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Finally, he breaks the silence. “Are you cold?”
“I, uh…” My inability to lie to Carter and evidently to Killian as well turns out to be a real fucking inconvenience. So I change the subject. “I’m not cold. And you owe me an answer, Killian.” Emboldened by my own damn self, I charge forward. “An answer I’ll like.”
He barks a short laugh at the same time a guy runs across the road. Some people here have a serious death wish.
Killian hits the brakes again. Thankfully, we’ve been lugging forward at a snail’s pace, so no one got hurt. I didn’t even feel the seat belt.
“You okay?” he asks.
“Yeah.” My answer comes with a scowl.
“Hmm,” he muses. “So, an answer you’ll like.”
He doesn’t rush to lift his foot off the brakes. Especially since we have a red light waiting for us three feet ahead.
It doesn’t matter to the man behind us. He doesn’t stop honking.
“Excuse me.” Killian turns to look over to the side where the honking man pulls up to.
By the time he stops next to us, Killian has his tinted window lowered and his attention zooming on the other man.
I only see the back of Killian’s head, but I’d say the other dude received one serious death glare.
You’re fucked, fucker.
As he should, the Escalade dude whips his gaze in the other direction. So scared he doesn’t even apologize.
The fear Killian instilled in him reminds me of what Carter did to poor Bradley. I didn’t like that he scared the poor clerk. I couldn’t deny how hot it was, either.
Now, I’m tempted to join the fun. Stick my tongue out at the man who can’t see me anymore.
“Stop being an embarrassment, Amara,” I hear Dad in my head. “We can’t take you anywhere. We don’t give someone the finger when you’re the problem. Stop cutting your steak with the wrong goddamn knife. Maybe then no one would want to throw up when they look at you.”
I’m not ashamed of who I am, that belief still stands. But, yeah, Killian isn’t Carter. He wouldn’t think I’m the cutest thing ever. He’d think I’m immature. That I’m not ready for…
For what?
“Okay. I won’t have cameras installed in your shop.” Killian surprises the heck out of me when he says that.
My eyebrows shoot up. “Really?”
This feels strangely easy. Too easy. A minute ago, he was being a control freak. He’s never struck me to be the one to bend to anyone’s will. Much less mine.
“Yes, really.” One nod. Firm and decisive.
The light turns green. Killian doesn’t move. No one else does, anyway, with the traffic and all.
Then his eyes land on my wounded temple like they had last night.
Killian’s brow creases, his dark gaze softening. There’s sadness and possessiveness in his dark features. A moment later, his teeth grind, and a vein bulges in his neck.
My limbs weaken, and my heart stops as his hand rises in slow motion.
Same as yesterday.
Only difference is, I’m not confused by adrenaline and exhaustion.
I’m present. Every part of me is.
