Page 90 of Bad Influence
“Why not?” I pout.
“I’m shy.”
I snort, and then giggle at that. I throw one leg over both of his, practically climbing onto his lap as I bury my face against his neck.
I’m half asleep by the time we get home, and Killian has tocarry me up to the apartment. I kick off my heels as soon as we walk in and toss them in a corner.
Grabbing Killian’s neck, I pull him down to give him a sloppy kiss. “Why do you have to be so tall?” I grumble. “It’s like climbing a tree anytime I have to kiss you.”
“Why do you have to be so short?”
“I’m not short, I’m average height for a woman.”
Instead of leading me to the room and taking all my clothes off me, he takes me to the bathroom and puts toothpaste on my brush before handing it to me. I take it obediently and start brushing my teeth while Killian stands behind me and watches me carefully.
I spit the toothpaste in the sink and straighten up to look at him in the mirror. “Has anyone told you you’re incredibly hot? Like I find it difficult to think straight when I’m around you sometimes.”
His eyebrows shoot up that. “Uh, no. You’re the first one to tell me that.”
I nod, rinsing out my mouth. I drop the toothbrush back in its spot and look at myself in the mirror. “I should probably clean my face.”
“Let me help.” Killian steps forward and grabs my container of make-up remover balm, slowly rubbing it between his hands before cleansing my face. His face is full of concentration.
“Close your eyes,” he says. I slam my eyelids close and let him clean the make-up. Once satisfied the makeup has melted off, he grabs a towel and runs water over it before cleaning the balm off my face.
“What’s next?”
A point at the facial cleanser and we follow the same process again. Once my face is clean and moisturized, Killian grabs my hairbrush and slowly brushes the tangles out of my hair. He surprises me by gently braiding it.
The action causes my throat to clog up and my eyes to fill with tears. I sniffle quietly and it finally causes Killian to look upfrom my hair. His eyes widen as he sees the tears streaking down my face.
“Baby, what’s wrong?”
I shake my head because I’m not sure it’s a feeling I can put into words. I’ve always been expected to look after myself or have a housekeeper or a maid look after me. Affection was nonexistent in the Sinclair household.
I grew up believing that my troubles should be kept to myself because they would bother other people. I learned to be quiet and to be invisible. I learned to not expect love and care. I learned to keep quiet on my aches and pains to earn me their love.
Killian releases my hair and turns me, pulling me in against his chest. I bury my face against him, letting my tears fall freely. Killian rubs my back, making soft shushing noises.
“You’re the strongest person I know,” Killian says.
I laugh wetly against his chest. “I think you have me confused with someone else.”
“Caroline, the one thing I can never do is confuse you with someone else.” His arms tighten around me. “Only someone strong can have the patience that you do. Make the choices that you made. Just because they were good at manipulating you doesn’t make you weak because in the end you chose yourself. You didn’t let them win.”
I pull back slightly to look up at him. When his eyes meet mine, I see no lies. He sees something in me that I don’t see in myself. Pushing up onto my toes I press a soft kiss against his lips.
“Come on, let’s go to bed.”
When he pulls me towards the stairs instead of taking me towards my bedroom, I don’t argue.
“Are you going to take advantage of me?” I ask, as he pushes open his bedroom door.
“I’m going to take advantage of the fact that you’re finally quiet and I’m gonna put you to bed.”
I’m not sure what I’m expecting in his room, but it’s surprisingly him. The dresser against the wall with knickknacks on it. The lights are off, except for the lamp on the nightstand, casting a soft glow around the room. His bed is large and neatly made, the sheets gray and navy blue. The bed is the focal point of the room and there’s nothing here which shouldn’t be here.
Killian opens the top dresser drawer and pulls out a T-shirt, which he hands to me. The material is soft and warm in my hands.
