Chapter 4
four
Tessa
Best. Sex. Ever.
Like in the whole wide world. No one has ever had sex like I just did.
I didn’t even know that it was possible to come so many times. However, here I am, in the afterglow of a night I will never forget with a man whose last name I don’t even know.
Since I’m relatively unfamiliar with this, I’m not sure what the next move is. I have my car so at least I don’t need to ask for a ride, but like, do I stay? Get dressed? Thank him?
I really wish I could call Meredith. She did this our freshman year of college when I didn’t.
However, that’s not possible so I need to be a grown-up and make a decision.
Leaving it is.
I sit up as Killian lies beside me, still working to even out his breath. I climb out of the bed, moving to where my discarded clothes are, and the sheets ruffle behind me.
“Where are you going?”
I can do this. I can be all cool and flirty about it. There’s no way this man wants to cuddle or anything. This is a one-night stand, so now I need to do the stand and leave part.
“It’s getting late and I’m starving,” I say as I grab my shirt and slip it over my head. “You know, you sort of disrupted my food ordering.”
Killian chuckles. “I did, but I also promised we’d get food.”
Okay, maybe he doesn’t want to toss me out immediately. Feeding me would be the nice thing to do at least. I have no food in the room I’m renting and no idea where the closest option for a meal is since the kitchen at the bar is now closed.
“You don’t have to,” I say, not wanting him to feel forced.
Killian climbs out of the bed, naked, and dear Lord I feel a tingle between my legs at the sight of him.
His body is pure perfection. Zero percent body fat and one hundred percent hot.
He stands before me, grabs my pants and tosses them behind him. “I know I don’t have to, but I want to. Come on.”
I take his offered hand as we walk out of the bedroom.
I didn’t get a chance to really admire the house since he devoured me as soon as we got inside, but this place is magnificent.
The large, planked wood floors go perfectly with the cream-colored walls.
There’s a huge natural rock fireplace in the living room with a sectional creating a separate space for the kitchen.
Now that, is a work of art.
Natural wood cabinets with a hunter green island. The nine-burner stove that has a plaster hood above it. Every detail is meticulously planned and meant to impress, which I am.
And even as gorgeous as the house is, I can’t help but continue to sneak a peek at Killian—who is still naked.
He walks me to the monstrous refrigerator, opening it wide. “You’re welcome to anything I have.”
This is totally awkward, but my stomach rumbles as though punctuating its need for food.
This place is stocked. It has every fruit or vegetable imaginable. There is a whole section, yes, section because it’s that big, of yogurts and dairy products. To the left is an array of already cooked meats. Who lives like this?
“Do you have a chef?” I ask.
Killian shakes his head. “I like to cook. I eat as healthy as I can, so I always keep things ready to grab.”
“I see. Can I have a yogurt?” I ask.
“Yogurt?”
I nod. It seems like the easiest and quickest thing.
Killian laughs once. “Go sit on stool at the counter,” he instructs.
I have never been a girl who likes to take orders, but with him, it feels different. Like he wants to care for me, not boss me around just because.
So, I go over to the stool and jump up. “Now what?”
He smiles. “Now I’m going to make you a proper meal.”
“Fish?” I tease.
“No fish, sweetheart, but how do tacos sound?”
I purse my lips, pondering it in a playful way. “Hmm, tacos on a Tuesday? I guess that sounds…perfect.”
Still naked, Killian grabs supplies from the fridge and lines them all up. “Spicy or not?”
“Medium spice? I’m like a three-pepper girl.”
“Since I’m going to be touching jalapenos, I need clothes. I’ll be right back.” He walks over, kisses me on the nose and heads back in the bedroom as I stare at his tight ass.
He returns after putting on a pair of gym shorts and gets to work.
I sit here, munching on some chips and salsa since he didn’t want me to wait the fifteen minutes it might take to assemble some tacos, and I appreciate that.
Our conversation is surface level at best. We talk about the house, the farm, the options for food in town and that’s it. Killian makes me a plate with three soft shell tacos, and he sits next to me with his.
“So, what brought you to Ember Falls?” Killian asks as I grab the taco and take a bite.
I chew, not wanting to be rude, and then answer, keeping up with the story I told Max seems to be the smartest idea. “Work. I’m a consultant and there’s a client in the area that needs some help.”
“That’s great. How long are you here for?”
I shift in my chair. “A week or two? I’m not sure yet.”
“Well, I’m sure we’ll see each other—the town is small.”
My cheeks heat and I look over with a smile. “I hope so.”
“I do too,” he admits before taking a bite.
I do the same, hoping that maybe I can avoid saying something stupid. When we’re both done, he grabs the plates and puts them in the sink. His phone buzzes, and he makes a face that clearly says he’s not happy and looks up.
“I need to make a work call. Are you okay to stay here?”
“Sure, is everything okay?”
He sighs heavily. “No, but…it will be. I pay people to handle these things.”
I understand that since I get paid to fix things. “Okay.”
“I’ll be five minutes.”
A part of me wonders if maybe he’s calling a wife or something, but I do my best not to think about that. The last thing in the world I ever want to do is sleep with a married man. I’ve seen the realities of what infidelity can do to a person.
My mother was an absolute wreck when she learned the truth about my father and even though I didn’t love my ex, his betrayal hurt.
I…can’t be like him.
I refuse.
Even though I have no idea what Killian is doing, my mind starts to race, and I feel sick. What if he is married? I didn’t even ask.
I just went back to his house and fucked his brains out.
To be fair, if he was going to cheat, I’d think going to my place would’ve been the more logical thing, but sometimes, I’ve learned, men are not logical.
They often think with one body part.
He returns and I’m now mid panic attack. He stops as soon as he meets my eyes. “What’s wrong?”
I could lie. I mean, he wouldn’t know, but then this part of me, this ugly, dark part of my soul revolts and demands answers. “Are you married?”
He jerks back slightly. “No. I’ve never been married. Why do you think that?”
He said no and…at this point, the onus is on him, right?
“I just hate cheating, and I don’t know, I wasn’t thinking when we…hooked up. So, I thought I should probably ask, even though I should’ve done that before the hookup. Anyway, you said you had to make a work call and I didn’t know if that was code for wife.”
Killian is in front of me a moment later, taking my hands in his.
“I’ve never been married. I was engaged once, to a woman I thought I should marry, and then she cheated on me.
I don’t lie. I don’t cheat. I would never do that.
” Then he gives me his phone. “Look at the call list—call the last number or ten if you need to. There’s no one.
I’m single and it’s been a really fucking long time since I’ve been attached to anyone. ”
I stare into his green eyes, looking for the tell of a lie. The shift of his gaze, the twitch in his jaw, anything, but there’s nothing. Either this guy is the best liar or he’s telling the truth. I place his phone back in his hands, not looking.
“I believe you.”
He kisses me. “Good.”
The kiss was unexpected but cute. Honestly, this entire day hasn’t gone like I expected so why I’d think me not being awkward after casual sex would be normal, I have no idea.
I get off the chair, my hand on his chest. “I’ll wash since you cooked.”
“What? No.”
“It’s the least I can do.” I push past him and go over to the sink.
My mother always had the rule that whoever cooked never had to clean. Once I learned how to make dinner, I really loved that rule since Reece always had to wash dishes.
I turn the faucet on and grab the sponge that rests on the counter. Before I can even get soap on the sponge, Killian is behind me, wrapping his arms around my middle.
I squeak and then he turns me.
We’re face-to-face, and I get lost in his eyes again as the colors deepen and almost shift. He moves his hand to my face, his thumb grazing my cheek. “I don’t want you to do the dishes.”
“You don’t?”
He shakes his head, bringing his mouth to mine for a soft kiss. My hands move to his bare chest, resting on his hard muscles. He pulls back. “I’d rather do something else.”
“What’s that?”
He grins, lifting me up onto the edge of the counter. “You.”
Then we do it again because the night isn’t over.
Sunlight streams through the window, and I go to move, but Killian’s arm is wrapped around my middle.
I smile, remembering all the freaking amazing sex we had. Then, he tucks me in next to him and pulls me to his chest.
It seems Killian is a cuddler.
My phone vibrates on the bedside table, and I groan, knowing I need to answer. I was supposed to get an email with the details of the client and what they need, but I didn’t. I’m hoping the call is Thea or Aarabelle so I know what the hell I’m doing here in Ember Falls.
Killian moves, releasing me, and I reach for it.
Only it’s neither of them.
It’s Brynlee—the owner.
Shit.
“Hey,” I say quickly, pulling the sheet up with me to shield myself.
Not that she can see me, but it’s sort of weird talking to your boss when you’re naked.
“Hi, Tessa, sorry to call so early, but the baby had a horrible night and I couldn’t email, then I figured I’d just call. I know you’re totally capable of handling this and just wanted to make sure you have everything you need.”