Against All Odds

Chapter 27

"Maybe I do," I teased, leaning into him and tilting my head back to meet his darkly hooded gaze. "But maybe it'll cost you."

"Stella." A hand spanned over my hip, fingers flexing against the soft flesh of my ass and grinding my pelvis against the rigid bar of his cock between us. Killian dipped his head slightly, bringing our faces closer together. "The quicker we have this discussion, the faster I can drag you off somewhere private, bend you over, hike your skirts over your ass, and drive my cock into your wet cunt."

My breath hitched while his free hand drove fingers into my hair, curling through the strands and urging my head back further so he could bring his lips closer to mine, so close the faintest movement edged them against mine.

"So," he murmured, his voice threaded with an edge of command and darkness that sent arousal careening through me, "I repeat. Do you have something to tell me?"

And all I could do right then was nod because I was sure my voice would come off as needy and desperate. At my acquiescence, his fingers lessened their hold on my hair and my head tipped forward. I released a breath that wobbled from deep within my chest and even though I was almost giddy with equal parts anticipation and desire, there was still an element of nervousness overtaking me.

Afterall, I was committing to a monumental decision- a decision I still wasn't entirely sure Killian was onboard with... a decision that had a lot of odds riding against us. I could only hope that now that we were older, that six years of growth and achievements contributed to the individuals that we now were, would somehow be enough.

"Alright," I said, more calmly than I felt. Still in his arms, I took warmth from his body, solace from the evidence of his arousal digging into my lower belly. It was probably because of how closely we were pressed together that I felt the vibrations of his phone in his pocket against my hip.

I raised my brows.

"Ignore it," he grunted.

"You sure?"

He didn't say anything to that, but the intense look he gave me was enough. Another deep breath, and while the phone buzzed between us, I said the only thing I could right then and there in his arms: "I want you."

It was simple, but to the point–all encompassing without embellishment, and I didn't think we needed anything more than each other. And the way he was smiling down at me once those words were between us?

I'd risk everything all over again just to have one of Killian's smiles sending me to my knees.

The phone finally quelled its incessant vibrations, only to pick up again directly after. I tried to ignore it, tried to ignore everything but the way Killian looked in the soft light of the veranda and the feel of his thumb stroking my cheek, but the niggling persistence of the cell phone was like an annoying gnat.

He bent his head, the intention to kiss me writ all over his countenance, but I pulled away slightly. "Maybe you should get that," I told him.

The call cut off once more after a long moment, and then immediately picked up yet again. Killian sighed, a frown appearing between his brows.

"It could be important," I urged with a smile.

He looked reluctant yet, but put a slight space between our bodies while keeping one arm wrapped around my lower back. Pulling the phone out the pocket of his trousers, he glanced down between our bodies at the caller ID flashing boldly on the screen.

Mum.

I felt my mood dissipate. Something left a bad taste in my mouth. Pauline sure could pick a moment, that's for sure. Perhaps she had somehow used her weird spidey-sense to detect that Killian was about to pick up with the floozy atheist he had brought home to meet his parents in university.

A sigh left him then and he cast me an apologetic look. "It could be about dad," he explained. "But it won't be a long call. She's probably just checking in."

I gave him a smile that I didn't feel. There was little I could say or do regarding Killian's parents and their dislike of me, but if I wanted things to work out with him, then I had to step back when it came to things that affected his family, especially during the difficult times that they were sure to face in the near future. "I'll see you back inside then."

"No." His arm tightened on my waist when I tried to move away. His chin tilted, his lips pressing against my forehead. "Stay with me. I know you're anxious about my mother, but let me see what she wants and then I'll tell her about you."

"That's possibly the worst idea you've ever had," I rebuked, almost choking at the prospect of having Pauline down my throat about my relationship with Killian again.

"It's different now, Stels," he said earnestly, answering the call and tapping the speaker button. What the fuck!

Unable to voice any protest, Killian ignored my mute panic and set the phone on the balustrade while the call connected. I felt my eyes widen as I searched his face, a silent enquiry blaring through my gaze because I felt so put on the spot that all the good feelings and decisions from a moment before were tossed to the wind, left to scatter in the breeze while I grappled and stumbled through this new obstacle.

I didn't know why he would opt to put his mother on speaker phone, but as if sensing how close I was to a mental fucking breakdown, Killian held me close and brushed his lips across my temple, soothing and reassuring. Well, I was sure that was his intention, but it had very minimal effect on me overall.

But before I could tell him that, or before I could duck out of his arms, he said, "Hey, mum."

And, in a voice with a familiar lilting accent and capped with a quality I could only decipher as preening, Pauline Beckett responded, "Hello, my darling boy."