I have his full attention now. It’s intoxicating. “No. I lost her when I was in my first year of medical school. Osteosarcoma. Went to her brain fairly quickly.”
“Sorry, love. At least she knew you were going to be a doctor. She was proud of that, yeah.”
“She was. Too bad I couldn’t save her.” I stare up at the stars for a long time. Until I hear the soft swish of Killian shifting his body in the water. I roll my head on the cushion and meet his gaze. He’s closer. His head propped up on his fist, studying me. His eyelids are half closed, but those eyes are glittering and sharp.
When he speaks, his voice is soft as a caress. “Who are ya runnin’ from?”
Chapter 20
Killian
At first, it was a bloody good idea. Getting Sam alone, soaking in the hot water close to me, relaxing her bones, feed her some champagne, some empathy… get her to open up. But it only took a few minutes of sitting in such close proximity to her soft curves, her sweet personality and bloody fuckin’ gorgeous mouth that I am quickly becoming obsessed with, before I realized I’d played myself.
Now I’m fucked. My muscles are aching from holding back the urge to touch her. My dick so hard, the bubbly water is too much stimulation. I think I’ll actually die if I don’t get a taste of that mouth. And the weird fuckin’ thing is the question I just asked her, about who she’s running from… I really want to know. Not because I’m suspicious of her anymore, but so I can help her.
She’s a witch. She has to be. My Nan warned me about women like her. Women who could weave a spell so powerful, a lad felt like he couldn’t breathe until he claimed her. How did she get under my skin so fast? Bloody witch.
I adjust my dick under the water, praying it just fuckin’ relents already.Jaysus.I watch her dark lashes lower to rest on those beautiful cheekbones as she squeezes her eyes shut. Doesshe know she has three freckles beneath her left eye? They’re being magnified by a drop of water… wait, is that a tear?Feck.
I draw in a slow, measured breath. “Vixen.” I don’t recognize my voice. It’s a harsh whisper. It’s pushed from my chest by a burst of emotion I can’t look at too closely. “Talk to me.”
Her eyes flutter open and fuck they are fierce. Mama lion eyes, a molten-gold glowing with a pain so deep, I bite the inside of my cheek to keep from pulling her into my arms. She holds my gaze as she gives a tiny shake of her head. “I can’t involve anyone else. It’s too dangerous.”
I almost laugh at that.She does know who I am, right?But then it hits me. She does know who I am. And the fact that she thinks it’s too dangerous for me? Feck. She’s in real trouble. Trouble she’s been handling alone. Admiration blooms in my chest. She’s stronger than I gave her credit for. And that just makes me want her more.
But it also makes me keenly aware of my past failure to protect a woman. Maybe she’s right not to trust me with her situation.
I glide a few inches through the water to position myself in front of her. Then rest a hand on either side of her head, floating as close as I can without touching her. The reaction she had to me touching her in the hospital told me someone had hurt her bad. It has to be her call. She has to be the one to initiate it. But when she does… all bets are off. She’s fuckin’ mine.
She’s watching me closely, her eyes roaming over my face, trying to guess what I’m doing. The inside of her silky thigh brushes the outside of mine. I suck in a breath, a groan riding the exhale. I’m between her legs.
Every muscle in my body is corded and coiled tight as I float just a little closer. My gaze drifts from her luscious mouth to her cleavage.
Her breathing has picked up, the swell of her breasts rising and falling just above the bubbles.
My fingers twitch.Don’t touch her. Not yet.
Instead, I inch closer, gripping the wall on either side of her head to keep from floating into her. I lean forward until her warm, champagne-scented breath is panting against my lips.
“Killian…” she whispers in a half-questioning, half-fearful tone.
“Aye?” I say, looking into her wide eyes. There’s a thin gold ring around her enlarged pupils.
“What are you doing?” She’s breathless, on the edge of either pushing me away or giving in.
Oh sweet, sweet girl. You know exactly what I’m doing.My nostrils flare. “I’m waiting for you to ask me to ruin you, Sam.”
Her whimper is my answer. I close the gap between us, pressing my mouth against her soft lips. Her intake of breath could be shock or desire. I don’t know. Not yet. I lick along the seam of her mouth and with her eyes half lidded, she softens and lets me in.
A moan of relief climbs up my throat as I finally taste her. My tongue slipping into that champagne flavored heat, sliding along hers. I grip the nape of her neck so I can hold her where I want her as I plunder her sexy mouth. Tiny whimpers are escaping her throat. I swallow them greedily.
Her fingers are gripping my biceps. Her tongue is matching mine, passionate stroke by passionate stroke. I movemy hand around to hold her jaw while I push deeper into her mouth, fully aware of the painful pressure building in my cock. Can you die from an exploding cock?
I pull back an inch and look at her well-kissed lips, then take the bottom one between my teeth, bite down and tug. A sexy little squeak fills the air. I chuckle and run my tongue over the swelling, then suck it into my mouth. I want to devour this woman alive. Suck and lick every inch of her.
But the look in her eyes is like a wild animal’s, and I can’t tell if it’s fear or lust, so I slow it down. Still holding her jaw, I kiss one corner of her mouth, then the other. Then I continue invading her mouth with my tongue but at a soft, slow, leisurely pace. I feel her body relax in my arms. There it is. Sweet surrender.
I’m not sure how much time goes by. Enough that I’m almost too worked up to stay in control.
