Page 28 of Yearning For Her

Nine

Willow stared at Kian. His blue eyes were fixed upon her, so bright they practically glowed. Shock, confusion, and desire swirled within her, keeping her heart aflutter and her breath short. Her palm stung, and her lips tingled with the aftermath of their kiss, which had been brutal, punishing, hungry. And she’d succumbed to it—to him. The whole world had fallen away the moment his mouth connected with hers.

It had been like they were in that hotel room all over again.

Thank God she’d come to her senses before she’d started rubbing all over him.

What was Kian doing here? Why had he grabbed and kissed her as though he had every right to do so?

As he straightened, Willow’s gaze flicked over his features. She’d glimpsed him for only an instant before his kiss had consumed her, but she swore he’d looked…unwell. Dark circles had surrounded his eyes, his cheeks had been hollow, and his skin had been ashen. He still didn’t look quite like she remembered, but this was a far cry from what she thought she’d seen a moment ago.

Amanda stepped closer and settled a comforting hand on Willow’s arm. “Are you okay?”

Giving herself a mental shake, Willow looked at Amanda and forced a smile. “Yeah, I’m fine.”

“You’re sure?” Amanda held Willow’s gaze before shooting a worried glance at Kian.

He lowered his arm and opened his mouth, shifting his jaw from side to side. The faint pink outline of a hand was visible on his cheek. “I’m the one who nearly had his head knocked off.”

“You deserved it,” Willow said, leveling a finger at him. She turned to Amanda. “Sorry. Yes, I’m totally fine. He’s…an old friend. He just surprised me is all.”

“That makes two of us,” he muttered.

Amanda nodded. “Okay.” But her attention remained on Kian, and something ignited in her eyes as they roamed over him.

Willow cleared her throat. “I…uh, I know you have to get back to work, so I’ll see you tomorrow then?”

The woman didn’t respond. It was as though she were spellbound by Kian.

“Amanda?”

Amanda started and looked toward Willow. “Huh? Oh! Yes. Tomorrow.”

Willow smiled. “Great!”

They bid each other goodbye. As Amanda walked away, she cast another lingering glance at Kian over her shoulder until she stumbled. Cheeks flushing, she faced forward and hurried around the corner.

“She’s gone.” Kian moved closer to Willow and reached for her. “Now we can pick up where we left off, Violet.”

Willow batted his hand away and retreated, shooting him a glare. “I repeat—what the hell, Kian?”

His brow furrowed. He glanced at his hand like it was an alien appendage he’d only just discovered. “I don’t understand, Willow.”

“What is there to not understand?” She leaned toward him and lowered her voice. “You assaulted me.”

Kian’s features hardened, and fire sparked in his eyes. “I gave you what you wanted. And you can’t tell me you didn’t enjoy it.”

I did. But that is totally beside the point.

“I didn’t ask for anything,” Willow said. “I didn’t even know you were there. You don’t just walk up to strangers and kiss them.”

“You don’t have to ask.” He eased closer, voice becoming husky. “And we’re not strangers.”

Willow put up a hand, palm out, to halt his advance. “We are.”

He frowned at her hand before placing his atop it and gently guiding it down. “I’ve been closer to you than anyone, Willow. I’ve tasted your sweetness on my tongue. I’ve filled you, felt you come undone around my cock, and listened to you scream my name in pleasure.”

Warmth flooded her, staining her cheeks, and her sex clenched. For three weeks, not a day had gone by during which she hadn’t thought of Kian and that night…and all the pleasure he’d wrung from her. “What are you doing here, Kian?”