Contract Marriage with My CEO Boss (Kylan and Katrina)
Chapter 63

Chapter 63

gonio Kylan's shoulder. She awoke only because she felt fingers brushing the side of her face

She fell asleep on the drive into Dublin, her head falling gently. She blinked a few times, forcing her eyes open.

She first noticed that it was dark outside now. And then, she noticed how close Kylan was to her. His arm was around her shoulders, his leg pressed to hers, his face angled near her own. The glow of his eyes from the moon filtering in through the car.. It was breathtaking. He was breathtaking

Through her sleep filled haze, she smiled at him. "You're beautiful, Kylan," she murmured, not really thinking about any sort of consequence to her

words

To her surprise, Kylan only shook his head at her. "Let's go eat, alright?" He carefully untangled himself from around her, and it was then she realized Man had parked the car in front of a restaurant.

She yawned against the back of her palm, maneuvering her way out of the car alongside Kylan. "This place looks a bit nicer than a pub," she commented once she was holding Kylan's hand. "Just a bic" Kylan agreed, leading the way into the restaurant.

It was nicer than a pub, though it still had the distinct warm feeling that ap pub

She was led to a corner booth, scooting in next to Kylan. He put an arm around her, and she couldn't help but smile at him. He was being Nice. Affectionate. She had to remind herself more times than usual, that it was the contract. It was all because of the contract. Any attention, any brush of his hand, any press of his lips to places along her skin. The contract. Pretenses

They both ordered the smoked salmon and a glass of beer, resting in mostly amicable silence while they waited for their food. Her mind was still a bat fuzzy after taking such a long nap, and she found she was happy just being with Kylan. Existing in the same space as him, even if only in this capacity.

They eventually finished their meals, walking to the car hand in hand once more. "Thank you, Kylan. That was perfect," She was honest, her body feeling warm and full of delicious food.

Kylan hurmmed quietly. "Let's go wash up and get to bed." He opened the car door for her, and she climbed inside with a nod back at him.

-0-0-0-

The fire in the hotel room was lit, the bed having been made by room service while they were gone all day. The only light illuminating the space. was that of a single bedside lamp and the flickering of the nearby flames.

It was cozy, relaxed even, and after a long day spent almost entirely in the car, she was more than ready to sleep.

"Would you like to shower first?" she asked Kylan, unwinding the scarf around her neck and hanging it in the closet, along with her jacket.

"You can go first." Kylan replied, not really looking at her as he put away his own articles of clothing.

She gathered a clean pair of shorts and a sweater and headed into the bathroom.

The hot water against her skin was incredible, any stress she felt, falling down the drain along with the stream of soapy water. By the time she was done cleaning herself, brushing her teeth and combing through her hair, she was suitably relaxed and ready to give in to her desire for sleep

She picked up her discarded clothing and opened the bathroom door. Kylan was sitting on the bed, his laptop propped open in front of him. He looked at her as she entered the room, his eyes following her while she put away her dirty clothing.

"Bathroom is all hers." She walked to the bed, pulling the duvet back and sealing beneath the comforting layers of fabric.

Kylan nodded his head, closed his laptop and then stood. She watched him maneuver around the bed, coming to a stop next to her.

"You really should dry your hair more," he murmured, leaning down and running his fingers through her wet hair a few times.

She shivered against his touch, her eyelids funering closed. "Sleep" he instructed, placing a quick kiss to the top of her head

"Okay, Kylan" she agreed with a tired smile at him. She situated herself, putting her phone down and yawning openly. It didn't take her long to fall asleep, the quiet sound of the shower running, lulling her into her dreams -0-0-0-

"It wasn't. Not her. Noi her. Not her

When Kylan's muttering woke her, she didn't hesitate to sit and move her body to be closer to his. It broke her heart all over again, knowing and seeing that he was plagued with restless torment every night.

"Shih, Kylan. Kylan, it's okay. It's not happening right now." She situated herself right next to him, reaching out a hand and brushing his hair away from has forehead. 2:57 PM

Chapter 63

Typically, he would relax and stop mumbling or thrashing after a few minutes of careful touch. Tonight, however, his eyes flew open and suddenly, her wrist was grabbed in his hand. He stared up at her, breathing heavily, his eyes wide and almost fearful. She frowned down at him. "Kylan, it's alright. It's only me, she whispered the words, doing her best to sound reassuring and soothing. "It's only me," she reiterated when his hold around her wrist didn't let up.

Without warning. he dropped his hold and practically flung himself off the bed. She sat back, a bit dazed while she watched him walk to the fire that was mostly extinguished by now. He paced there, running his hands through his hair, his abdominal muscles pulled taut, his shoulders raised.

"Kylan... I wish you would tell me what the dreams are about. I don't.. Well, it makes me.. It makes me sad seeing you like this, every single night," she spoke quietly, her words still too loud with the only other sounds being that of his feet against the carpet, or an occasional crackle from the dying fire.

"They're my burden to bear. Kate. I told you that. But you... You keep insisting on helping me. On comforting me. Why? Why do you keep doing that?" His voice sounded strained. His chest was heaving. He wasn't looking at her.

She took a deep, shuddering breath and made to stand.

"No. Stay there," Kylan ordered her, turning at the first sound of her feet hitting the floor.

"Kylan, you don't have to do it alone. Any of it. All of it. Let me help you. Let me... Let me be there for you." She kept a steady gaze on him, forcing herself not to back down in the wake of the glare he was sending her way.

"I'm f*cked up. Katrina. A lot more f*cked up than you know. Than L. Than I can say. I can't... I can't say any of it. Not to you. I can't. You wouldn't You wouldn't look at me the way you're looking at me right now. Like you... Like you care about me." Kylan's eyes were wild, glowing by the light of the fire still hanging on.

"I do care about you, Kylan. Surely, you know that by now." She was surprising even herself, talking like this. But somehow, the atmosphere, the look in Kylan's eyes, the memories from a day spent sharing small pieces of themselves with each other.. She wasn't as scared. Wasn't as nervous to speak openly, even if only a little bit.

Kylan looked at her as if she'd grown a second head. "You care about me? Why? I can't. I can't give you anything. I can't. I'll never be able to talk to you. You shouldn't.. F*ck, Katrina. We shouldn't be talking like this."

"I'm not afraid of you. Kylan." Which was a lie. She was petrified, rooted in place, staring at the man she both knew so well, and still didn't know enough about.

Kylan stopped pacing, staring directly at her now. "You're foolish, Kate. Foolish and naive." He didn't sound like he meant a word of what he was saying

*Maybe I am. But I'm not afraid to tell you that I care about you." Her voice was surprisingly open and strong, and she stood a bit taller because of Kylan scoffed and rolled his eyes, his gaze falling to hers again