Page 48 of Twisted Thorns

I nod, trusting Kieran at his word, despite the unease still rolling through me.

Even though I don't say anything, Kieran reads the nervousness in my sunken, withdrawn posture. Motioning to the waiter, he changes our order to-go, and I've never been more grateful to get out of the spotlight than I am now. It feels like all eyes in the restaurant are on us, the pricking sensation of whispers directed my way shivering down my spine.

The drive from the restaurant to Kieran's penthouse is silent, but full of grasping hands and reassuring caresses. I know that Kieran's lack of words isn't because of me, but more his anger at O'Neil. His posture is tight as he enters his apartment, his body an arrow ready to take flight. Probably directly into Sean O'Neil's eye.

His voice is gruff when he speaks up. "I'm sorry about tonight."

Glancing over, I frown. "You have nothing to be sorry for. O'Neil is an ass who got exactly what he wanted. A scene and under your skin."

Surprise washes across Kieran's face as he swipes a hand through his hair, his locks falling to shadow his eyes. "You're right." He comes up behind me, wrapping his arms around me and pulling me close to his chest. "It's something he's good at."

I turn so I'm facing Kieran and tilt my head up at him as I run my hands across the front of his dress shirt, silky under my fingers. "Maybe I can help you focus on something else," I murmur as I reach up to grab his hair and pull his lips down to mine.

Kieran immediately follows my lead and soon I'm backed up against the wall, Kieran nipping at my lips.

I lightly shove at his shoulders, and Kieran obeys, backing up while I unbutton his shirt and moving to untuck it from his pants.

A huff sounds above my head and then Kieran's hands are over mine, grabbing his shirt and ripping it away. Glancing up, I arch an eyebrow at Kieran's smirk, satisfaction purring in my veins as it fades away once I undo his belt and unzip his pants.

Sinking to my knees, I untuck Kieran's cock and lick the underside of his shaft, watching Kieran's eyes darken the color of the earth after a hard rain.

Hissing through his teeth, Kieran's hands thread through my hair as I swallow his length, pulling back as I gag on his girth.

"We can't have that, now, can we?" Kieran's voice is smoke and steel—rough and demanding, a blade to cut myself on.

I gasp as Kieran's hands grip my tresses tighter. "You want to give me something else to think about, Lina? Let me watch you choke like a good girl."

He shoves his way down my throat, demanding access as I try to breathe past the panic and through my nose. The idea of not being able to inhale much worse than the reality truly is.

I can't stop my gag as Kieran pushes me just past a pace I'm comfortable with, his clasp on my head holding me in place while his hips piston his cock up and down my throat.

"Fuck, you're perfect," Kieran rasps as he watches the tears falling down my face as I sputter around him.

His hands shift from my hair to under my arms, and suddenly I'm lifting on my feet, Kieran licking away the salt and saliva from my face. "Hands against the wall, Lina."

I turn to do as he asked, bracing myself as my clothes are ripped away and suddenly Kieran is there, pressing the head of his cock at my entrance, already soaked and wanting.

"So fucking needy, this cunt," he grows as he shoves inside in one thrust, his hands on my hips the only thing keeping me upright as euphoria races through me, heedless of anything in its path.

The pleasure swirls and rises, building with each delicious stroke. Bliss short-circuits my brain as my body writhes under Kieran's powerful frame.

My back arches even more as Kieran grazes his teeth along my neck before biting down, marking my body like he's marked my soul.

Chapter 24

Avalina

The city lights flooded the sky and blotted out the stars. I can’t see any trees from Kieran's penthouse, only buildings and artificial light, such a difference from my apartment that backs up against the forest. The location of our homes isn’t the only thing that is different. While my home is all muted colors and light wood, Kieran favors deep mahogany and leather. His home is spacious and full of windows, allowing him to see the world he rules.

Sipping the now lukewarm coffee, I stifle a yawn. I am doing my best to stay awake until Kieran gets home, even though he told me I didn't need to. He's been working a lot of late nights lately, trying to tie up loose ends to corner Sean, allowing Finn to take over the O'Neils once and for all.

I’m currently sitting outside on the penthouse balcony, swept away by a book, and wrapped in blankets to ward off the late autumn chill. I can’t see many stars here because of the city lights, but the city itself was like a kaleidoscope of stars themselves.

Looking at my watch, I sigh, seeing that it was nearing midnight. I need to go to sleep, as I have the morning shift at the library tomorrow. I gather my things and make my way back inside the penthouse, returning the book back to its shelf.

Kieran wasn't lying when he told me he liked to read, as he had more books than I did, all resting on bookcases stretched throughout his living space. I run my hand over the spines, an assortment of book cloth, paper, and leather covering the tomes. I like to think that they, too, were silently waiting for Kieran's return. If I think of it like that, I don’t feel so alone in this space that is surrounded by the bustling city. Even though my apartment is on the outskirts of town, I prefer it's quiet nature to the constant roar of the city streets below.

Taking one last look back at the dark and quiet space, I softly pad to the bedroom to get some much-needed sleep. A part of me wants to worry that Kieran isn't home yet, but I know he can handle himself. He wouldn't be where he is if he couldn't deal with the things that go bump in the night.

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