Page 29

The words hit their mark, and for a fleeting moment, Yvette saw something crack in his proud, impenetrable façade. But just as quickly, his expression hardened again.

“Ye’ve got a very high opinion of yerself, haven’t ye?” he said, taking a step closer, his presence overwhelming. “Ye think ye have figured me out? Ye haven’t even scratched the surface.”

“And maybe you haven’t figured me out, either,” she countered, her voice steady, though her heart pounded furiously in her chest.

Killian took a slow step toward her, his eyes locked on hers, piercing into her very soul.

“Ye can shout at me all ye like, lass,” he murmured, his voice a low, velvety drawl as he leaned in, his breath warm against her cheek, “but we both ken it’s not anger that’s got ye trembling.”

“I do not know what you are talking about,” she scoffed, stepping back slightly, but her pulse betrayed her, quickening with every inch he closed between them.

Killian’s smirk deepened, his gaze flicking over her face, lingering on her parted lips.

“Oh, ye’re good at pretending, lass, but not good enough.”

He reached out, his hand brushing a strand of hair from her cheek, his touch sending a shiver down her spine.

“I can see it in yer eyes, the way ye’re tryin’ so hard to hide it.”

Yvette swallowed, her mind screaming to retreat, but her body refused to obey.

“I am not hiding anything,” she managed, her voice tight.

“Aye, ye are,” he murmured, taking another step closer, his presence overwhelming. “Ye can try to fight it, but I know the truth. Ye want this… wantme.”

Before she could protest, Killian leaned down, his breath mingling with hers, a teasing whisper escaping his lips.

“And I think, lass, ye’re just as tired of pretending as I am.”

With that, he closed the distance, capturing her lips in a kiss that was as fierce as it was inevitable.

It wasn’t a kiss of tenderness, but of frustration—of everything they hadn’t said to each other. The heat between them was undeniable, as if the very air around them had caught fire.

Yvette froze for a moment, surprised by the suddenness of the kiss, but soon, she found herself responding, her hands pressing against his chest as if to push him away, yet unable to pull herself from the moment. It was as though every emotion they’d been harboring finally had an outlet, and it poured out in that kiss.

But, just as quickly as it began, Killian pulled away, stepping back with a ragged breath. His expression was full of frustration and disbelief, as if he couldn’t quite understand what had just happened.

“This was a mistake,” he muttered, his voice hoarse.

He turned on his heel and walked toward the door, but before he could leave, he paused, his back still to her.

Yvette stood there, breathless and wanting more, unable to process what had just occurred.

The irony of the situation was not lost on her—she had woken up this morning determined to clear her mind of him, and yet here she was, her mind swirling in the aftermath of his kiss.

It had meant something, hadn’t it?

Yvette could not shake the memory of the kiss even as she returned to her chambers. It was the only thing on her mind, replaying over and over like an unwanted melody that refused to leave her thoughts.

What annoyed her most was how easily Killian had dismissed it, walking away as though it had never happened. The way he had pulled her close, the desperation with which he’d kissed her—it couldn’t have been a mistake. Not when he had held her as though he were afraid she might slip away.

She sighed. Why was she letting it bother her so much? She barely knew this man, and yet her body reacted to him as though she had known him for a lifetime. She stopped, letting out another sigh, this time long and slow.

“Your Grace, are you all right?”

Yvette blinked, returning her attention to Daisy standing behind her, watching her through the reflection in the mirror. Daisy had a concerned look on her face as she finished brushing out Yvette’s damp hair, and Yvette met her gaze.

“Just lost in thought,” Yvette replied, though the words felt hollow. She couldn’t tell Daisy what was truly on her mind. The kiss was too complicated, too confusing for words.