Chapter 9 Nine
Fianna.
I had barely managed to swallow the first bite of my hamburger before Ronan’s stare started to burn holes through my skull. I had been ignoring his stares since I started eating because I wasn’t mentally ready for his dramatic ass.
The hamburger was warm, greasy and honestly tasted so good. I stuffed it into my mouth shamelessly, chewing slowly to savor it because I had been starving and I refused to pretend otherwise. Sauce smeared the corner of my lips, and I didn’t even bother to wipe it off.
Ronan sat across from me at the kitchen island, his elbows braced against the marble, with his eyes narrowed like he was trying to solve a puzzle that offended him.
I finally licked the sauce from my lip and glared back at him while still chewing.
“What?” I snapped, my tone sharp and unapologetic.
He let out a short chuckle, but I knew there was nothing funny about it. I knew that sound. It was the one he made when he was trying not to lose his temper. He leaned back in his chair, and reached into his pocket, and flung his car keys onto the counter. They slid dangerously close to my elbow before clattering to a stop.
Ronan leaned forward again, his voice dropping. “Did Kian not feed you since you got here yesterday?”
If he said it like that, it hit deeper than I expected.
I swallowed, the soda fizzing sharply down my throat as I lifted the cup and took a long sip. My fingers tightened around it before I nodded once.
“He left immediately after we got here,” I said, forcing my voice to stay casual. “I have not seen him since then.”
His jaw clenched dangerously. I watched the muscle tick as he dragged a hand through his hair, breathing out slowly like he was trying to leash himself.
I knew how dramatic he was so I didn’t give him attention.
“Why did you not text me?” He demanded. “Why did you not tell me the bastard has nothing in his house?!”
I scoffed loudly, taking another bite. The burger was more than halfway gone now and my stomach still felt painfully empty.
“I did text him, though, even if I didn’t text you,” I said. “But it didn’t go well.” I shrugged, gesturing vaguely around the massive kitchen. “And even if there were ingredients here, what exactly do you expect me to do? Cook? You know I can’t even cook.”
“WELL, YOU COULD HAVE LOOKED UP A RECIPE!” He snapped darkly.
That did it.
My chest squeezed as I dropped the burger onto the wrapper, the sound loud in the quiet room. I hated when they all did this. I folded my arms tightly across my chest and turned my face away from him.
“I am not interested anymore," I said flatly. “Take your burger and go home.”
He glared at me without saying anything.
I kept my gaze fixed on the far wall, blinking hard. Of course. Somehow it was my fault again. It was my fault that I had no food to eat. It was my fault that Kian’s house was just too big for nothing. It was my fault for being hungry.
This had to be a joke.
I hated when they blamed me for things I had no control over.
He cleared his throat after a while and softened his tone.
“Fianna,” he said quietly. “Eat.”
I didn’t move.
Even though my stomach twisted violently, screaming at me to grab the burger and finish it. But I stayed stubborn because my pride hurt more than my hunger.
His voice darkened again. “Pick up the burger,” he warned. “Or I will feed you myself.”
I turned toward him, ready to tell him to shove the burger into somewhere else when the door clicked open and I froze.
Heavy footsteps entered the house. Kian walked in without lifting his head, loosening his tie as he went ahead to roll his sleeves with controlled irritation like he was forced to come back here.
Ronan stood up fast, his chair scraped loudly against the floor. Before I could even breathe, he crossed the room and slammed Kian back against the wall.
The impact echoed.
My eyes widened, my heart pounding, as Kian’s head snapped up. His face twisted instantly into pure fury, his eyes blazing.
“Do you have a death wish?” Kian snapped, his voice dangerously low and threatening.
Ronan fisted his collar, pulling him forward. “You are an asshole,” he growled. “Your mama didn’t train you on how to treat a woman.”
Oh shit.
That was sensitive as hell.
I watched as Kian’s jaw tightened darkly. “You have one second,” he said slowly, his voice deadly calm. “to let go of my collar.”
Ronan didn’t bulge and I didn’t even expect him to. He was stubborn as hell and could be dying but still won’t back down.
“I respected you,” Ronan snarled. “But after starving my sister, you lost that privilege.”
Kian’s eyes went cold as he hissed. “Fucker, I don’t give a shit about your respect.”
Then his gaze shifted over Ronan’s shoulder, locking onto me.
His eyes sharpened with no hint of playfulness or warmth in them. “You don’t get tired of setting me up and accusing me, do you?”
I rolled my eyes and calmly picked up the burger again, taking another bite like two men weren’t about to kill each other over me. I would have stopped Ronan now but Kian thinking everything I ever did was always malicious threw me off.
Ronan finally released him with a shove and pointed a finger at him. “This mess will end soon.”
Kian smirked darkly. “I cannot wait for you to come and take your sister.”
“Fuck you,” Ronan spat.
He grabbed his keys beside me and then turned to me, his expression softening completely like he didn’t just slam Kian against the wall. He leaned down, and pressed a soft kiss on my forehead.
“You are too dramatic,” I twitched my mouth, pouting.
His eyes turned cold again. “Nobody,” he said firmly, “Nobody has the right to starve you.”
I nodded. Fuck Kian.
He straightened and did not spare Kian a glance again before he walked out. The door shut loudly behind him.
And then, there was silence.
Really suffocating silence. I could feel Kian’s presence like a storm rolling through the room. His anger was heavy and oppressive. He stayed by the door for a moment, staring at me like he was deciding whether to throw me out.
He low-key scared me a lot but I would never admit that out loud. I dropped the burger and reached for my soda, taking a slow sip to steady my nervousness.
He finally moved and I almost flinched. He walked toward the kitchen counter and leaned against it, his arms braced and his head lowered before he spoke.
“It’s been barely two days,” he said, his voice tight. “And you are already being unreasonable.”
I glared at him, my fingers curling around the cold cup. “Do not insult me,” I snapped. “Did I lie against you? Did you not say you were not getting me food and I can starve for all you care?!”
He snarled right back, his eyes dangerously narrowed. “You could have ordered it yourself and spared me this stupidity.”
I almost hurled my cup at him. “And compromise the security? Are you being serious right now?”
He exhaled harshly, frustration bleeding into his posture. “Why did you not reply to my messages?”
I laughed bitterly. “Are you already losing your mind? You told me yourself that you were not going to reply to me anymore. So maybe you should fuck off and let me be.”
That was when he moved. In a blink, he was in front of me and I swallowed hard. His hand came up, gripping my jaw firmly, forcing my face up until our eyes met. His presence swallowed me whole. He was too tall and huge.
“If I had known the caretaker would not be here,” he growled. “I would have brought you food this morning.”
I shrugged, my pulse racing. “Well, you did not.”
His eyes darkened, staring into mine. “Your rudeness disgusts me.”
I stared back at him, refusing to look away. He hated me. I could see it clearly and I hated him right back. I closed my eyes for a brief second, then smiled slowly.
“You might hate me,” I said softly, my thigh raising to his pants. “But your hard cock pressing against my stomach clearly does not.”
His body went rigid.
“Or,” I added sweetly, “do you get hard for every living thing?”
He hissed sharply and stepped back like I had burned him. And without another word, he turned and left the living room.
My cheeks burned.
Fuck.
I knew what I felt. I knew I wasn’t imagining it. He got hard for me. I could bet my life on it. He smelled so intoxicating and yeah…I confirmed it was indeed dark chocolate. For a second, I smelt leaned closer just to breathe him in and lick him.
Over my dead body.
Kian Sullivan was forbidden. Whatever this was, it was hunger and frustration. I packed up the remaining food, shaking my head.
I was not attracted to Kian.
I was just horny.