Chapter 27
Tori Townsend
“You’re vibrating,” Killian murmurs as I stand up from the water of the bathtub. Water slooshes off me and makes trickling sounds as it meets the surface of the bathwater. The bath was his idea in hopes that it would calm the nerves and anxiety that had taken over my body since the moment that lily was found. It worked for a while, while the water was scolding hot and I was under his watchful eye. Now, he’s leaning against the vanity, arms crossed as he scans my body with a hungry gaze that he tries so damn hard to hide.
“I’m cold,” I murmur back, knowing full well that that’s a lie. It even tastes bitter on my tongue.
Reaching beside him, he grabs the folded towel, snaps it free, and heads to me. Gently, he starts drying me, and after a moment of silence, of letting that lie linger between us, he says, “It’s more than that. ”
I look in the mirror across from me as he bends down and dries my legs. My eyes look wild and yet so empty. Fear will do that, I guess. Kent stole that from me, my sense of comfort. The only time I feel comfort and protection is when I’m in Killian’s arms. I practically crave it these days, need it like air. Why does that make me feel guilty?
He must notice me watching myself because he turns me from my reflection and backs me to the vanity. Resting the damp towel over his shoulder, he lifts me enough to sit me on the edge. “He won’t touch you,” he whispers.
“You can’t be there all the time, Killian,” I say just as quietly.
Taking my chin, he makes me meet his eyes. I search their depths and find nothing but sincerity as he responds, “I have nowhere else to be.”
Butterflies flutter in my stomach, and my heart skips a little beat. “I can’t ask that of you.”
“I won’t force it, but someone will be with you at all times. I won’t accept anything less.”
Biting my bottom lip, I give a small nod. He talked to me about this on the way to the bathroom and made me promise to keep my word. I don’t plan to break that promise, and though he can’t hover by me at work, I had already texted Tegan to meet me at the store in the morning so that I could make good on my promise.
“Good,” he says before he takes my mouth in a tender kiss. I never knew such a big man could be so gentle, but he proves me wrong every time his lips lock with mine. It makes my blood sing, and I gave up a long time ago trying to make that feeling disappear. I’m no longer scared of what Killian offers, even if it is only temporary. I hope that it’s not temporary, but I won’t get my hopes up on believing that he’ll stay. For me .
He grabs the base of my hair and tips my head to the side, exposing my neck. The stubble of his five-o'clock shadow tickles my skin as he peppers kisses from the point of my jaw down to my collarbone.
“What are you doing?” I ask as he goes even lower to the swell of my breast.
“Relaxing you,” he rumbles against my skin. I shiver as goosebumps rise from the vibration of his voice and the heat from his mouth.
I tip my head back when his lips surround my nipple and his tongue flicks against the tight bud. A small sigh escapes me, and I tangle my hands in his hair to keep him there. His tongue swirls and teases, and every now and then, he nips. Soon, my quicker breath becomes moans and I start pushing him further down my body.
He chuckles as he bends, knowing exactly what I want, what I need. Resting himself on his knees, he looks up at me and spreads my thighs. His nostrils flare a little as he inhales. “You smell so damn good.” And then his eyes move to my pussy, and the heat that flashes in them makes the same heat pool in my lower abdomen.
I tremble, and this time it's for an entirely different reason than fear. Here, with him, with the way he’s looking at me, all that fear melts away. The moment is all that matters.
He leans forward and brushes his tongue against my clit, and the sight of him between my legs is almost too much to bear. My legs start to push against his hands, my thighs always desperate to keep him there by locking his head in place. His grip remains firm, however, and his fingers dig into the thick flesh as a small but totally hot punishment.
My hand finds his hair again, and I give a tug on the roots when he sucks my clit into his mouth. He hums against me, and I sharply inhale a deep breath at the sudden sensation. With my clit in his mouth, he slowly swirls his tongue around the tip. I quiver around him, and it shakes the vanity. “Oh my god,” I breathe out. A moan quickly follows. “P-p-please don’t stop.”
The heat in my lower abdomen intensifies as he starts pulsing his sucking motions at the same time his tongue swirls. He opens my legs even wider, burying himself fully between my legs as he feasts. I can’t help but watch and solely give in to everything his gifting me.
My other hand skates up my curvier stomach until it finds the breast that never got attention. I squeeze before I start pinching the nipple. My mouth opens at this added pleasure, and I can’t help but breathe through my mouth because my inhales and exhales have become so ragged.
Using his shoulder to keep my thigh where he wants it, he moves his hand to my entrance and slowly inserts a finger. I gasp at the intrusion, my eyes flying wide, and then he crooks his finger and begins massaging my g-spot. My groan is so loud that, if someone were in the living room, they’d definitely know what we are doing by now.
Then he adds another finger, pumps, and stretches.
And then he adds one more.
The heat coils and tightens until it bursts, and I cum with a moan so deep that it scratches at my throat. My thighs shake around his head, and his fingers are slick with my cum, but he doesn’t let up. He continues to ride it out with me. Pulsing his tongue against my clit. Massaging my g-spot, fingers digging into my thigh.
When I’m finished, I slump against the mirror.
Slowly, he pulls out his fingers and removes his mouth from my clit. My juices coat his face, and I weakly lift the towel to give to him. He takes it as he rises to his feet, swiping away the wetness.
“Take off your pants,” I all but demand in a heated tone.
He shakes his head.
“No?”
“Not tonight,” he says. He tucks his hands underneath my armpits and lifts me off the vanity, setting me on my feet.
“Why not?” I pout up at him.
He raises his eyebrows. “You need sleep.”
“But-”
He cuts me off with another shake of his head. “Come on.” Taking my hand, he guides me out of the bathroom and to my bedroom. He doesn’t bother turning on the lights as we head to the bed. In a mere few seconds, he’s flipping back the covers and patting the mattress. I flatten my lips together as I crawl in dutifully and then sigh as warmth surrounds me when he covers me back up.
I watch in the darkness as he strips out of his shirt and pants, leaving only his underwear on. The shadows highlight his abs, and my mouth instantly waters, but I’ll respect his wishes about solely taking care of my needs tonight. It truly is a sweet notion now that I’ve considered it.
He makes his way around the other side of the bed and crawls in beside me. Gathering me in his arms, he rolls onto his back and tucks my head under his chin, and god damn it, I nearly melt.
We stay there like that for a while, listening to the nothingness, both of us lost in thought. I don’t know what he’s thinking, but all I’m thinking about as I drift toward the edge of sleep is how safe I feel at this moment. How much I never want it to end. How I want to extend it for the rest of my life.
And when my eyes finally close and sleep pulls me under, I whisper against his chest, “I think I love you.”
The only answer I get before I’m completely pulled under is his hand rising to my scalp to massage.