Hope

When I opened my eyes the next morning, I found Killian still draped around me, fast asleep with his arm over me, holding me close to his suffocating body heat that absorbed me.

He'd spent the whole night with me. This realization was pleasing as it was also shocking because I had expected to wake up alone, but he was here, naked, breathing steady against my back.

When I tried to move, a faint distressed groan erupted from deep in his throat. "Hope." He stirred, nuzzling his face in my hair as he inhaled deeply. He'd woken because I felt his eyes blinking and closing behind me like he was trying to clear his vision. I took the opportunity to turn, meeting his sleepy, heavy-lidded, blinking eyes beneath his tousled hair falling rakishly over his forehead.

"Good morning," I mumbled.

He replied to my greeting with a hum as he moved away, unpeeling himself from me. "How long did I sleep?"

"I don't know," I pulled my hand over my head and stretched, working the sleep off my muscles. "I just woke."

I watched his gaze lower to my chest before meeting my eyes. "You should cover up before the maids get here."

I let out a huff and rolled unto my stomach, stealing a pile under my face. "Give me five minutes."

"No." He gruffed and I gasped when he gave me a playful slap on my right ass cheek." Get your fat ass up now." He moved to the edge of the bed and stood. "I'm going to shower, join me if you wish."

Not bothering with finding some clothes, he headed towards the bathroom door, walking with sleek confidence as he gave me a view of his sculpted back and perfect ass.

An invitation to shower with Killian.

This was new.

I smiled, my voice calling after him."Is that your way of telling me I stink?"

He stopped and craned his head towards me. "If I wanted to tell you that you stink, I wouldn't need to cover it up." He drawled. "But yes, you do stink."

"So do you, asshole." I picked up my pillow and threw it at him and he caught it without flinching. Not that he needed to flinch because it was just a pillow but it was still hot.

"You throw like my dead dog." He threw the pillow back to me and it hit me straight on the head.

"Ow!" I was being a little overdramatic. He knew because he had this trademark smile on his face that I was sure reduced women to drools. "You coming or what?"

I rolled my eyes and rubbed my forehead. "I'll be there in a minute."

With a nod, he walked in and I pushed my feet out of the bed and got up.

Yep, definitely sore.

Groaning, I picked up my clothes from last night and tossed them in the hamper. The thought of taking a shower with Killian thrilled me and there was a smile on my face when I draped a robe over my body, about walking out when Killian's phone began to vibrate on the nightstand.

My first instinct was to ignore it. I wasn't the type to snoop around, especially when it came to him but the phone kept ringing and I assumed it was urgent.

I walked over cautiously to the phone and glanced over at the caller ID. It read. Attorney Brad Rogers.

Why was Brad calling?

It must've been very important for his attorney to call by this time of the morning.

I picked up the phone. It felt hot in my hands. I paused for a moment. Then with a sigh of acquiescence, I punched the button.

"Hello?"

"Killian, why haven't you been taking your fucking calls all night?!" He burst out, his voice attacking my ears to the point where I winced. "We're in trouble man, have you opened the E-mail I sent you?"

"This isn't Killian, this is Hope." My stomach twisted. "What you mean he's in trouble?"

"Hope! oh my God, I'm sorry. Shit." He was panicking. "Where is your husband, sorry I mean Killian?"

"He's taking a shower," my heart pounded as curiosity ate me inside out. "What's the problem?"

I heard the blare of a horn and traffic in the background, followed by a car door slamming. "I can't talk right now, just tell him to call me back once he sees the mail."

"But-" he hung up on me, and right after, a mail icon popped up.

I couldn't wait for Killian, I was too anxious and my legs were already shaking in anticipation.

Luckily for me, his phone wasn't password protected. I swiped it open. His photo popped up on the main screen. I knew I was going to regret this but I couldn't go back now. With slightly trembling hands, I swiped through the apps and opened the email. There was an attachment; a tabloid print. I clicked on it and read carefully and I felt my breath seize halfway down.

My body trembled and my temperature dropped as a sick pain spread through my stomach.

What the hell was happening...