Page 52 of Tide Touched
‘You look nothing like me,’ I snap.
Jasmine flinches, her lower lip quivers. ‘Katherine, you… don’t you want to know who you really are? What you can do? Your powers—’
I shake my head again, silencing her. ‘You’re too late. I don’t care. You left. That was your choice.’
As we carefully make our way over the rocks, toward the shoreline, something in me darkens, angry and deceived. ‘I’m the product of a father who hated my mother, prompting her to abandon me.’
Killian squeezes my hand. ‘I’m sorry,’ he whispers.
Once our feet touch dry land again, the two pure Fire wolves are visibly relieved. I watch Elijah murmur low to Moira, his eyes flicking to me. I get the distinct impression he’s asking her if I’m okay.
We make up a camp site a little ways from the beach. I watch Killian’s flame roar from his hands to the kindling. Something in me shudders. I turn away from the flames and sit a few paces back. I’ll never be able to do that.
Killian glances at Moira beside Elijah. She nods, and he comes over to me. He lowers himself to the ground. It’s cool out here, but he radiates heat, keeping away the chill. ‘What happened, when I set the fire just now?’
I bring my knees up to my chest and rest my chin there. ‘Why are you still here?’
Killian blinks. The fire casts his long, dark lashes into fine shadows on his cheekbones. ‘What do you mean? I’m… I’m here for you.’
‘But I’m a freak,’ I mumble. I hate that I’m being self-deprecating, but it’s the only thing in my head right now. ‘It’s confirmed. I’m… not really a Fire wolf. Not a proper one.’ I wave my hand at the flames. ‘I’ve never been able to do anything like that.’ I rest my head on my knees, facing away from him. ‘You might as well just go ahead and reject me now. You don’t want some weak halfling. I’m sure your father would hate that, too.’
There’s a pause, then I yelp as Killian picks me up and hauls me into his lap. His dark eyes meet mine. ‘I will never reject you,’ he growls, his breath hot on my face. He presses his lips to mine in our first, real kiss. For the first breath, his lips are hard, possessive, then he melts into me. And I into him.
Everything around us fades away, until it’s only us. Our kiss goes on for what could be minutes or hours, but when we finally come up for air, I’m tempted to leap out of his lap. Instead, I snuggle into him, grateful for his strength, his warmth.
I’m vaguely aware of Moira and Elijah over there somewhere, but we appear to have silently agreed to break off into, well, our couples.
After a few minutes of silence, Killian gently touches my forehead. ‘Tell me about this.’ He doesn’t touch my hair, but hovers his hand over it.
I turn into his chest. ‘I… I wanted a distraction. When Carter and I first… he pulled it. It was fine, but he kept doing it and I just… I guess I haven’t gotten over it.’ I close my eyes. ‘I sound stupid.’
‘You do not,’ Killian says firmly. ‘But you don’t need to flinch from me. I won’t hurt you, or your lovely hair.’ He very slowly rests his hand on my forehead, just touching my hairline.
I rest against his chest, looking up at him. ‘Don’t know how to fix it,’ I mumble.
‘Let me.’ Killian leans down slightly, pressing his warm lips to my forehead, peppering kisses until I’m smiling. His hand comes up and touches the back of my head, but he murmurs something soothing. ‘Just tell me to stop if you want.’
I don’t. I like his touch. ‘Thanks,’ I murmur. ‘For, you know, back there, with my mother.’
‘I hope I wasn’t out of line?’
I shake my head. ‘No. Just as long as you know I could have done it on my own.’
Killian’s lip tugs up. ‘Of course I do.’ His hand strokes at my temple, through my hair.
In his warm embrace, I feel my body relax, heavy with exhaustion. Stifling a yawn, I nuzzle into him. ‘You’re so warm.’
‘It… it’s like I’m a fire wolf,’ he teases.
I snuggle into him. Yeah, apparently, I’m a snuggler.
Killian’s gorgeously large, muscled arms wrap around me, encasing me in his warmth. ‘Do you want to talk about anything?’
I look up at him. Darkness has well and truly fallen. His long lashes are shadowed by the firelight, fanning out against his cheekbones as he blinks. He takes me in, as I take him in, both of us just staring at each other. Measuring one another. After several, long moments, I shake my head.
He nods, totally cool with my decision.
‘Hey, lovebirds. Supper.’ Moira waggles her brows as we turn to her.