Page 206 of Fighting Chance

I’m the first to break the silence. “Emmy was singing.”

Kieran’s eyes widen. “That’s what has you stumped?”

I frown at him. “Why the hell are you being quiet?”

“Hmm I don’t know, maybe because your mom cried happy tears presuming we’re together but I actually defiled her daughter in a haunted house?”

I nod my head slowly. “Okay yeah, maybe that’s a good reason to be shocked as well.”

Kieran’s eyes trail down my body before lifting to my face once more. “Maybe?” Moving forward, his steps are slow, measured, as if he’s closing in on his prey. “Layla…”

“Kieran,” I murmur as he comes so close I have to tip my head back.

Kicking the front door shut with his foot, he bends his head, his lips tantalizingly close, his warm puff of air dancing along my skin. “We’re alone.”

“Mm-hmm.”

He keeps moving forward until I’m backed into thestair banister.

“And I can’t seem to stop thinking about the sound you made when you came.”

“Which time?” I taunt.

He groans. “Are you going to be able to be quiet?”

I quirk a brow. “Through what?”

He lifts his hand to my chin, brushing his lips against mine. “If you think for one second thatthatwas enough to satisfy me…” He tsks. “Oh Layla, I’ll never get enough of you.”

My breathing is labored now, my chest brushing his every time I inhale, only adding to the heady sensation of him crowding me. “Then take me.”

He moves before I can so much as blink.

He bends, sliding his hands down my thighs and lifting me in one fell swoop. I squeal as he walks us deeper into the living room.

“You know I respect you right, sunshine?”

“Yes,” I breathe.

His grin is downright dirty. “Good, because it’s about to look like I don’t.”

Kieran’s heartbeat steadies me.

Grounding me like nothing has before. The only time I’ve ever felt so at peace as I do in this moment—lying on the floor, covered in blankets in front of a fire, my head on Kieran’s chest with his arm tracing patterns along my back—is when I would read books.

Although now that I’ve tasted this, how it feels to be held by someone—cherished—it’ll never be enough again. I’ve never understood what the romance books and moviesmeant when a character felt physically pained not being with someone, but I get it now.

And I understand why Kieran walked away a few weeks ago, because if I had him like this and was forced to watch him leave me, I don’t think I would’ve recovered from that.

I place my chin on his chest, watching the shadows of the fireplace dance along his face.

“Is it always like this?”

“Is what?” he asks, his voice rough.

“Sex. Is it like this with everyone?”

He’s quiet for a moment, a small smile tilting the corner of his lips. “It doesn’t even come close, sunshine.” He lifts his hand and brushes a lock of hair behind my ear, his eyes full of sincerity as he whispers, “What we have is…consuming. I’ve never felt this for anyone, ever.”