Chapter seven
1962 Words
Chapter seven
Gabriella’s pov
“What’s going on here?”
Jacob’s voice crashed into the kitchen and I shoved Killian away from me instantly, my face already burning from how close his lips had been seconds ago. Meanwhile, the psychopath looked completely relaxed, like pinning me against the counter was a normal morning activity.
“Nothing,” I said quickly while fixing my robe and trying very hard not to look guilty.
Killian grabbed the apron hanging behind me casually.
“Yes,” he agreed smoothly. “Nothing at all.” he grinned, his eyes never leaving my body.
Jacob’s eyes narrowed slightly before dropping toward Killian’s soaked shirt.
“What happened to your clothes?”
My heart nearly stopped, as my brain processed the outcome of that question.
“It was a mistake,” I answered quickly.
Killian glanced toward me slowly, amusement dancing inside his golden eyes.
“Mm,” he murmured under his breath. “That’s not what your body was saying.”
A low chuckle followed before he casually grabbed an apple from the counter.
“Anyway,” he continued smoothly, like he hadn’t just destroyed my remaining peace of mind, “I actually came because my mother sent me.”
My stomach tightened instantly, that woman was sweet, elegant, terrifying… and unfortunately obsessed with family.
Jacob leaned against the counter. “What for?”
Killian bit into the apple he had grabbed from the fruit basket on top of the counter slowly before answering.
“She wants you both to move into the pack house for a while.” His golden eyes slid toward me. “Apparently she wants to spend more time getting to know her new stepdaughter properly.”
“No.”
The word escaped my mouth so fast even I blinked.
Both men looked at me immediately.
Great… just great.
“I mean,” I corrected quickly, “that sounds unnecessary.”
Killian’s smirk deepened slightly.
“Unnecessary?” he repeated slowly like he was enjoying every second of this already.
“Yes, unnecessary.”
Living under the same roof as this man sounded less like family bonding and more like volunteering myself for emotional destruction.
Jacob frowned slightly as he folded his arms. “Why?”
Because your Alpha best friend keeps looking at me like he wants to ruin my entire life, because every second around him already feels dangerous enough, because moving into the pack house willingly would basically be me handing my sanity over to a psychopath with golden eyes and no shame.
Killian watched me quietly, amusement dancing inside his eyes like he could hear every chaotic thought running through my head right now.
Actually… he probably could.
“My mother really wants this,” he said smoothly. “She really wants to spend more time getting to know her beautiful stepdaughter and of course, her husband.”
“She could just visit.”
“She wants more than visits.”
“She’ll survive.”
Killian chuckled softly. “You sound terrified, little fox.”
“I sound reasonable.”
“You sound like you’re trying very hard to stay away from me.”
Heat rushed into my face instantly. Doesn’t he think before talking?
Jacob looked between us again. “Why would she be trying to stay away from you?”
Killian’s smirk widened.
“That,” he said casually, “is a very good question.”
I wanted to throw the frying pan at his head.
Jacob rubbed the back of his neck thoughtfully. “Actually… your father called earlier saying something about family arrangements.”
Of course he did, why did everyone suddenly wake up determined to destroy my peace?
Killian leaned comfortably against the counter while watching my internal suffering like this was the greatest entertainment of his life.
“My mother already prepared rooms,” he added. “She’s excited.”
“I’m not moving in there.”
“Damn.” Killian placed a hand over his chest dramatically. “That sounded personal.”
“It is personal.” The words slipped out before I could stop them.
Killian’s eyes darkened with amusement instantly.
Jacob blinked once. “Personal?”
I forced out a laugh so fake it physically hurt.
“Oh my God, not like that.” I grabbed the nearest spoon aggressively. “I just mean your pack house is loud and crowded.” Killian nodded slowly like he absolutely did not believe me.
“Interesting,” he murmured.
God, I hated this man, beast.. whatever.
“Anyway,” Killian continued casually, “my mother also wants to celebrate your one-year anniversary properly since you both somehow ignored it.”
Jacob sighed softly. “Yeah… work got in the way.”
Killian’s eyes shifted toward me. “Oh really, work? then, where were you that night, Gabriella?”
Just kill me will you. My heart dropped so fast it almost hurt as Killian looked at me quietly, without the usual teasing or smug smile, just watching me in a way that somehow felt far more dangerous, and to make things much worse I had to give an answer to that.
“I was,”
“Busy i guess,” Killian continued smoothly before taking another bite from the apple. “Which is exactly why I’m saving your marriage by forcing you both into family time.”
Jacob laughed under his breath. “You really think highly of yourself.”
“I know my value.”
“You’re unbelievable.”
“I’m also right.”
I stared at both of them like the universe personally hated me.
Apart from sleeping beside each other every night like awkward roommates pretending to be married, Jacob and I barely even acted like a couple. Meanwhile this psychopath somehow wanted to celebrate our anniversary while forcing us into the same house with him.
This had to be punishment for something.
Jacob stretched lightly before nodding.
“You know I can’t really say no to your mother.”
My eyes widened in shock and disappointment written all over my face. “You’re agreeing?”
“It’s temporary, Gabriella.” He smiled lightly. “Might actually be fun.”
Fun? Living in the same house with Killian sounded like the beginning of my mental breakdown.
Killian chuckled softly while watching me. “Oh, this is going to be very fun.”
The look in his eyes made my stomach tighten instantly because this man wasn’t talking about family bonding anymore.
He was talking about me.
Jacob started heading toward the hallway. “I should probably pack a few things before tonight.”
“Take your time,” Killian replied lazily.
Jacob stopped halfway before glancing toward Killian’s soaked clothes.
“Oh, right. You can borrow one of my shirts upstairs.”
Killian’s eyes slowly found mine again.
A dangerous smile appeared on his face immediately.
“I think,” he murmured smoothly, “I’d rather have Gabriella help me choose one.”
Jacob grabbed his keys from the counter quickly.
“I’ll start with the study,” he said casually before looking at me. “Gabriella, please pack some of my clothes alongside yours while I sort the documents.”
My heart nearly gave up immediately, while Killian looked way too pleased by that.
“Sure,” the psychopath replied before I could reject the idea.
Jacob disappeared toward his study while I stood there silently questioning every bad decision that had led me to this moment.
The bedroom?Of all places.
God, heavens please don’t forget me today.
Killian followed behind me lazily while I headed upstairs, and somehow his presence alone made the entire hallway feel smaller. The second we entered the room, he started looking around like he was inspecting evidence from a crime scene.
“This is where the magic happens?” he asked casually.
“There is no magic.”
“That bad?” I ignored him and headed toward the closet quickly.
“We’re packing clothes, not your sarcasm.”
“Mm.” His lips curved slightly. “Shame. My sarcasm is my best feature.”
“No, your ego is.”
“That too.”
I opened one of the drawers quickly before the i***t could touch anything.
Unfortunately, I underestimated how committed Killian was to being a menace.
“Oh?” he murmured while pulling open another drawer. “Interesting.”
My eyes widened alongside that annoying grin of his.
“Killian,”
The psychopath was already holding up a pair of lace underwear between two fingers with full amusement dancing in his eyes.
“Which one of these has Jacob actually seen you in?”
I snatched it away so fast my shoulder almost popped.
“Shut up!”
His chuckle wrapped around the room slowly. “That answer tells me everything.”
“You are unbelievable.”
“You’re blushing again.”
“I hate you.”
“No you don’t.”
God. Why did he say things so confidently?
Killian wandered toward Jacob’s side of the closet before I could continue losing my mind. A second later he grabbed one of Jacob’s black shirts and held it against himself thoughtfully.
“You know,” he murmured, “the Jacob I know never planned on settling down.”
I kept folding clothes quickly, pretending my heartbeat wasn’t already doing embarrassing things.
“So how exactly did you manage it?”
I stayed quiet, because what exactly was I supposed to say? That this marriage was more agreement than love? That sometimes Jacob felt more like a stranger I happened to share a bed with? That I still didn’t fully understand how my life had become this complicated?
The thought barely crossed my mind before regret hit immediately.
Killian slowly looked toward me.
Oh no, that dangerous amusement returned instantly.
“Wow,” he murmured softly. “That’s catastrophic.”
My jaw tightened.
“Coming from the man obsessing over his best friend’s wife because of some ridiculous mate story?” I shot back. “Please.”
The room suddenly got quieter.
The teasing disappeared from Killian’s face so fast it caught me off guard.
He stepped closer slowly.
“If it’s really ridiculous,” he said quietly, “why do you keep reacting every time I get close to you? And why was i the one you were dreaming of when you were clearly beside the husband you claim to love”
How did he know about my dream?
I grabbed another shirt quickly just to keep my hands busy.
“You’ve completely lost your mind.”
“Have I?” His voice dropped lower as he stopped directly in front of me. “So, you are saying if I were to pull down your panties right now I wouldn't find you already soaking wet?”
I gulped at the thought of him that close to me again, even though I kept trying to push that sinful thought away.
“You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“That sounded weak, little fox.”
I tried moving around him, that was a big mistake.
His hand caught my wrist instantly.
Heat rushed through me so fast it annoyed me.
Killian pulled me back just enough for my back to touch the closet door lightly while his golden eyes stayed fixed on mine with dangerous intensity.
“What do you even want from me?” I snapped. “Why are you so determined to make my life harder?”
Killian stared at me for a second, golden eyes darkening with something far too intense for my comfort, then his fingers tightened slightly around my wrist.
“Isn’t it obvious?” he murmured quietly. “I want to ruin you”
- Writer
