K I E R O N

Chapter |2| Taking A Leap Of Faith

K I E R O N ' S P. O. V

- 32 years old

"You know Kai met a girl," I splutter out my coffee, all over my white shirt.

Ah f*****g great.

I balance the phone to my ear using my shoulder as I wrench a couple of napkins to clean myself up.

"Hello? Did I lose you to the f*****g shock of it all?"

"Hang on," I mumble tersely, trying to wipe off the stains. "f**k," It's not gonna work. I dump the tissues and head outside, already mildly late to my meeting.

Well, Kiara's but I'm filling in for her. Apparently Calista chose this morning to projectile vomit everywhere, and Kiara has just finished cleaning it up, despite the clock nearing four.

"Tell me that again,"

"He met a girl. Well, he says he didn't but he definitely f*****g did."

"What girl? Where?" This is grade A f*****g gossip. Our brother is the self proclaimed bachelor, even though I think my non-existent love life should take the winner.

He would rather chop off his d**k then settle down. His words, not mine.

"A doctor, she's beautiful. Red hair, green eyes and they would make a great match."

"But..."

"But Kai is an i***t. Like so completely idiotic I think it's officially time to get him examined by a doctor."

I roll my eyes at my sister's hyperboles. "Well you mentioned she is a doctor."

"Ugh, you know what I meant." I'm laughing through the receiver. "He gave her his phone."

I still, downing the coffee straight and dumping it in the nearest trash can. "Excuse me?"

"He gave her his phone. The thing with all his contacts, his messages, very incriminating evidence."

I groan, "f**k me,"

My brother knows not to be that stupid. Our family has a week established reputation, but our links to criminal activity aren't completely swept away. There are rumours, and sometimes evidence but that's always dealt with swiftly.

"Kiara if this girl saw the messages, then you'll have to..." f**k, I don't even want to think about.

Killing an innocent women, simply because Kai wants to f**k her.

She signs heavily. "I may have exaggerated a little, but he said he wiped his phone before giving to her. He said it was clean, but I don't know if I can...god, this sounds bad."

"Just say it."

"Trust him." The words linger grossly.

We both hate to admit the truth. That Kai is unpredictable and not exactly the most responsible. He's made mistakes in the past, and not always owned up to them.

Being the leader, means looking out for everything. The business included, and even family can't come in the way of that.

"It's up to you Kiara, but if he said it's clean, then you just have to trust him. The alternative is killing an innocent women, and she may not even know anything."

"God, I'm the worst."

"You're not the worst. Trust me." I've seen evil, faced it, and my little sister doesn't even come close.

"Thank you, oh and the meeting was cancelled. The guy pulled out at least minute...don't tell me you're already there?"

I glance up at the swanky bar, Liquid scribbled across it, just as fat rain droplets start to hail down on me.

"It's fine, I had nothing else to do today. I'm gonna get a drink, wait out the rain."

"I'm really f*****g sorry, oh s**t, Calista no don't do it on the floor, the bathroom, bathroom Calista no!" I hear groans in the bathroom, and then my niece screaming. "f**k, I've got to go. Love you,"

"Love you too." The line disconnects and I quickly pocket it, running in.

I brush the rain out of my hair, dusting off my jacket to try and make myself more presentable.

There's a small mirror in the reception, I use to quickly clean my face, and push back my hair.

It's getting long, too long.

I need a hair cut.

"Excuse me sir," I quickly turn to focus on the small balding waiter. I flash a smile to which he purses his lips. "This is a fine establishment, I think the place you're looking for is down that way."

Fuck, I should be pissed. I should throw the hundreds of dollar sitting comfortably in my wallet in his face.

But instead, I'm just happy he doesn't recognise me as Kieron Romano. I kind of like being like being treated like a normal guy.

"Actually, I'm in the right place." I pat his shoulder and then stroll in.

Anyone has a right to be here, it's just a f*****g bar.

"Whiskey neat," I tell the bartender, slamming down a few hundred for the nosy waiter to see. "And keep them coming." My throat burns as I down the first, like liquid fire, but the woodsy after taste makes it worth it.

Now this habit, I do share with my dad. Cigars and whiskey every Saturday night, Kai is invited and so is Kiara, but since their love lives began thriving, their appearances have dwindled.

So now it's just me and dad. Mostly.

I take off my wet jacket, hanging it on the back of the stool. My shirt clings to me like a wet napkin that I'm tempted to pay for the bartender for his.

"I wouldn't expect a guy like you to have a floral tattoo." The voice is deep but unnaturally peppy. I guess it's the English accent that makes it brighter.

Turning to my left is a preppy guy, flashing me a million dollar smile. His sandy brown hair is ruffled in a strange fashion, almost dusting his eyebrows, whilst his green eyes stay pinned on me.

"I f*****g like flowers." I grunt out, bitchier than usual. I'm no mood for a f*****g fight, and recently when guys find out I'm gay, they suddenly have a lot to say it about.

Guys I've known my whole life, guys I've worked with, just drop me like that. Others are worse, they say taunts and slurs, thinking I'm too p***y now to put a bullet in their skull.

I'm not.

"Woah hey, I was complimenting you. Really, I like the ink." I ignore him, sipping my drink and finding anything other than his gorgeous lips to stare at.

"It's cute." There's something in his voice.

Is he f*****g flirting with me?

I stupidly look back at him and he winks, licking the salt off the rim of his glass before downing his drink.

Then he does the unexpected.

He abandons the empty glass and moves closer to me. Too close, our elbows almost brushing.

I can feel his eyes heavy on my neck again. "Is that fine line? It's stunning." His hand reaches out and gently he traces the outline with his pinky.

My body shivers at the cold touch, yet my body feels like it's on fire, burning already at just one touch.

Get a f*****g grip. He's a stranger touching your neck I'm bored daylight.

I shift away from him. The smile drops, and weirdly, I miss it. Without it, he just looks sad and wrong. He has the kind of face born with smile if you know what I mean.

I try and c***k one to flirt, hearing Kai's annoying voice in my head: be spontaneous for once bro, you only live once.

The man shifts his head slightly to the side. "What are you doing?"

Fuck, I've f****d it.

I clear throat. "Nothing." I spit out gruffly, cursing myself inside for being an i***t.

"Hey," I feel his hand on top of mine. He squeezes it hard, and somehow it's soothing enough that I revolt against running away and turn back to him. "I'm Jacob."

Normally I would shake his hand but ours are still connected.

"Kieron." I watch him carefully for any hint that he recognises me. He simply smiled and releases my hand.

"Nice to meet you, by the way I saw what happened earlier. Guy was a prick, good on you for walking in."

"He shouldn't judge people like that."

"I wholeheartedly agree." Jesus, does this guy ever stop smiling. "You staying here?"

I glance around the empty bar, a few waiters are setting up for dinner time rush but...

"In the hotel I mean." Oh s**t. I find the sign that points to lobby and elevators.

"No, I was just seeking shelter from the rain. I didn't even know this place was a hotel too."

"You don't come down here often."

"I'm not from this part of town." Hell, it took me a few hours just to drive all the way down here.

"Shame. We could have hung out more."

"Your accent," He pushes his thick hair out of his face.

"I'm English but recently moved over here. It's normally a conversation starter, and a great f*****g pick up line."

I stare down on the bar table, fisting my glass tightly. "For girls, right."

"And men. Anyone really, I don't have a type." He says it with such ease and pride. I wonder if I'll be comfortable enough with myself one day to just own it.

That makes my lips rise.

"Hey, look at that you can smile." Jacob is making me blush, actually f*****g blush. Either that or someone turned up the damn heating.

"So you were...flirting with me?" He sticks a toothpick in his mouth.

"I thought that was more obvious. Sorry."

"It's not your fault it's mine. I don't talk to people often, especially not..."

"Potential hook ups."

"Exactly." I've only ever slept with one guy before and he made me top.

By made, I mean he didn't ask, only assumed and pushed me onto my stomach. Then he passed out after he came and I finished myself off.

It wasn't great so I've been hesitant to try again but somehow Jacob just makes everything feel lighter. Better.

"I've got a room upstairs, if you wanna hang out more." That's code for f**k. Right?

I hear Kai again, his words pushing me to scream yes.

"Sure," I shrug nonchalantly, grabbing my jacket and following his lead.

Jacob must be rich. The see through glass elevator, the silver chandeliers and the fact he's in the f*****g penthouse suite all point to that.

"You can just drop your s**t anywhere." I dump the jacket on the couch, and then kick off my shoes. Jacob does the same, undoing the smartly knotted tie around his throat.

"Don't you just hate these things?"

"I hate a lot of things. Suits aren't one of them."

He snorts. "Really. You're a suit guy? And you like flowers? f*****g jackpot." I know he's teasing but it isn't malicious, it isn't cruel, and I find myself laughing with him.

"Drink?" He offers, reaching for the mini fridge.

I shake my head. "I've had enough."

Enough to have a bit of confidence for what comes next.

I break the distance between us and cup his smooth face, kissing him with force.

We stumble back into the fridge, his eyes wide on mine and then they soften, falling into the lure of it, and kissing me back with equal pace.

I feel his hands over my body, caressing my scruffy jaw to running down my back and then slipping underneath my shirt. One hand planks itself on my ass, squeezing it roughly, that incites a deep groan from the back of my throat.

"f**k," I mutter, pulling back slightly for air.

Only our heavy breaths, fill the silence between us.

I can't believe I just kissed him, and that he f*****g likes me enough to smile and stay. "That was nice, definitely not expected."

"f**k, sorry."

"No, no, I liked it. You just didn't seem the type the type to put yourself out there."

"You're right I'm not." I laugh, shrugging my crease shirt off. "I don't know what came over me, probably the alcohol."

Or him. No, it's definitely him.

My body burns as Jacob's eyes linger on my body. I know he's checking out the rest of my tattoos. I only have a few more, another floral design and then some personal ones.

"What's that one for?" It's Roman numerals. A date. More specifically, the date my brother died.

"It's a haunting reminder to live life like I'll die tomorrow."

"And where's that gotten you?"

"I don't know. Most days I try and ignore it, keep my head and work. That's it."

Jacob steps closer towards me, fingers grazing the tattoo like I'm made of glass. I feel my breath sharpen, the weird effect he had on me taking over.

"So what's this then? About to f**k a random stranger in a hotel room."

"You're not a complete stranger, Jacob." He laughs. We both know I don't know anything more about him than that.

"You sure you want to do this?" I can picture the look on Kalen's face if he ever heard I had a one night stand. The thought alone is enough to make me know this is right.

It might not be much of a wild life, but f*****g a stranger is definitely a start.

"Yes, I want to do this." His grin stretches, and he steps even closer, cupping my face with both hands.

"So I guess the question is then, who's f*****g who?"

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A/N: Ahh thoughts on Jacob??