Page 54 of Unexpected Complication

Confused, I looked at her. Skylar had tears in her eyes, and her hands were literally being crushed by mine as I fought my rage. I pulled my hand away, dropping to my knees in front of her, gathering her little palms in mine and kissing them in shame. “Skylar, Kitten, I’m so sorry. Fuck—I hurt you.”

I opened her hands, cursing when I saw fresh blood on the cuts that had finally started healing. I gathered her against me and took her into my bathroom. I cleaned and bandaged her hands, apologizing repeatedly. Finally, she lifted her hand, pressing it to my cheek. “Cian, it’s fine. I’m fine.”

I stared at her, the force of my emotions making me rage again. I cupped her face in my hands, my voice rough when I spoke.

“Do you understand now, Skylar? Why I had to take you? Bring you here? I had to fucking keep you safe. If he’d gotten you…” I bent my head, touching my forehead to hers. “I can’t even think about it. I need to keep you safe. You need to stop fighting me and stay here. Tell me you know this now. Tell me you understand.”

“I do,” she whispered.

“Promise me, Skylar. Promise me you’ll stay where you’re safe. I have to finish this. But if I’m worried about you, I can’t…fuck, I can’t think.”

“I’ll stay. I won’t cause any more trouble, Cian. I promise. I won’t fight you. I won’t let you get hurt because of me. I couldn’t stand it.”

“Why have you been fighting so hard?” I whispered.

Her eyes glistened, filled with emotion. “Because of how I was feeling about you. I thought you were a criminal, and it scared me I could feel something for you.”

I threaded my fingers into her hair. “I’ve been fighting that too.”

“Because you thought I was a lying, homeless bum?”

I pressed my lips to her cheek, nuzzling the softness. “No, because you cheat at cards and backgammon, and you call me ‘fuckwit’ far too often.”

“It suits you.”

My lips moved to her ear. “You suit me.”

A shiver ran through her. “I’m trouble.”

“So am I.”

“Cian…”

My lips hovered over hers. “Skylar.”

She whimpered.

I pulled her against me and kissed her.

She was mine. I knew it. I wasn’t fighting it anymore. Neither was she.

Finally mine.

Chapter 12

Cian

Skylar was everything I knew she’d be—and more. Her mouth was sweet underneath mine, her breath warm against my skin, and her touch gentle. I yanked her tight to my chest, giving in to the desire that had been raging inside me for days. I caressed her skin, reveled in her taste, and fisted her thick hair, keeping her close. She wrapped her legs around my hips, buried her hand in my hair, tugging gently as I worked her mouth. The want and need I had for this little woman were overpowering, and all too soon, I had to pull away before things got out of hand. We stared at each other, our chests heaving. Skylar’s eyes were wide, her cheeks flushed, her lips swollen and bee-stung from mine.

She was beautiful.

“You’re not sleeping in the other room,” I informed her firmly. “You’re staying here, with me.”

She nodded.

“I need you beside me.”

“I need you too,” she whispered.