He shakes his head and says, “You’ll be punching a bag.”
Killian strokes his fingers down my cheek, and my heart pounds so hard I worry that he can hear it.
“You’re so fucking beautiful, Killer, and it pisses me off.”
He moves his head closer to mine, his breath fanning over my face, and I inhale the minty scent.
“Does that mean you don’t hate me anymore?”
He rubs his thumb over my bottom lip and speaks, his voice low with a hint of danger.
“No, Killer. It means I hate you more.”
When he runs his nose up the side of my neck, I shiver from the contact. His lips are so close to my skin, causing my flesh to tingle, and then he bites me hard enough to make me yelp.
“Are you going to be a good girl, and eat the dinner my brothers made for you?”
I briefly contemplate saying no, to see if he’ll bite me again, but decide against it because I think he’s right about the fighting.
“Yes,” I answer, and he steps back and nods his approval.
“Good girl. Sit at the table and I’ll bring it to you.”
I jump down, go to the dining room table, and wait. Killian brings the food, along with a glass of water, and sets it in front of me.
“No alcohol before the gym. You need to be level headed otherwise you might get hurt.”
I pick up my fork, stab at a piece of tenderloin, and take a bite. After swallowing the food, I say, “What if that’s what I’m after?”
He takes the seat directly across from me and stares at me, studying me like he’s trying to solve some fascinating mystery.
“You want pain.”
It’s not a question, but a statement, as if he has figured out my secret.
I shake my head and admit the truth.
“No, I don’t want it. I need it.”
Once he appears satisfied with the amount of food I’ve eaten, he stands up.
“Give yourself twenty minutes for your food to settle, and meet me in the gym.”
I set my fork down on my plate and scoot my chair out.
“Are you three always going to tag team me like this?”
Instead of laughter, he flashes me a serious, annoyed expression.
“If we need to. They killed Jack, a skilled assassin. Going after them while you’re weak will get you killed. You need strength, and that means taking care of yourself.”
I match his scowl with one of my own.
“And you suddenly care?”
Killian lifts a brow and says, “No, but for some reason I cannot comprehend, my brothers do.”
He turns from me and walks away, leaving me as annoyed as he always does. It’s too bad I’ll be hitting a bag, because I wouldn’t mind punching him.
