Page 49 of Third Strike Smitten

“I did,” I admit, holding his gaze. “I just uh…I didn’t expect such a straightforward answer.”

“Would you prefer I lied?”

“No.” I finally look away, wondering if I actually appear green, being that I’m filled with envy for those women he calls on any given night. “Honestly, it’s…it’s fine.”

He sets his water bottle down and steps closer to me. “Don’t worry. Since we’re doing this whole...” He gestures between us. “No sex thing, I’ll find a new way to get rid of all the…adrenaline. I won’t break our deal, I promise.”

The words hang in the air between us as I stare at him, my mouth suddenly dry. The way he says it—so matter-of-fact, like he’s discussing what to have for dinner—makes me feel kind of weird.

“Unless...” Killian’s voice drops lower as he takes a step toward me. “You’ve changed your mind about that particular clause?”

I swallow hard, my heart hammering against my ribs. The intense way he’s looking at me, almost predatory, makes it difficult to think clearly. But something about the vulnerability I saw earlier today, the fear in his eyes when he thought he might be traded, has me wanting to offer him comfort in whatever way I can.

And let’s be honest…hooking up with Killian Haynes could very possibly be an out-of-this-world experience.

Didn’t he tell me he’s pierced a while back?

“I mean...” I start, my voice coming out breathier than I intend. With my hand at the base of my throat, I say almost as if in a trance, “If it would help with the stress...”

Killian’s eyes widen, and he laughs, a genuine, surprised sound that breaks the tension in the room. “Jesus, Isla. I was kidding.”

Heat floods my face. “What? Yeah. I mean, I knew that,” I lie, crossing my arms over my chest, relief and disappointment growing. “I was just...playing along.”

“Sure, you were.” His grin widens, and I want to simultaneously kiss him and throw something at him. “And as much as I appreciate the offer, I think we should probably stick to our original plan.”

“Right. Of course. That makes perfect sense.”

He watches me for a moment, long enough to be nearly uncomfortable, and then he leans forward and kisses my forehead tenderly. “But seriously, thank you for the offer. That’s very kind of you. And thank you for showing up today when I panicked. I don’t know what it is about you but I’m calmer, I guess, when you’re around. I appreciate you.”

I shrug my shoulders, still trying to wipe away the embarrassment. “Meh. I would’ve just heckled you the whole time anyway.”

That gets him to laugh out loud, all sense of tension melting away. “Oh shit, I can only imagine the things that might come out of your mouth while I’m fucking you senseless.”

Hoooly shit.

He just said that…

He just…

Fucking me senseless…

Yes please…

Still chuckling, he offers me his hand, wrapping his warm fingers around mine. “Come on, let’s get out of here.”

We head for the door and then wait outside for the elevator. When the doors open, we step inside and he hits the button for the ground floor. And just as the elevator doors are about to close, Killian looks at me and says, “But just so we’re clear, I could make you come faster than your grandmother’s wheelchair.”

11

KILLIAN

Ican’t stop thinking about her mouth.

That’s the problem. That’s the whole fucking problem.

I’m sitting at Shepherd’s kitchen island, nursing a beer I haven’t touched in ten minutes, watching Isla chat with Sutton about work while my mind keeps replaying the way her lips felt against mine. The softness. The heat. The way she gripped my jersey like I was the only solid thing in her universe. The way she made this tiny, breathy sound when my tongue touched hers that I’m pretty sure has been permanently burned into my brainstem.

And the worst part—the absolute worst part—is that I liked it. Not just the kiss, because fuck me, that tiny little whimper of hers is a sound I’m dying to hear again, but her.