Page 22

The moment Killian pulls out of the driveway, I call my sister with knots in my stomach. I know she’s working and I hate to bother her, but something tells me she’ll want to hear this.

“You’re terrible at calling me when you say you will,” she says when she answers. “Is Windwinter in another dimension?”

Immediately, the tension in my shoulders loosens. This is my sister we’re talking about, she’ll be fine. It’ll be fine. “It feels like that sometimes. I’m actually calling to spill some serious tea, so I need you to take a lunch break and go somewhere private.”

“This is the call I’ve been needing.” She sounds way too excited for someone who doesn’t have a clue why I’m calling, and as I hear her lie to her boss about her husband needing to tell her about their kid’s doctor’s appointment, I relax a little further. “I’m going to my car, but you can get the tea flowing. What’s his name? How big is his dick?”

Leave it to Violet to see right through me. “His name is Killian, and he’s big enough that my organs know he’s there,” I laugh. “You’re not gonna believe how I met him though. Do you have any guesses?”

“Uhh... you... saved him from being attacked by a bear? No, wait, that was my baby Emmett. This isn’t Twilight . Oh, your car broke down and — bitch, just tell me. Is he hot? His name is hot.”

Butterflies erupt in my stomach. “He’s insanely hot. But Vi, before I tell you anything else, I need you to promise me that this stays between us. You can’t say a word, not even to Greg or mom or dad or anyone. Promise me.”

“Before I agree, tell me one thing. Are you safe?”

Her big sister voice tells me that’s her only true concern, and nothing else will really phase her.

“I’m safer now than I’ve ever been in my life.”

Her breath of relief is so loud, I pull the phone from my ear. “Okay. I promise I won’t say a word about your big-dicked man toy. Spill.”

“Well...” My heart beats louder, harder. “This cabin wasn’t empty when I got here. It was already occupied by a certain large, handsome fugitive who has been all over the news for weeks.”

“What?!” she shrieks, then lowers her voice to a whisper. “Wait, fugitive on the news? The guy who killed that piece of shit politician?”

“Yes. I swear I would’ve told you sooner but I wanted to wait until I was sure I was no longer his prisoner anymore,” I mutter. “And I’m not, so here we are. He’s a thousand times hotter than the fan arts have guessed. I can’t even describe it.”

“Prisoner? Oh my god, this is why you’ve been so flaky? But if you were his prisoner, why were you able to talk to me at all? I mean you could have said snarglefuck at any moment and I’d have had the police out there so fast.”

The fact that I completely forgot the safe word we created as children tells me I never really felt like I was in true danger here.

“It was touchy at first, but he’s not a bad man. He wasn’t planning on me being here, it just happened, and he had to react in the moment. I don’t think he would’ve truly stopped me if I tried to leave.”

“I know he’s not a bad man. He could have killed hella people on that street and chose to only kill the one that deserved it. He left potential witnesses alive, and that told me exactly the kind of man he is. I feel a little guilty now, I’ve been having wet dreams about your boyfriend, Joey. Half of the country has.”

“Don’t feel guilty. If you knew what he actually looks like, you’d cream sitting still. It’s almost not fair. He pointed a gun at me when we first met and I couldn’t see anything past his tattoos and bulge,” I admit, laying back on the couch and closing my eyes. “He’s a giver.”

“Shut up, I’m already in love.” Vi sighs. “Don’t shut up. Tell me more. Describe every detail. Which way does it curve?”

Her joking around is her way of telling me everything is okay, that she supports me and would take this to the grave if I asked her to, so I don’t hold anything back. The good, the bad, the confusing, I tell her all of it until my voice is hoarse and I’m afraid I’ve kept her well over a normal lunch break. “So, that’s it. I don’t know what’ll happen now, but I chose to come back and I don’t regret it.”

“Damn. How does a fugitive sound like a better boyfriend than all your others? Whatever, I’m happy for you because you sound happy and that is always what matters to me. I talked to mom and dad about it the other day, and they feel the same way we do about the shooter. I know you aren’t rushing to tell them of course, but if the day comes, I know they will support you too. Plus, we know he’ll protect you from that asshole if he ever had to.”

“Hence why I said I’m safer now than I’ve ever been. Killian won’t let anything happen to me, I just have to hope he doesn’t get fucking arrested. Either way, I’ll have to tell mom and dad eventually because unless the coverage dies down, we’ll never be able to leave this cabin.”

She groans. “I want to meet him, but I get it. The news said they have a suspect in mind, but they aren’t releasing his name due to lack of evidence. Hopefully they have it wrong.”

Well, it didn’t take long for the nerves to come back. “He’s out there by himself right now, Vi.”

“Where did he go?”

“I don’t know. He said he needed to run some errands and he thought it would be a good time for me to call you, so I didn’t go with him. Fuck, I can’t do this forever.” The tightness in my chest proves it. “How in the hell did I get here?”

Flashes of him pinned down getting handcuffed take over until I’m spiraling, but my sister manages to pull me back from the ledge. “Everything will be okay, he probably just...”

Whatever she’s saying fades away as I hear my car pulling back in the drive. “He’s back,” I rush out, bolting off the couch to meet him at the door. I would’ve been worried no matter what, but something about Violet knowing makes it seem more real. This is my life now. He is my life now.

“Thank fuck. Don’t let him go out alone anymore, you’ll have a heart attack.”

When I open the door for him, I see two filled bags in his hands before he’s spinning around to hide them. “Don’t look, woman. I have a surprise, but you have to go to the room for a bit.”

“Oof, he even sounds hot,” she says, but she doesn’t know the half of it. She hasn’t heard him when he gets all growly and commanding, or when his voice is wrecked from sleep.

“What if I don’t want to?” I push. “I’m having a nice little conversation and I like it out here. Also, welcome back. I’m glad you didn’t get arrested.”

“Is that your sister still? Hi, Violet. Can you tell your sister to be a good girl for me or she won’t get her surprise?”

“Hi, Killer. I won’t tell her what to do, that’s your job.”

He can’t hear her, so he raises his eyebrows at me when I laugh.

“She said you’re gonna have to make me, but that won’t be necessary. I am a good girl and I like surprises.” Leaning up, I kiss him softly and make my way to the room, but curiosity gets the better of me. I try to sneak a peek.

“There’s a belt in here. Keep testing me, Roo.”

His voice is teasing, and so is my sister’s when she interrupts my response. “I think you’re going to get a spanking, and I’m going to be jealous.”

“I gotta go, Violet. I’m definitely not done pushing buttons, but I’ll send you a pic if he’ll let me and I’ll call you tomorrow. I promise.”

“You better, I want to know what this surprise is. Good luck. And I meant what I said, okay? I’m happy for you. I’ll always support you and be on your side.”

Smiling softly, I take a second to breathe. “I know. Thank you. I love you. Talk soon.”

Hanging up, I toss the satellite phone on the bed and cross my arms. “This is as far as I go.”

Killian takes up the door frame to block my view. “How did it go? You’re smiling.”

So is he, making me melt just a little. “She said she knew you were a good man because you could’ve hurt a lot of people that day and you took steps to make sure you didn’t. She also said she feels guilty because she’s been having wet dreams about the masked version of you all over the television, she’s jealous because you’re so amazing, and that she’s happy to hear me sound happy.”

He closes the distance between us and crashes his mouth into mine, lifting me up to straddle his waist. “I missed you. Do you feel better after telling her?”

He presses his forehead against mine like he didn’t just wake up an extremely horny beast, but I let him go for now. “Yes. Thank you for trusting us.”

“I trust you ,” he admits. “Only you. Now promise me you’ll be a good girl and not spoil my surprise. I’m going to set up a little more, but I think I should ask beforehand. Will you go on a date with me? In the kitchen.”

Is that what all this has been about? A date?

My stomach flips violently, startling me. We’ve had sex more times than I can count, I’ve told him my secrets and he’s told me his, yet this is the thing that makes me nervous? “Yes, Killian. I’ll go on a date with you in our kitchen.”

His smile is blinding. “Good. I know I can’t take you out the traditional way, but I got some stuff up my sleeve to make up for it. Plus, I’ll put out after.”

“Put out?” I gasp. “It’s only our first date. What kind of girl do you take me for?”

Chuckling, he sets me down and nudges my chin playfully with his forefinger. “I saw you checking me out, girl. It can be our little secret.”

He tosses me a wink before backing away, and for once, I don’t try to push it. I close my bedroom door and collapse back on my bed, grinning up at the ceiling.

I’ve got a date with a fugitive.