Chapter 3
three
Killian
This woman.
I’ve never seen a woman equal to her.
Beautiful is too mundane of a word to use. She’s stunning, spectacular, gorgeous, bewitching, which is really what she’s done with just one smile—bewitched me.
Her long, straight brown hair rests just above the small of her back, looking like spun silk. Then there’s those eyes, damn blue eyes on a brunette are my kryptonite. Her heart-shaped lips are perfectly full, not too big, not too small. Everything about her calls to me.
I’ve never been so viscerally attracted to anyone, and I don’t even know her name.
However, this conversation, right now, has given me my first fucking break from the shitshow that my life has become in the last two days.
Her long, black lashes fan open and closed. “I’m not sure.”
“You need more time?” I ask. “With the menu?”
I’m not sure what the hell I’m thinking. This is a mistake, flirting with someone while I’m in the middle of a crisis, but…God, what I wouldn’t give to kiss those pouty lips.
“I think,” she says, leaning forward a little, “that sometimes, you have to just take a chance…when ordering.”
Yeah, except she’s the only thing I see on the menu.
“Do you take chances often?”
She shakes her head. “I don’t.”
“That’s a shame. You’re too young to be so serious.”
God knows at her age I was a fucking mess. I have no idea what that age is, but it’s nowhere close to mine. She looks fresh out of college and at that point, I’d been playing professional football, quit, started my company, and was basically floundering.
“I have fun,” she defends, looking slightly offended. “I just have dreams and goals, which require hard work.”
“I respect that,” I say quickly. “I wasn’t judging you, just saying that sometimes, taking a chance can lead you to something amazing.”
“Like our chance meeting?”
Exactly like that. “It’s definitely one I’m not regretting.”
She pushes her long brown hair back over her shoulder and then pulls her lower lip between her teeth. “Life is too short for regrets.”
Fuck my life. I’m going to say something I pray I don’t regret.
With the world’s worst timing ever, Max comes back over, stopping me from speaking. “Did you want to order anything off the menu?”
Her blue eyes find mine, and she shakes her head slowly. “I don’t think so.”
“Do you need more time?” Max asks.
I tilt my head. “Or did you figure out you wanted something else?” I ask.
The beautiful woman smiles and tucks her hair behind her ear. “I think, I might have something, at my place to eat…”
And I’ll get to fucking devour her.
Max huffs out a quick laugh. “All right, let me know if you change your mind.”
He leaves us and I reach my hand out. “What do you say we go find something, somewhere else?”
Her hand touches mine, just barely, but enough I feel it everywhere. “Where are you thinking?”
I’m thinking anywhere but here.
“I live not too far from here and I can promise you a proper meal,” I say.
She looks at me hesitantly. “I’m not sure that’s a great idea.”
Yeah, I know it’s not, but she’s probably more worried that I’m an axe murderer, which at least I can promise is not the case. “It might not be, but I promise you’re safe with me.”
Her eyes narrow. “Isn’t that what anyone would say?”
“What assurances can I give you?”
“Well, your name would be a good start.”
I extend my hand. “Killian.”
She places her palm against mine. “Tessa.”
I lift her hand up to my lips and press a kiss there. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Tessa.”
“You too.” The blush on her cheeks is fucking tantalizing. “So, your place?”
I nod. “Come on, you can follow me over that way so you have your car if you want to leave at any moment.”
She stands and I do the same before she smiles. “Show me the way.”
We get outside to where my truck is parked. “Where’s your car?” I ask.
“Right down the road a little.”
She’s going to change her mind—I can feel it. And honestly, she should. I don’t know what I’m thinking but right now, expect that my life is a series of bad decisions, so what’s one more?
When we get to a small white sedan she turns to me.
Here it is.
I brace for it, knowing it’s probably for the best, when she says, “I’ll follow you.”
I smile. “I’ll go slow.”
She lets out a soft sigh. “I’m pretty sure we’re going anything but slow.”
“True, but…we don’t have to do anything you don’t want to,” I say, leaning into her just a little.
“I appreciate that, but…I’m ready to follow you.”
Right into hell where I’m already burning for her.
“Can I kiss you, Tessa?” I ask, wanting that even if this goes pear-shaped, at least I can have a kiss to replay.
She steps into me, her hands going to my chest and she nods.
I move my arm around her, my other hand cupping her jaw and bringing her lips to mine.
It’s as though a match has been lit and I’m ready to set the entire forest up in flames. I kiss her hard, wanting to be lost and out of my mind, and like magic, she silences everything that’s been drowning me. Her mouth moves against mine in perfect harmony, and it’s fucking torture and yet—heaven.
Too soon I pull back, needing her to want to follow me back to my place where I plan to kiss every inch of her beautiful body.
Her lips are slightly swollen and shining from the kiss. Her blue eyes slowly open. “Drive fast.”
I grin. “Keep up.”
I get to my truck and her headlights stay behind me as we navigate to the ranch. I swipe the key card to the gate that’s midway down my driveway and she follows me through. We park in front of the main house that’s way too grand for me, but since it was already here, I didn’t have much choice.
It’s supposed to look like a farmhouse, but the previous owners didn’t do that great of a job making it blend. It’s huge, white with black windows and trim, and the front has the most ridiculous landscaping. Complete with horse shaped topiaries.
It’s meant to impress, and from the wide look in her eyes, it does.
“Wow,” Tessa says softly as she closes her car door. “This is your farm? What in the world do you farm here?”
I chuckle. “We’re a horse farm.”
“I love horses! I used to ride, what feels like a million years ago. When you said farm, I was picturing something completely different. It’s beautiful,” she says.
“You’re beautiful,” I retort.
That seems to bring her back to why we’re here. Her cheeks redden slightly. “Thank-you.”
“Do you want to come in?” I ask, again needing to make sure she really does want this.
“I do.”
I extend my hand, and like the sparrow trusting an eagle, she comes to me willingly.
We enter the house, and as soon as the door closes, I pull her into my arms. Tessa squeaks before her hands move to my face, pulling me to her as I do the same. Our lips crash together with another searing kiss, so much passion, so much—escape.
Her mouth moves perfectly with mine, and each swipe of her tongue feels like fucking heaven.
It’s been too long.
Too many years that I’ve gone without, working myself until I have nothing to give to anyone else. All my time is spent between this ranch and the company in Boston. I’m always doing whatever I can to climb higher and I fall further instead.
I hate it.
I just want to be out of my goddamn head for a few hours.
And that’s exactly what I plan to do.
Get lost in Tessa.
Her fingers slide through my hair, and I lift her up, her legs wrapping around me.
Thankfully, the owner suite is on the main level, and I could get there blindfolded. I walk with her in my arms, my hands on her ass, ready to have these jeans off and touch her skin. I kick the door closed with my foot and move to the bed.
Gently, I lay her down, her chestnut hair billowing out against the white comforter. She looks up at me, pulling that plump bottom lip between her teeth.
“Killian,” she says my name softly as I stare at her.
She doesn’t know who I am, how much money I have, or the fact that my life is falling apart. For one night, I’m just a man. Soon, she’ll be out of Ember Falls and I can pretend it never happened.
Come what may, I’m going to enjoy this one night.
I climb onto the mattress and kiss her again, swallowing her moan as she grips my shirt, pulling it up. I help her, removing it, and shudder as her soft fingers glide over my muscles.
The guys may give me shit about being in my forties, but I work hard to keep up with them and most of the time, I’m stronger and faster.
Right now, I’m pretty happy I do invest so much time at the gym.
Tessa’s eyes track her hands, moving up higher. “Like what you see?” I ask, hoping she does.
“Umm, yes, very much.”
I grin. “Sit up.”
She does and I lift the hem of her shirt over her head.
Tessa is wearing a pink lacy bra that I can see her nipples through.
My mouth waters and I slowly lean in. My lips press against her collarbone, then her shoulder, until I reach the strap of her bra then move to her breasts.
Methodically I kiss everywhere, moving back and forth and then I lick her nipple through the lace.
“Oh, God,” she gasps, her hand going to my hair. “Please.”
I grin, and do it on the other side, letting the lace become wet from my mouth. I want more though. I want to draw that pink peak in my mouth, suck it and drive her wild. I bite on the edge of the lace, pulling it down and exposing the bud.
Then I do exactly what I wanted. I pull her nipple deep in my mouth, flicking it with my tongue before licking it softly. Over and over, I repeat the motions, savoring the soft noises of pleasure she makes.
I lift up, wanting to lick somewhere else even more. “Are you wet for me?” I ask.
Her face reddens slightly but she nods.
“How wet?”
Tessa leans up on her elbows looking like a goddess. “Why don’t you find out,” she challenges.
“Oh, sweetheart, don’t you know better than to challenge a man who likes control?”
I want her to know that I’m not some little schoolboy and I like to be the one who leads the show.
“Am I to be submissive then?”