Caroline #2
“Hey,” he says.
“Hi.”
“Do you still like chocolate cake?”
“Yeah,” I reply. “Why? Do you want to make me cry again by telling me how much you hate it?”
On my seventh birthday, he refused to eat the cake when I took it to him because he doesn’t like chocolate cake. That was the first time I cried over a boy.
Killian looks at me flatly. “I don’t hate chocolate cake. I hate all cakes.”
“That’s because you’re not human,” I say. I close my book and sit up, crossing my legs under me. Shadows are lengthening across my room as the sun shifts in the sky. The only light on is the lamp I turned on earlier.
“Damn, if I’d known sooner I’d have spent less time worrying about breaking the law and more time doing whatever I wanted.”
“The law always ruins everything,” I say.
Killian smiles imperceptibly. “Don’t let the bar association hear that or they will revoke your license.”
I shrug. “I’m learning to live life on the edge. Bold and fearless.”
“Do you want to come back from the edge for some chocolate cake?”
I pause. “You bought chocolate cake? For me?”
“Come and see.”
Killian pushes off the doorframe and walks to the kitchen. I unfold my legs and get out of bed, following after him. On the kitchen counter, there’s a black bakery box. The bakery’s name is written across the top in delicate, gold lettering – Misery.
“Misery?” I ask, looking up at Killian with a pout. “Did you open a bakery, and not tell me?”
“Funny,” Killian says, acerbically. “I’m not miserable.”
“I doubt that. You’ve never even had cake.”
Killian narrows his eyes as I remove the tape from the bakery box and open it to find a chocolate cake with a butterfly drawn on it in yellow.
“I still can’t believe you bought this for me,” I say.
“It’s just chocolate cake, butterfly,” Killian says, brushing the backs of his fingers across my cheek.
“I know that, but no one has ever done this for me. Bought something just because they thought I’d like it,” I say, leaning into his touch.
“Miserable fucking people,” Killian says.
I snort. Grabbing a knife, I slice the cake and take a bite. Oh my gosh. This is the most decadent cake I’ve ever tasted. It tastes like chocolate heaven.
“So good,” I say, taking another bite. “This tastes like what I hope good sex will feel like.”
Killian watches me demolish the slice with amusement. “That good, huh?”
“Orgasmic,” I say.
“Good to know what I’m competing against.” His eyes heat, dropping to my mouth as I lick a bit of chocolate off my lips.
“You haven’t even tasted the cake yet,” I say.
Gripping my chin between his thumb and forefinger, he tilts his head, pressing his lips against mine. Sparks shoot down my spine. I gasp, my mouth parting. Killian’s tongue pushes past my parted lips, tasting me once before he pulls back. The kiss probably lasted two seconds.
“Best fucking thing I’ve ever tasted,” he growls.
I swallow, my breath stuttering. My eyes are locked on his mouth. “See? I told you it was good.”
“I wasn’t talking about the cake, butterfly.”
Just as I lean forward for another kiss, a proper one this time, there’s a knock on the door. With a groan, Killian presses a hard kiss on my mouth before going to open the door. Wes stands on the other side, his hair ruffled, eyes wide behind his glasses.
“Do you have duct tape?”
“Uh, yeah, hold on,” Killian says. I’m sure he intends to close the door on Wes and leave him standing outside, but Wes is quicker and he enters the apartment before Killian can close the door.
Killian glares at his back as Wes walks further into the apartment.
“Why do you need duct tape?” Killian asks.
“There’s a…situation in my apartment,” Wes says. “Nothing to worry about, and nothing a little duct tape won’t solve.”
“Do you want cake?” I offer.
“He’s here for duct tape,” Killian says grumpily.
“Does that mean he can’t eat cake?”
“I love cake,” Wes says. “Chocolate is my favorite.”
I smile smugly at Killian who exhales sharply before leaving Wes and me in the kitchen. As he climbs upstairs to search for duct tape, I grab another plate for Wes and cut him a slice.
“Misery,” Wes says, reading the box. “You’ve got good taste. Have you met the owner?”
“Killian got the cake, actually,” I say.
“Probably for the best,” Wes says quietly as he eats the cake. He looks like a mad scientist with his hair standing all over the place.
“Are you conducting a science experiment?” I ask.
He gives me a strange smile and nods. “Kind of. Yeah, let’s call it a science experiment.”
“O…kay.”
Killian’s on his way back down and I’m saved from having more conversation with Wes. I like talking to people, but I really don’t know how to reply to Wes right now.
“Here.” Killian offers him the tape.
“Thanks! I’ll bring it back,” Wes says, accepting the tape.
“Please don’t.”
Setting the plate down, he salutes me with the tape before leaving. Killian locks the door behind him.
“What do you think he’s doing with the tape?” I ask.
Killian shakes his head. “Don’t ask questions, Caroline. It’s easier to maintain plausible deniability.”
How curious.
“Let’s watch Gilmore Girls and you can complain about how Rory and Lorelai are the actual bad guys,” I say.
“They are absolutely the bad guys,” Killian insists. “The best part of the whole thing is Rory ending up alone because she’s clearly miserable in relationships.”
I bite off my smile as I settle down on the couch, reaching for the remote to turn on the TV. Killian sits next to me, stretching his arm along the back of the couch and playing with my hair. His commentary on the characters is the best part of watching the show.