Page 42 of Captivating

“No, baby girl. He looks murderous. Jealous men are insecure. This one looks like he’s ready to kill me to prove a point to everyone in this room. I don’t think insecure is in his vocabulary.”

He spins me around and slides his hands from my hips down my thighs as my dress lifts a little too high, and oh yeah... Killian’s eyes lock in on mine like a heat-seeking missile, and it’s fucking hot. His fists are clenched, knuckles white, and I doubt he has any idea what the hell Rome is telling him right now.

Jeremy slides my hair behind my shoulder and whispers in my ear, “How far are you planning on taking this?”

Before I get a chance to answer, his hand slides under the hem of my dress, and Killian pushes off the bar.

“Oh, fuck no, baby girl. I’m out of here. Go make up with your man.” He lowers his voice as Killian crosses the room. “Suck his dick. We men like that. Don’t say I didn’t give you something for your birthday.” A quick kiss to the cheek, and he’s gone.

Once he’s in front of me, I grab Killian’s hands. “Dance with me, St. James.”

Not needing to be told twice, one of his big arms wraps around my back and holds me close. So similar yet completely different from Jeremy. “Who was that?”

“Why, champ? You jealous?” Please let him say yes.

Oh shit. I’ll need to psychoanalyze that thought tomorrow.

“Should I be?” Ugh. Of course that’s his answer. It tells me nothing.

“Well.” I wrap both arms around his neck and inhale that fresh ocean scent. Soap and salt and sea and all Killian for as long as I can remember. “Jealous implies ownership. You want something someone else has. First, no one has me to own, and second, you don’t want me. You’ve demonstrated that before. So, I’d say no, you’ve got nothing to be jealous of.”

“The fuck, Lilah?” He doesn’t sound mad. No... he sounds hurt. “Can’t you let that go? Just for tonight? It was a fucking decade ago. We were kids, and there is nothing about that weekend that I wouldn’t change if I could... Trust me.”

I lean my head on his chest and hide my eyes. “What would you say if I told you I could try. Just for tonight. Try to forget. To...”

He lifts my chin with his finger. “To not hate me for one night for something that happened before we were old enough to understand the consequences?”

“Yes.” There are so many things I want to say, but that’s the only thing I manage.

His big hand wraps around my neck as he leans down and I press up.

The kiss is strong and soft and sexy and sweet. It’s mind-blowing and heart-stopping.

Before I know it, my feet are no longer touching the ground, and I’m carried off the floor. “Killian...” I gasp and pull my mouth back. “What are you doing?”

“Taking you home. I’ve wanted that kiss for years, and I’m not wasting my one night here.”

“Uh-uh, champ. It’s my birthday party. I can’t leave yet.” I don’t care that everyone is staring. I don’t care that I love this and hate it equally in measure. I only care that he finally,finally, kissed me.

“Fine.” He sits me on top of the bar and moves between my legs. “But you do not move from my side all night.”

“St. James...” I dig my fingers in his hair and ignore the catcalls coming from our friends. “I agreed to not hate you for one night. I never agreed to give up my control.”

“You don’t have to give up anything, princess. It’s your choice. You can dance with every man here. Just be prepared for me to beat the fucking shit out of any man who looks at you. Andif he fucking touches you, he’s going to be pissing blood into a bag for a week. Your choice.”

“Hey, Lilah?” Only Maddox Beneventi would have the balls to tap my shoulder from behind the bar right now in the middle of this. Killian growls, actually growls, and it’s fucking hot. “You ready for another French Kiss?”

“You’ve got to be shitting me,” Killian barks, and Madman laughs.

“Chill out, cousin.”

I spin around on the shiny bar and hop down behind it, putting it between Killian and me. “Yeah, chill out, champ. It’s a drink Maddox taught me how to make. And yes, I’d love another.”

“Don’t get drunk, Lilah,” Killian warns me.

Oh. Hell. No.

“Hey Maddox?” I call out while I stare right at Killian. “Want to do a shot with me?”

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