Understanding seeps into my soul as the doctor finishes his stitching and straightens up, pushing his glasses up his nose and setting his needle kit down.
“You know the drill,” he states warmly, patting Killian’s shoulder before turning to his bag and beginning to pack up his things. “Keep it covered for 48 hours, then as clean as possible.
Know the drill… I wonder how many times he’s had to patch him up.
“Thank you,” Killian says, shifting away from the doctor and taking the opportunity to now windbotharms around my waist. The doctor steps away, gathering his supplies and busying himself as Killian’s lips find my cheekbone and he ghosts several slow kisses over the bruise on my face.
“I’m so sorry,” he whispers.
“Don’t be,” I murmur, sliding forward into his warm, protective hold.
“Never again,” he swears like a secret against my skin. His grip tightens and for a moment, everything else fades from thought and sense. It’s just me and him.
“And we’re getting a new house,” Killian murmurs. I can’t help the small, tired smile that bubbles up at that.
“That’s the best news I’ve heard all day.”
34
KILLIAN
It’s been a week since the Russians invaded my home, threatened my wife, and put my best friend in the hospital. A week and yet each time I close my eyes it’s as if I’m still there; Archer bleeding out on the carpet to my left and Cara bound in front of me with a gun in her face.
It’s not leaving me, and I suspect it never really will even as the dirt cools on the graves of those responsible.
Cara and I spent the week with Dante and Sienna, at my brother’s insistence.
It’s the only way I can be sure you’re safe, he insisted and Sienna didn’t take no for an answer. Painting it like an order is easier to swallow than the fact that we’d been attacked in our own home and neither of us felt even remotely safe staying anywhere else.
All week she’s assured me she’s fine, showing concern for myself and Archer rather than letting the cracks show but when they do, I’ll be here.
Her red lips part softly as we pull up into the driveway of our destination and that soft awe spreads onto her face as we stop by the front door. Her fingertips, on one hand, press gently against the window, and the glass fogs as she leans closer to peek outside.
“What is this place?” she asks softly, her voice the only thing that’s grounded me in reality for the entire week. Her thighs press together, her knees peeking out from the skirt of her gray dress and it’s taken a lot of restraint to keep my hands off of her.
Not because I don’t desire her, but being taken and bound like thatagain…I don’t want to move too fast for her. She’s fallen asleep in my arms each night but her lack of pressing for intimacy has kept my own desires at bay.
For now.
“Our new home,” I reply, giving her a moment to take it in. She whirls to face me, dark eyes wide as curls bounce around her face. She’s bright and beautiful and I’m going to give her the world.
“Ourhome?” she asks and an adorable crease forms between her brows.
I take her hand, sliding our fingers together in a mingling warmth and she immediately grips at my knuckles.
“Yes. After everything, Sienna and I scoured the city for several houses that match our safety requirements, and then I sent the finalists to Kimmy, for help in what would be closest to the home you’ve dreamed of,” I explain as her face flushes crimson and her eyelashes flutter.
“Kimmy knew?” she exclaims warmly and her grip tightens further around my knuckles, her nails pressing in just slightly.
“Yes. Though it was tough convincing her keep it to herself. She’s quite… forceful, isn’t she?”
“Oh,” Cara laughs lightly, “The thought of you trying to talk to her tickles me more than you know. I had no idea you were even looking so soon.” She turns her gaze back outside to the large mansion that stretches up into the sky before us, with pale stone steps leading up to a beautiful dark oak door with stained glass windows.
I don’t have much specificity but I do like stained glass.
“You were fairly distracted by Emilia,” I tease, a thought that warms even the coldest corners of my soul. Seeing her with Emilia had beenbeautifuland after our doctor confirmed the pregnancy despite the trauma of the kidnapping, all I’d been able to see was Cara with our own child.
A nice distraction too in that not once has Cara asked about Blair or what happened to her. I wouldn’t have details to provide anyway, Sienna made the call there and took care of it.