Page 48 of Falling for a Killer

What the hell is he doing to me?

Handing it over, I mumble, “It’s called a Black Widow. I hope tequila treats you better than it treats me. What’s mine?”

“Wait, you don’t like tequila?” He looks worried as he gingerly hands his concoction over. “It’s called Witch’s Blood, and I tweaked it a little, but it has tequila too. I added the sugar because you were so sweet for me when I was sick.”

Fucker. Grinning, I take it and bring it up to my lips, commenting, “I love tequila. It just makes me want to fuck,” before taking a swig big enough that it puffs out my cheeks.

It’s probably one of the best drinks I’ve ever had.

He stands there watching me as I lick my lips, then raises his eyebrow at me to drink some more before he lifts his glass to taste mine. When he does, he sniffs it first like he’s judging it, then takes a sip with his pinky out, his lips smacking a few times before he drinks some more. “What kind of berry is this?“

He hums and takes an even bigger drink of it, making me grin.

“Blackberry. I don’t want to know what’s in mine, you’re officially in charge of making them forever. I—”

The oven dings, interrupting him before his next sip. “Alright. I’ll make you another one in a bit, but sit down so I can serve you like the gentleman I am.”

He slaps my ass as he passes me, yet again making me want to skip dinner and get to dessert, but the food smells so good I sit down anyway.

The candles set a quiet kind of ambiance as I wait for him, still baffled by all the effort he put into this date.

When he returns, he sets a plate in front of me that smells so good my stomach rumbles. The chicken parmesan is coupled with some angel hair noodles and broccoli, and when he sits down to join me he looks more nervous than I’ve seen him in a while. “I don’t know much about pasta, so I’m sorry those are from a box, but the chicken is my mom’s recipe. If you hate it maybe just... pretend you don’t for me?”

He chuckles to let me know he’s joking, but if it tastes even half as good as it smells, it won’t be a problem.

The first bite proves it, and I don’t stop to touch the pasta until half my chicken is gone. “This is amazing. Seriously.”

“So are you,” he says, eyes locked on me so intensely I blush. “What’s your love language, Joey?”

“I don’t know much about love languages, but I think mine is whatever this is,” I admit quietly.

“I don’t know much about it either, but I want to know you. All of you. If it’s acts of service, I’ll be sure to do stuff like this for you whenever possible, and if it’s quality time I’m definitely not going anywhere. I know I can’t offer you much beyond what we have here...”

He trails off and looks down at his plate like he’s choosing his next words carefully, but I think I know what he’s trying to get at.

I just don’t know if I’m ready.

“What about physical touch?” I tease. “You’re pretty good at that too.”

“That’s my specialty.” He’s smiling again, but I can see there’s still something on his mind. “It’s also my love language if you couldn’t tell.”

Yeah, that’s been pretty obvious. His mood plummets when he isn’t close to me, touching me, or holding me. I’m nervous for a whole new reason as I finish eating and down the rest of my drink, but I’m clearly not the only one — Killian is fidgety and almost buzzing as he stands up to take our plates to the sink.

“I’ll make more drinks. Can you pick some music for us?”

Nodding, I grab my laptop and go for a quiet, romantic playlist. If he went through all this trouble for me, the least I can do is play along. He earned it.

It takes him a while to come back over, but it gives me an opportunity to watch him make our drinks and notice how much clumsier he is now. He was so self-assured the first time we made our potions, and when he walks back over with just one glass of pink liquid, I realize he was trying something new. “Try this one and then dance with me.”

“What’s in it?” I ask, taking a sip anyway before he can answer. It’s sweeter than the last one, raspberry flavored with a familiar bite. It’s definitely vodka. “I like this one.”

“Yeah? It’s a love potion.” He smiles widely, setting it aside to pull me in so his hands are resting on my lower back. “I like you. A lot.”

Fuck. My stomach flips as I reach up to wrap my arms around his neck. “Really? You’re good at hiding it,” I tease. “So good.”

“That’s crazy because I never once tried to hide it,” he admits. “You were right about some things, but I think I was too.” Don’t say what things you mean, Killian. Not right now. “I know we haven’t been tested much out there in the real world, but I feel like that will come in time. You told your sister about me, so I think that’s a step in the right direction. Why not make this official? Be my girlfriend, Joey. Be mine.”

He lifts my gaze to meet his, his thumb sliding along my jaw as he waits for my answer, and every stupid fear I’ve ever had crawls back into my throat and paralyzes me.

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