THREE #3
I suddenly remembered the cream I hadn’t rubbed in and lifted my hand to blend the liquid as quickly as possible. The smirk that spread over his features was deadly, and I felt another flutter in my tummy. “That’s better. You really don’t want to know what that looked like.”
The comment confused me, but I just replied. “It was moisturiser, your sister gave it to me,” I explained, needing him out of my space. I totally didn’t know how to talk to him. “Was there anything else?”
“I guess I’m just wondering how long you’ll be staying with us, princess.
” That sudden nickname almost brought tears to my eyes.
It was what Adam would call me when I pissed him off.
Hilarious, really; I was about as far removed from a princess as you could get.
Before I could reply, Kieran flicked his head towards my chest. “Jessa’s stuff looks good on you.
A bit big, but better than the rags you turned up in. ”
Wow, this boy really didn’t like me. I ignored his cruel words and glanced down at his sisters’ clothes. At least he thought they looked OK. “Thank you, I guess,” I said in a small voice. I wasn’t sure if he was being totally sarcastic. How could I? Sarcasm and I had an untried relationship.
“How does it feel, wearing someone else's cast-offs?”
I flinched. He was clearly baiting me, but I’d had years of keeping my real emotions chained, and no matter how clever this rich boy thought he was, I couldn’t let him get the better of me.
Remaining silent, I kept his gaze without blinking.
A flash of something I couldn’t describe crossed his face, almost like regret. Kieran’s eyes then widened slightly, and his nostrils flared. I had been right; they were a deep, rich brown. He dragged a hand across the scruff on his jaw and then added, “Look, forget I said that.”
Clearing my throat, I felt the bed bite into the backs of my knees. Wow, was that an apology of sorts? Panic flared inside my stomach as his hands gripped the table on either side of his body.
I watched warily as he inhaled and then pursed his lips. “So, you didn’t answer my question?”
“Which one? The one about the cast-offs?” I asked with a frown.
“No. I told you to forget that. It was a dick thing to say.”
“You want to know how long I’ll be here for?”
Kieran rolled his eyes, using his hands to lever his body off the table. He walked slowly towards me. “Yes. Is this a quick visit, or are we thinking something more permanent?” he explained in a huff. He was asking a question I couldn’t answer.
God, he was close. I’d been closeted most of my life, but even I understood the concept of personal space. “I’m not sure. It’s not up to me at the minute,” I babbled. I knew I probably sounded like a moron.
“Well, if you stay with us long term, don’t think you can use this place like a meal ticket?”
“I don’t understand what that means?”
“By sponging off Cameron and Vanessa.”
“That’s not who I am at all. I haven’t asked for anything.”
Kieran quickly bridged the gap I had created, threatening to steal my air.
“Yeah, right. The way you helped yourself to my sister’s shit says otherwise.
” I blinked as he tweaked the wool of the jumper; it lifted and then fell back into place.
He was so tall that I had to crane my neck to maintain eye contact.
Kieran was as big as Adam but much more intimidating to me.
“Your mother gave them to me,” I pointed out, shifting uncomfortably in the alien clothing. The fabric suddenly felt itchy.
“And that’s your second mistake,” Kieran hissed, his voice dropping dangerously low. I had upset him. “She’s not my mother.”
A flush crept up my neck. “My second mistake?”
“Did I stutter?” Boy, he was cross.
Taking a deep breath, I cut him a look. “Dare I ask what my first mistake was?”
I watched him, feeling as nervous as a newborn kitten.
Kieran squeezed his eyes shut and exhaled a long, exasperated sigh.
I tried to steady my heartbeat as he spoke between tight lips.
“Coming here in the first place.” His eyes then shot open and locked on mine with an accusatory edge.
“And you can rein in the playing nice with my sister. Maisy gets attached quickly. You should remember that.”
Chewing the inside of my cheek, I took a moment to reply.
“OK, well, I’m sorry on both counts. But firstly, I’m here because my aunt is now officially my guardian, so I have been told, and secondly, I wasn’t playing nice.
I am nice, especially around little kids.
I was just being myself,” I pointed out in a croaky voice. It almost didn’t sound like me.
Kieran dipped his dark head, his nose so close to mine. “Well, time will tell, I suppose. If you’re here long enough.” Those dark eyes of his narrowed slightly.
“What is that supposed to mean?”
“It means being part of this family, even a temporary one, isn’t a walk in the park.” I shifted uncomfortably on my feet and darted a nervous look around him.
Kieran’s expression then softened, as if he suddenly realised how threatening his closeness was, although I wasn’t scared of him. Apprehensive, not being used to the company of good-looking boys, but I didn’t feel fear. And I knew what real fear tasted like.
Kieran surprised me by raising a hand to tug on a lock of my hair, rubbing the strands between his fingers and thumb. “Is this natural?” I lifted my chin, totally bewildered by the comment.
I gave him a slight nod and tugged the clump of hair from his hold. “Yes, of course.”
Kieran lowered his hand, and the strong, tanned column of his throat shifted as he swallowed. After another few seconds of silence, he turned his back on me and crossed to the window. It was starting to get dark, the trees on the estate swaying in the breeze.
I quickly tidied my hair and straightened the jumper, suddenly self-conscious of my appearance.
Thankfully, I just managed to drop my hands in time as the muscles in his shoulders rippled as he turned back.
When Kieran faced me again, he looked moodier than when he’d first come in.
He then backtracked. “And on what planet could Vanessa be my mother? That would suggest you and I are related, and there’s certainly no question about that.
” Kieran gestured between us with a hand of frustration before dashing it down his face.
Is this how all boys behaved in front of girls? I licked my dry lips, unsure of what to say, and his eyes dropped to my mouth for a heartbeat too long. It made me feel weird inside my tummy, queasy almost.
That was new.
“Of course not,” I agreed.
Dragging his chin up, Kieran stated loftily, “And if you do come to our school. That’s the message you will put out there.”
“What do you mean?”
“That you are not part of this family.”
Did he think that would hurt me? It so didn’t, and I snapped back in a firm voice, again a side of myself I hadn’t seen for years. “I don’t want to be part of this family. I’m here under duress.”
A mocking scoff spilt from his lips, that grunt, full of sarcasm. “Duress? What the hell? Why do you talk like a fifty-year-old librarian?”
I moved over to the dressing table and started putting the cosmetics Vanessa had given me in order of size. “Clearly, I was raised differently from you. I apologise if I’m out of touch with the cool, street lingo you use,” I said over my shoulder.
The atmosphere between us crackled, and I could feel his eyes drilling into my back. “What did you just say to me?” Kieran bit out belligerently, moving back towards me. “Stop doing that and look at me,” he ordered.
The air crackled between us. Was he always this difficult?
Doing as he said, I set the body lotion down and turned around, feeling slightly threatened for the first time since he’d appeared. As he took another step forward, I lifted my hand in a gesture for him to stop. He did as soon as my fingers touched his chest.
Stop provoking the beast!
“Look, I need to unpack.” The doormat in me came back; it was a self-preservation tactic. Twisting my head, I glanced towards the open door, praying that my aunt or his sister would appear and save me. The feel of his chest against my fingers was doing crazy things to my insides.
Drop your hand and stop touching him.
Our eyes untangled as Kieran looked down his nose at my hand; again, his face fractured with confusion.
I didn’t pull away. It was like I was on autopilot as I let my fingertips drift slowly down the column of his rock-hard torso, tracing the unforgiving lines of his abdomen.
I didn’t miss his slight intake of breath at my actions.
His scent was amazing; it made my nostrils tingle, and my body lean towards his.
What on earth are you doing? My brain screeched. As Kieran’s eyes closed briefly, I swiftly tugged my hand away from his stomach as if scalded.
There was a brief pause, and I felt my resolve start to fade. Eventually, Kieran broke the silence with a renewed questioning look, his eyes scanning my features.
“Were you shocked when you found out what your father had done?” I wasn’t ready for that question. Cameron said in the car that his kids wouldn’t talk about it, or maybe he meant with people outside of the family?
I let out a puff of air but then nodded. “I was upset, deeply so.”
“So, you think he’s guilty?”
“Yes.”
His nose scrunched up as he said. “But he’s your father. Where’s your loyalty?” Kieran questioned a little too harshly.
No longer able to take the heat from his intense expression, I dropped my gaze to the floor. “I think you should leave.” My voice quivered that time.
Kieran ducked his head to capture my gaze again as he grunted. “Who? Me, or the carpet?”
Taking a deep breath, I brushed past him, my shoulder skimming his pectoral muscles. I only managed that because he allowed me to. When I reached the safety of the centre of the room, I circled back.