Chapter 17
Celani
I open my mouth to scream until the scent of cedarwood surrounds me like a warm hug.
I look up to see Killian’s eyes darting around the hallway. He takes me around a dark corner and my heart races while he pushes my back against a door marked ‘Utility’.
He lowers his head until his gorgeous face is all that fills my vision. He lets go of my wrist and places his hands on either side of my head against the door behind me and my body anxiously anticipates what he will do next.
“Why are you teasing me while I’m trying to work, Celani? Hmm?”
I feign innocence, tilting my head at him. “I think it’s only teasing if you don’t intend to act on it. Right?”
His pupils dilate and fall down to my dress. My nipples are hard underneath the soft fabric, and there is no hiding how he is making me feel. His focus stays on them as he responds gruffly.
“Is that all you want from me, Celani?” He asks, meeting my eyes again. “Or do you want more? Because no matter how I’m feeling about you, I’m not about to blow up everything if you don’t feel the same way that I do.”
His comment catches me off guard and my breath hitches. This is something that we’ve been dancing around for the past few days, and now he is asking me straight up what I want from him.
I slide my hands up his chest feeling his heartbeat racing just like it was the first time he kissed me.
Is this always how he feels when he’s around me?
“How do you feel, Kill?” I ask carefully.
He watches me for a moment then lowers his nose to my jaw, slowly rubbing it up my jawline until he reaches my ear.
“I feel like I would risk it all for you, sweetheart,” he confesses headily. “I already am.”
Euphoria fills my body and I know there’s not a doubt left in my mind that I feel exactly the same way.
“I’m right there with you, Kill,” I respond quietly, brushing my lips over his cheek. “Take me out of here.”
I pull back and his nostrils flare before he nods once.
He takes a few steps back and looks up and down the hallway.
I realize at that moment that we were both so wrapped up in each other we didn’t consider what we were doing.
Despite the fact that we are in an obscure corner, anyone could have walked down here and seen us pressed up against each other.
He motions for me and I come over to him as he gently places his hand on my back. We walk down the hallway and he taps his watch.
“Malakai. Where’s Crowell?” he demands impatiently.
He’s quiet while Malakai responds in his earpiece then says, “Right. Heading to him now. I’m taking Celani back to the house,” he explains, glancing down at me.
I smile up at him and we continue walking until we arrive back in the ballroom. We weave through people who are all standing around and mingling now that the auction has ended. A live band is playing and the room has grown much louder.
Pierce is by the bar holding court with another drink in his hand, talking with a group of men. Killian subtly gets his attention and Pierce excuses himself, and comes over to us.
He looks curiously between us. “What’s going on?” he asks, his words slightly slurring.
I look down at the drink in his hand and realize that he is obviously not still on the same glass of bourbon that I last saw him with.
“I’m getting really tired and I’m ready to head home,” I announce, “Are you about ready to go?”
I watch his mouth settle into a frown as he thinks it over for a moment.
Please say no. Please say no. My mind chants as I fidget with my clutch.
He looks back over to the group of men he left and shakes his head. “I think I’ll stay for a while longer. You can take Killian and the driver. Malakai can take me back since he drove on his own,” he decides.
I keep my expression neutral even though inside I’m doing freaking backflips.
“Oh..alright then,” I agree. “I guess I will see you when you get home then.”
He nods and leans forward to kiss my cheek and I stand frozen until he’s done. I glance over Pierce’s shoulder and see Killian glaring a hole in the back of his head.
A few moments later, Killian leads me out of the ballroom to the front of the hotel.
He stops me by the front doors and I turn and watch him unbutton his suit jacket before pulling it off of his broad shoulders.
My eyes fall to the gun that’s in his holster before he draws my attention away from it.
“Here,” he says, placing his jacket around my shoulders. “It must be colder out there by now.”
I give him a grateful smile as he steps back and adjusts it on me.
“Thank you, Killian,” I say politely, mindful of the few people around us in the lobby.
He opens the door for us and steps out first, looking around before letting me follow along with him. I see Asher parked out front and I feel my steps grow lighter the closer I step to the SUV.
Killian opens my door and turns, giving me a look so intense I stumble over my heels, and he lashes out a hand to steady me.
“Easy sweetheart,” he rasps, helping me inside.
“Sit in the third row,” he instructs me, moving the seat for me.
I follow his instructions, my heartbeat racing as he closes the door behind me, and goes around to the other side. Asher and I exchange hello’s, and when Killian opens the other door our eyes lock again instantly.
Asher has barely pulled away from the curb before Killian comes back into the third row and closes the space between us. His fingers slip around the back of my neck and slide up into my curls.
His warm breath caresses my cheek and heat swarms through my entire body.
“You’re already shaking,” he murmurs observantly.
“It’s just excitement,” I mumble, “I’m not afraid.”
His lips find mine and he gives me a soft kiss, tentative at first like he’s making sure I really want this. But he doesn't understand that what is growing between us is the only thing that doesn’t confuse me right now.
I hold onto the front of his dress shirt and pull him closer to me, closing the gap he is afraid to fill. My lips press against his and I moan as he kisses me back hard. His tongue demands entrance into my mouth and he consumes me like a starved predator.
Our tongues play together while his hand roams down to my dress, finding my hard nipples. He rubs his thumb over them one at a time. I squirm in my seat feeling myself getting wet and restless the longer he touches me.
His fingers keep exploring until he reaches my thigh and they glide in between the slit of my dress. His lips leave mine for a moment to search my face for any sign of doubt but I only give him a slow smile.
I kiss his chin and make my way down to his neck while his fingers find my panties and slide them to the side to give him access to what he wants. His fingers part me confidently and glide gently through my folds.
I bite into his neck making him hiss. “Fuck, sweetheart. You’re so wet for me,” he groans quietly, swirling his finger down to my clit.
“Killian,” I beg, my mind growing dizzy with anticipation. “Please.”
He pulls his head away from my eager mouth and moves his heavy-lidded eyes over me. “Do you need to come, baby?” he asks, his voice full of gravel.
I nod slowly and his gaze drags away from me to the front of the car.
“Asher!” he growls. “Pull the car over!”