Chapter 11
Chapter Eleven
KIERAN
“…so, ah, yeah, we can…” I trail off because I have no idea what I’m actually saying, and Skye and Gabe are looking at me with identical smirks on their faces. “What?”
“Nothing,” Skye assures me. “If there’s something else you need to be doing, I can hold the fort.”
“I’m talking to Gabe,” I protest, but it’s weak.
Gabe coughs. “I need to get up to the gateway,” he assures me. “Get started on guarding it properly. Could you send dinner up for me? I’m not going to be able to leave it for a while.”
“No problem!” Skye chirps. He’s definitely back in top form.
“Are you going home tonight?” I ask him. Not because I want him gone, exactly. More because I have a sneaking suspicion he’s going to ask me questions, and it’ll be easier to avoid him if he’s not here.
“About that,” Gabe says before Skye can answer. “I know Con said he’d shield you so you could, but I need him at full capacity, so that has to wait.”
Skye blinks, then nods. “Okay. Is there anything I can do? I mean… not that you need my help or anything, but… I don’t know.”
“It’s all good. This is routine stuff that we do a lot, but there are policies, you know? By tomorrow night, Wednesday morning at the latest, we’ll be all set. And by then your own shielding will be so much stronger. I can already tell the difference.”
I look at Skye. He’s shielding? I don’t see anything; but then, I guess I wouldn’t. Sometimes having zero psychic ability is annoying. I feel so blind.
“Really?” Skye perks up again. “Yay! It seems to be getting easier, but then I wonder if that’s just because I’m not doing it right.”
Gabe shakes his head. “It looks good from here.” He turns back to me. “So I’m going to go get started. I don’t know if the ghosts are going to watch or if they’ll get bored, so you might have them underfoot.”
I snap back into work mode. “Do you want me to get them out of there? If they’re going to be in your way—”
“Nah, I can handle them. But if Norval comes looking for you, ignore him.”
That sounds… ominous. “Sure.” I hesitate. “Uh, who is he, anyway? Is he really Connor’s uncle?” Even saying Connor’s name makes my ears go hot. I resolutely ignore them. This is stupid. You’d think I’d never had someone give me a hand job before.
“Many times removed, yes. Norval was one of the most successful hunters of all time when he was alive, back in the twelfth century.”
“The twelfth century?” I blurt. “Like… the eleven hundreds?”
Gabe nods. “Yep. He was also one of the founders of the Collective. It was still in its infancy when he died, and because he’s a control freak of the worst kind, he stuck around as a ghost to micromanage the people who took over.
He’s spent the past thousand years doing spot checks on hunters all over the world in between haunting the descendants of his siblings. ”
“Oh my god,” Skye says. “Wow. And I thought Kieran was stubborn.”
My jaw drops. “I’m not stubborn!”
He scoffs but doesn’t say anything else.
“Anyway,” Gabe adds, “there’s a good chance Norval will move on soon. He usually just pops in to check on things and leaves right away, but he seems to like it here. And he’s got a soft spot for Connor.” He slides me a sideways look that makes my ears hot again.
“Well, Connor won’t be here for much longer,” I reply brightly. Probably too brightly. “And we’re used to ghosts. I’m sure we can handle Norval.”
Gabe looks doubtful. “Yeah. Okay, I’m really going this time. Dinner later, please? Don’t forget. I’m going to need to refuel.”
“We’ll take care of it,” I promise, and he leaves with a wave. I sink into my desk chair with a happy sigh. “I’m so relieved. But where the fuck are we going to find for him to live?”
Skye stares at me.
“What?”
He shrugs. “I can manage things here if you’ve got someone else to do.” His smile is innocent.
“I think you mean something,” I say dryly.
“Do I? Oops.” He laughs. “C’mon, Kier. Stop being so coy and tell me.”
I get to my feet. “If you’re going to stick around, I might go… um… do inventory of the linens.” Man, that’s lame. His knowing laugh follows me out of the office.
This is all Skye’s fault. I remind myself of that as I walk up the stairs.
He’s the one who came bouncing into the office before lunch to tell me how he finally feels back in control again, thanks to Connor.
It was so good to see that sparkle back in his eyes.
How could I not feel a rush of gratitude and maybe affection for Connor when he did that for my friend?
Not to mention the best orgasm of my life last night.
I didn’t think it was possible to come so hard from just a handy, but I slept better than I have in months, and today I feel like the Energizer Bunny.
Surely after all that, the man deserves a thank-you.
I hesitate outside the room we shared. What if he was genuinely just doing a good deed last night and doesn’t actually find me sexually appealing?
Wow. Did I really just think that? I might not be the sexiest man alive, but I’m not rotting plant slime either.
I let myself into the room and make sure the door closes properly behind me. Connor looks over his shoulder from the desk, where he’s standing and setting up his laptop.
“Hey. Did you need me for something?”
So many possible responses…
“No. I just, ah…” Fuck. I’m no good at this. I walk over to the bed and perch on the corner nearest the desk, hoping my brain will suddenly work and I’ll think of the right thing to do next. Connor turns fully to face me, then sits in the desk chair.
“Do you need to talk?” he asks, all his usual snark gone. “You’ve been chucked in the deep end with all this, and you’re doing a great job, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy.”
Just like that, all my uncertainty flees.
“I don’t need to talk. I just want to say that I know I’ve been a little, uh, snappish with you, but I really do appreciate everything you’ve done for us.
And for Skye. He’s feeling so much better after working with you today, which…
I’m sure you can tell he’s like a mascot for us all.
Having him be scared was scary for us all. ”
“I could tell.” He grins, but it’s uncertain. “Not to be a douche, but it’s kinda my job. I mean, you’re all great and I like you and I’m happy to help… but I’m no hero.”
That’s my cue. “What about what you did for me last night? Is that part of your job too?”
He swallows visibly. “No. Of course not. I wanted to give you a hand.” He winces, and we both chuckle. “Poor word choice. I mean that you were so stressed and I could help, so I did.”
I slide off the bed and kneel between his legs.
His eyes go wide, and he sits up abruptly, but I push him back with a hand on his abs.
His rock-hard, sexy-as-fuck abs. “I really appreciate everything you’ve done since you got here.
I know most of it is your job, but that doesn’t mean I can’t express my gratitude. ” I unbuckle his belt.
“Kieran…” It’s merely a breath, and I bite my lip to keep from smiling.
“You work hard,” I add, sliding down the zipper and reaching inside. He obligingly shifts to make it easier for me to pull out his half-hard dick. “You deserve a reward.” I lick my lips, and he makes a sound that seems to come from deep inside him.
I want to take my time, to tease him like he did me last night, but it’s midafternoon and I don’t really have the time to spare. Plus, I want to taste him more than I want to draw this out.
Keeping eye contact with him, I lower my head and lick the head of his cock. He groans. “The only thing that could look better right now would be my dick in your throat.”
I laugh and lick again, the salty tang of precum bursting over my tongue. “I’m in charge here.”
“And you do it so well.”
Wrapping my hand around his shaft, I suck the head between my lips. His whole body jerks, and inwardly, I grin victoriously.
Then I get down to work, slowly easing my hand away and taking him deeper and deeper into my mouth.
My skills in this area are something I have no insecurities about—enough men have called me a champion cocksucker for me to claim the title with pride.
I keep the seal of my lips tight and the sucking pressure steady as I take him in, then back off a little.
He's muttering under his breath, most of the words unintelligible, but I catch “hot” and “desperate.” I’m not sure which of us is the desperate one, but I don’t care.
I slide back down and take him into my throat.
He cries out. “Kieran! Oh my god…”
If my mouth wasn’t occupied, I’d smile.
It takes only another minute before he’s a panting, thrusting mess. I have to hold his hips down to keep him still, and he alternates between apologizing and begging me to “go faster, take more.”
“Gonna come,” he warns, and I brace to swallow it all.
When he’s sagging in the chair, panting so hard I’m surprised he’s not hyperventilating, I ease back and lick a few stray drops of cum from my lips. His eyes are closed, and I take the precious moment to study him unobserved, feeling oddly… warm toward him.
Then I get up, straighten my clothes and hair, and head for the door.
“Where are you going?” Connor sounds bewildered and breathless still, and I grin at the door before schooling my expression and looking back at him.
He’s the picture of debauchery, slumped in the desk chair with his cock still out and color high on his cheeks, eyes glittering.
I did that to him, and it’s so fucking hot.
“Gotta get back to work.”
He pouts. “I thought…” His gaze slides to the bed. Well, that’s flattering.
But… I shake my head. “Maybe later. We’ve both got work to do.” I make it out into the hallway before my wild grin breaks free. Connor might make me want to bitch slap him when he speaks—most of the time—but I can’t deny the chemistry between us is on fire.
And I plan to take full advantage of that for the remainder of his visit.