STELLA
The pads of my bare feet slapped rhythmically on the cool stone tiles of the veranda at the back of the function hall. Immediately after the conclusion of the speeches, I had abandoned my bastard heels under the table.
Outside, the evening was bordering on chilly. The stars were partially concealed with slithers of grey clouds, and a gentle breeze carried the tang of salt and freshness on its currents. I reached the wooden balustrade at the opposite end of the empty veranda, settling my flute glass down on one of the high, round tables with a gentle grating clink- tables set about for smokers or people looking to get away from the furore inside.
Like myself.
But I had other reasons for being outside.
Reasons that were spanning my waist and hips with long fingers, pulling me back against a warm and solid barrier of a chest that coaxed an endless smile to curl the corners of my lips into my cheeks. Killian dipped his head, lips trailing a tantalisingly blazing trail up the column of my neck, breath warm against my cheek, until he found my ear.
"I should take you over my knee for that story you shared about Sipho and I," he murmured darkly.
"Promises, promises."
"Don't tease me, Stella." He nipped my ear, playfully, and a thrill needled down my spinal column. "I might just do it right here, right now."
I wriggled against him, finding his cock hard and pressing against my backside. "It wasn't that bad," I protested with a grin. "How was I supposed to know you wouldn't want the story of how you and Sipho met Sadie known by everyone? Rolling down a grassy hill drunk and passing out in the bushes outside one of the girls' residences is hardly unheard of at university."
"Yes, but you didn't have to add that we were naked," he muttered.
I found his fingers and entwined them with mine, holding our joined hands against my body as I tipped my head back against his shoulder, giving him further access to the side of my neck.
"That's the best part," I said on a breathless moan when I felt his teeth skate along the sensitive ridges of my flesh presented to him.
"I'm prone to agree with you," he told me, his voice muffled since his lips were buried against my neck, "but before we venture further down that path, would you like to tell me something?"
I knew what he was getting at, but I was enjoying being in his arms, the warmth of his body against mine, the fullness of his dick pressing into my softness. We were alone, having chosen an area that was a bit further away from the main hall of the function area, therefore nobody was likely to disturb the conversation, or the explicit way Killian was kissing a path down my shoulder.
And since the speeches had concluded, there was a blissful moment of reprieve while guests were served the main courses. For the time being, nothing was required of Killian and I.
Which meant it was probably the best time to have this conversation- the one where I'd tell him that I was ready to take another chance on us, that I was ready to commit to whatever this was... that I could see a future with him.
A smile tipped the corners of my lips up and I turned in his arms so that I could wrap my own around his shoulders. He'd discarded his suit jacket, leaving him in the white collared shirt, the sleeves of which he had rolled up to his elbows to reveal his inked forearms, and a deep teal waistcoat hugged his abdomen snugly.
I reckoned that Killian would look delectable in a giant pink unicorn onesie, but even still... the formal attire made everything inside me turn to jelly.
"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."