Chapter 18

Adeep growl vibrated against my ribcage. He was behind me. I wasn’t dumb. I could hear his steady breathing. Feel the very presence of him just standing there. And that stupid smell. I hugged my cup to my chest, wishing I hadn’t already emptied it. I needed more alcohol. There wasn’t enough alcohol in the world to deal with how that aroma of tobacco and vanilla clouded the air. It weaved through my already hazy mind, sparking sinful thoughts I shouldn’t be thinking about him—thoughts that heated my body in a way I didn’t want.

“Go away, Killian,” I snarled. I would not turn around. I refused.

And yet, the man stepped so close I could feel the warmth radiating off his body. The liquid heat that slid down my spine did things to me I hadn’t felt in a long time. No more drinking around him ever because all I could think about was how easy it’d be to just lean back into him like old times.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” he demanded. There was that anger again.

“Standing outside. By a fire. What does it look like I’m doing?” I shot back, matching his tone. He started it. “Or do you not know the outside when you see it?”

Maybe I was being mean.

Probably.

Most definitely.

I just wanted him to go away. He was exhausting.

“You can’t be out here alone,” Killian said. Oh, good Lord.

“I can do whatever I want.” I rounded on my heels fast to glare at him and swayed unsteadily. His hand shot out to anchor me by the elbow, but I pulled away quickly. Nope, didn’t want that. Those midnight eyes darkened with my rejection.

“That guy grabbed your fucking ass on the dance floor and your next thought is let me go outside in the dark alone?” he replied. “And drunk?”

Screw him. I could be drunk all I wanted. And what did he care if someone grabbed my ass? It was my ass.

“Maybe I wanted him to—”

“Don’t fucking lie to me, Genevieve.”

“I can take care of myself, Killian.”

“Can you?” His arms crossed over his broad chest, drawing my attention downward. I couldn’t help it as my gaze slid down over the intricate designs of the tattoo on his arm. Woods and water design inked into every inch of his skin. I knew the design stretched across his chest and back. From what bit I could see, it was beautiful—not that I’d tell him that. “Because from where I’m fucking standing, you can’t.”

My temper flared at the audacity of his words. How dare he.

“Leave me alone,” I growled. Pushing past him, I stormed away. Or at least, I tried to. It was hard to storm away when the asshole decided to come after me.

“Get your ass back here,” he ordered. Like that’d work. He couldn’t tell me what to do.

“Leave me alone!” I yelled again.

“I’m trying to keep you safe!” Killian hollered back. “You have no idea what men like him are capable of.”

Of all the ever-loving goddam things he could say.

“Men like him?” I whirled quickly, not giving a damn that the world swayed too. He halted with me, not budging as he towered over me. I stabbed a finger in his chest, screaming, “What about men like you? Who’s going to protect me from you?”

“You don’t need to be protected from me,” he scoffed. “Stop being so fucking dramatic. I’m keeping your drunk ass from ending up hurt or worse.”

“Well congratulations, you did your job.” I rolled my eyes and went back to trying to leave. And he freaking followed. What was his problem? Why couldn’t he just leave me alone? “Go away, Killian.”

“Get back here, Genevieve.” The contempt in his voice as he spat out my name wasn’t lost on me. Insufferable man.

“Stop pretending like you care about me.”

“Jesus fuck, woman! I do care about you!” Before I could do anything, his hand locked around my wrist. In one swift movement, he spun me and yanked my body to his. His mouth caught mine as his fingers curled around the back of my neck, and his arm circled my waist. Eyes sliding shut, I melted into the familiarity of him—of the feelings he elicited in me. Despite the anger and hatred between us, his lips were gentle—languid and confident. I kissed him back. When his tongue swept against mine, he paused.

“Do you have a tongue piercing?” His lips left mine—much to my disappointment.

“Yes,” I answered breathlessly and dragged his mouth back. I had quite a few piercings in secret places. I liked the pain of getting them. It was a morbid thing to enjoy.

My back hit the clubhouse wall as our kissing turned frantic. His teeth nipped at my bottom lip, and I lost it—that delicious twinge of pain and the taste of his tongue drove me wild. Our hands roamed every inch we could on each other. His palms turned my skin to fire while his fingers dug in hard enough to leave bruises. I explored the hardness of every defined muscle that made up his sculpted body. It was new and different. Unusual and sexy.

His hips pushed me further into the wall, and the thick ridges of his dick pressed into my stomach. The heat building between my thighs was unbearable. My body readily recalled every way he knew how to touch, coax, and force an orgasm out of me. God, I wanted that.

I wanted him.

That thought snapped me back to reality. I couldn’t do this. Not with him. I couldn’t go down that road again. It was full of heartache, fighting, and bad memories.

“No!” I exclaimed breathlessly and fought against him, pushing him away. Even in the dark, the confusion in his expression was clear as day. “No! You… you stay away from me.”

“Princess—”

I slapped him when he stepped closer, the sound of my hand on his face louder than expected. His jaw clenched while his eyes darkened dangerously. That growl that rumbled in his chest was a warning, but I didn’t care.

“You don’t get to call me that,” I whispered, my voice shaking. Tears I had no control over rolled down my cheeks. “You… you don’t get to come in and destroy me all over again. I was fine! I was fine until… you stay away from me, Killian. Just… stay away from me.”

I hurried away, my chest burning with the sobs I tried to hold back. I wouldn’t break down. Not in front of him.