eyes. If they were there she blinked them away. She didn’t want me to see her cry.
“Just let me go up with you. Let me out of this cold basement, Killian. It’s wet and dark. I promise I’ll be good up there with you.”
Before I knew it, Reese jumped off the floor and was headed straight in my direction.
I didn’t know what her plan was, but it seemed like she was going to try and make her way upstairs again.
I cursed under my breath as I grabbed her.
“For fuck’s sake, Reese! You’re making me regret letting you live this long,” I barked at her.
* * *
“Then do it now. Just kill me. What are you waiting for?” she groaned in my arms.
I tightened my grip around her and it was only then that I realized she wasn’t actually fighting me. This time, she wasn’t trying to get away from me.
“Yeah, maybe I should,” I said, lowering my voice.
She looked up at me, her lips grazed my chin and made my muscles stiff. I was fighting myself now, fighting the urge to rip her clothes off.
“Yeah, you should. It’s not like I have much hope of a life anyway,” she replied, almost in a whisper.
I didn’t think she’d have an effect on me. I was never affected by sappiness like this, but Reese opened me up to a lot of firsts.
