Against All Odds

Chapter 3

STELLA

"Wake up. We need to leave."

I groaned and pulled the covers over my head.

A masculine sigh of vexation followed my actions, yet the morning fiend wouldn't desist. "Stella, it's getting late. Have some coffee and get over it."

"What time is it?" I mumbled, half-asleep, desperate to succumb back into the bliss of the best rest I'd had in days.

"Five a.m."

A pregnant pause. "Killian, fuck off."

He didn't respond to that at first and I mentally willed him away. How anyone could function at such an hour- and I was making up for two days' worth of exhaustion- was beyond my mental capacity. Besides, the next leg of the journey was about a six-hour drive, seven tops, but seeing as I had to abide by Captain Slow's rules, probably more likely seven. Either way, we were not expected at Sadie's parents' house until later that afternoon.

Meaning I could have a damn sleep in... at least until breakfast was served.

There was a soft thunk on the small side table separating our beds and my nose twitched at the appealing odour permeating my sheets. It coaxed me to pry the linen down so I could peer outside of my warm sheet-constructed cocoon.

A standard white mug filled to the brim with coffee met my eyes.

"That should help," Killian grunted, moving towards the door of the room and picking his way gingerly through my belongings scattered all over the place. "Hurry up- I'll wait outside."

I eyed him as he closed the door shut with an audible click, for once having lost my words. I blamed the earliness of the hour and not the fact that Killian had retained some of his considerate nature despite our rift.

He had always been thoughtful and sensitive to my needs especially, and when we had lived together there was not a morning that passed that I did not wake up with a freshly brewed cup of coffee next to my head.

Normally he'd wake me up in other ways too, but that was certainly not relevant now.

Throwing the tangled sheets back, I slid my legs out the bed and hoisted my weary body into an upright position, wrapping my fingers around the hot cup. Perhaps, I considered as a fresh waft of steam tickled my cheeks, it was in our best interests to get moving earlier. The sooner we reached the others, the sooner Killian and I wouldn't need to be alone together.

The door flew open suddenly and the sum total of my thoughts strode in, mumbling, "Forgot my ph-" Then he froze.

So did I.

The moment his penetratingly blue gaze fell on my naked thighs, I felt as if he had laid his fingers against my flesh in an ardent caress despite the few feet separating us.

It had become stiflingly hot in the small room during the night, and my fleecy pyjama set did not add to my comfort. I had removed the bottoms and tossed them atop the mound of my rucksack, not even considering the possibility that Killian would care.

I must have looked ridiculous sitting on the edge of the mattress in nothing but a pair of cartoon knickers and a flannel pyjama top riding up my hips. Aware of this, and of the bulk of flesh that was my thighs and backside squished unbecomingly against the sheets, I squirmed awkwardly under a flush that began to burn my cheeks.

Six months ago, Sadie had shared Killian's engagement news on her Facebook page. It was the first time I had seen Amber, his new fiancée.

We were nothing alike.