Page 37 of Killian
My laughter was so loud that Killian had to raise his voice. “Nah, killed a cow. Makin’ spaghetti with meat sauce.”
My stomach rumbled. I really needed to remember to eat during the day. Part of me felt horrible that he was cooking so late at night for me, while the other was starving.
Bri leaned into me. “Woman, he’s hot. He cooks. He takes care of you. He protects you. You fuck this up, I’m calling in the straight-jackets.”
I lowered my voice. “Bri, don’t get your hopes up. I don’t want to see you crushed when it doesn’t turn out that way.”
“Go,” she ordered, getting up from the couch. “I’m heading to bed.” Bri hugged me then took off to her room. With nothing else to do, I went into the kitchen where Killian stood at the stove. There were three pots in front of him, all steaming hot. The smells were unbelievable.
“So you cook too? Is there anything you can’t do?” I asked, sitting at the kitchen island and watching him work.
“Nope.”
This made me grin inside. “Since you’re so handy and all, you can work on all my windows and doors, and get everything back in place at my house,” I teased.
Killian turned around. “Already had the boys board and secure the house. Everything inside is good, but we’ll need to go and get your stuff, so you can move in here.” With that punch, he turned around, stuck a wooden spoon in the sauce, then held it to his lips and tasted it. Holy hell. Did he make that from scratch?
“Did you make that from scratch?”
“Sure did. While a low and slow simmer all day truly brings out all the herbs, this will do.”
“Who taught you how to cook?”
“My grandmother.”
I wanted to know more, but I had to back up and rewind here. His culinary expertise was intriguing, but I had more important questions that needed immediate attention. “What do you mean, move in with you? I’m only staying for a couple of days until I figure out what my next move is. I’m thinking of staying with Elliot.”
Killian stopped what he was doing and turned around, prowling to the counter. He leaned down so we were nose to nose. “You’re stayin’ here. You don’t like it, tough shit. You like bein’ here just as much as I like havin’ ya.”
Even with his anger and frustration, something needed to be put straight. “Look, Killian. I know everything is fucked up, and I appreciate you trying to fix it, but I know you. Everyone talks about you and who you’ve been with. Which reminds me—we need to start using condoms.”
“Fuck no. I go in bare.”
“Umm … sorry, but I’m not sharing with others.” There I said it!
His eyes narrowed. “You think I’d even look at another woman when you’re in my bed?”
“How many women have been in that bed?” I closed my eyes. I knew better than to ask a question I was in no way prepared to deal with the answer to. “Never…”
“Nowhere near as many that is going through that brain of yours. That’s for damn sure.” His hands gripped the countertop like he was trying to hold himself back, probably from throttling me. “You don’t want to know that shit. I’m a man, not a saint, not a fuckin’ choir boy. That said, I’m a fuckin’ good man, Ellie, and I wouldn’t do that shit; not to you. Fact is, you just want a reason to push me away and, babe, I ain’t goin’ anywhere.”
I rolled my eyes to the ceiling. I found myself doing this a lot when it came to Killian. Even with the action, though, patience never came. “Killian, I don’t share.”
His eyes narrowed. “Neither do I. Let me just toss it out there so you can get some shit in check. You didn't catch me kissin’ another man, now did ya?”
“You kissed a man? When? How’d I miss that?” Sarcasm was this chick’s best friend.
Killian was pissed, but I saw the tic in his jaw, the one that said he wanted to laugh but was too damn stubborn to make it through. That was fine. It was funny, and this conversation needed a little lightheartedness before I went ape-shit.
“Ellie…” he warned.
“Killian…” I warned back.
He ran his hands over his face. “We go raw. You in my bed, and no one else will come close to me.”
“How do I trust that?”
“Just like you trust me to keep you safe. Just like you trust me to take care of you. Just like you trust I didn’t poison the damn sauce.”
