Page 49 of Reckless Desires

“JoJo, go start a fire,” Mickey says as we step outside for some air. “Cook some steaks over a bonfire. Trevor. Leon. Go help.”

I watch them take his orders without fuss. The sun is almost setting when the girls come back. They are soaked, clothes clinging to their bodies like a second skin, but it’s the way Liliana laughs—her hair a wild mess, glistening droplets catching the fading sunlight—that draws my attention. When Lily's gaze flicks in my direction, her playful smile falters for just a moment.

I stand beside Mickey, smoking a cigarette.

“You ladies look like you took a dip.” Mickey assesses the closer they get.

“This place is amazing,” Izzy says. “There’s an amazing waterfall. An open field perfect for stargazing.”

The way she speaks of it sounds like this is a magical place. I drop my cigarette and put it out with a stomp of my foot. I give them a minute after they enter the house to walk in and investigate what my sisters found out.

Jodi and Izzy roam through their bags for dry clothes, and I see that Liliana just reaches the top of the staircase, heading for her room.

“So?” I question, crossing my arms at my chest.

Jodi looks up. “She’s sweet. Obviously never worked a hard day in her life, but she’s smart. I get a good feeling about her.”

“I thought she was your girlfriend.” Izzy rummages through her bag. “She didn’t say much about how you both know each other, but I’m not stupid, Killian. You both are sleeping together. And if you’re running from Vidalia,” she glances at Jodi, telling me that’s how she got that information, “it means you stole her from him. Romani people don’t do that to each other.”

“No. Romani people don’t betray their own, but I didn’t take anything I haven’t paid for,” I reply, nipping any possible accusations in the bud. “And I didn’t pay for her to have sex with me. She’s leverage for something else I’m dealing with back in the States.” Izzy doesn’t look convinced, but I ignore it. “Did she mention anything about her life back at home?”

“Not really,” Jodi replies. “Took her a bit to warm up to us. Izzy and I were stripped down to our intimates. Wouldn’t take her clothes off and just swam with them on.”

Of course she’d be reserved after something like that, but I find it odd that it doesn’t stop her from touching herself in front of me three times now.

Chapter Thirty-Four

Lily

Getting out of wet clothing is more challenging than you’d think. Dry clothes feel nice to have back on. When I get outside, the air is colder, but the blazing bonfire where everyone is seated around is toasty. The smell of steak makes my mouth salivate. Killian is speaking to Mickey but keeps his eyes on me. I’m thankful everyone is here. I don’t want to talk about what happened this morning. He probably thinks I’m always horny, although around him I can’t help it. The way he looks at me sets my skin on fire. He seems to be keeping his distance because he doesn’t speak to me the entire time.

I help Jodi and Izzy set up a folding table and folding chairs for us to eat on. Steak, potatoes, and string beans. We eat, I help clean up, and then sit with everyone around the fire, listening to them speak about their mom. I am given a hoodie, and Izzy wraps herself in a blanket. It’s a bonding moment, and I sit, soaking it all in until I realize Killian isn’t here.

I notice the light inside the stable is on and start walking toward it, away from everyone. I stand at the entrance to find Killian petting a horse.

“Didn’t take you as a horse lover,” I comment, walking in.

He doesn’t look at me. “There are lots of things you don’t know about me.”

I cross my arms at my chest. “Can we get the elephant out of the room?”

“Something on your mind?”

“This morning…” I trail off, not wanting to say it out loud.

Continuing to pet the horse and not look at me, he responds, “Which part? Spying on me naked or touching yourself to my naked body?”

My cheeks flush. I didn’t think of it that way, spying on him naked. “All of it. That was wrong.”

“Did you think it was wrong when you were doing it?”

“Yes.”

“Yet you still chose to do it.”

I don’t realize I am walking toward him. “I did.”

He finally turns to me. “Do you always behave this way, or is it a new trick you learned here overseas?”