King of Depravity: Chapter 27

We walk for what feels like hours. We zig and zag down streets and alleys, skulking through shadows, until I have no idea where we are.

Finally, we stop in the doorway of a building and Killian pulls out a key. My eyes go wide as he unlocks the door, and we step inside. He softly closes it behind us, turning a deadbolt. We walk up two flights of stairs, before he unlocks another door.

Stepping inside, he flicks on a single light, and I gasp. We’re in an apartment. A small kitchen sits to the left, a cozy living room with a couch and two chairs to the right.

“Where are we?” I ask, peeking into a doorway that leads into a small but very clean bathroom.

“My apartment.”

I turn to stare at him. “But weren’t we at your loft apartment already?”

“I have five,” he answers like that is a completely normal response.

“Are all of them furnished?”

“Of course.” He flips on the bathroom light for me, kissing my forehead. “This is the only bathroom in the place. You go first.”

I stare at him, so many questions circling in my brain. But I really need to pee and I’m exhausted.

So I close the door and go to the bathroom.

When I come out, he’s got the stove on, dumping the contents of an envelope inside. “What is that?”

“Food,” he answers. “It’s not great, but each of these places is equipped with a two-month supply of freeze-dried provisions.”

That’s when it hits me. Killian is prepared for this. He knew he might have to disappear at some point.

And now I’ve disappeared with him.

I cross over to the couch and sink down into the cushions, the weight of what’s happening fully sinking in.

We’re hiding. Someone tried to kill us tonight. Well, technically, first someone tried to kill me and then someone tried to kill Killian. An almost hysterical laugh breaks from my lips.

He stops stirring. “Chloe.”

I wave my hand, like I’m waving him off. “I’m all right. I just realized…”

“What?”

“I’m not going to class tomorrow, am I? And I’m not going to my new job either.” My chest is getting tight. Getting my degree has been the entire purpose of my life the last three years. It was my path out of the past and into the future.

I date one guy for a week…

This time, I don’t laugh, I choke on a sob.

He turns off the stove. “Sweetheart.”

I know this isn’t Killian’s fault. Alexander was harassing me before I’d even spoken to Killian. If he hadn’t taken an interest, I’d be…I’d be dead right now. Alexander would have killed me, and Killian is a man I can trust.

But also…maybe I was just fooling myself that I could be different from my mother. I was always going to succumb to chaos. “I’m no better than her.”

“Who?”

“My mother.” My voice cracks in the middle.

“That isn’t true.” Crossing the room, he squats in front of me. “I’m sorry.”

“What are you sorry for?”

“This is my fault. I dragged you into this.” I hear the pain in his voice. “I’m a black hole, Chloe, and I’ve sucked you into the dark void with me.”

His words calm my racing thoughts. Killian isn’t a black hole. He isn’t dark, no matter what he’s come to believe. “It’s not true.”

“It is.” He stands up scrubbing his hands over his face. “I’ll send you away so that you can have a real life. I’ll⁠—”

“Stop.” I stand too, taking his hands away from his face and holding them in mine. “You’re not the problem, Killian. You never have been.”

He stares at me. “You don’t know…”

“I do. You’re wrong about yourself, I can see it. Feel it. And maybe that means, if you’re wrong about yourself, I’m wrong about me.”

He looks into my eyes for what seems like an eternity but might only be a few minutes before he’s pulling me into his arms. His lips come down over mine in a kiss that claims.

I wrap my arms around his neck drawing him closer. When he lifts his head, he looks more vulnerable than I’ve ever seen him. “I’m going to make it right.”

I shake my head. “That’s not what I said.”

“I know. But I’m still making that promise. You deserve all the beautiful things in life, Chloe. I’ll give them to you.”

He lets me go then, returning to the stove. And though I’m more tired than hungry, I eat when he commands, just because I know it will make him feel better.

When we’re done, he takes my hand and leads me through the other door, which leads into a bedroom. This place doesn’t boast the giant bed that he has in the loft but it’s a nice, soft looking queen, and I sigh at the idea of crawling under the covers.

He strips off my clothes and then I do just that, pulling the covers over my body. He brushes a hand through my hair.

“Aren’t you coming?”

Leaning down, he kisses my forehead. “Soon.”

“Where are you going?” I can hear the fear in my voice.

He runs a hand through my hair. “I’ll be right in the kitchen where you can find me anytime you need. I’ll just be on the phone. You’ll be able to hear me the whole time.”

I nod, feeling better, even as my eyes slide closed. I do hear him, the deep thrum of his baritone voice for about two minutes, and then I’m sound asleep.

I have no idea how much time passes but I wake when his weight sinks into the bed next to me. “Killian?”

“It’s me, baby.” He pulls me close, his hand spreading out on my belly as he nuzzles into my neck.

“What time is it?”

“Late,” he answers sounding tired.

I’m tempted to ask him what he’s been doing, but I know he won’t tell me. It’s part of how he protects me. So instead, I roll over, pressing my front to his. He’s naked too, and I tangle our legs together as I kiss him.

His hungry lips devour mine as he grabs my ass in one of his hands, squeezing the flesh as he pulls me against his hard cock.

That first night, the tight squeeze of his hand might have frightened me. But not tonight.

I know that Killian would never hurt me. In fact, he’d move mountains to keep me safe. And whenever I’ve asked him to soften his behavior to accommodate my past, my fears, he’s acquiesced without a word of complaint.

This is a man who loves me. A man I can trust.

And I know what I want to give him. It’s for me too. It’s my way of putting my past behind me.

Which is why I untangle my legs and start kissing over his jaw, down his neck and across his chest.

He hisses when I lick his nipples, but I keep going, kissing over the ridges of his abs until his cock bumps my chin.

We both laugh as I pull my chin tighter to my chest so that I can lick the tip.

He sucks in a breath, his hand settling on my shoulder, his fingers twitching against my skin.

I take the head between my lips, suckling before I draw him deeper, sinking down his thick length. I gag a bit, forgetting just how full he makes a girl’s mouth. His fingers tighten as he pulls me away.

I let him guide me off his cock as I reach my arm around my neck to gather all my hair over one shoulder.

“Killian?” I look up his body, my eyes locking on his as I give him another lick.

“I want to fuck you.”

I shake my head. “Take my hair.”

His brows draw together. “No. I’m not⁠—”

“We’re putting our pasts behind us one day at a time. Do it.”

He gathers the strands in his hand, holding them loosely as I sink back down, swallowing his cock.

He lets out a low groan, his fingers tightening in my hair. This time, though, it doesn’t scare me.

It makes me feel…powerful. I swallow him all the way down until he hits the back of my throat.

He’s cursing and spitting as I slowly come up, popping off the end before I sink back down.

I work him slowly. I don’t know why, other than slow feels like love. His hips strain off the bed, his hand so tight in my hair, he’s guiding my movements.

Tears start to leak from my eyes, but I keep my movements deliberate, drawing out his pleasure.

His thighs tremble, his fingers so tightly wound in my hair, that I can’t help but heed when he pulls me off his cock. “Chloe.”

I start to protest. I’m finishing this…

But he’s tapping my shoulder. “Bring your pussy up here. I want you on my face.”

What can I say? The man has a way with words. I twist around, laying on top of him so that I can sink my mouth back down his cock even as he smacks my ass and then dives in, licking my already-aching pussy.

A jolt of pleasure courses through me. I forget to take him in as I arch, letting out a cry. He squeezes my ass cheeks together, lapping until I’m panting.

That’s when I sink back down, swallowing him all the way down.

He thrusts up, our bodies moving together as we suck and lap. I’d moan but my mouth is too full. I finally have to break off, letting out a high-pitched cry as I come undone, an orgasm ripping through me.

He gives me a few seconds and then he’s pushing my head back down. “I can’t wait,” he grits out.

Still pulsing from the aftereffects of the orgasm, I slide all the way down his cock, filling my mouth.

He cums with a roar, his hot seed shooting down my throat.

I hold until he’s done, finally pull up and then collapse on top of him.

“Christ,” he groans. He’s limp under me. Have I wrecked him? Good.

Scooting to one side, I right myself so that my head rests on his shoulder, my body pressed to his side. He’s already asleep, but his arm still comes around me, drawing me closer. I fall back to sleep too.

I have no idea what tomorrow will bring. But tonight, I’m safe in his arms.