Chapter 10
Celani
I keep my expression controlled even though a million questions swarm through my mind hearing Killian’s response.
I should have known by the way he carries himself, and the precision that he ran his team that he wasn’t selling used cars before he started his security business.
Part of me thought that he may have been ex-military, but somehow his words still send a shiver running through me.
And not in a bad way.
I clear my throat and try to steady my voice.
“Is..is that why your team calls you, Kill?”
His handsome face loses its stoic expression and softens as he studies me. He leans closer to me and the cedarwood smell that always surrounds him makes my heartbeat accelerate.
“Celani,” he says carefully, like he’s afraid I’m about to sprint away. “I’ve never hurt anyone who wasn’t trying to harm someone else. A person who didn’t deserve what they were planning to do to them. Do you understand?”
His eyebrows knit together and I realize that he’s mistaking the look I’m giving him for nervousness when it’s anything but. Goosebumps tip-toe up my arms and I feel myself nodding even though I don’t remember willing my head to.
“I understand,” I respond softly, my voice barely above a whisper.
His eyes hold mine until he’s satisfied that my response is genuine.
I hold my breath as his hand moves slowly towards me until he is gently touching my curls.
My eyes close and his warm touch moves over my hair.
His touch is gentle and calms something inside of me that I didn’t even realize needed soothing.
“You’re always safe with me, Celani. I’d never do anything but protect you,” he says assuredly.
I blink and he watches me come out of my daze, slowly lowering his hand from my head. Something shifts between us as we observe each other and try to take in everything that we’ve shared tonight.
He goes to speak again, but we both hear the chime from the front door go off.
Killian is on his feet in a split-second shooting a scowl towards the hallway before advancing towards it. I push back my chair at the island and stand up, but he shakes his head at me.
“Stay here,” he says, before disappearing around the corner.
I pat down my curls inhaling a deep breath that only fills my senses with more of his consuming scent. I don’t know why he stormed off looking like an intruder was here. I’m sure it’s only Pierce coming home earlier than we expected.
And maybe it was better that he did, because the way I was just feeling..
I shake the thought away and gather our mugs and take them to the sink to wash them, ignoring the way my hands are shaking.
That entire conversation has my mind reeling.
I never thought that he would share that much about his life with me, and I honestly didn’t think that I would tell him so much either.
There’s just something about him that makes me open up in a way that I haven’t with anyone in so long.
Even though I knew the chiming of the door was Pierce coming home I still feel disappointed when I see him walk into the kitchen just ahead of Killian.
He gives me a tight smile and sets down his bag before coming over to give me a quick kiss, which is the furthest our intimacy has gone for weeks now.
“Sorry I’m late,” he murmurs, looking around the kitchen.
“It’s fine,” I respond. I glance at Killian who is already putting his suit jacket back on.
“There’s a plate in the fridge for you,” I say, turning back to Pierce.
He holds up a hand. “No need. I ate plenty at the meeting,” he responds, moving to loosen his tie.
“I’ll be here in the morning, Celani,” Killian says, walking past Pierce and lowering his voice to me. “Are you ok?”
His eyes explore mine and I feel like he communicates so much to me without saying another word. I can tell he is just as unhappy our conversation was interrupted as I am. He glances at Pierce who is tapping away on his phone, and I can tell he is unsure how I feel being alone with him right now.
I try to give him a reassuring smile. “I’m good. Thank you for staying later, Killian,” I respond, folding my hands together.
The corner of his mouth twitches and for a moment I almost think he might smile. “Thank you too,” he says, before turning and heading out of the back doors.
Pierce and I watch him go, and when the door closes behind him, Pierce turns to me.
“What was he thanking you for?” he asks.
I reluctantly drag my eyes away from the back door. “I gave him some of the dinner I made,” I respond. “He really liked it.”
Pierce’s eyes are already back on his phone. “That’s nice. Are you ready to head upstairs?”
My stomach sinks at the thought of lying next to him again tonight. Sitting in bed with him while he finishes work on his phone, gives me a peck on the mouth, and falls asleep while I stare up at the ceiling thinking about my day.
My week.
My life.
Or lack thereof.
“I think I’m going to stay and clean up the kitchen for a bit longer. Then there’s a new cooking show I may watch for a while,” I respond.
He glances around the already spotless kitchen but nods. “Fine. I’m heading in the shower,” he says, turning and heading to the stairs.
I watch him disappear down the hallway then I walk over to the back patio door.
I gently pull the curtains apart and try to catch a glimpse of Killian.
The backyard is illuminated with the outdoor flood lights his team set up after they first came here, and I spot him pacing back and forth outside of the guest house.
His hands are in his pockets and he turns his head to stare back up at the main house.
I hold my breath, wondering if he can see me peeking through the curtains. But after a few moments he turns and goes inside the house, and I exhale the breath that I was holding.
The sadness I felt earlier today comes creeping back over me, and I close back the curtain, ready to avoid going upstairs for as long as I can.