Claiming her.
When we finally broke apart, both of us were breathing hard, her dress wrinkled and pushed up, my shirt untucked.
She looked wrecked.
Beautiful.
Mine.
"You're coming back with me," I said, not a question.
"Killian…"
"You're coming back." I smoothed her dress down, fixed her hair with gentle fingers that belied what we'd just done. "You can tell your aunt you changed your mind, that you realized you overreacted. Or you can tell her the truth, that you can't stay away from me no matter how hard you try."
Tears filled her eyes. "I can't go back to that cabin."
"Yes, you can." I cupped her face, made her look at me. "Because the alternative is me following you wherever you go. Making scenes. Showing up at your aunt's house in the middle of the night. Is that what you want?"
"I want you to let me go."
"Never." The word was absolute, final. "You're mine, Lena. And the sooner you accept that, the easier this will be for both of us."
I unlocked the stall door, checked to make sure the bathroom was still empty, then pulled her out to the sinks.
"Fix your makeup," I said. "You're going back out there, making an excuse to your aunt about not feeling well, and then you're leaving with me."
"And if I don't?"
I leaned in close, my voice dropping to a whisper. "Then I walk out there right now and introduce myself to Aunt Ellen. Tell her all about our relationship. How we met. How close we've become. How worried I've been since you left without telling me where you were going."
Her eyes widened. "You wouldn't."
"Try me."
We stared at each other in the mirror, and I watched the fight drain out of her.
"Five minutes," she said finally. "Give me five minutes to say goodbye."
"I'll be waiting in the truck." I pressed a kiss to her temple, gentle and possessive. "Don't make me come back in, baby. You won't like what happens."
Then I left her there, staring at her reflection, and walked out of the restaurant knowing she'd follow.
Because she always would.
She didn't have a choice.
Neither of us did.
Chapter 14
Lena
Istood in the middle of Killian's cabin, our cabin, I supposed, and felt the last of my resistance crumble like ash. The drive back had been silent, heavy with the weight of what had happened in that bathroom.
With what I'd let happen.
What I'd wanted to happen.
