Page 114 of Killaney Fire

"Sorry, sir," he says quickly, pulling back like he's been burned.

I turn to find Octavian standing directly behind me, close enough that I can feel the heat radiating off his body. He places his jacket around my shoulders, then hands me a flute of champagne.

Gerald mumbles an excuse and retreats into the crowd. The others follow shortly after, suddenly remembering urgent conversations they need to have elsewhere.

I pull Octavian's jacket tighter around myself, breathing in the scent of him, and turn to look up at him.

"Jealous?"

"No," he says, his voice dark. "You just don't get to wear another man's jacket anymore."

My cheeks burn, and my stomach flips. I take a sip of champagne to cover the heat rising in my face.

"Hey, listen…" I start, then hesitate. "I don't want to come off harsh or ruin the night, especially after you gave me this bracelet." I hold up my wrist, letting the diamonds catch the light. "But I can't shake something."

His eyes narrow. "Shake what?"

I take another sip of champagne.

"Why you left." The words spill out before I can stop them, before I can talk myself out of this conversation. "This morning. I woke up and you were gone. No note, no text. Just… gone. Why?"

He stiffens.

"Oh. That."

"Yeah, that."

He glances around, clearly not thrilled about having this discussion in the middle of a crowded gala. "Can we talk about this later?"

I shake my head. "No. Because if we don't, I'll overthink it and spiral and come up with a hundred reasons why you left and get more upset with each one."

I can see him weighing his options, his mind running through scenarios, but I don't care. I need to know.

"Are you mad?" he asks finally.

"No. But I'm this close to believing you just fucked me and bailed."

The crude language makes a woman passing nearby glance over sharply, but I ignore her. Octavian's jaw tightens, muscles jumping beneath his skin.

"Shit, Keira, no. It's not like that."

"Then what is it? Because from where I'm standing, it looks like you gave me incredible sex, then ran away and showed up with jewelry acting like nothing happened."

"Incredible, huh?" he asks.

"Octavian! I'm being serious here."

"Fine. Like I said, it's not like that."

"Then tell me what it is."

He exhales, long and slow, and moves closer.

"Fine. You want to know how I feel?"

"Obviously."

"I can't get enough of you. If I didn't leave your bed, I never would have. I would have kept you there all day. Owned you. Kept you. Made you mine in every way that matters."