CHAPTER ELEVEN
LIANA’S POV
+25 BONUS
“Are you going to take your bath before bed?” Killian asked. His voice was low and calm, as if this was just a normal night
and we were just a normal couple getting ready to sleep.
I hesitated. I could still feel the sweat on my skin from that awful motel. The fear and stress clung to me like a second layer,
making my chest tighten. The thought of stepping into his bathroom, into his space, and pretending everything was fine
was enough to make me dizzy.
“I’m fine” I said quietly, avoiding his eyes.
He raised a brow but didn’t say anything else. He changed into what he called pajamas, but it was just a pair of dark boxers
and nothing more. His chest was bare, all sharp lines and golden skin. I had to force myself not to look. My eyes were betraying me, wanting to linger, as if they had forgotten how much he had hurt me. I wasn’t going to let his body confuse me
again.
He sat on the edge of the bed and patted the space beside him. “If you don’t want to shower, I won’t complain,” he said with a
grin that was making my cheeks warm. “I love your scent.”
I stared at him like he had lost his mind. “You’re unbelievable.”
He laughed softly to himself, clearly enjoying the way he was getting under my skin. Then he leaned back against the
pillows as if he owned the room, and me.
The hot water helped. It didn’t fix the tightness in my chest, but it gave me a moment to breathe. I felt as if to me again and not to all the memories still clinging to`me.
I didn’t reply. I turned and walked into the bathroom. I closed the door behind me a little harder than I needed to.
my
skin belonged
When I came out, I wore a thick white robe. It was not perfect, but it was better than nothing. I held it tightly around me as I stepped back into the room. Killian’s eyes moved over me, slow, sure, as if he was reading every inch of
- me.
“Where are my things?” I asked, trying to clear my throat. “My lugage. I need clothes.”
He didn’t blink. “Your clothes were dirty. They’re being washed. You’ll get them tomorrow.”
I stiffened. Of course he had handled everything without asking me. As if he still had the right.
He picked up a bag beside the bed and handed it to me with a small smirk. “Here. Wear this tonight.”
I took the bag and opened it. Then I slammed it shut.
“Are you serious?!” I hissed.
Inside was red lace lingerie. It was thin and see–through. A matching thong and a bra that barely counted as clothing.
He looked way too happy with himself. “You can wear that, or wear a wet robe to bed with no panties.”
“I am not–Killian!”
“Unless you want one of my shirts. But they’re big. You might drown in them.” he said, lying on the bed with that smug smile still in place.
I threw the bag at his chest and marched to his closet. “You’re impossibly ridiculous.”
“And you’re dramatic” He called.
1/2
+25 BONUS
I found one of his button–down shirts. It was long and oversized. I put it on and felt relieved it covered past my knees. The
fabric was soft and smelled like him, clean and strong. The scent wrapped around me, making my stomach twist.
When I came out, he looked me up and down. His eyes dragged slowly over me in his shirt.
“Better” He said.
I ignored him. I walked to the armchair in the corner. I curled up with a pillow and pulled a blanket over my legs.
“What are you doing?”
“Sleeping here” I muttered.
He frowned. “Liana, the bed is big enough for two. Stop being silly.”
“I’m not sleeping next to you.”
“You’re such a pain in the ass,” he muttered as he stood up.
Before I could say anything, he bent down and picked me up like I weighed nothing.
“Killian! Put me down!”
“You want to sleep? Fine. But not like a sad puppy curled up in that chair.”
He carried me to the bed. He ignored how I squirmed. He set me on the mattress gently, but like
understand what boundaries meant.
I glared at him as he pulled the blanket over me.
“I hate you.”
someone who didn’t
He leaned close. His face was inches from mine. His voice dropped to a whisper. “You hate how much
I looked away. My jaw was tight. He wasn’t wrong. That was what made me so angry.
He climbed into bed beside me with a sigh. His body was warm and strong like a wall.
you still want me.”
I stared at the ceiling. I prayed sleep would come fast. Because if I stayed there too long, breathing him in, hearing his heart beat next to mine, I knew that part of me that still wanted him would wake up. And it would be hungry and reckless.
And I couldn’t let that happen.
Not now.
Not ever again.
