Killian (On the Line 1)

“Did anything happen?” I asked.

Killian lowered his brows and glared at me. “You have to ask me that? Of course not, Sid.”

I rubbed my forehead. My issues with Nicole were now more than just an annoyance.

“I have ongoing problems with her,” I admitted. “She’s a lousy assistant. Her attitude’s bad and she’s lazy. I’ve told her there’s zero tolerance for fraternization with the players.”

“I’m really surprised you’d put up with this. Why don’t you fire her?”

I wrapped a hand around the back of my neck and stared up at the ceiling.

“It’s a hard situation because she’s the daughter of someone very dear to me. A college professor who believed in me when no one else did. I’m indebted to Jane, and giving her daughter a job when she needed one was the easiest decision I’ve ever made.”

“Yeah, but you’ve got a right to expect her to do the job well.”

“I know,” I said, my tone sharper than I’d intended. “Sorry. I’m not upset at you at all. Having someone like her on my staff is about as un-Sidney Stahl as it gets. I’m just frustrated.”

Killian put a hand on my shoulder and turned me around gently. His hands replaced my own on my neck, and he pressed his thumbs in circular motions that eased away the tension there.

“God, that feels good,” I said softly.

His low hmm was a cross between satisfied and hungry.

“I’m writing her up,” I said, trying to stay focused on our conversation. “For the outfit. Do you want me to keep what you told me just between us?”

“No, I don’t care if she knows I told you.”

His hands were on my shoulders now, working magic that made me sure I’d melt into a puddle any moment.

“Did she touch you?” I asked.

“No. We were a good ten feet apart when it happened. But she made her intentions very clear.”

“What is wrong with her? I’m so lax with her but she won’t even follow the few rules I do set.”

My annoyance with Nicole was sabotaged by Killian’s massage, which was relaxing me whether I wanted it or not.

“I just want you to be careful,” he said. “Everyone else around here who works for you is loyal. Barb and Keri would walk through fire for you. Orion’s a big fan, too. But Nicole doesn’t have your back.”

I nodded slightly, his words sinking in. “That’s more of a problem than her wanting to screw one of my players,” I said softly.

“Yep. But nothing you can’t handle.”

His faith in me erased the last shred of stress.

“You were quite the ladies’ man tonight, Captain,” I said. “I thought that teenager was about to go Girls Gone Wild on you.”

He grunted dismissively and leaned his face down to my ear.

“I didn’t get any attention from the one woman I wanted it from,” he said. His words sent a shiver of arousal through me from head to toe.

“You’ve got my attention now.”

“So I do. And what am I gonna do with it?”

He slid my hair over one shoulder, his lips brushing across my exposed neck. The stubble on his face against my skin made me tingly.

Right or wrong, I wasn’t capable of stopping this. It was too blissful. In these moments with him, I wasn’t a take-charge multi-millionaire entrepreneur. I was a woman being brought to life by a man who made me helpless as I whimpered with pleasure.

Only he could make it better. Satisfying this ache was outside my control. And knowing I could trust him to take care of me this way felt better than I’d ever thought possible.

I turned around and wrapped my hands around his neck, sliding my hands into his short hair. His arm wound around my back to brace the impact when he shoved me against a concrete block wall.

His mouth crashed against mine, the kiss hot and demanding. I wrapped one leg around his hips, needing to feel his hard lines against my softer curves.

I couldn’t read the low growl in his throat—arousal or frustration? When he moved back, his eyes were dark and his expression was almost feral. He looked as out of control as I felt.

His hands went to the button on my pants and he opened them, grabbing the sides and jerking them down. A rush of realization told me he’d taken my panties down, too. He dropped to his knees and a hot sense of longing filled my veins.

“We both need this, Sid.” He looked up at me and our eyes locked. I nodded slightly and wound my fingers back into his hair, slowly pushing his face between my thighs.

“You fucking sexy woman.” His breath grazed my skin right before his tongue parted me open. I put my arm over my mouth, moaning into the fabric of my sweater to muffle the sound.

His mouth licked me hungrily, as if he couldn’t get enough. It was deep and hot and so damn good. I slipped one heel off and wiggled my leg out of the pants on that side, freeing my leg so I could put it over his shoulder, giving him better access.