LOGINKillian glanced at her, the corner of his lips curling into a smile.“I'm not your boyfriend.”Daniela's brows furrowed. “Then what are you.” “Your husband.”Daniela blinked. Once. Twice.Then she laughed, short and breathless, like she wasn’t sure whether he was serious or teasing.“My husband?” She echoed, tilting her head. “Did I miss a wedding?”Killian kept his eyes on the road, hands steady on the steering wheel. But the faint smile didn’t leave his lips.“You didn’t miss anything,” he said evenly. “Yet.”Daniela studied him, the way his jaw tightened just a fraction.“You’re serious,” she said softly.He glanced at her then, really looked at her, his gaze heavy with intention.“I don’t use words I don’t mean.”Her chest warmed and tightened at the same time. “You could’ve said fiancé. Or partner. Or…”“Husband,” he repeated. “That’s where this is going.”The car slowed as they approached a traffic light. Outside, the city moved on like nothing monumental had just been said.Da
Daniela slung her bag on her shoulder as she walked out. She thought of going to get the quadruplets from school.Immediately she stepped out, she paused, a smile forming on her lips as she caught sight of the man leaning on a black car meters away from the building.Killian.He wasn’t in his usual rigid work mode. His jacket was slung over one arm, tie loosened, sleeves rolled up just the way she liked seeing it.His eyes found her immediately.Relief crossed his face before he masked it.“You took longer than expected,” he said.Daniela smiled as she approached him. “I told you not to worry, but you didn't listen. How long have you been here?”“It doesn't matter how long I waited, all that matters is that, you're here now.”He stepped closer without thinking, his hand settling lightly at her lower back as if it had always belonged there.Daniela didn’t pull away, instead she leaned closer.Inside the building, a woman slowed her steps.She had been walking toward the exit, phone in
Daniela first went to her room to freshen up before heading for the kitchen. While cooking, she thought of going to the fashion school today.The idea had been sitting at the back of her mind. Mr. Rhis had reached out, reminding her that the offer still stood. The school wasn’t just reputable, it was respected. One of the best.She hadn’t gone before because everything in her life had felt unstable. But now, she finally had time.Killian would be at work.Emy was busy getting the quadruplets ready for school.This was a good chance to go.She poured pancake batter onto the pan, bacon followed, toast popped. She plated everything neatly, adding sliced fruits and warm syrup.By the time she was pouring orange juice, footsteps echoed on the stairs.“Smells illegal.” A voice declared.Daniela turned just in time to see Killian walking in, sleeves of his shirt rolled up, hair still slightly tousled in that unfair way he had in the mornings.Behind him came chaos.Four identical heads, fou
Morning crept into Killian’s room, soft and pale through half-drawn curtains. The air was warm, far too comfortable for a man who normally woke with alarms ringing in his head.Killian’s eyes opened first.For a few seconds, he didn’t move, just breathed, just listened. The steady rhythm beside him grounded him more than sleep ever had.Daniela lay tucked against him, her forehead resting lightly against his collarbone.In sleep, she looked different. Unguarded. Softer. Her breathing was steady and warm, brushing his skin with each exhale.He didn’t move.He just watched her.She looked peaceful. So peaceful it made something in his chest tighten the way it did when he saw the boys asleep. That quiet ache of responsibility mixed with something softer.He studied her expression, memorizing her delicate features.Her lashes, still faintly damp from sleep.Her brow.Her lips, parted just slightly in a way that sent a traitorous warmth low in his stomach.Killian shifted just enough to
But before she could stop herself, she said it. “Can I kiss you?” Killian stilled.His thumb paused at her waist, his breath shallow as he looked at her. “I want to.” She said softly, suddenly feeling the urge to really kiss him. He had kissed her before, but this time, she was the one asking. Something in Killian's expression shifted. He nodded once. Slowly. “Ok.”The word landed between them.Daniela pushed herself up, giving him time to change his mind. He didn’t.She positioned her knees on his sides, her hands sliding around his neck as she leaned down.Killian watched her, a little surprised.The shift was sudden. Her knee sinking into the bed, her weight tipping forward into him, all hesitation burned away in the space between one heartbeat and the next. His hands found her waist, pulling her closer before he’d even thought about it, the heat of her against him like stepping into sunlight after months of winter.The first brush of her lips was tentative, almost questioning,
Killian finally exhaled and turned around on the couch, facing her fully.“Daniela.” His voice dipped low. “Stay with me tonight.”Her breath caught.She blinked, unsure she heard him right.He continued before she could speak, careful like a man revealing the part of himself he usually locked behind a thousand steel doors.“I don’t mean anything complicated,” he said softly. “Just… be there. I sleep better when you’re close.”Daniela’s pulse fluttered.He was asking, genuinely asking for closeness, for her to stay with him.She searched his expression. “Killian…”He leaned forward slightly, elbows on his knees, his fingers clasped together. His eyes held that quiet intensity she always tried not to drown in.Daniela’s chest tightened. Not from pressure, but from something tender rising unexpectedly in her chest.He looked tired in a way even a thousand massages couldn’t fix.The kind of tired that came from too much responsibility, too many silent nights, too many emotions he swallow







