Page 30 of Captivating

“A girl can only hope,” she singsongs with a sly smile, until I squeeze just a touch against her neck, and the smile turns into something else. Something hotter. “Kidding... I was kidding. I may not like you very much, but I spent enough time watching you train that I want you to win, St. James. I may hope the guygets in a good hit or two to knock your pretty face around a bit, but I want you to win.”

She hops down off the stool and away from my touch. “Terms accepted. Now I’m going to bed.” She grabs a bottle of water from the fridge and stops in front of me. “Alone. You can have the room Noah slept in. It’s not like it’s the first time you had his sloppy seconds.”

Touché, princess . . . touché.

“I’ll set the alarm code and text that and the gate code to you. Your room is the third room on the right at the top of the stairs, and mine is the one next to it.”

“Sweet dreams, princess.”

“More like nightmares, champ. See you in the morning.”

I’m so stuck on that word—nightmares—that I almost miss the way her heart-shaped ass sways as she walks away. Almost. I might be a nice guy, but I’m only human, and Lilah Ryan is the perfect woman wrapped up in a tight, hot, little package. She’s gonna be the death of me. Let’s just hope not literally.

LILAH

Expecting me to be the bigger person when I’m 5’2” is where you made your first mistake. I’m tiny. That just means I learned early on how to kick when I fight back.

—Lilah’s Secret Thoughts

“You have a gym in your basement.” It’s not a question, but the irritating way Killian barks the words at me feels like a question wrapped in an accusation.

I pull my favorite chunky knit blanket tighter around my shoulders and lay my notebook down on the couch before I even bother turning to look at him.

It’s way too early for this shit. The sun has barely risen. This is my quiet time. When the world is still asleep and my thoughts are more clear than any other time of day. I haven’t looked at social media. Haven’t checked my emails or my messages.Haven’t usually talked to another human being. It’s my favorite time to write. And that voice just stole my peace.

“It’s not even six-thirty yet, St. James. Why are you awake?” I turn my head and come face-to-face with Killian, who’s moved and is now leaning behind me, his fists clutching the back of the couch. It’s more like face-to-chest... And holy fucking ab muscles.

Did they get bigger since I saw him in the cage yesterday? I mean... there’s eight of them. Big and defined and kinda bulging right in front of my eyes.

Dillan would love being this up close and personal with those muscles. She’d climb him like a tree. A sturdy tree, strong enough to hold her steady. Stupid fucking tree.

My eyes track a tiny bead of sweat as it trickles down over his abs like it’s running over a literal washboard. I really shouldn’t want to lick that bead of sweat.

Shouldn’t. Not don’t.

Stupid,stupidman and his stupidly godlike body.

Seriously... what did I do wrong in a different life that he’s the only person I could go to for help? The one person I can trust to do it, even if it’s the only thing I can trust him with? I mean, this is just not fair.

“Hey, princess...” He snaps his fingers in front of my face, and I smack them away. “My eyes are up here.”

I arch a brow and purse my lips in an attempt to look unimpressed.

Doubt it works.

“Keep dreaming, St. James.” Why the hell is it so hot in here?

“I get up at five a.m. every day to get my run in if I can before I go to Crucible. Why are you up?”

I tuck my legs under the blanket and turn away from him. “It’s easier to write when the world around me is quiet.”

Killian’s green eyes narrow, like he wants to know more, but he’s smart enough not to push, so I change the topic and answer his earlier question, “Of course I have a home gym. I thought I mentioned that. When I had the house built, I made sure to have the basement fitted for a gym on one side and a soundproof recording studio on the other. I want to be able to do as much here as possible.”

“Sounds like you’re hiding, Lilah.” He tugs my arm so I’m forced to bend my neck and look at him. I should hate the move. Mostly because it’s what he used to do whenever he wanted my attention. And of course it still works.Asshole.

“I’m not hiding. I just like the quiet.” I can hear the lie in my own words as easily as he probably can. “Don’t you ever get tired of the noise? You’ve got to have a ton of it in your world too. Especially with a fight coming up. I bet everyone wants a piece of you.”

Killian wraps my hair around his finger and plays with the curl.

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