Page 26 of Her Marine
“What brought this up?” Slate inquired.
“I’ve had a few clients contact me for this service, but we don’t offer that yet. Our security details run no more than forty-eight hours.”
Killian rubbed his chin. He brushed his fingers across the stubble since he hadn’t shaved that morning, deciding to let it grow in. “I don’t foresee it being hard to implement. Finding the right people for long-term assignments shouldn’t be too difficult. It would be getting the pricing correct. Because longer terms will cost the client more to pay the security detail, but you want to be fair.”
“Agreed,” Slate began. “I don’t think it’s something we need to try to implement until after the beginning of the year, so we can get everything worked out. I think giving ourselves six months to iron everything out before putting it into practice would be best.”
“That would be beneficial,” Ace responded.
The server returned with their drinks, and though they’d all only skimmed the menu, they placed their orders, making small talk as they waited. Killian made a mental note to work on pricing since he would have time over the next few weeks.
7
Journee looked her hair and face over in the mirror. It was almost eight, and she was scrambling to get ready. When Killian had texted her that morning asking to go out to dinner, Journee had agreed, asking if he could pick her up at eight instead of his proposed seven. She’d had every intention of making sure she’d be able to keep that time, but a potential client walked in at the last minute, and she didn’t have time to text him and let him know she might be running late.
She had made it home less than an hour ago and immediately started getting ready. She pulled her natural hair on top of her head to shower and decided to wear it in a bun for the night since it would be easiest, and she kept her makeup light and neutral. Journee wasn’t sure where they were going, but she did know that at no point in going out with Killian, and even when she’d met him at the bar, had he not looked delicious. She was going to do the same each time they went out.
Journee had just finished brushing her teeth and was about to grab the dress she would wear out of the closet when her doorbell rang. Looking at the clock on her bedside table, she saw it was eight on the dot and cursed to herself. She knew it would take her a few more minutes to get ready, and she didn’t want to make him wait outside. She grabbed her robe from the hook on the closet door and slipped it on. She double-checked that it was Killian and unlocked the door, opening it.
“Hey,” she greeted. “Come in.” She took a couple of steps back, allowing him to come in, but Journee felt like a predator was stalking her. His eyes took her in, and she wondered if he was attempting to burn the robe she was wearing away.
Journee took him in as well. He was wearing a pair of black pants, and she hadn’t known that pants on a man aside from sweatpants could be a turn-on for her. Not until she had started spending her time with Killian. He’d paired it with a long sleeve black shirt and dark brown boots. The color of the clothing contrasted against his warm ivory skin.
His wrist housed a gold-faced watch, and his cologne was enough to make Journee want to drop her robe to the floor and indulge in everything his eyes were promising her. It was so tempting, but they’d only been dating for a little over two weeks, and she would make him work a bit harder.
Journee felt hot under his gaze, so she decided to break the silence between them. “I apologize for not being ready. I had a potential last-minute client come in.”
Killian bit his bottom lip as he tipped her chin backward, leaning down to kiss her. Journee allowed him to lead the kiss as he snaked his tongue into her mouth. He kissed her slowly, his tongue tasting every inch of her. If she hadn’t willingly decided to let him lead the kiss, she wouldn’t have had a choice with how he was currently kissing her.
The kiss was ripe with sexual tension, and she enjoyed every second of him dominating her tongue, exploring every part of her mouth.
Journee’s hands grabbed his shirt as she shifted her thighs and keened into the kiss. She’d never heard a noise like that come from herself, but she didn’t get to dwell on it long as his arm came to wrap around her waist, and it was as if Killian knew her knees were on the verge of giving out. He was working her up so much with just a kiss that she was sure she could cum at any moment.
She was positive that she could, and maybe she would have. However, he slowly pulled away, pecking her lips several times, and Journee released a whine of protest.
Killian gripped her chin, those gray eyes dark and staring deep into hers. “Go get dressed before it gets respectfully disrespectful in here.”
Journee’s breath hitched, and she couldn’t do anything but nod. She turned, going down the hall, calling for him to make himself at home.
Once in her room, she continued to her bathroom. He’d gotten her wet from just kissing her, and she needed to clean herself up. When she had, she went to her closet, pulling out the burgundy body con dress she was going to wear. It was strapless and came down to her ankles. The fall nights had been a bit unpredictable, being warm some nights and cool others, so she decided to grab a black half jacket just in case she became cold. Journee slipped her feet into a pair of black pumps. Her smudge-proof lipstick had survived Killian’s kiss, but she wouldn’t have been surprised if it didn’t. She grabbed a clutch, transferred the things she needed to it, and went down the hall.
She found Killian in her living room, sitting on the couch as he scrolled through his phone. He stood up, looking her over as he did. Journee heard him groan in his throat before walking to her.
“I will, at some point, misbehave tonight,” he stated, stopping in front of her.
Journee smiled at him. “I’d think something was wrong if you didn’t.”
With that, Killian took her hand, and she followed him out of the house, pausing to lock the door behind her. He opened the passenger side door for her, and she slid in, putting her seatbelt on as he went to the driver’s side.
They drove for twenty minutes—the soft sounds of music filtering into the car. Journee didn’t ask him where they were going because she figured he would have told her if he wanted her to know before they got there. She’d also yet to go out with him and not enjoy herself. So, it honestly didn’t matter to her where they ended up.
Killian pulled into the lounge parking lot, and Journee hadn’t been there in a while. Not because she didn’t want to, but because she associated it with David since it was where they met and became their go-to date spot. They served delicious food, and there was always live jazz playing.
Honestly, she was happy it was where they ended up because she knew that this one date with Killian would overshadow those with David.
Killian helped her out of the car, and they headed inside, showing their identification because there was an age restriction, and going over to a table that would allow them to hear the jazz filtering through the space, but not have to yell over it to talk to one another.
They had only been seated a few seconds when a server came over to take their drink order. Killian handed his card to them and asked that they open a tab for the table. Journee decided not to protest. She would pay for their food. She’d just have to make sure not to do it in front of him.
