Page 38 of Captivating

“I didn’t ask you to look at her like you were looking,” he groans.

“Jesus, Noah. How the fuck do you think I was looking at her?” I don’t know what the hell he’s going on about, and I’m so far over it and this day, I don’t even give a shit.

“You were looking like she was your world...” When I don’t answer him, he steps back with a curse. “Be careful, Killer. I’m not standing here warning you off. That’s not how we are. But I’m telling you if you hurt her, I don’t give a shit how tough you are. I’ll make you fucking regret you ever met her.”

“You think I don’t know how much easier this would all be if—Shit.Shit. It would be easier.” Damn, it would be easier.

“What would?” Lilah asks as she enters the kitchen behind us.

Noah drops a kiss on his sister’s head. “Nothing, Tink. Lock up behind me. And send me the rest of the lyrics I know you wrote while Rosie was sleeping.”

“They sucked, Noah,” she sighs, and the tightness in her shoulders and neck snap into place.

“You’ve got to get past this block at some point. Might as well try now. Maybe it’ll help.” He pulls his keys from his pocket and auto-starts his car. “’Night, guys.”

Lilah waits for the front door to click shut, then turns to the security system on the counter and arms it. “I’m going to make more tea. Do you want some?”

“No, thanks.” In the next room, I hearThe Hangover Part Twostarting. “Want to watch a movie with me?”

I shouldn’t ask.

We’ve stayed as far apart as two people living together can get away with since our first morning together. I’ve spent those weeks trying to convince myself it’s what we needed. Neither of us splitting focus on the important things in our own lives while we coexisted and stuck to our agreement. But I’m already tired of lying to myself. This woman...Fuck... I take her hand in mine and drag her gently to the couch. “Come on, princess.”

I drop down into the oversized cushions and pull her down with me.

“I hate that nickname,” she whispers as something stirs in her cobalt eyes. Darker than the stars shining in through the giant wall of windows surrounding us.

“No, you don’t,” I whisper back and grab her favorite blanket from the back of the couch and wrap it around her.

Twenty minutes into the movie, she’s sound asleep and lightly snoring.

Thirty minutes in, and her head is on my chest the way Rosie’s was on hers earlier.

By the halfway mark, I lift her in my arms and carry her to bed.

I try to convince myself it’s because I don’t want to wake her.

Lilah has always looked like an angel when she slept.

But as I walk up the stairs with her in my arms and her head resting on my shoulder, I know it’s more than that. So fucking much more. The way she feels against me. Peace and warmth and home and hope all wrapped up in one beautiful woman.

I walk into her room and am assaulted by everything Lilah. Her scent surrounds me, and the pictures on her dresser assault me. The five of us in high school. Dillan and her at the beach. Rosie and her at one of Lilah’s concerts. Bright pink noise-canceling headphones on Rosie’s small head, beaded bracelets up and down her little arms, and the biggest smile I’ve ever seen on her face.

I force myself to move and pull down her white blanket, then lay her in her bed.

My fingers caress the curve of her face before I lean down and kiss her forehead. “Sleep, princess. No one will ever hurt you again. Not even me.” The words are a whispered promise. They might as well be a sacred oath for as much as I mean every single one of them.

When I stand, she rolls to her side and tucks her hands under her face unconsciously and murmurs, “Do you swear, Killian?”

“With my life, Lilah.” I drag my finger down her face again, then pull the blanket up and tuck her in. “With my life...”

Happy Valentine’s Day, Kroydon Hills. Love is in the air, and celebrities have invaded our town. Rumors are swirling that Lilah Ryan is hosting the party of the year tonight at West End. And in typical megastar fashion, our favorite hot spot is closed to the public. Guess they’re trying to keep out prying eyes. But fear not, you know I have my ways and will bring all the glamorous play-by-plays. If we’re lucky, maybe one of our hockey hotties will take home a certain pop star princess. If we’re really lucky, maybe it’ll be two.

#KroydonKronicles #PopPrincess #ValentinesDayDelight

KILLIAN

The twins have always done something big for their birthday. Noah used to bitch because it’s Valentine’s Day. His mom would get them each their own heart-shaped cake from Sweet Temptations, and Noah would act like he hated it, while Lilah looked at that cake every year like it was the most perfect thing in the world. He claims he never said a word to his mom because he didn’t want to change the tradition for Lilah, but I’m pretty sure he loved those cakes too. Maybe not as much as his sister. But still...

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