"I like your friends," Killian said into the quiet car after making sure Amanda managed to get out of the stadium parking lot.
He squeezed my fingers slightly and then kissed the back of my hand, his lips hot against my skin.
"I'm glad, and very sorry Amanda put you on the spot."
His gravelly chuckle made my thighs clench. "Wait until you meet my mother. She'll know your shoe size within thirty minutes."
"I have big feet, so that's kind of harsh."
"Your feet are perfect, but I agree with Amanda." His grin went a little crooked.
I rolled my eyes. "This can't be good."
"No, I don't think it is. You tend to think poorly of yourself. Mind telling me why?"
Here it was-our first in-depth personal conversation. How I wished I'd asked the first question.
I took a deep breath before speaking. "I was taller than anyone I knew by sixth grade. I grew so fast that my coordination didn't catch up fully until around sixteen. I remember falling in the hallway once. My books went everywhere and the kids just laughed. No one stopped to help me. I ran to the bathroom and cried until a teacher came looking for me." I spoke quickly, took a few deep breaths, and continued. "I hated every day of school, and being incredibly shy didn't help me make friends."
"How tall are your parents?"
I heard sympathy in his voice.
"My dad's tall at six two, but my mom is only five five. She is also one of those butterfly girls like Malory and fits in regardless of the situation. I take after my dad. He's always thought he was the luckiest man on earth for winning my mom."
"Hmm, butterfly girls. I'd love to hear your definition."
I was looking out the side window then turned his way. "I don't mean it in a bad way. The butterfly girls bloom early. Malory is the perfect example. She's cute, fun, and shines in every situation."
"I don't know if that's totally true. Have you asked Malory about her awkward moments? I think everyone has them."
I tried to keep frustration out of my voice. Killian was gorgeous and might never understand. "You're right. So I'm cocoon girl with big feet, and to top it off self-centered. Why don't you give me a few of your inadequacies so I feel better?"
He only took a second before he answered. "I'm grumpy on game day, and don't like my girlfriend saying bad things about herself."
I think my heart stopped for several beats.
"Am I your girlfriend?" I tried to keep emotion out of the question, but failed because all the air left my lungs.
This time he brought my hand up and rubbed it against his scratchy jawline. "To me, you're my girlfriend, though that might be a tame word for what I hope we have so far. What am I to you?"
The words tumbled out. I couldn't stop them. "The future father of my children."
Killian gave me a quick glance before returning his eyes to the road. I couldn't believe what he said next.
"That might make up for your uncool behavior today. Does that line usually scare the guys away?"
His voice dropped an octave on the last sentence. I all but told him I loved him, and I couldn't hold back tears. They slipped down my cheeks, though I fought each one.
"I always scare the guys away." I felt raw, exposed to the point that I wanted to curl into a ball and cry.
He didn't release my hand until we pulled into his garage. I hadn't wiped my face, but most of my tears had dried. I could feel Killian looking at me, but he still didn't say anything. Finally, he got out and walked around to open my door before leading me into the house. It surprised me when he walked to the weight room. About ten steps in, he pulled me against his chest. The warmth of his breath flowed across my cheek.
"I don't know if I'm ready for you to have my babies, but you're not scaring me away, Rebecca Cavanaugh."
My tears began again, but I was solidly against his chest and he couldn't see them. My voice somehow remained calm. "I started dreaming of having your babies on the night we met. Now, we've only been together for a week, but I always latch on tightly. You're my third boyfriend and I did the same thing with the other two. I'm sorry, Killian. I'm only twenty-one, but my biological clock must tick faster than other women."
His rumbled laughter beneath my cheek took me by surprise. He pulled back and turned me around. I stood looking at a floor-to-ceiling wall mirror. Killian was behind me, his hands resting on my hips. I loved that he was taller than I was.
"Don't move." His low whisper held command.
He left me standing there and walked away. When he returned, he placed my hair up into a hair tie before returning his hands to my hips.
His sculpted arms, holding me, made my lady bits quiver. I looked up, meeting the chocolate pools of his eyes. I would have turned, but his hands went to the hem of my shirt and pulled the cotton material over my head before I could protest. He dropped it to the floor and unhooked my bra, letting it fall from my body so that I was naked from the waist up.
His hands rose and covered my breasts. My nipples peeked between his splayed fingers while his lips gently pressed against my neck.
"I love these." His fingers flexed in slow, sensual motion.
He continued placing small kisses down to my collarbone, traveling behind my neck, and moving up the other side.
"I love your taste."
He slowly released my breasts and moved down to the button on my pants while beginning to alternate his kisses with small nips. I squeezed my thighs together until he pushed my pants over my hips.
"Kick off your shoes." He placed a harder bite to my shoulder and then harder still when I didn't immediately follow his order.
My shoes flew a few feet away and he peeled my pants down until they hit the floor. His foot slid between my legs, stepping on my pants, giving me leverage to step out of them. He held me steady as I kicked them off. His lips and teeth continued their magic on every inch of flesh he could reach.
My entire body trembled when Killian's eyes met mine in the mirror. He was so exquisitely beautiful.
"Please take your clothes off, Killian," I groaned out in desperation.
"I will- later."
His warm hands traveled over the curve of my hips, up my sides and continued back to my breasts, making me clench my legs in anticipation.
"I love these," he said again.
"They're too small." The words came out on a sigh.
"No." He released my breasts, taking my hands and bringing them upward.
It took me a startled second to realize he wanted my hands covering my breasts, but as soon as I did, I tightened my arm muscles, pushing down, and made a sound of protest.
"Trust me, Rebecca. I won't hurt you."
I'd never touched myself with someone watching. It might only be my breasts, but my embarrassment went into overdrive.
He kissed my neck again, whispering, "Trust me."
My arms went lax. His hands covered mine while mine covered my breasts.
"That's how they feel to mesoft, warm, perfect." He accented each word with kisses against my neck and shoulder.
He pulled our hands away slightly and his thumbs came up and slid across my nipples. He used my fingers to do the same. The tips pebbled and my groin pulsed; I needed Killian's touch down there, too.
He released my hands. "Leave them there, Rebecca." His hands moved between us until he cupped the cheeks of my bottom.
"Your ass is so perfect. When you looked for your sister at the party, I stayed just far enough away to watch every sway in that damned skirt. I dreamed about you wearing that skirt and nothing else. I woke up every morning with a hard on that wouldn't stop. I took showers to relieve myself, but nothing helped."
I whimpered and saw Killian smile into the mirror. He moved his hands around until he reached the tops of my thighs.
"God, your legs, Rebecca. I dreamed of that skirt pushed up and your legs over my shoulders while I tasted you. The dream had nothing on that first night you were in my bed. I could run my fingers along your legs for hours. I think it's turned into a personal fetish."
He pulled back slightly and kissed low on my shoulder while his fingers traveled down the front of my legs. He sank to his knees, his hands never leaving my body. His eyes, peering into the mirror, traveled upward. I could feel his gaze like a caress.
I studied his face, admiring each sculpted hollow and line. No matter how rugged his features, I found him beautiful.
"You don't get it do you?" he asked as he kissed the middle of my back.
"Ge-get what?" The tremble running through my entire body made my voice breathy.
"How beautiful you are."