Sexy as Sin

Blowing out my frustration, I close the cabinet door carelessly after putting the sugar back and say, “Cillian, if you’re going back to the Crest to deal with your uncle, I deserve to know about it.”

“When it’s all said and done, Hellcat,” Cill answers, blowing across the top of his coffee. He doesn’t look me in the eye either.

I bang my fist on the table between them. It finally makes Reed shut up. “Tell me,” I demand. “I don’t know what the hell you two think you’re doing. You didn’t tell me shit back then, but you’re going to tell me everything right now or I’ll fucking lose it, Cill. You too, Reed. What the hell is going on?”

Cill’s lips pick up in a smirk. “Well good morning, Hellcat,” he murmurs, his pale blue eyes piercing right through me in a way that’s sinful.

I’m caught for a moment as he sips his coffee.

“I thought you could hear us, Hellcat.”

“How could I possibly hear you when you’re whispering?” I bend down and kiss his cheek, leaving both palms on the table and leaning down low enough that I’m more than sure he can see right now my baggy sleep shirt. “Tell me. Now.”

Reed and Cilll share a glance that would piss me off if I wasn’t sure I had their attention. “We’re figuring out what to do with him,” Reed says.

“Who?”

“My uncle,” Cill says. Pain flashes in his eyes as fear engulfs me. “We’re comparing notes. Figuring out what really happened.”

Reed stands up from his seat before Cill is finished speaking. “I’ve got to go call someone. I’ll be back in a minute.”

“Where are you going?” I ask.

“Just to the porch,” he answers and knowing he’s not going far settles the unease inside of me.

“Don’t do anything stupid,” I tell him although I’m not sure he hears as the front door shuts, my throat thick with frustration. This was how they were before Cill went away. Planning things together. Getting in trouble together. I could talk them out of things, but honestly, I didn’t most of the time. I was always riding in the passenger seat and chiming in to tell the stories later at Cavanaugh. Nothing major. We never got arrested. But I was Cill’s hellcat, for better or for worse.

I’m older now, though, and someone has to think about these things.

“What exactly are you two going to do?” I say and glare at Cill. An amused smile curves his lips and he stands up from his seat at the table. My heart pounds like they’re taking action right this minute instead of just making plans.

“Don’t be scared, Hellcat.”

“I’m not scared.” The words stumble off my lips as I make my way back to the corner of the cabinets, leaning back against the counter. “I’m pissed. I’m fucking pissed, Cillian.” I take refuge in my mug of coffee.

He crosses the kitchen, the legs of the chair scraping across the linoleum floor as he gets up.

“You don’t look pissed,” he counters, his steps steadily bringing him closer to me. The mug tinks on the counter as I set it down, my attention never leaving Cill. “Fine … maybe I’m scared.”

He closes the distances between us and rests his forehead against mine before kissing the tip of my nose and whispering, “Yeah. Me too.”

As much as I love his comforting touch, I pull away, making sure he understands how serious I am.

* * *

“I’m scared to lose you—I can’t go through that again.” His lips brush against mine in an attempt to silence me, calm me, or just love on me, I’m not sure. But I can’t shake this uncertainty so I gently push him back. “If your uncle planted shit here when he broke in—if he’s already trying to fuck you over—I’ll fucking kill him.” The words leave me without a second thought. Peering up at Cillian, I watch his brow raise and then the grin grow on his handsome face, his cheek still bruised.

“My little hellcat,” Cillian says, and he kisses me. Not just a light peck. It’s not a move to soothe me. It’s a kiss I know he needs just as much as I do.

And just like then, his mouth on mine makes me forget to fight everyone.

It makes me forget we’re up against his uncle, and seemingly the rest of the world. He flicks his tongue against mine and I forget it all. I forget to be heartbroken that Cavanaugh let me down after Cill’s arrest. I forget everything but how good it feels to be with him.

The hum of the refrigerator kicks on and I fall deeper into the kiss.

Cill pushes me up against the counter, the space between us lighting on fire. As he presses up against me, I’m made aware that Cill’s hard and I tease myself by rubbing against him until he groans. “If you’re going to do that, Hellcat, we should find a bedroom.”