Page 19 of Last Round

“Hi, can I get you anything?” I ask the group of guys who took a seat while I was away.

One of them looks me up and down, as a smile spreads across his face. “Hi,” he says, and his buddies laugh. He’s attractive, definitely has that hot college guy look down to a T with his tussled brown hair, dimpled toothy smile, and a Golden Gophers shirt. Despite looking the part, he’s got this nervousness about him. Like he’s just as awkward as I am.

Finding a kindred spirit helps loosen me up a little. “Can I get you a round of drinks? The kitchen is open for a bit longer if you want food.”

“Beer…” He clears his throat and sits straighter. “A pitcher please. Whatever’s on tap. And if it isn’t too much trouble, we could go for a couple of baskets of fries.”

“And wings if you got them,” one of his friends adds.

I jot down their order, even though it’s simple enough to remember. “Hot?”

His deep-brown eyes seem to dilate. “Yes.” He tugs at the collar of his shirt.

“How hot?” I lean on my elbows, giving him a better view of my cleavage. It’s rare a guy is ever on edge around me. I see why Bex loves this so much. Maybe she wasn’t exactly wrong about this whole “flirting with patrons” thing. I mean, yes, she’s wrong about Kill. But who knows? This guy seemssweet.

“Very hot,” he gulps.

“Perfect.” I push off the table. “I’ll grab your drinks and get the order in ASAP.”

“Thank you,” he calls out to my back. His friends tease him relentlessly as I walk away. I drop off the ticket and call out the order to the kitchen staff. Tommy rolls his eyes at me as he tosses down his cleaning rag. I know they’re pissed, but at least it’s an easy last-minute meal.

“What do you think you’re doing?” An angry voice growls in my ear. His hot breath sends a shiver down my spine. My heart races in panic before I recognize the scent of bergamot.

“Killian?” I ask, turning around. He’s pissed.Why?

I don’t have time to ask before he pushes me into the supply room and slams the door. Being locked in this tight space with him has my mind doing a 360 Ollie Heelflip. Common sense says I should be afraid. He’s been so cold, nothing like the guy I knew. Besides his signature scent, he smells of alcohol. And not just from pouring drinks. He’s not only pissed, but drunk too, and he has me cornered in a closet.

Yet, when my body tenses, it isn’t out of fear. Instead, it’s my thighs squeezing tight as I attempt to suppress my throbbing clit. This shouldn’t be hot. But with the way his blue eyes burn in the dimly lit room, I can’t help it. This is definitely going in the unwanted catalog of images I conjure up when I’m alone and having him the only way I can. In my dreams.

Great. See? this is the problem. College hunk out there, he’s cute, sweet, likely a great guy. Any girl would be lucky to date him. But my body doesn’t have a total meltdown around him like it does with Killian—granted, he’s the only one who’s ever made me feel this way.

“What did I say?”

I stare at him, my expression blank. I’m not sure if that was meant to be a rhetorical question or not.

He takes a step closer. “Why is it that when I said there needs to be uniforms, that these outfits are too revealing, you decide to dress borderline obscene?”

Those warm, fuzzy feelings I had seconds ago are squashed. I take a step back and cross my arms over my chest. I can’t believe the nerve of this asshole. “Sean said—”

“I don’t care what Sean said.” He closes in on me. “This is unacceptable.”

“Fuck you.” I swear the corner of his mouth ticks like it wants to smile, but he grinds his molars to stop it. “If you’re so disgusted by looking at me, then don’t. Okay? I’m an adult. I can dress how I—”

His fist slamming against the shelf behind me cuts me off, and I realize I’m boxed in. “You think I’m disgusted?”

“Offended, whatever. I don’t know and I really don’t care. The point is—”

He laughs, but not the carefree one I’m familiar with. This one is low and deep. It vibrates from his chest, straight to my clit.Damn him.

“I don’t want you to cover up because I can’t stand seeing you. It’s the exact opposite. All day, I’m rewarded and tormented with visions of your perfect ass. Forced to suppress the urge to bend you over the tabletop and see if I can leave a mark with my palm that matches the shade of your panties. Then, when it’s just right, your pussy dripping and begging for me to fill her to the brim, slide home and hear you scream my name. Push you to the brink, between nirvana and madness, before granting you the release you’re craving.”

I’m on fire. No amount of clenching can stop the flood of arousal that hits me from his naughty words. This has to be a dream. A very vivid,filthydaydream. Because there’s no way Killian just said those things to me.

He leans in. His lips brush the lobe of my ear, sending a shiver down my spine. My eyes roll to the back of my head. “I can handle seeing what I want and can never have. Fuck knows I deserve it. But what I can’t stand…” He presses his body to mine. And,oh my god, I feel it. All of it. He’s so big and hard, and it’s here between us. The best part? It’s for me.All of it’s for me.“…what’s testing my patience, is all these other jackasses seeing what’s mine. Eye-fucking you right in front of me.”

“Yours?” My question comes out as a long exhale. I can’t count how many times I wished for this moment. Except none of this makes sense. “When did that happen?”

“The second you stepped foot into my bar and tossed your drink in my face.”

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