7. Cian #2
“ A ll right, the two of you. Knock it off. Your bickering is giving me a headache.” Sean groaned.
“He’s cheating again,” she pouted.
Sean sighed. “Cian.”
“I am not!” I pointed my finger at Skylar. “She’s eating the checkers, Sean!”
“I put them back.”
“Only when I caught you!”
His head fell back, laughing. “This is why I’m grateful I don’t have children. Although I bet they’d behave better than you two.”
He stood, snickering. “Why don’t you give it up for a while? We can watch a movie.”
“That’s fine.” Skylar grinned. “I won.”
“You didn’t win! You ate three of your checkers from the board! You cheated!”
“Didn’t.”
“Did.”
“Prove it.”
I looked down and started to laugh. I couldn’t prove it—we only had one kind of Life Saver, and Skylar had shoved them all together now in a pile. She was nothing but a dirty, rotten, checker-eating cheater.
A fucking adorable one.
I threw up my hands. “I give up. I can’t control you—there’s just no way.”
“I’ll share my Oreos while we watch the movie.”
I glared at her. “Fine. But you’re still a cheater.”
She waved her hand dismissively. “Whatever, sore loser.”
“I’ll get you back when we play tonight. I get to choose the game.”
“Whatever makes you feel better, Cian.”
Sean yelled from the living room. “Either get in here and watch the movie or I’m locking you both in your rooms! Now !” I heard him sigh. “I am way too old for this shit, I swear.”
“Oops. We’ve been told.”
Without thinking, I tucked her hand into mine and led her down the hall. “Let’s go, Kitten.”
She didn’t pull away.
S ean fell asleep about ten minutes into the movie. He was sitting in the chair I normally used, so I was beside Skylar on the sofa. His head fell back, low snores coming from his mouth.
“It’s not that bad,” I muttered, kicking his foot. It wasn’t that great either, but the selection at the small Walmart in town hadn’t been stellar. He opened one eye and shrugged, getting up and going down the hall, no doubt for a nap.
I looked over at Skylar, smirking when I saw she, too, was fighting sleep. More than once, her head dipped lower, slowly sinking to her chest. As soon as it made contact, she would startle and pull her head back, only to start the whole process over again.
“You’re going to give yourself whiplash,” I murmured. “Lean your head back and rest.”
She smiled sleepily, tilting her head back and relaxing into the cushion. I kept watching the boring movie until movement caught my eye, and Skylar whimpered quietly, her hand reaching out, searching for something.
I turned, laying my hand on her arm, speaking quietly. “It’s okay, Kitten. You’re safe.”
Her brow furrowed, but she became silent again and her hand dropped.
As soon as I moved my hand, the whimpering started back up, and her hand twitched.
She kept shifting and frowning, and her soft, distressed sounds were bothering me.
I leaned over and tugged on her arm, thinking I would wake her up.
She turned, shocking me when she nuzzled into my chest, her arms folding against me.
I gathered her close and shifted, bringing her with me so she was now in my lap.
She didn’t stir, except to snuggle even closer, a low sigh escaping her lips.
And then she was silent. Utterly still and silent, curled into my arms like she was meant to be there.
Her head was tucked right under my chin, and unable to resist, I buried my nose into her silky hair and breathed in deeply.
She smelled of crisp, cold air, snow, and outdoors.
There was a faint scent of shampoo—something fruity—as well.
She smelled divine.
She felt so right nestled against me. Every feeling I’d been fighting, every tender thought of having to care for her, roared to life.
She was meant to be with me.
I frowned at the thought, yet the rightness of it was so simple. From the moment I saw her, I needed to care for her. I’d tried to be ambivalent toward her, telling Sean and myself I was only taking her with me to protect her, but the fact was, I was lying. It was so much more.
I wanted to care for and protect her. Be the person she needed.
I adored her smart mouth and feisty spirit.
I loved how she cheated at cards, made up games, and called me names.
What it all meant, and what happened when we left here, I didn’t know. But right now, I had her in my arms, and she was safe and warm and seemingly content.
Carefully, I pulled the blanket off the arm of the couch and draped it over her. I pushed the cushion behind my head and leaned back, making sure to hold her tight.
She needed to sleep, and I would watch over her and protect her from whatever upset her in her dreams.
I drew her closer, holding on a little tighter.
I woke up to the scent of dinner cooking and the room dark.
Skylar was still sleeping against me. She couldn’t be closer unless she sank right into my skin.
Her face was buried deep into the crook of my neck, her breath hot against my skin, and I felt the gentle push of her lips as she exhaled.
One of her hands clutched my shirt, the other curled under her chin.
I could feel her chest rising and falling, steady and even.
I realized I had one arm wrapped around her and my free hand buried in her hair. I was nuzzling the thick tresses.
My legs were asleep, and I shifted carefully, not wanting to wake her. But she stirred, sighing, and I felt the heat of her lips pressed to my skin. A low groan rumbled through my chest, and I tightened my hand in her hair.
Her voice was a plaintive whisper. “ Cian .”
I tilted her head up, ghosting my lips over her face. I traced her eyes, nose, cheeks, and, finally, her inviting mouth. We shared soft, light kisses.
Two.
Four.
More.
Then she moaned. A quiet, yearning sound in the back of her throat.
And like the flick of a switch, it changed.
I crushed her to me, needing her as close as possible. Our tongues met, sliding sensuously—tasting and learning. Over and again, I kissed her, losing myself. Nothing existed outside this girl in my arms. Nothing else mattered.
Until Sean’s shout from the kitchen.
“Dinner’s ready!”
Skylar pulled back, startled, her eyes wide and panicked.
“Don’t,” I pleaded.
She scrambled off my lap and ran down the hall. The slam of her door echoed in the house.
I dropped my head into my hands.
What had I just done?
I slunk into the kitchen, silent. Sean glared at me. “What did you do?”
I shook my head.
“What. Did. You. Do.”
“I kissed her.”
He slammed down the plate he was holding. “She’s not one of your one-night stands, Cian.”
“I know that.”
“What is she?”
I looked at him, bewildered. That was the million-dollar question.
“She’s more.”
“What the fuck does that mean?”
“I don’t know, Sean. I just don’t know.”
“You’d better fucking figure it out. This is a dangerous game you’re playing.”
We were nose to nose, neither of us willing to give an inch. Skylar walked into the room, stopping when she saw us.
“Wow, testosterone overload in here. Break it up, boys.”
I stepped back and eyed her warily. She looked calm. Normal. Her hair was now swept up in a ponytail, and her face glowed, her skin slightly damp from being washed. She sniffed the air delicately. “Do I smell steak?”
Sean threw me one last glance and then smiled at her. “Yep.”
“Excellent. I need to get fueled up.”
“Oh?” he chuckled.
“I have to prove to this fuckwit I can take him in backgammon after dinner,” she teased as she walked past me, checking me with her hip.
“If you’re going to eat the checkers, I’m not playing with you,” I retorted, grateful she’d made the atmosphere lighter.
“Sean said he had jujubes. We can use red and black. I hate the black ones.”
I sat down with my plate and shot her a look. “So I get the red.”
She nodded.
Relieved she wasn’t acting strangely, I smiled. “Okay, you’re on.”
“ C ian, may I have a drink of water?” Skylar asked as she studied the board.
We were tied—two games each—and this was the tiebreaker. She had actually behaved and was a good opponent. I hadn’t tried to talk to her or be affectionate with her. I let her set the tone and discovered she was in a teasing mood, calling me out often and talking trash, which made me laugh.
We were alone. After dinner, Sean had shoveled more snow then went to his room. I was pretty sure he had a call set up with Julia on his untraceable cell, and he was, no doubt, complaining to her about my behavior.
I grabbed a glass and filled it, placing it beside her. She took a sip silently. I hunched back over the board, already knowing my next move—the last one—and I would be the victor. I frowned. Something had changed. I looked again, then mentally counted the checkers. My move was missing.
“Skylar,” I growled softly.
“Hmmm?”
“Why am I two checkers short?”
She blinked at me innocently. “Are you?”
“I thought these were safe to use. You don’t like them.”
She grinned, a sly, sexy smile that lit up her face. “I don’t like the black ones.” Leaning over, she nipped another checker from the board, popping it in her mouth. “Red are my favorite.”
I glared at her. “I win.”
She stood. “If you say so.”
I caught her wrist and pulled her down to my lap. “I win, Skylar. Say it.”
Her voice was husky. “You forfeited.”
I bit back my smile. “I won. I had one last move, and you ate it.”
“Can you prove it?”
I wrapped my hands around her face and pulled her down, crashing my mouth to hers.
She gasped, and I slid my tongue in, tasting the sweetness I knew I’d find.
Her hands flew to my wrists, but instead of pulling me away, she held on tight, a low moan trembling in her throat.
I pressed harder, dipping deeper, the kiss exploding in heat.
I commanded her mouth, my tongue insistent and unyielding.
I kissed her until I had to stop. I drew back, panting.
“Yes.”
“Yes, what?”
“Yes, I proved it. You taste like cherry—” I stroked her warm cheek “—and Skylar,” I added quietly. “It’s an incredible combination.”
Her eyes widened, and I dropped another soft kiss on her mouth. “Skylar,” I whispered. “Kitten…”
She pulled back, standing up and taking a step back. “I have to go to bed.” She took another step away from me. “Alone.”
I ran a hand through my hair in frustration, even though I knew she was right. I nodded at her.
She hesitated, and before I could react, her lips were on mine again, and this time, she was kissing me. Her mouth was sweet, hot, and addictive. The feel of her tongue against mine was erotic, and I groaned, attempting to pull her close. She backed away, looking sad.
Then she turned and fled.
Again.
Somehow, the soft click of her door seemed louder than the slam earlier.
My head fell to my chest.
I was so fucked.