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I wanted to test how concrete his word was and prove to me there wasn’t a limitation on his loyalty.
Crazy bastard did it though, with a smirk on his lips and now, if he wanted me to trust this Killian, he needed to take the same oath.
Once we’d made our way back to my cabin—the one that I had built for my twenty-second birthday—I kept walking until I approached the porch. Sitting down on the large swinging seat that arched above my head, and opened to show me the canopy of stars, I blew out a cold breath. Ronnie carried on forward. Toward the stump and the stack of wood, he had piled there ready to cut. Beside that was a fire pit, one built into the ground and he made quick work of getting one started.
Killian stood there, tall and silent, waiting for further instruction with his tattooed hands clasped before him.
When the fire was burning wildly, Ronnie ran a sweaty palm across his stubbled jaw and sighed. Turning to grab the iron poker from its hook, he shoved it into the flames and the end turned luminous with a savage orange that glowed like embers.
Neither of us said anything and neither did Killian.
I watched him though, seeking out any kind of hesitation.
I found none, but still, I couldn’t help but stare at him.
The mask hid pretty much everything, everything except his dark roots and caramel-weaved strands of hair that sat ruffled on the top of his head. I wondered what he looked like underneath, and when Ronnie cleared his throat, I knew it wouldn’t be long before I’d find out.
I stood from my seat and made my way slowly down the steps and over toward Ronnie, “Come here, Killian,” I spoke softly and he retraced my footsteps until he was standing before me. “Get on your knees.” He did so without question and I wondered if he had grown up since the one and only time I had been this close to him. He had hurt me once, which was a hard feat for a man who hardly spoke. Would he—could he turn into a man I could truly trust? “Open your shirt and remove your mask.” He did what I asked of him, all bar removing the damn covering on his face. “If I have to ask again, I will dismiss you and find another soldier to be on my security detail.”
He hesitated for a single second, then instead of lifting his mask off and over his head, he pulled it down, so it stayed around his neck and rested against his large chest covering his throat. I noticed the ink first, my eyes followed his rough and tattooed hands as they removed the thing concealing him from me. He was covered in tattoos, and if I wasn’t so eager to get this over and done with, I may have been inclined to study them more. I didn’t look up. Not just yet, I needed a moment to breathe first. Everything about this man was dominating, and while it was easy enough for me to dismiss it entirely, I still hated the thought of offering him, or anyone at all for that matter, this chance to stand at my side.
“I’m not a normal girl, Killian, and this isn’t a normal job. I don’t trust easily and I need to know that when you make this oath to me, you’ll mean it. Will you wear my brand?”
I looked up at him, my gaze trailing over his hard and defined pecs, to his dark brown and blond dusted, stubbled jaw. His cheeks dipped, cheekbones high and shadowed around his growing beard. The bridge of his nose was slim and fitted perfectly to the portions of his face. Dark brows naturally furrowed and dipped in the center, covering blue eyes that made me want to gasp. Instead, I swallowed thickly and gritted my teeth, eyes moving up to the long strands of his hair that gathered on top of his head and fell to the side.
Dark roots with caramel streaks that looked all too appealing to run your fingers through.
The man was an Adonis, created to perfection and if I was any other woman, I’d probably want to fall weak at the knees.
But I wasn’t any other woman, and this… was just any other man.
I wasn’t the girl who had her head turned easily and I never would be.
I had too much to focus on and no room in my heart for any more pain and that was all love or affection ever brought.
Fucking pain.
I looked away from him, and summoned over Ronnie. “If you say yes, Killian. There’s no going back.”
I didn’t expect him to speak, and I was right. He looked at me, those fierce eyes seeing everything I tried to keep hidden and with one single incline of his head, I accepted the poker iron from Ronnie and stepped forward. “It’s okay to scream. It’ll be the last one you’ll ever let escape working for me. I’m not the boss that just accepts protection, Killian. I’m the type of boss that gives it too.” Then I stabbed the poker into his flesh and he clenched his jaw, teeth grinding together. I was surprised they didn’t combust into dust as he ground them back and forth. He didn’t scream though, just let out a throaty groan that affected me way more than it should have. His flesh burned and sizzled like meat in a skillet and still, he remained silent and coiled so tightly, I found myself resting a gentle palm against his chest to steady him and offer a little comfort.
Once the imprint had been made, I removed the poker and handed it back to Ronnie, “You’ll see my doctor. He’ll treat the wound and make sure it doesn’t get infected so that the scar heals correctly.” As I stepped back, his gaze fell to his chest, and a wicked smirk spread across his lips at the massive A that had been burned there.
Then he finally spoke and my world tilted on its axis. “The mark of a queen.”
“Yo, earth to Alex.” Adley’s voice broke through my memory and I turned back toward her. “You with me?”
“Of course I am,” I sighed, not offering any explanation for my daydream. “You done?”
“Almost. Wanted to ask if you think I should cut it all off though. You know, be a daredevil, or keep it long?”
“Stitch doesn’t like change. If you go home pregnant and with a bob, you’ll give the poor man a heart attack.” She knew I was right and then the shadows rasped, “She’d be sexy no matter how she cut her hair.” I groaned out loud, rolling my temples between my index and thumb. “How long has he been there?”
“He’s always been there,” Adley frowned while I glared at her. “Are you losing your touch?” Now she smirked, and I wanted to poke her in the eye.
“What happened to a girl’s day?”
“We’re having one. Just with a hot biker on security.” She shrugged and I looked out the window before looking back at her in veiled annoyance.
