Awe and joy and that same emotion,that confidentlove, shown from hiseyes. “I love you. And I believe in you. I believe in us.”
Remembering his initial restaurantpitch, I asked, “You believe in us like as business partners?”
He slid closer to me, pressing hislegs against mine, settling his hands on my hips. “Yeah, sure, businesspartners. I believe in us as business partners.” He dropped a kiss on my nose.“And other partners too.” Another kiss to the corner of my lips. Just beneathmy ear, in that spot that drove me crazy. “Actually, any kind of partners. Ithink we make a good team.”
I laughed, because honestly, thisman. “You think we make a goodteam?”
His mouth found mine, kissing awaythe laughter. “Yes, we make a goodteam.”He kissed me again, his lips moving and tasting and worshiping, making my toestingle and my belly heat with anticipation. “Just think about the restaurantidea. If you decide it’s crazy, tell me. But if you decide maybe it’s not socrazy… you know, tell me that too.”
Yes, sat on the tip of my tongue.But I had thrown myself into a relationship with another chef that made oh, sosweet promises before. It hadn’t ended well. And while I knew that Killian wasnothing like Derrek, I still hesitated. “You’re out of control, Killian Quinn.I hope you know that.”
He nudged my knee to the side so hecould fully step between mine. I wrapped my legs around his waist and held ontohis t-shirt with two fists. He didn’t bother with a verbal answer. He juststarted kissing me again. And that was all it took.
All it took for me to relax intothis very new relationship of ours. All it took for me to stop questioning anddoubting and fearing every little thing.
All it took for me to give upwhatever control I had left and give into his kiss and his touch and his crazyideas that could never, possibly work.
Open a restaurant together? That wasinsane.
Insane.
And also brilliant.
My mind spun and spun and spun withpros and cons and the different scenarios and possibilities. But there werejust too many unknowns. I couldn’t possibly predict what would happen if I gaveup on the two tangible futures I had- Foodie or Bianca- and wentwild cardwith my future.
I pulled back from Killian when mythoughts would no longer stay silent. “You would really give upLilouto risk everything with me?”
He cupped my face with his strong,calloused hands and held my gaze. “Didn’t I just tell you I loved you? I wouldgive up a hell of a lot more to risk everything for you, Vera.” He shrugged oneshoulder in an easy up and down bounce. “Lilouisreplaceable. I know I can work in any kitchen in any restaurant and cookanybody else’s food. What I want to do is work with you in our kitchen in ourrestaurant making our food. I want to be challenged and pushed and heldaccountable for this talent of mine. I can think of no other person that doesall three of those things as effortlessly as you. Challenge me. Push me. Makeme a better chef and a better person. And I promise to do the same for you. Ipromise not to stop challenging or pushing you until we find out just how crazygenius you are.”
I blinked at him, terrified andoverjoyed and panicked all at the same time. “I can’t believe I’m thinkingabout this.”
He kissed the corner of my mouth,teasing me with his mouth and hot, roaming hands. “I can’t believe you haven’tsaid yes yet,” he countered on a rumbled murmur. “I’m not going to rush you,Vera. I want you to take your time and think it over. And then, go with yourgut.”
I laughed gently, brushing my lipsalong the scruff of his jawline, his beard softly scratching against my skin.“You think my gut will lead me to you.”
He nodded, not even trying to hidehis smugness. “I know it will lead you to me. Just like mine would lead me toyou.” Without giving me time to respond, he kissed me.
And kept kissing me.
He kissed me so thoroughly Ieventually wrapped my entire body around him and let him carry me to hisbedroom.
Leaving the lights off, he tossed meon cool sheets and a rumpled comforter, then followed me down. Our bodies fittogether in tangled seduction as he kissed me and kissed me and kissed me. Ourhands moved over each other—greedy, seeking, discovering. And then our mouthsjoined in the chase, tasting each other’s skin and bodies and secret places aswe gasped for breath, numb and tingly with satisfaction.
Our clothes disappeared, one pieceat a time until we were nothing but naked, hot skin and blinding desire. Needpooled in my core, want pulsing through every inch of my body.
Killian hovered over me, sittingback on his knees to take a moment to admire my body. Even in the darkness, itwasn’t easy to stay still. Insecurities twisted the beauty of our moment,whispering poisonous lies about my body, about what he would think of me. I wantedto be confident and clear-minded, but his gaze was too hot, too searing.
When I covered my breasts with aself-conscious arm, hetskedand reached for my hand.He laid it against my side so he could look at me once again. “Lovely,” hewhispered with a husky, lust-filled voice. “So fucking lovely.”
My heart kicked in my chest. Iwanted to say the words back to him, but I doubted he wanted to hear that Ithought he was lovely too—gorgeous. He wasperfect.All toned muscles and tanned skin. His tattoos blurred in the dark room, but Ihad them memorized by now. He made my mouth dry, and my insecurities melt away.
This man was mine.
Lifting my hands, I circled themaround his neck and pulled him back to me. Our mouths found each otherinstinctively, and our hands moved over each other’s bodies, learning the way,discovering all the wonderful, intimate things that drove the other crazy.
When at last, his knees spread mythighs open, I was gasping desperate pleas for more against his mouth. Hereached for a condom from the nightstand and fumbled for longer than I wouldhave liked.
“Killian!” I growled.
