Chapter Sixteen – Does He Really Care? 

Sydney

After the bombshell I threw at him, I expected him to strangle me. But he simply shuttered his emotions and gave me a disgusted look instead. “Are you out of your mind? There’s a most wanted drug peddler in the vicinity, Jacques le Roux. Two SAPS Special Unit officers were here to warn us. You won’t step out off the site. Is that clear?” 

I shook my head in defiance. “Don’t act like you care.” 

He looked away, but I could sense his hatred for me in everything he did. It wasn’t new to me. At home, my family was no different. They hated me, too. 

“If I didn’t care, you wouldn’t have been here with me.” He rose and ordered dinner for us. 

I watched him move around the tent silently like a panther on the prowl, anger emanating from every pore of his body. He tried to hide it, but I could sense it clearly, even from a distance. 

I felt too drained to fight him. Maybe once I gained some strength, I would escape him forever. 

He returned to the bedroom and stood glaring at me. “I’ve sent your resignation to the recycle bin. You’ll be working for me. No more arguments.”

“Sorry, I can’t function the way you want. I can’t ignore my basic needs for your job. It’s inhuman.” 

A nerve clenched in his jaw as he tried to curb his temper. “You could have taken a break when everyone did. Have I asked you not to? I’m sure you don’t need me to feed you every day.” 

I gaped at him. “No, I don’t expect that. But the workload was too much and your conditions weren’t fair, either.” 

He closed his eyes and sucked in a deep breath to compose himself. When he opened his eyes, strangely, he smiled. “I know. Ever since I’ve met you, I’ve been going crazy, Sydney. It’s all on me. I’m sorry for putting you through shit. It won’t be repeated.” 

My ears flamed at his admission. Did he desire me so much? “Oh, umm.” I looked away, acutely aware of his heated gaze burning through me. 

“So will you work for me, Princess?” He leaned in towards me, his face now devoid of malice. 

How could he switch moods so effectively within minutes? 

I nodded, looking away. “Hmm. Maybe.” Would he forget his obsession to make me his se* slave? 

“There’s no compulsion for you to work. I’m there to look after you.” He smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. Why was he being nice to me? 

“Oh! Why will you bear my expenses? We’re not even related or in a relationship.” 

He gave me an amused look. “We could be in a relationship.” 

My eyes widened. I knew the type of relationship he wanted with me. “No, I have no wish to be your se* slave. Goodness! How could you think of such a thing? Are you used to having them around?” 

He chuckled. “No. Only you make me fantasize about such stuff.” 

My face flushed more. What was wrong with him? Why was he being so honest about his desires? 

“God! You’re so creepy.” I wanted to escape his presence, but I was too weak to run. 

A knock on the door made him leave me alone for a minute. The food arrived, and I felt relieved. Earlier, when Jenny had offered me refreshments, I had felt too nauseated to eat. My co-workers understood my situation and helped me with the task. Some of them helped me to the tent, and ever since, I have been too sick to do anything. 

“Let’s get some food in your system, Princess.” He came into the bedroom to help me up. I tried hard to read him, but it was an impossible task. With a fake smile, he helped me to the dining area. 

“Thanks. I can manage now.” I felt embarrassed to take his help. 

“Let me help you. It’ll ease my mind.” He flashed me another dazzling smile. Yet it looked fake to me.

“Why aren’t you eating?” I smiled back, helping myself to the food. I wasn’t someone who bore a grudge against someone for life. Or I could never have survived in my dad’s house for twenty-one years. Although I hadn’t admitted it to Killian, I had already forgiven him. Of course, I wouldn’t burden him with my expenses, however loaded he might be. I would work hard and earn a livelihood. 

“I’ll eat once you ease my worries. So, will you work here at Cosmos for a month? I promise you’ll love the experience.” 

I nodded. “Yes. I will.” It was the best chance, and I wasn’t letting it go. 

He relaxed and smiled, helping himself to the food. This time, the smile reached his eyes. I could see he wasn’t faking it. How? What changed now? “You eased me out of my misery. I want you to eat well and sleep for at least twelve hours.” 

I rolled my eyes. Who could sleep that long? “That’s absurd. I’ll be fine tomorrow morning. I’ll fix the alarm in case I oversleep.” 

“I can wake you up with a kiss, since you sleep all over me.” He chuckled at my jaw-dropped expression. 

“No, I don’t. You’re joking, right?” I couldn’t meet his eyes, imagining myself doing so. How did I not remember sleeping all over him? 

He laughed and shook his head. “I can take a picture if you don’t believe me.” 

His laughter made me want to die of shame. Shit! How could I act so recklessly? “You should have woken me up last night.” 

“Why would I? I had the best sleep of my life!” He chuckled at my discomfort. 

“It’s not funny, Killian.” I glared at him, feeling like vanishing from the dining table. 

He leaned over as if telling me a secret. “Okay! I’m sober. So, will you sleep the same way tonight? I’m looking forward to it.” 

I knew he was messing with me. I could never stoop so low and sleep all over him. “No. I won’t sleep at all. I’ll sit here all night.” 

“As if I’ll let you. I’ll carry you to bed if necessary. Try me, Princess. You need to rest if you want to work tomorrow.” 

I searched his eyes but couldn’t find a hint of malice in them. Did he really care about me? “Why do you care?” I searched his eyes, but he looked away. 

“I just do.” He ate in silence, not even looking up at me. 

What had I done now? How did his mood shift again? I gave up trying to figure him out. “I’m done.” 

He nodded, not looking at me. Was he the same guy who offered to carry me to bed? I cleared the table and went to the bedroom while he still sat brooding over something in the same position where I left him. It seemed his world had crashed, as if he was upset about something. 

What could it be? I lay down to sleep, but my attention was on Killian sitting outside. He was still at the table, and I felt more confused now. 

What was going on in his head? 

I turned my back to his side and pulled the duvet to block all thoughts of him and sleep. He was the most complicated person I had ever met. I shouldn’t let him affect me so much. 

He walked into the room and moved around stealthily, going to the closet and to the washroom. I was acutely aware of his movements, even with my eyes closed. 

After a few minutes, he emerged, and the scent of his body wash lingered in the air. It was addictive, and my body tingled with arousal. 

The bed dipped, and he lay down next to me. My breath hitched under the duvet as I waited for him to make a move. Knowing how much he desired me, I wondered if he would touch me. Or would he ignore me and go to sleep? Although I didn’t voice my feelings, I wasn’t at all immune to him. 

A part of me wanted him to desire me. I wanted him to fall for me the way they did in the movies. A strange thrill coursed through my body as I waited for him to do something. What would he do?

I felt a movement behind me, and my heart pounded with arousal. 

The duvet slid downwards, and I gasped. Would he kiss me? 

The pounding of my heart was so pronounced, I was sure he could hear it. 

“I know you’re awake.” Then, without warning, he dipped his head and brushed his lips against my cheek. 

I could feel the butterflies fluttering in my stomach as the scent of his aftershave wafted around me. I had never felt so nervous in my life as I did now. Would he trail his lips to mine? Would he give me my first kiss? 

“Sleep, Princess.” With that, he rolled over, leaving me hanging for more. 

Now I would definitely dream of the kiss that had almost happened. How would I stop myself from attacking him in his sleep to steal my first kiss?