Chapter 20 #2
Killian groans quietly, and I give him a cheeky smile. Two can play at this game. If he’s going to flirt then I’m going to flirt back. I put my hand on his arm, squeezing once.
“Thank you for bringing me here.”
His eyes soften as he nods once. The lights dim and flash as the teams come onto the ice, first the New York Renegades and then the Boston Titans.
“Do you see that player?” Killian points at a dark haired man standing by the goalie post. The back of his jersey says Maddox. “He’s actually one of my clients. I’ve been doing his tattoos since I was an apprentice. He’s given me tickets before but I’ve never used them, obviously.”
“Did you tell him you were coming?” I ask. At the same time, the man turns, and wow. “I didn’t know hockey players are so attractive.”
My eyes follow him as he skates to his teammates.
“I guess we have more hockey games in our future,” Killian says dryly.
I glance at him, guilt creeping up and coloring my cheeks. “Sorry.”
He frowns lightly. “What’s there to apologize about?”
I look away because I’m too embarrassed to admit I know exactly how his brother would have reacted if he’d heard me call another man attractive. I hate the fact that I was so weak. I put up with him for so long, all so I could get a smidgen of love from my parents.
Killian shifts slightly in my peripheral vision and I feel his breath on my ear. “Just because you think someone is attractive doesn’t mean you belong to me any less.”
I whip my head around to look at him. I can’t believe he just said that, but can believe how much I liked it. Maybe a part of me has always belonged to him, and it’s taken me this long to confidently admit it.
Killian’s eyes move back and forth between mine. “Isn’t that right, Caroline?”
I nod weakly.
“Use your words, butterfly.”
“Yes,” I whisper, swallowing thickly. And just because I think another man is attractive doesn’t change the fact that Killian is the hottest man I’ve ever met.
“Good girl.” Killian’s lips turn up into the first real smile I’ve seen from him. Heat flares through my body at his words and I tilt towards him slightly. I’m fully aware we’re in public because people are moving around us and they’re loud.
But the spell is broken when a group of men settles onto the seats next to me. The guy directly next to me somehow ends up elbowing me in the arm and I wince.
Anger flashes in Killian’s eyes as he glares at him. “Watch what the fuck you’re doing!”
“Sorry, man,” the guy mumbles.
“Not to me,” Killian says through gritted teeth.
The guy’s eyes meet mine briefly. “Sorry.”
Killian opens his mouth and I settle my hand on his face, making him look at me. “I’m fine. It was probably just an accident.”
“This is exactly why I don’t like to leave the apartment,” Killian says. “People make everything worse. Switch seats with me.”
I agree only because I want him to try to enjoy himself. Killian settles into the seat and leans towards me.
“If you have a bruise, we can find him after the game and you can use him for stabbing practice.”
I giggle, pushing at his shoulder. “Stop it, Killer. We’re not going to do that. We’re going to be good, law-abiding citizens.”
“We’ve both been arrested before so we’re definitely not law-abiding.”
The crowd gets louder as the game begins. Killian and I have no idea what’s going on so we’re going off context and basic knowledge of how sports work. By half time, the Renegades lead 2-1.
“How come you never played a sport at school?” I ask Killian.
“You think I’m a teamplayer? I don’t know whether to be flattered or offended.”
I laugh lightly. “You never had any interest?”
“I’ve never been a people-person, butterfly. You know that,” Killian says. “I’ve never responded well to rigid structures. It’s why I never got along with my family.”
That last part I believe.
“You had friends in high school,” I say. “You have Eve, Lilith, and Wes now. You do like some people.”
Killian pushes a hand through his hair, uncapping a water bottle and handing it to me. I take a small sip and hand it back to him.
“I have people in my life, that doesn’t mean I naturally like people,” Killian says. “They’re good people and I appreciate their friendship.”
I twist my mouth to the side, wanting to ask a question and at the same time being afraid of the answer. Did he like me? As a person he actually wanted to spend time with? He came here for me so did that mean yes?
What about the kiss?
“You’re a very loud overthinker,” Killian says, amused. “What do you want to know?”
I glance at him, chewing lightly on my bottom lip. “What about me? Am I just good people?”
Killian raises an eyebrow. “Butterfly, would we be sitting at a hockey game right now if you were just good people? Do you think I ask to paint everyone I meet?” He leans in a little closer. “Do you think I tell everyone that they belong to me?”
The biggest smile steals across my face as I shake my head. I want to contain it, but I can’t. Because his answer is everything and it fills all the hollow places inside me.