Chapter 99
ERICA
My eyes widened before I could school my expression.
Callan was walking toward us with determined strides, and every nerve in my body went on high alert. He looked like he wanted to smash Gwen’s
head Ormine.
His glare was so strong, so
ng, so cutting, that the second he reached us, Owen faltered. And he wasn’t the only one
Conversations slowed, subtle glances flickered our way, and even the people pretending not to notice were paying attention, Normally, a like this wouldn’t cune a stir. People flirted, danced, and interrupted all the time.
La moment.
But this wasn’t just anyone.
This was Cillian Knight.
And when Cillian knight moved, prople noticed.
His
presence demanded attention without him needing to say a word. He carried himself with a kind of dominance that had nothing to do with rrogance and everything to do with certainty.
His suit was sharp, dark, and perfectly fitted–because, of course, Cillian wasn’t t goddamn billionaire out of a magazine spread.
the type to wear something that didn’t make him look like a
But it wasn’t the way he looked that set my pulse hammering
It was the way he was looking at me.
Dark. Intense, Challenging
Then just as quickly, his sharp blue gaze flickered to Owen, his expression shifting into something even more menacing.
Owen, who had no idea what he had just walked into, visibly tensed.
“Do you mind“” Cillian’s voice was low, smooth, but edged with unmistakable authority
It wain’t a question
I was a demand wrapped in the illusion of choice. It was clear from his tone that he didn’t give a horse shit if Owen did in fact mind.
That had my date immediately pulling away from me and stepping back.
“Of course not” Owen sand, clearing his throat. His voice held the barest hint of unease, as if his brain was struggling to process the situation
I clenched my jaw in a
annoyance Seriously?
That
sall it took? One glare from Gillian and my date folded like a house of cardst
I shouldn’t have been surprised. Owen was a decent guy–polite, intelligent. Hut he clearly y wasn’t the kind of mum who thrived in confrontation. And standing in front of Cilliant This was an unfair fight from the beginning
Sull.
Could he not have tried to show some backbone!
Tu get a drink” He inutters awkwardly
I stared at Owen’s retreating back, unimpressed, before exhaling through my nose and turning my glare onto Callian
His gaze was already back on me Unapologene Intense And entirely to satisfied.
“Was that really necessary?” I asked, keeping my voice even despite the way my pulse was slamming against my skin.
He didn’t dignify me with a reply. Juur raised a brow in question which
Ifurted out a breath “You know wi
what l’in nut doing this.
1/4
Chapter 99
I refused to engage in this. The more time I spent in Cillian Knight’s vicinity, the more likely 1 was to commit homicide.
so I turned on my heel, ready to walk off the dance floor and away from his arrogant, overbearing presence.
But before I could take a single step, a firm hand wrapped around my WEBL
The touch was warm, solid. Commanding
I barely had time to register what was happening before I was being pulled back, my body moving with the force of his tog
A sharp inhale left my lips as I stumbled slightly, but Cillian was already there. Already positioning me.
One of his hands did to my waist, firm and unwavering. His other found mine, effortlessly bringing it up to rest against his shoulder. My free hand. pressed against the solid planes of his chest, instinctively bracing myself.
With an infuriating ease, he moved us into position.
My pulse skipped.
I was caught off guard. This close. I could feel everything. The warmth radiating from him. The tension in his muscles.
The unmistakable scent of his cologne–dark, rich, laced with something sharp and undeniably him.
His blue eyes gleamed with something unreadable. Something intense.
Something dangerous.
I swallowed, forcing my voice to remain steady. “You could’ve just peed around me in a circle instead of terrorizing my date.”
Cilhan let our a short, low hum
“Tempting,” he said, smoothly guiding me into the first steps of the dance. “But I’m not an animal.”
I shot him a pointed look. “Could’ve f
fooled me
His smirk, deepened, but his grip on my waist tightened just a fraction.
“I did nothing” He declared smoothly.
I scoffed “Right. You did nothing.”
He twirled me suddenly, making my breath hitch before pulling me back in–closer than before.
I swallowed, but held may ground
“You intimidated him”
Gillian’s jaw Blexer slightly, but his tone remained casual “A man who can’t hold his ground doesn’t deserve to be dancing with you” Something in my chest tightened, but I ignored at
“Ah, so this was you saving me?” I asked dryly.
“I did you a favor” He said easily, his grip still firm as far moved us through the slow, smooth phythm “In the future, if you’re faced with some danger, you’d know you can’t trust that pathetic case of a man to protect you.”
I exhaled sharply: “I don’t need a man to protect me”
Cillian smirked. “You don’t know the kind of men that walk the earth”
“You mean inen like your
He assessed me with a cool stare before muttering in a condescending tour “Sure!
1 furrowed my eyes, refusing to look at how sinfully good he looked in that suit. Refusing to acknowledge the way he moved so effortlessly with me,
if this wasn’t affecting him in the slightest.
Thated him.
And I hated how easy this was for him
Chapter 5
We moved together in perfect vytic, pur steps falling into a practiced rhythm. I wasn’t even sure how we managed it—how I could 2nd vei disse with them like we’d done it a hundred times belone
Maybe it was because Gilhan had always been like this. Always so sine. Always stepping în like he had every right to Like be knew exactly how to:
Like he kitew exactly how to handle me
His hand pressed a little timer against my waist as he guided me into a slow turn
I hated that my
“pulse reacted.
I refused to give him the satisfaction of knowing it.
You’re awfully quiet.” He murmured
“I’m trying to focus on not stepping on your feet, 1 said flatly.
He hummed, a teasing clint in his eyes. “Cute excuse.
I shot him a clare. “It’s not
Cillian tilted his head slightly, studying me in that way that always made my skin heat. “You know, I think you actually enjoy it.”
on my waist tightened slightly as he leaned in, his voice lowering just enough for only me to hear.
His grip on my
When I take control
My breath caught
Just for a second.
The words sent a shiver down my spine, my fingers instinctively gripping the fabric of his suit jacket.
I refused to give him for satisfaction of a reaction
So † nited my chin up, holding his gaze defiantly. “You really do think you’re irresistible, don’t you?”
He smirked. “I know I am.”
I scoffed “God, you are-
He spun me again, cutting me off before pulling me back.
Clover
The music was slowing, the last lingering notes stretching our
And suddenly, I was right there–so close that his breath fanned against my check, so se that I could see the darker flecks in his blue eyes.
Our bodies were nearly tushi, the space between in practically nonexistent.
My pular was a frantic, erratic mess, but I kept my face impassive
Cillian however, didn’t seem lee least bu lazed. His eyes flickered down to my lips
I stopped breathing The last note of the song played. But neither of us
The world around us faded, the chatter, the music, the presence of anyone else.
There was only the lingering heat, the tension stretched so tight u telt like something was alsoat to spap
And Cillian. His eyes. His grip. His breath against my skin.
II moved even an inch closer, I wouldn’t be able to stop myself.
