30: I’m keeping it safe.
**Jonathan pov**
I couldn’t stop grinning as I leaned back in the chair, watching Killian fuss over my hand like a man who had suddenly discovered it was a fragile artifact.
“Stop staring,” he growled, though there was a twitch of a smile in the corner of his mouth.
“I’m not staring,” I said innocently, which, of course, was a complete lie. I was staring, and I was enjoying every second. “I’m observing. For science reasons, you know.”
Killian rolled his eyes, but his hand didn’t let go of mine even while I clearly annoyed him. “You know, if you’re going to look, at least have the decency to hold my hand properly.”
I raised an eyebrow, suppressing a smile that threatened to spread across my lips. Messing with him was so fun and with every minute passing, it somehow became better. “Hold your hand? Why is it suddenly the most precious thing in the world?”
“It is and you’re not taking it seriously.” he muttered and tried to look offended, which he failed, by the way.
“Oh, I’m taking it very seriously,” I said and shifted in the chair a little so I could move my body a little closer to his. “I’ve been trained for this exact scenario. I know how to handle delicate, high maintenance Alphas.”
Killian made a sound that was an interesting mix of laughter and a growl. “High maintenance? Really?”
“Yes, extremely,” I retorted without missing a beat, leaning in so close that my nose almost bumped against his. “Obsessively high maintenance, in fact. Your obsession with hand holding, by the way, is a dead giveway, I should probably take notes and share them with those in need.”
“Notes? Are you taking notes on me now?” Killian asked, theatrically widening his eyes and slapping a hand over his chest, gasping in mock horror.
“Absolutely,” I said, trying not to laugh as I squeezed his hand lightly. “First chapter: The Alpha who won’t let go and kisses hands whenever possible.”
Killian’s cheeks turned a beautiful shade of pink even as he tried to hide his reaction behind a scowl and let go of my hand only to cross his arms and grumble, “I’m not obsessed.”
“Of course not,” I rolled my eyes and grinned. “You’re just passionate about hand security and that’s like a totally different thing.”
Killian instantly grinned just as widely as me, uncrossed his arms and grabbed my hand again. Like so many times before, he brought my hand to his lips and pressed a gentle kiss to my knuckles. “I simply don’t like it when people stare at your hands.”
I snorted. “Uh-huh, that’s definitely the reason. You know, you’re being ridiculous, right?”
“And you love it,” he countered, eyes flashing with mischief.
“Sometimes,” I admitted and shrugged as I leaned back just enough to make him believe I was about to pull my hand out of his hold. “But only when you keep trying to kiss my hand every thirty seconds.”
“I’m keeping it safe,” he grumbled and tried to hide the smile tugging at his lips. “It’s my duty.”
“Your duty?” I asked, trying not to laugh at the absurdity. “To hold my hand like a worried puppy?”
“Yes,” Killian replied without missing a beat. All amusement faded from his features, suddenly I looked into the eyes of the serious Alpha he has always been. And then, just as suddenly, he winked at me and added, “can’t forget to kiss it. That’s my duty too.”
I couldn’t resist the temptation to lean closer and press a kiss to his knuckles too, just to make a point about his behavior. Killian’s eyes widened, cheeks turned bright red and jaw dropped while I simply smirked at him. “See? You’re ridiculous, point proven.”
“Ridiculously perfect,” he corrected, trying to glare at me but failing spectacularly.
We both started laughing at the same time, like there was no worry in our world, or at least in this little bubble we locked ourselves into for the time being.
And then, just as spontaneously as we laughed, we stopped, enjoying the moment of silence before Killian decided to break it. “What if something happens to Aife?”
I raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”
He ran a hand through his hair, looking frustrated and helpless at the same time. “She’s out there, dealing with everything, and I can’t-”
“-You can’t do anything,” I finished for him. “Yeah, I know. That’s why you’re here and you’re supposed to be healing, not running around like a panicked wolf.”
“It doesn’t feel right, I should be able to help.” Killian insisted, although weakly since he knew I was right.
I leaned closer to him, bringing my hand to his face to cup his cheek. “For now, you’re stuck here. You heal, get strong and then you can worry about Aife. Until you get better, we can’t do anything to help anyone. I know I sound selfish, but right now, to me, all that matters is you.”
Killian shook his head and chuckled, “I hate that you’re right.”
“Love it,” I corrected and flashed him another grin, maybe not as wide as the previous ones but still a grin nevertheless. “You’re welcome.”
Killian forced a smile and started biting on his lip like he did whenever he was losing himself in his thoughts, so I decided to distract him for now. “Seriously, though, have you noticed how obsessed you’ve become with holding my hand?”
Killian glared at me. “Obsessed? I am not obsessed.”
“Uh-huh you kiss it, stroke it, hold it even when you sleep and whine like the world is ending every time you don’t hold it.” I listed off, arching an eyebrow at him.
Killian opened his mouth to argue but quickly closed it. He thought for a moment until he eventually mumbled a weak, “it’s important.”
“Important?” I repeated and couldn’t help but laugh at his explanation. “It’s borderline ridiculous, I’m even starting to think you’re more in love with my hands than me.”
He huffed, and looked away, grumbling, “you think I care?”
“I know you care,” I said, leaning over to press a quick kiss to his temple. “But yes, you do seem obsessed. And it’s adorable, I’ll give you that.”
Killian groaned and rested his head against my shoulder, once again reaching for my hand. “You’re enjoying this far too much.”
“Maybe,” I admitted and quickly cut myself off before I could say too much. This conversation was a good distraction from everything crazy happening and I knew that if I listed it all off, we would circle back to the topics I didn’t want to discuss in our little bubble.
Killian, however, tilted his head back to look up at me with that silly smirk on his lips. “Is my ridiculous hand holding obsession saving our sanity?”
“You’re a hero in your own odd, little way.” I offered with a giggle that didn’t sound manly at all.
Killian squeezed my hand and brought it to his lips to kiss my knuckles again, mumbling against my skin, “hero, you say? I’ll take it.”
“Better be careful or your next heroic act might involve kissing my feet just to prove a point.” I teased him, wiggling my eyebrows suggestively.
Killian’s eyes widened as he made a noise that sounded suspiciously like a shriek of horror. “Do not even suggest-”
“I’m joking, I’m joking,” I quickly cut him off before Killian could scare himself into a mental breakdown.
As he joined in on the laughter, I made myself comfortable at the edge of his bed, wrapping my arms around him. The hospital room felt less like a prison with him by my side and I really hoped Killian felt the same about my presence because he was the one locked up here, not me.
While Killian drew shapes with his fingers on my back, I couldn’t help but let my mind run wild with the thoughts of the very fears I didn’t let Killian bring up too much. I really worried about how Aife was doing..
“Jonathan?” Killian whispered against my neck, “do you think Milly is up to something?”
I frowned and thought back to every time I heard the hospital staff whisper her name. A part of me wanted to stay quiet, but the other one reminded me that Killian would feel betrayed by me if I lied or tried to hide something from him, so I shared as much as I knew. “I heard she sent the advisor out of the pack territory. It could be nothing or a bad thing, but most likely it’s both.”
Killian nodded and hummed, processing my words for a moment before he answered,“I can’t shake the feeling that the shitshow is about to start.”
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