He pulls away, leaning his forehead against mine as his thumb strokes over my cheekbone. “So, I did hurt you?”
“Kinda.”
“You know, asshole, I was scared I damaged you . . . back there . . . because I honestly had no idea what I was doing. I even searched the internet to see if I was supposed to fuck you differently.”
A startled laugh bursts out of me, which I regret immediately as pain lances through my chest. I punch Killian in the arm, scowling at him through watering eyes.
“What was that for?”
“Motherfucker, it hurts to breathe. What do you think it feels like when your dumbass makes me laugh?”
His expression softens, his eyes filled with a tenderness that makes my heart clench. “Can't win with you, can I? So, where are you heading?”
“To get some food. Took some Motrin so I need to get something in my stomach.”
He nods, then jerks his head toward the pizzeria, a small smile playing across his full lips. “Let’s go. I’m buying.”
I raise an eyebrow, a teasing lilt to my voice. “You taking me on a date or some shit?”
Killian smiles wide, his eyes crinkling at the corners, color finally coming back to his cheeks. “What if I am?”
We fall into step beside each other, Killian shooting me concerned glances every few seconds. It should annoy me, should make me feel weak and pathetic.
But it doesn't. Instead, it makes something warm and sweet unfurl in my chest.
“Meant to ask,” I say, breaking the comfortable silence, “The first time we fucked around, when I held you down, why’d you freak out?”
“Who said I freaked out?” he asks, his voice carefully neutral.
I roll my eyes. “You went so still it’s like someone gave you a paralytic agent.”
Killian is quiet for a long moment, his jaw working like he's chewing on his words. “You had your knee on my back. I didn’t want you breaking me that way. It wouldn’t just take away my career, but also my ability to help my family.” He takes a deep breath, his eyes fixed on the ground. “My mom . . . she has muscular dystrophy. And my younger sisters, they're planning on going to college. I feel like it falls on me to take care of them.”
While I know I’m an asshole, now I actually feel like one. What’s worse is all the regret washing over me for every time I nearly maimed him, even if he’s done it to me as well. “Not sure what to say.”
He stops walking, turning to face me with an intensity that makes my skin prickle. “Just don’t ever use it against me. Call me what you want, demolish my face, but leave my mom out of it.”
“You have my word.” And I mean it with every fiber of my being. No way will I stand for someone else running their mouth either. Guess this is what he felt like when he saw me get hit—that deep down need to obliterate anyone who might hurt the person I care about. “And . . . the only way I want to destroy that face of yours is with my dick.”
Killian barks out a laugh, the tension draining from his shoulders. “All right, shithead. How many slices of pizza can you finish in one sitting?”
I grin, my competitive streak flaring to life. “More than you, fuckface.”
“Is that a challenge?”
“Always.”
We're laughing as we step into the pizzeria, a permanent shift occurring in our relationship.
Whatever that may be.
Chapter 10
Killian
While I was joking about going to dinner being a date, it actually turned into one. Jackson and I sat there talking, like normal people. Well, almost normal, since we constantly threw out challenges to each other, from who could eat more to who could finish their soda the fastest to who could shove the most food into their mouth at once, even throwing in the occasional insult and tons of curses.
But that’s just us.
