“Okay. You know what’s best for you.”
“I only have a few small things in the bathroom. I’ll put them in my trunk. You guys should go ahead and go. I’ll meet up with you for breakfast tomorrow.”
“All right.” She squeezes my hand. “Text me when you get to the hotel.”
“I will.”
Killian and Cooper return. “Goodbye, Killian. Come on, Cooper. I’m starved.” Mom licks her lips at Uncle Cooper, and I oddly feel okay with it. She said herself she’s his one who got away. Good for them. If Theo is happy with someone else, then she should do what makes her happy too.
The front door closes behind them.
Killian stares at me. I’m the first to break the silence. “I was wondering if you’d like to have dinner with me since it is my last night in Crestwood?”
“Are you on the menu?” The hunger in his dark gaze makes me weak in the knees.
I roll my eyes at him. “If you can’t be serious then I’ll go catch up with my mom and Cooper.”
“Dinner sounds great.”
“What are you in the mood for?”
“Fuck, Liri. I’m not hungry.” He laughs but it’s humorless.
“Then what do you want to do?”
“Barricade you in the bedroom and lick your pussy until you change your mind.”
Flames shoot up my neck and warmth pools between my thighs.
“Would that change your mind?” He stalks toward me. Being alone with him is dangerous.
“No. You can’t use sex as a bargaining chip. I tried that with you. It didn’t work out so well. You still ended up with Jackie.” Her name burns my tongue.
“I wish I could take it all back.” He grabs my hand and laces his fingers with mine. I feel something cool and gaze down. The ring is back on my finger. “I want you to have it. I want you to think of me every time you wear it. I want you to go to Paris and do whatever it is you need to do, but when it’s over, I’ll be here waiting for you. You’ll come back to me. You always do.”
“Killian,” I cry. “We aren’t ever going to work.”
“I can prove it. I won’t even look at another girl. I don’t want anyone but you.”
“You say that now…” I smile. “But you’re Killian Hendrix, you’ve got a reputation to uphold.”
“I only care what you think about me.” His lips brush along my jaw. “I’ll only ever love you.” His mouth hovers centimeters from mine. “You’ll always have my heart.”
I want desperately to believe him and to tell him that I’m pregnant, but in the back of my mind, I know that I’ll never be enough for him. Not until he realizes that there is good in him and that he deserves happiness.
“And you’ll have mine.” I return his kiss.
Those magical fingers that have brought me so much pleasure slide up under my shirt.
“Will you give me one more night?”
“Killian…we can’t.”
“We can. One night. No bullshit. A proper goodbye, Liri. Paris is a long way from Crestwood, and I need this to hold onto. One night to pretend you’re still mine.”
I stare into those dark eyes that own me no matter what I tell myself.
I deserve one more night.