For the first time in months, maybe longer, he was actually looking forward to a social function. Granted, it helped that this particular social function didn’t require business deals signed in blood, but it helped more that he’d get to see his princess.
He’d already decided against waiting for dinner to take her out. As soon as the brunch ended, he was dragging her upstairs to the penthouse suite he’d rented out and he planned to make good use of the toys he’d purchased from Braden the night before.
Then he’d take her out, a nice dinner on the water at the restaurant he’d recently invested in and helped flip from a failing family enterprise to one of the most in-demand spots in town. Before taking her back to the hotel for a few more rounds in his bed.
At some point, he’d have to tell her who he really was. What he’d done, or at least as much of it as she needed to know.
But for now, he was enjoying just being a guy falling for a girl, and he planned to enjoy that feeling for as long as possible before his family business tainted the waters.
“Killian!”
Turning at the familiar voice, he grinned at the sight of Jacob waving at him from across the banquet hall. It was no secret he had a soft spot for Cordelia’s boy, and that the affection was very mutual, much to the Domme’s annoyance.
Finding his mystery princess could wait a moment longer, especially since he hadn’t made it to any of the wedding activities, so he changed directions to detour by their table.
“Cordelia, Ivy, Jacob. You’re all looking well.”
And they were, despite the late night at the club. Fresh-faced and rosy-cheeked—especially Ivy, who blushed even harder as she shifted in her seat, making him wonder what kind of trouble she might have gotten into that morning.
“O’Rourke.” Cordelia tilted her head to the side, her emerald eyes raking over his face. “We missed you at the club last night. Work keep you away?”
His instinct was to lie. If he confessed to being at the club, she might put two and two together and realize who he’d spent his evening with.
Which put her a step ahead of him, since he still didn’t actually know who he’d spent his evening with.
But if he lied and she found out, she’d have even more reason to keep Jacob away from him, and that would never do. “I came by for a bit, but I went upstairs, had a drink. Wasn’t really in the mood for company.”
Her eyes narrowed slightly, and he couldn’t help but wonder if she did in fact know who he’d spent his evening with. “Hmm. Well, you’re here now and my boy has been whining about not seeing you for nearly two weeks, so have a seat.”
“Cordelia.” Red flooded Jacob’s cheeks. “I have not been whining.”
Whether he had been before or not, he certainly was now, and Killian had to bite the inside of his cheek to keep from laughing and embarrassing his friend any further.
“You have, and it’s adorable, baby boy. But Killian’s here now, and I’m sure he’d be happy to sit and catch up for a bit.”
“I would, and I will.” He flashed Jacob an apologetic smile. “But I told someone else I’d meet them here, so let me go track them down and I’ll be back.”
“We’ll be here,” Cordelia assured him, her fingers stroking the back of her boy’s neck in a move that could only be described as possessive. A reminder that Jacob was hers and he would only be made available to Killian because she allowed it.
With her assurance she wouldn’t whisk Jacob away before they had time to catch up, he went off in search of his mysterious princess from the night before. He should have gotten her name, a phone number, anything so he could track her down. But he’d been too lost in her, in actually feeling something for a woman for once, that he hadn’t been thinking straight.
And then he saw her. Standing with Lottie and Braden, her head thrown back as she laughed at something Lottie had said.
That laugh. He knew that laugh. It was the one that had drawn him in at the club. The one he’d been so entranced by.
Of course it was her. Of course. He should have known.
Without really even noticing he was moving, he made his way across the room toward her. Lottie spotted him first, her excited squeal splitting the air as she threw herself at him.
“Killian! Oh my god, I’m so glad you came. We were worried you wouldn’t make it.”
Wrapping his arms around her, he gave a gentle squeeze. “I’m sorry for worrying you, sweetheart. Duty called and I had to answer.”
Beside Lottie, his mystery princess had gone stock-still, her eyes wide and filled with what almost looked like panic. He tried not to take that personally. It was one thing to make plans with your skin still flushed and a man’s cum drying on your thigh.
It was another altogether to actually see that man in the bright light of day.
Well, if she was having regrets, then he’d just have to help her get over them, wouldn’t he?
