Chapter 13


Emma watched as a tall smouldering brown haired man entered her room. Her eyes met his and she noticed that they were blue and couldn't help but compare them to Killian's.

'Graham'

The name niggled at the back of her head and something about him seemed familiar. Emma narrowed her eyes in fierce concentration, she knew she could place him if she gave it a minute.

"Swan," Killian's voice broke her concentration and her eyes moved to focus on his face. Killian looked weary and worried and it surprised her because he was so good at shuttering his feelings.

"Graham is the head of Hunters Security. He's a trusted and loyal friend! I am placing your safety into his hands."

Hunters Security was a big deal, they were efficient and well trained operatives that had a success rate of over 95%. She was impressed that Killian had found someone so prestigious to agree to work for him, in addition to his own security.

"I don't..." Emma began to protest before a furious voice interrupted her.

"NO!" Killian heatedly barked, "Graham will be at your side 24/7."

Emma opened her mouth to object but felt Killian reach out and squeeze her hand. Warmth spread up her arm and all of her words fell away.

"You need to do this for me, Emma." He whispered softly. Emma was slightly taken aback by his use of her first name, he generally liked to call her by her surname -something she was growing fond of!

The intensity of Killian's gaze drew her in and she wasn't sure she wanted to escape. Her eyes flicked to Killian's lips and her breath caught as his tongue darted out to wet his lips. It was an innocent enough action but one that had her heart racing.

The moment was broken when a discrete clearing of the throat was heard from Graham. Emma's eyes flew to the newcomer and she shot him a dirty look, heat rising up her neck and onto her face from being caught in a moment with Killian.

"It appears Miss Swan that someone is out for blood." The brogue in Graham's voice startling Emma. It was sexy and she couldn't help but compare it to Killian's.

"I'm not sure why I am the target," Emma told Graham as she watched Killian stalk to her window. He stood rigidly with his arms folded across his chest.

"You have been targeted twice within a week. Someone thinks you know or have something of value that will be bad news for them." Graham told her moving closer to her bedside.

"It just has to be a coincidence," Emma argued, knowing that odds were definitely not in her favour and coincidences like this just did not happen.

"Until we discover either way, you are stuck with me!" Graham told her sternly.

"You will not go anywhere alone! You will give me an advanced schedule and you will listen and follow every command I give."

Emma nodded her head mutely; she knew what a bodyguard's position entailed and for the sake of her cover did not object to anything Graham was saying. If anything she felt at home in his presence and felt that they would have many things in common.

Graham had barely finished outlining his rules and procedures when she finally realised that Killian had been silent the entire time. He had yet to move from his position by the window but Emma knew the cogs were constantly turning in his head.

"It's my blunder," Killian told them without turning around. His gaze stayed fixated on the view out the window and Emma knew he was trying to allay the guilt he felt over her accident.

"It wasn't your fault," Emma protested, pushing herself up farther into a sitting position.

"I had you researching the sabotage." Killian told her heatedly, frustration lacing his voice as he finally swung around to face her. His eyes were alight with conflict.

"No more." Killian told her bluntly and her brows furrowed in confusion.

"What?"

"You will not be working on anything related to the sabotage again," he informed her firmly.

Emma's eyebrows rose in disbelief and as if sensing the tension rising, Graham took several steps backwards. The temperature in the room felt like it had dropped several degrees.

"Like hell," Emma hissed at him, her eyes shooting flames. Killian took several steps until he was at her bedside.

"You work for me." He fumed, "You will do what I say."

Graham had quickly realised the situation was escalating and left the room swiftly, the door clicking quietly behind him.


"How dare you try to keep me away from this...I can help!" Emma attempted to enlighten Killian, kicking her sheets down and pushing herself forward.

"I don't need your help!" Killian shouted at her, leaning forward to ensure his point was made. "You are replaceable."

"Don't push me away!" Emma breathed quietly, deciding shouting was just going to draw unwanted attention to their disagreement. She noticed Killian's breathing was shallow and his pulse beat noticeably at his throat.

"You need...I have..." He muttered erratically. Emma watched his eyes become stormy as if there was a battle going on inside his head.

Killian suddenly surged forward and pinned her to the bed. His head descended swiftly, lips possessing hers hungrily and his tongue quickly wrapped around hers. Killian's stubble was causing a delicious friction on Emma's skin and she felt her fingers curling around the hair at the base of his neck.

His nose bumped against hers before he pulled back slightly to suck on her bottom lip. Emma's whole body felt like a live wire and she wriggled against him. Killian moaned into her mouth and deepened the kiss. The world seemed to drop away and any pain she was feeling from her mishap was instantly forgotten. She was thirsty and it seemed only his touch could quench her.

Emma ran her hands down Killian's back, his muscles twitching and bunching under her touch. His lips pulled back from her mouth and began to pepper fast kisses down her chin and into the hollow of her neck.

Emma groaned at the contact. Killian's movements stilled. He pulled away and she instantly felt cold and bereft. Her breathing was out of control and she watched wordlessly as he straightened up. Killian pivoted and was marching away from her before she could even blink.

The door slammed behind him and Emma was left to question just what the hell had happened?


Emma had been discharged early the following morning. She had neither seen nor heard from Killian. Her thoughts had been utter chaos until she had focused her energy into more productive paths. Her argument with Killian was far from over and she would be taking it back up the next time she saw him.

Graham had collected all of her belongings and was currently escorting her down to the parking garage. A black Audi gleamed in front of her, she could tell it was reinforced with bullet proof glass and armour plating. Emma watched as Graham strode ahead and barked out some orders to his men.

The familiarity was niggling in her head again.

"You can't pick it can you?" Graham questioned her as he held open the door to the Audi.

Emma narrowed her eyes at him, "No." She answered honestly.

"Angel of Grace," Graham told her as he slid into the car next to her.

Angel of Grace had been an orphanage Emma had been in when she was 13. Having been bounced around several foster homes she had eventually been assigned to Angels as many fondly called the orphanage. Emma had spent 12 months there before being allocated another foster family. She had been shuffled through several more homes before escaping at the tender age of 16 to fend for herself. It was easier to rely on herself!

The kids at Angels had been as thick as thieves, always banding together. There had been a boy...

Emma's eyes widened, "Graham Humbert."

"The one and only!" he gave a small laugh, "I knew you'd eventually get it, even if I had to dangle a clue."

Emma laughed, "I'm glad to see you made something of yourself."

"Did you doubt me?" Emma thought back to the determined 15 year old who would take any chance to learn a new skill, whether it be cooking or letting sticks fly from a homemade bow.

"Seems to me like Emma Swan has made it big in the world as well," Graham commented.

Emma froze for a moment, was he aware of her true career path?

Graham noticed Emma's motionless body language and gave a laugh, "I guess you don't view working for Killian in the same regard as me?"

Emma released the breath she was holding and gave Graham a big smile, "Things aren't as smooth sailing as they would seem."

She was relieved that her cover was holding and that Graham did not know about her "Agent" status. Things did not need to become any more complicated than they already were.

"I'm not sure what happened in your room but Killian was in a foul mood when he left," Graham told her as the car sped down the free way towards her apartment.

"He needs help and someone he can trust." Emma mumbled.

"You never were one to back down." Graham gave a laugh as he pulled a phone out from his pocket. "But you are right."

Graham thrust the phone over towards her, "This is yours, and it was in your jacket when the ambulance recovered you."

"My paperwork?" Emma questioned him urgently. Graham flicked his head towards to back of the car. "It's all in there."

"Dedicated."

'You have no idea," Emma thought. Graham had informed her that Killian had given her the rest of the week off to 'recover'. She didn't plan on sitting at home twiddling her thumbs for the week; instead she would be back in the office first thing the next morning.

Killian was going to give her some answers!


TBC