CHAPTER ELEVEN

LIANA’S POV

“Are you going to take your bath before bed?” Killian asked. His voice was low and calm, as if this was just a normal night

and we were just a normal couple getting ready to sleep.

I hesitated. I could still feel the sweat on my skin from that awful motel. The fear and stress clung to me like a secondyer,

making my chest tighten. The thought of stepping into his bathroom, into his space, and pretending everything was fine

was enough to make me dizzyb. /b

“I’m fine” I said quietlyb, /bavoiding his eyes.

He raised a brow but didn’t say anything else. He changed into what he called pajamas, but it was just a pair of dark boxers

and nothing more. His chest was bare, all sharp lines and golden skin. I had to force myself not to look. My eyes were betraying me, wanting to linger, as if they had forgotten how much he had hurt me. I wasn’t going to let his body confuse me

again.

He sat on the edge of the bed and patted the space beside him. b“/bbIf /byou don’t want to shower, I won’tin,” he said with a

grin that was making my cheeks warm. “I love your scent.”

I stared at him like he had lost his mind. “You’re unbelievable.”

Heughed softly to himself, clearly enjoying the way he was getting under my skin. Then he leaned back against the

pillows as if he owned the room, and me.

The hot water helped. It didn’t bfix /bthe tightness in my chest, but it gave me a moment to breathe. I felt as if to me again and not to all the memories still clinging to`me.

I didn’t reply. I turned and walked into the bathroom. I closed the door behind me a little harder than I needed to.

my

skin belonged

When I came out, I wore a thick white robe. It was not perfect, but it was better than nothing. I held it tightly around me as I stepped back into the room. Killian’s eyes moved over me, slow, sure, as if he was reading every inch ofollimeb. /b/li/ol

“Where are my thingsb?/bb” /bI asked, trying to clear my throat. “bMy /blugage. I need clothes.”

He didn’t blink. “bYour /bclothes were dirty. They’re being washed. You’ll get them tomorrow.”

I stiffened. Of course he had handled everything without asking me. As if he still had the right.

He picked up a bag beside the bed and handed it to me with a small smirk. “Here. Wear this tonight.”

I took the bag and bopened /bit. Then I mmed it shut.

“Are byou /bseriousb?!/bb” /bI hissed.

Inside was bred /bce lingerie. bIt /bwas thin and see–through. A matching thong and a bra that barely counted as clothing.

He looked way too happy with himself. b“/bYou can wear that, or wear a bwet /brobe to bed with no panties.”

“I am not–Killian!”

“Unless you want one of my shirts. But they’re big. You might drown in them.” he said, lying on the bed with that smug smile still in ce.

I threw the bag at his chest and marched bto /bhis closet. b“/bYou’re impossibly ridiculous.”

b“/bAnd you’re dramatic” He called.

I found one of his button–down shirts. It was long and oversized. I put it on and felt relieved it covered past my knees. The

fabric was soft and smelled like him, clean and strong. The scent wrapped around me, making my stomach twist.

When I came out, he looked me up and down. His eyes dragged slowly over me in his shirt.

“Better” He said.

I ignored him. I walked to the armchair in the corner. I curled up with a pillow and pulled a nket over my legs.

“What are you doing?b” /b

“Sleeping here” I muttered.

He frowned. “Liana, the bed is big enough for two. Stop being silly.”

“I’m not sleeping next to byou/b.”

b“/bYou’re such a pain in the ass,” he muttered as he stood up.

Before I could say anything, he bent down and picked me up like I weighed nothing.

“Killian! Put me down!”

b“/bbYou /bwant to sleep? Fine. But not like a sad puppy curled up in that chair.”

He carried me to the bed. He ignored how I squirmed. He set me on the mattress gently, but like

understand what boundaries meant.

I red at him as he pulled the nket over me.

“I hate byou/bb./b”

someone who didn’t

He leaned close. His face was inches from mine. His voice dropped to a whisper. “You hate how much

I looked away. bMy /bbjaw /bwas tight. He wasn’t wrong. That was what made me so angry.

He climbed into bed beside me with a sigh. His body was warm and strong like a wall.

you still want me.”

I stared at the ceiling. bI /bprayed sleep woulde fast. Because if I stayed there too long, breathing him in, hearing his heart beat next to mine, I knew that part of me that still wanted him would wake up. And it would be hungry and reckless.

And I couldn’t let that happen.

Not now.

Not bever /bagain.