Page 54 of Her Marine
Killian’s first thought was to follow her into the kitchen, but it was clear she needed a little more time, and he’d give it to her. He entered her living room, pulled his phone from his back pocket, and sat on the couch.
He scrolled through his social media feed. He never posted anything, but his sister insisted he needed it to keep up with what was going on in his friend’s and family’s lives. Killian knew Ziggy was mainly talking about herself. He figured when their security business expanded, he could post about it.
Killian sat there for ten minutes before Journee stepped into the living room entryway and told him dinner was ready. He placed his phone in his back pocket and followed her into the kitchen.
He’d been able to smell the enticing aroma of what she was cooking when he’d walked through the front door. As they entered the kitchen, the smells hit him full force, and Killian knew that if it tasted half as good as it smelled, it would be amazing.
Journee already had their plates fixed on the table. Killian made his way to the chair she was taking and pulled it out for her before sitting across from her. He took the first bite of his food, and he wondered what he needed to do to get her to cook for him again. They’d cooked together before, but it was something he’d chosen.
The first few minutes were spent with them sitting in relative silence. The sound of their cutlery on the plates sounded louder than they were. Killian decided to break the silence. He didn’t want her living in her head, and since she’d communicated that she needed space and then reached out after the fact, she was ready to talk about it. He wanted them to avoid repeating the first time she felt the way he was guessing she felt now.
“This is delicious, Tigress.” He decided to say. While he didn’t want them to ignore what she wanted to talk about, Killian didn’t want to bring it up before she was ready.
“Thank you,” she responded. “It’s my first time cooking it. I found the recipe a little while ago and thought I’d try it.”
“I’m glad you decided to make it for me. I like it,” Killian responded.
It was quiet for a few seconds before Killian asked her about work, and they kept the conversation going through the rest of dinner as they cleaned the kitchen together with small talk. He listened to her tell him about the last couple of events she had before focusing solely on the wedding she was planning.
When they entered the living room, the silence settled over them again as Journee turned on the television. This time, Killian allowed it to hang in the air. He would let her be the one to break it.
“Kaydence is having Thanksgiving at her house this year, and she extended an invitation to you, but I know you’re leaving a couple of days before,” Journee stated after flipping through channels.
“I can extend my visit two days if you want me to go,” Killian responded, giving her his full attention.
“My grandmother will be there, and Kaydence’s parents, which are like my parents. So…”
Killian listened to her trail off, her eyes still on the television screen, and he began to understand. He assumed incorrectly why she’d needed time to herself.
“I get it. Meeting your family would be awkward since we’re just fucking.”
Killian didn’t miss how her eyes flickered to him, and she swallowed slowly before responding, “Yeah, that.”
He placed his index finger under her chin and brought her eyes to his. “I don’t mind going, but I need two things from you in return. I’m checking out of my suite on Tuesday. So, I’ll need you to play hostess until I fly out. The second, if you get to have me for Thanksgiving, I get to have you for Christmas.”
Killian watched as her eyes widened slightly before her brow furrowed in confusion. “But, why…I…” He shook his head as she trailed off.
“Contrary to the thoughts that have formed in your mind, I’m not here,” he told her, gesturing between them. “To just take my dick for a swim. Did it start that way? Yes. Did that last long? No.”
He wouldn’t lie to her or himself. It was a physical attraction that drew him to her. His dick made that initial decision for him, but when she’d decided to make him work for it instead of just jumping into bed with him, he wanted to see if she meant it. In talking to her, getting to know her, Killian came to want more than her body beneath his. This recent distance was because she hadn’t realized that.
“Okay. I can do both of those things.”
“I lied. I need one more thing. I need you to talk to me, Tigress. To express whatever you’re feeling, whatever you’re having doubts about. I’m not going to be mad that you did so. I thought we’d already discussed this.”
Journee sighed. “I know, but expressing myself in past relationships never went well. So, I just stopped. It’s hard to fall back into doing it without thinking about the issues it can cause.”
Killian studied her momentarily before wrapping his arm around her waist and pulling her towards him. He leaned in, speaking against her lips. “Let me remind you that this isn’t any of your past relationships.” He nipped her bottom lip. “Bedroom. Now.”
Killian stood, holding his hand out to help her up. He would erase whatever uncertainty was in her head and the memory of any man she’d been with before him. By the time he finished with Journee, she’d forget what her skin felt like when it wasn’t flush against his.
14
Journee and Kaydence drove towardsBite & Playas the soft sound of music filled the car. They were meeting their men there for one last double date before Killian left in a few days but decided to go early to have a drink since Axel was working a bit later. The men would come together.
When they arrived, they went inside and requested a table for four. Surprisingly, they didn’t have to wait long, but Journee knew it was because most people tended to visit late at night since they stayed open until two in the morning on the weekend.
Their server gave them menus and took their drink orders before smiling at them and excusing themselves.
