Chapter 66 68

Chapter 66 68
LARA PARKER.
I wake up with a dull throb at the back of my head, my whole body feeling sore and heavy. A slight groan slipped past my lips as I tried to move, an act that had a figure quickly moving to my side, helping me to sit up.
“Careful.” Killian’s voice reached my ears just as I turned my head around to find him beside me. He held one of my hands as he helped me sit up, while using his other hand to fix the pillow behind me so I was leaning on it.
Once I was seated comfortably, his hands let go of mine to pick up the cup on the bedside with water in it, and then handing it to me. “Here.” He said, settling down on the empty space beside me on the bed. “I am sure you must be feeling parched.”
 I whispered a thank you as I retrieved it from him, realizing the water is warm, and I wrapped both hands around it to seek some of its warmth before bringing it to my lips and taking sips of it. I ended up drinking all of it, a sigh slipping past my lips as I dropped it.
He collected it from me and placed it on the bedside cabinet again before his eyes found mine. “How are you feeling?” His brows drew in, eyes searching mine as if he could see past me through that. “I have some food ready for you, or do you want to rest some more?”
I shook my head at the latter words. “I am fine.” I whispered, looking around the room only to realize we were back at his apartment, and judging from how dark the room is, it must be night time already. My lips curled downwards as I found his gaze again. “How long have I been out for?”
“About nine hours.”
“What?” I blinked, lips parting. “how did I end up sleeping so long?”
He shook his head, “Must have been the exhaustion from the past few days.” He brushed it off, his hand reaching up to take a hold of my cheeks, caressing it with his thumb. “Are you sure you are feeling alright? Do you need me to get you anything?”
I parted my lips to speak, but something on his hand caught my attention. I reached out to move his hand from my face so I could look at it clearly, my gaze falling on the bruise on his knuckle that was almost healed, and my frown deepened if that was possible. “Is this from earlier?” I looked up, brows drawn in. “I remember what happened before I lost consciousness. You fought with Caleb. Did you get this because of that?”
He looked away, clicking his tongue against the tip of his mouth. “It is not exactly a fight since he stood no chance really.” He mumbled more to himself, but I heard him well.
My eyes turned pointed. “Right. You beat him up instead.” My tone was just as pointed.
His eyes found mine again, and there was no ounce of remorse in it or his voice when he said; “He deserves it. Serves him right for laying his hands on you.” He hissed. “I let him off too easily even because you fainted. I should have broken the hand.” His lips pressed together. “You cannot possibly be thinking of defending him, are you?”
“Of course not.” I shook my head, my hand enclosing his. “I am worried about you instead.” He did not seem to believe me, so I added. “With what happened with Dixie at my place, I do not know how you got it under the wraps but it is best if we do not encounter any issues with the Hawthornes and Ambors, especially with Caleb being their sole heir now. And judging from the bruise on your hand, I am sure you did a number on him.”
“He should not have laid his hands on you.”
“He should not have.” I nodded in agreement. “But you should not get too violent either.” I blinked, my shoulders slumping when I added in a low voice. “I do not like it. Especially a bloody mess. I want no part of it.” My eyes found his again, before I then added. “Promise me you will not get involved in messy things like this again.”
His brows pinched. “Lara, I—”
“Promise me, Killian.” I pressed, my tone stern. “If you want this, us, to work, then no more with all this bloodshed and suffering. I want nothing to do with it.” One of the reasons I like him is because he is in hockey. Aside from injuries on the rink, there is no risk for any blood mess.
His career is not dangerous, and if I am ever going to be with someone, even if it is going to be for a short while, I am determined to be with someone with no tendency to end up like my father. Killian shows violent tendencies, but I do not want that for him or us.
“Let us avoid any bloodshed if we can.” I added, “I want us both to stay safe. Everything else comes second.”
He looked as though he wanted to say something more, probably not agreeing with my request but he did not mention it. Instead, he simply nodded, offering me a small, barely visible smile. “Okay.”
“Okay?” I arched a brow.
His smile widened. “Okay.” He assured, leaning down to press a quick kiss on my forehead. When he pulled back, his eyes found mine before he added. “now let us go and get you something to eat. I am sure you are famished.”
I nodded, my lips curling into a grin. “I am.” I extended both hands out to him. “Carry me. I do not feel like walking.”
He did not complain. My words only had him flashing me a grin, before his arms wrapped around me and he carried me into his arms effortlessly as though I weighed nothing, then out of the room.
I rested my head on his shoulder, my arms wrapping around his neck, inhaling his scent. And for the first time in a long time, I truly wished we could stay this way…the way our relationship is because I love every second of it. It would be nice if our relationship could stay like this…if it could become real.
But even if it won’t, I am determined to make the best of every bit of time we have now.