Page 44 of Tide Touched

‘Nothing. Ignore her. Thanks for getting that, by the way.’ I climb off the bed and make a beeline for the food.

Killian drops the subject without pushing. ‘Of course.’

Tearing into one of the bags, I grab two pastries and sneak one to Moira before Killian can devour them all. ‘I don’t want to be stuck in here. I want to go to a beach or something.’ I realise too late that I’m speaking with my mouth full and try to finish chewing like a normal person before speaking again.

Killian watches with an amused purse of his lips. He reaches for the last bag of pastries, but Moira gets there first. ‘Yeah, sure,’ he says, voice soft, though his eyes glare daggers at the pastry thief.

‘Why don’t we just go home to Cinder?’ Moira asks.

‘I’ve been thinking about that.’ Killian sets a hand on my knee, and I know we’re on the same page. ‘My father won’t accept Katherine back into the pack. She rejected Carter, and we’ve probably messed up that alliance.’

‘That was also your fault,’ Moira points out, just as unlady-like as me, flakes of croissant spilling out of her mouth. I stifle a laugh.

‘Yes, but even so.’

‘So, what, she goes on the run?’ Moira presses.

‘For now, we just need to keep the Water Pack wolves away from her.’ Killian meets my gaze. ‘Is that okay with you?’

I run my hand through my greasy hair, feeling a bit sweaty and sticky. ‘Yeah. I’d love to go swimming.’ I look around the room. Even though it’s completely different to the one I was kept in, I feel itchy at the thought of staying in here.

Moira sidles up next to me. ‘Seconded.’

Killian claps his hands together. ‘Then we leave after breakfast.’

I scoff. ‘No one put you in charge.’

Killian floors me with a panty-melting broody stare. ‘Oh, I’m in charge.’ The intensity of his words sends me rocketing back to my dream, and what he was in charge of there. My pleasure. He wasn’t concerned with what I was doing, or taking his pleasure from me. He was in charge, all right.

Killian leads the way out of what would generously be called a hotel. It’s basically a shack with wooden boards and some nails thrown in. I wouldn’t be surprised if a particularly strong breeze could take it down. I try not to scrunch my nose up at it; Killian did keep his promise with the whole ‘staying indoors’ thing.

‘Next time, I’m going to specify I’d like a nice play to stay,’ I mutter.

Killian glances at me over his shoulder. ‘It was the only one with a room available.’

Moira links her arm with mine. ‘Are there any stores around here?’ She plucks at her stolen dress. When we arrived at the shack last night, we’d been wolves, and therefore, naked. Luckily, we found a few things in the small laundry room and, well, stole them.

One day, when I’m rich and queen of the world, I’d love some clothes that are new. Because I’m fancy like that. As we follow Killian out of the shack and into the open space, I watch him brush a hand over his jaw. He’s grown a little stubble over the last few days.

‘There sure is.’ He leads the way.

I’ve forgotten what he’s responding to. My attention is wholly distracted. By Killian. The dream I had last night keeps coming back to me. Did you know it’s hard to squeeze your legs together while you’re walking without looking like you really need to pee? Not cute.

The rising sun guilds his hair, melting his auburn locks into rays of gold that sharpen the lines of his arms, those perfect muscles. I’d thought he was magnificent, all those days I saw him running shirtless on the beach. But he doesn’t even have to be shirtless. He’s just… perfect.

Moira catches my arm, and we fall into step a ways back. ‘Checking him out?’

I shoot her a look, but smile and nod. ‘Yeah. Hard not to.’ I shake my head. ‘It’s so weird. I was physically attracted to Carter, like my wolf wanted me to jump him all the time. But this…’ I nod to Killian. ‘He’s not doing anything and I just…’ My lips kick into a smile. ‘This is real. This is right.’

Moira looks me over and smiles slowly. ‘I’m so glad, Katie.’ She hugs me briefly, then gags.

A bustling marketplace comes into view.

Killian gestures. ‘We’re here, ladies.’

‘Brothel Town is bigger than I expected.’

Moira grabs my forearm. ‘What?’ I ask, alarmed.

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