Page 26 of Wild Desire

His hand gripped my hip, which startled me.

My gaze lifted to his, and he said gruffly, "Don't stop."

I wasn’t sure what I was doing. All I knew was that I couldn't keep talking about the kiss that never should have happened. I'd thought about it more in the last few weeks then the last ten years. I wanted to put it firmly in the past and never think about it again.

I'd felt sparks when our lips had met, but he'd felt nothing. I couldn't trust my instinct when it came to guys. Now I let the guy make the first move. Better to be safe than sorry. I didn't put myself out there. I always let them pursue me. That kiss taught me a lot about relationships and life. Don't take risks.

My body brushed against his, and I wondered what I was doing. I was hyperaware of him and his fingers splayed over my hip. I wanted him to pull me to him, so that I could rub myself over his body.

It was reckless to be this close to him. I hadn't thought this through because dancing only reminded me of how much I was still attracted to him. I moved away from him. "I should get dinner ready."

I busied myself, lifting the lid to check its progress. It was almost done. Then we could eat and watch Christopher ski. I should avoid being alone with Killian. Cooking was more intimate than I'd envisioned.

It brought up the old feelings I had for him. The ones I thought were gone forever had been lying dormant, waiting for something like this to happen. I needed to shove those feelings firmly in the past, where they belonged.

I grabbed tomatoes and shredded cheese from the fridge.

"I can cut up the tomato," Killian offered, taking it from me, so I grabbed an avocado and sliced it open. I couldn't meet his gaze. I didn't want to talk about our past or my feelings.

Thankfully, he didn't mention the impromptu dance. He probably thought I was a crazy girl that kissed and danced with men that didn't return their feelings. I wished I could stop embarrassing myself in front of him.

"It smells like the chicken is almost done," Killian said, and I moved to the pan, turning off the heat.

I grabbed the tortilla wraps I'd bought earlier and plates. I created a few fajitas, putting one on my plate and two on his. Then I moved everything to the table. "Do you need help?"

"I've got it." Killian hobbled over to the table.

There was something so intimate about cooking and eating together. Then there was that conversation, the one where I had to bare my soul to him. Or at least it felt like I did.

"Christopher skis for his high school team?"

I nodded. "Oliver offered him free lessons since I worked for the resort. It was a weak excuse but a nice gesture."

"We've always offered free lessons to kids of employees."

I reached over and covered my hand with his. "I'm grateful for the opportunity. We couldn't have afforded the sport for him, and he loves it."

"But you hate handouts?" Killian asked as he lifted his fajita and took a big bite.

"I do, but Christoper just wants to ski, and he's good. Maybe he'll get a scholarship. If he does, I'll do everything in my power to make sure he goes."

"He'll live his dream at the expense of yours."

I shook my head. "It's not like that. My dream was a long time ago. I don't have the same desires now. My time is over. But I won't let him miss out on his."

Tonight was important to me. Christopher was living the life I had dreamed about. I wouldn't let anything stand in his way.

"You're a good big sister."

I smiled at him. "I try to be."

"I don't think I was ever a good brother. I fought with them. I never worked so that I could support them. But I'd like to think if the situation called for it, I would."

"I used to watch you with them. I was jealous that you had so many siblings close in age. Mine were so much younger that, by the time they were born, I was more of their caretaker."

We finished eating and cleaned up.

"How will you get around outside?" I asked him.

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