Page 46 of The Shadows We Keep

“Your hard.” She back-peddles. “Stern, I mean. First at the bar and then again tonight at the club. Yet, that falls away and you protect and even care for me.” Her eyes lift to mine, and I realize I could easily get lost in their hidden depths, like a dense forest on a foggy day. “I’m not used to it, is all, and I hardly even know you.”

I close the mere inches between us and snag her hands free from my shirt, holding them hostage.

“What happened tonight...” Now it’s my turn to stop and clarify my thoughts in my head before possibly scaring her off forever. “Shouldn’t have happened.” Her body stiffens in my hold. “I only mean that I took advantage of the situation. I let my anger and irritation get the better of me. But you have to understand that was me in an uninhibited state. That’s what that club offers its members.”

“You regret it?” She looks hurt.

“Yes, we should have had a conversation first. Set boundaries. Like you said, we hardly know each other and then I just do that without a plan. It’s unacceptable.”

Her hands forcefully pull from my grasp. She tries to scooch by me, but I grip her waist to keep her near.

“But,” I declare, “at the same time, no, I don’t regret what we did. The way you responded to my commands. The way you reacted to my touch. Watching you give in and take it, that’s why I’d do it again.”

The timer for the pasta defuses the building tension between us and we fade back into the comfortable flow of prepping dinner. The pasta’s tossed with the simple sauce and topped with the fresh basil. Instead of dishing it up, I take the fork and drag the serving bowl to the seating side of the island and drop onto the stool. Keira tries to take her own seat, but I haul her into my lap instead.

The first taste on her tongue rips a moan from her lips. The sound goes straight to my cock, hardening it to stone. I shift readjusting but she catches on continuing the theatrics as I continue to feed her bite after bite.

“You’re killing me.” I groan.

“Hmm?” The cat that ate the canary smirk on her face lets me know she has no intention of holding back.

The fork clatters in the bowl as my last string of patience breaks. She looks over at me, a small spread of sauce on the corner of her mouth. My finger wipes it away, giving me the first taste when I lick it clean.

“Mmm, delicious.”

Her eyes lock on my lips, heavy with desire. I know if I don’t create some distance, the pasta won’t be the only thing consumed tonight. I shift her weight, dropping her feet to the floor as I stand and grab her hand. “Let’s get you to bed.”

“But I’m not tired.”

“You need to rest. You have work tomorrow.” Pulling her back down the hall to my room, I lead her to the bed and watch as she so casually crawls in like she owns just as much of it. She immediately tucks herself into the right side, the opposite side I sleep on, and gazes up at me expectantly.

Leaning over the bed, my lips fall to her forehead, and her body relaxes. “Sleep. I’ll be back in a bit.”

“Wait.” She jolts forward. “Where are you going?”

“I have a quick errand to run. I’ll be back in an hour or so. Don’t worry, I’ll set the alarm.”

She moves to kick off the blankets and get out, but I stop her. “What are you doing?”

“I’ll just go home; I’m not going to stay here if you’re leaving.”

“Stop, it’s the middle of the night. Just stay. I’ll be back soon.”

“Harkin, it’s fine. I live across the street.”

“Yeah, and I’ll be back soon. When I get back, I want to get into bed and find your warm body waiting for me.” My tone leaves little for argument’s sake.

“No more than an hour. Stay up and watch TV, but I’d rather you sleep.” Her body deflates at my requests.

“Fine.” She rips the covers up to her chin before rolling away and settling down onto the mattress.

So much sass in such a little body. I love it.

Smiling to myself, I turn and head for the door, flipping the lights off as I go.

TWENTY

KEIRA

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