“Don’t worry,” I tease, “my cock will always be here when you’ve earned it.”
“You’re impossible!” Cara snaps and she untangles herself from my arm and climbs out of the tub. A bubble of laughter rises up as she grabs a towel and wraps it around her body.
“That frustration you feel? Sexual denial is one of the most powerful things. Though you could try again, to get yourself off,” I remark playfully. The embarrassed flush on her skin pulses even darker, and Cara turns, stomping into the bedroom.
Laughter escapes me again and I ease myself out of the tub, following her movements of grabbing a towel and begin to pat myself dry.
The pain she caused me runs deep, and the hurt won’t fade quickly, but she is incredibly fun to toy with. I pad into the bedroom to see her lounging on the bed, dressing in a slinky nightie and a warmer smile teases at the corners of my lips.
With this in my bed every night and her loyalty locked squarely on me, I think I can live with it.
33
CARA
Even the best-laid plans always seem to catch up to me without any warning.
It's been two weeks since Killian came home and we faced each other. Forgiveness is difficult, and things aren’t perfect. I still catch the hurt in his eyes sometimes when he thinks I’m not looking, but he’s generous with orgasms when I desire them, so I know we’re on a good path.
It’s a quarter past the hour, Kimmy and Sadie are due to arrive within twenty minutes, and nothing is complete. Wobbling across the tiles, I throw my arms out to unfurl the fluffy rug I’ve stolen from the lounge. It spreads out wide and slaps down onto the kitchen tiles, effectively hiding the wine stain from view and delivering a strong injection of dust straight to my lungs.
It catches dry in my throat, and I cough twice, brushing my hands together before heat presses against my lower back and a hot mouth brushes lightly over the back of my bare neck.
Killian.
The source of why I woke up with little time to prepare. I won’t complain, though. Each time he lingers in bed with me, I’m happy just to be spending more time with him.
“Aren’t you going to be late?” I ask as I turn to face him, placing both hands on his broad chest and pressing a light kiss to his chiseled jaw.
“Maybe,” Killian replies, sliding his hand around my narrow waist and pulling my body snugly against his. He kisses me, slow and gentle, with a flash of hot tongue against my own that sends heat skittering down my spine before I press against his chest, pushing him away.
“Don’t you have a meeting today?” I ask with a smile and Killian winks at me.
“Not today,” he replies and there’s something evasive about his tone.
“Well, what is it then, club business?” I press lightly and Killian shakes his head.
On cue, Archer appears in the lounge doorway and clears his throat, his face as stoic as ever, and yet his eyes seem harder than what I’m used to. Killian isn’t revealing what is so serious that it’s pulling him away, but I know it’s important. In the weeks since the wedding Archer has been vigilant guarding the house, but these past few days, he has been leaving with Killian.
“Duty calls,” Killian sighs and he presses another fleeting kiss to my lips before he nods his farewell and steps back. I press my lips together in a fine line. He has the freedom to leave, and I’m kept here under lock and key formy own protection.
No time to dwell on that now!Kimmy and Sadie will be here soon!
I turn back to the rug, adjusting it with my foot to ensure the stain is properly covered then I step over it to reach the oven. Grasping the thick gloves from the handle, I open the oven door, wincing as heat blasts into my face, and remove trays of pizza and potato wedges. Setting them down on the counter opposite, I kick the oven door closed with my foot and dart across to the lounge for a bottle of wine.
It had taken a lot of effort to persuade Killian to let my friends come here. However, he relented after I’d threatened to sneak out the back entrance and leap over the wall using the climbing vines to help myself over.
He agreed, and then the climbing vines had been stripped from the wall by a gardener a day later.
Wine secured, I set three glasses out on the counter, and just on time as the shrill sound of the doorbell rings through the house.
My stomach lurches, and I can barely suppress my grin as I smooth down my floral dress and take a steadying breath. I love them dearly, but it’s a different affair to host them in a safe house that I’m climbing the walls to get out of. The doorbell rings again and I hurry to the door, wrenching it open and revealing Kimmy and Sadie clinging to each other with large smiles plastered over their adorable faces.
“Cara!” They both squeal, piling over the threshold and into my arms. Laughter bubbles up as I struggle to wrap my arms around the both of them, guiding them into the hall far enough that I can close the door.
“Are there always this many guards?” Sadie asks breathlessly, “talk about lack of privacy!”
“Yes!” I laugh lightly.