I sigh as I pour us each a glass. Walking back into the bedroom, I pause, unsure if I should interrupt.
“Come in, a ghrá,” he says.
“Everything okay?” I ask as I hand him his cup before sliding onto the bed.
Leaning against the headboard next to him, I turn my body toward him. He lays his arm on my leg, softly running his thumb back and forth.
“Our time’s over, isn’t it?” I ask after a few moments of silence.
“I have to get back.” He nods.
I look over my shoulder, out the window at the rising sun. “When do you leave?” I ask softly, unable to look at him.
“This afternoon,” he murmurs, making me squeeze my eyes shut.
I feel him crowding me before his hand cups my cheek, turning me toward him. “Come with me,” he demands quietly.
“You know I can’t,” I tell him, trying to hold the tears at bay. I see the pain flash through his eyes as he nods in understanding.
He lays a gentle kiss on my lips, once, twice. Killian presses his forehead to mine. “You slay me, Greer Catalini,” he murmurs, kissing me once more.
Killian pulls away and slides out of bed, holding out his hand to me. I put my hand in his and let him drag me out of bed, the sexual tension from earlier long gone. We shower together, stealing kisses, and touching each other tenderly. Slipping out of the shower, I toss my hair into a messy bun and pick up a robe. I put it on as I walk toward the balcony. Opening the doors, I walk toward the railing and lean against it. Shutting my eyes, I listen to the sound of the waves crashing as the sun hits my face.
Today will be a good day.
A hard day, but a good day.
I feel him as he approaches. Killian wraps his arms around me, holding me tight as he kisses my neck.
“Before I go, is there any way I could change your mind?” he murmurs against my neck.
“In another life, I would be yours and you’d be mine,” I say without a thought.
Killian squeezes me one more time before turning me into his arms. He cups my face as I gather his shirt in my fists, not wanting to let him go. Killian slams his mouth onto mine and kisses me.
It’s a hello, a goodbye, and an I love you all at once.
Overcome with emotions, I can’t help but let a tear fall. Then another.
Killian moves and kisses my tears away. “Do not cry for me, a ghrá. We will be together again. If you ever need me, all you have to do is call,” he rasps with pain in his voice.
Leaning up onto my tiptoes, I kiss him one more time before stepping back. “You need to get on the road.”
I shake my head as I come out of the memory. My chest aches as I turn back into the water and rinse the shampoo out as I mull over everything he said then and last night.
“You need to reign.”
Do I want to reign? I bite my lip as I think over the question.
Yes. Not only do you want to reign, but you want him. To do it with him.
As I reach for the conditioner and apply it to my ends, I can’t help but come to a decision. I complete my shower with a smile on my face and finish getting ready for the day.
I’m curledup in a chair in the corner of Killian’s office with headphones on, trying to untangle the web in front of me. Whoever this hacker is, knows what they are doing, and it’s driving me mad. I sense him before I see him. Looking up, I see Killian approaching me with a look of adoration in his eye. I slide my headphones off as he leans forward, stealing a kiss.
“Hey,” I say softly, leaning my face into his hand.
“How’s it going?” he asks, nodding at the laptop.
