Page 5 of Captivating

Asshole.

Even in high school, he towered over me, but back then, I liked it. Easily six foot five to my five foot two. Only now, his muscles stretch the fabric of his shirt, easily twice the size they used to be. His messy blond hair, a little too long, and those eyes... bright green, like a black cat’s.

I may have written a song or two about him in high school, but that was before... and maybe after. He doesn’t need to know that though. No one does. “You guys should go out. Have fun. You don’t need me to do that.” I look down at my bare legs and the white cotton boxers with red hearts that barely cover my ass, along with the bright red fuzzy socks I’m rocking, and want to die. Of course, this is how I see Killian for the first freaking time in ages. Grrr... I’m going to kill Noah. “I really don’t feel like dealing with the paparazzi tonight.”

Without any argument, Maddox drops down onto one of the kitchen chairs and pulls out his phone. “What kind of food are you in the mood for?” he asks no one in particular but smirks my way.

Jamie’s arm goes back to my shoulders. “I bet you’ve got some hot little assistant who could get us something to eat, don’t ya, Tink?”

“Guys... you should go out. I swear I won’t be upset.”Lies. As much as I wanted to be alone, now that they’re here, I don’t want them to leave. At least not all of them. “Just because I’m no fun doesn’t mean you should be.”

I glance at Noah, searching for what... I’m not sure.

Help, maybe. Backup is probably more like it.

But Noah yanks his phone from his pocket with a flourish. “Her name is Tasha, and she’s smokin’ hot.”

“Off-limits is what he meant to say,” I add, looking directly at Maddox. “She’s not here for your entertainment.”

The fucker laughs at me. “We’ll see about that, Tink.”

Noah’s fingers fly across his phone as we all watch, and I cringe.

Pretty sure my quiet night just got long and loud.

KILLIAN

“I’m out.” My cards hit the table as I throw back a shot of Don Julio and groan. “I fucking hate tequila...”

Lilah giggles as I push away from the table in search of water. She shakes the half-empty bottle in front of me. “Scared of a little tequila, champ?”

Her pale cheeks pink as she rolls her lips together, andyeah... my annoyance dies a little. Fuck, she’s pretty. Pretty and perfect like one of those porcelain dolls my mother used to buy for my sisters. She always has been.

I guess some things never change, even if the bigger things have to.

“Listen, Tink. Some of us have to stay in shape for our jobs,” Jamie teases, and Lilah’s entire face blooms bright red, letting me know what’s coming seconds before she smacks the back of his big head.

“Take it back,” she demands and yanks his hair, forcing him to arch his head back.

“Ow. Shit.” He swats her away like a fly. “Stop fucking pinching me.”

Maverick pushes back from the table, getting out of the line of fire, and Lilah laughs with her beautiful smile and tugs again.“I’m not pinching you, dipshit. I’m pulling your hair.” She wraps Jamie’s hair around her fingers and yanks. “Now take it back.”

“Dude...” Jamie looks at Noah, who shakes his head, then looks at me and Maddox. “Help...”

Maddox lifts his hands while I laugh. “Sorry, man. She’s pissed at you, not me.”

Lilah tugs harder. “Take it back, Jameson Murphy, or I’ll tell your mother who really broke her crystal vase from the Queen of England.”

“What the fuck, Tink? I was just teasing,” he sputters, and I shit you not, it’s the funniest thing I’ve seen in so damn long. Lilah Ryan is five foot nothing, and maybe all of a hundred-and-ten pounds soaking fucking wet, and in spite of her pristine image, she’s vicious and curses more than most fighters I know.

Why is that hot?

She pulls again, this time forcing him to look at her. “I’ll have you know I run for two hours and twenty-two minutes every single day. Every. Day. Jamie. And I sing my entire set while I’m doing it. Two hours. Do you think I could possibly pull that off if I wasn’t in shape?” When he doesn’t answer fast enough, she yanks again. “Don’t be an asshole, Jamie.”

“Sorry.Shit. Stop. I said sorry,” he whines, and I may or may not pull my phone out to get a picture of this shit.What can I say? It’s funny as hell, and I can think of a few people who are gonna love it.

She lets go and smacks the back of his head—again. “I’d like to see you sing for two hours while you’re running and never lose your breath.”

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