Page 121 of A Curse On Black Lake
He chuckles and tucks his nose underneath my ear, breathing me in. “Don’t worry, baby, I can be plenty mean,” he says, nipping my jaw.
Heat floods my sternum and pools between my legs. “I think I’d like to know what that feels like,” I say into his ear.
He groans and sits up. “Don’t say things like that Eliana,wearen’t ready for it.”
I sit up on my elbows. “When will we be ready?” I ask him, even though I already know it will simply feel right. There won’t be any hesitation, confusion, or questioning. There is noreason for me to know that, but I do. Putting all my fears and reservations aside, when we’re ready, we’ll know.
“We’re still learning each other, little witch. That takes time.” He offers me his hand and pulls me to my feet.
“Let’s get these animals fed,” he says and slaps my butt.
“You’re very demanding,” I snap, looking at him over my shoulder.
He groans and clasps his chest as if he was shot through it. “You’re casting spells,” he says with a smirk.
“You don’t know the half of it, cowboy.”
His raspy laugh makes me smile as we pick up the blanket and go back to the house, change, and get to work.
We’ve slowly fallen into a routine with each other. I like it. No, I love it. Maybe it’s the change of pace, maybe it’s the validation Killian continues to give me despite his own reservations connecting to people. We fit together so well it’s almost hard to believe, and I don’t think we’re ready to really admit what that means. I’m not.
But I like who I am with him. Sometimes being strong and tough isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. He gives me the space to be the girl I’ve always wanted to be, but never could.
“We’d better hurry up. The library is only open for a couple more hours,” Killian calls from the kitchen.
“Coming!” I yell, grabbing my boots.
The door slams, and I run out behind him and hop into the truck.
When we pull up to the library, people are staring before we even get out. “They just can’t help themselves,” I say.
“Not surprising,” he mutters. But I can see the pain, the irritation, the edge of nervousness because we know the other shoe could drop at any moment. People stare when we’re in town because they think he did it. If we can’t figure out a way for Killian to clear his name, then both of us will go down.
He looks at me with worried eyes, and it makes my heart shrivel up. I lean on the armrest and kiss his cheek, uncaring if anyone sees us.
“I’ve got you,” I whisper.
He turns, and I stay where I am right in his face.
“I don’t know what I did to deserve you in my life, but I don’t think I could do this without you,” he says.
I smile, unable to form words, and get out of the truck.
Killian grabs my hand, keeping me further from the street going into the library.
I lift my chin, ignoring the sneers or small looks of fear at Killian, and he leads the way to the archives.
“I’m not sure where the information would be back here since anything from that time is getting close to two hundred years old.”
“Do you think they’ll let me look around?” I ask him.
“No one maintains this area to my knowledge, so I don’t see why not,” he says quietly.
Killian leads the way to a dark corner of the library. A fluorescent light flickers over one aisle, and it smells like old parchment.
“I’m pretty sure they keep them over here,” he mutters.
Be careful, child. Not all who witnessed will report the truth.
