Aurora's Alpha

CHAPTER 20

Rory POV

I separate myself from Killian when I hear the elevator doors open up with a 'ding'. Wiping at my face I dry away the free skincare my salty tears provide and take a deep inhale trying to pull myself together.

Walking side by side we enter into the penthouse, once inside I begin my escape into my room, but Killian doesn't allow me to get far.

"Are you not going to tell me what has upset you?" He speaks to my back.

I slow my retreating steps blinking at the floor. What is there to tell? I cracked under the pressure of two memories of my parents.

There's a nagging feeling under my skin telling me to tell killian every sour memory I have while I lived with my parents but I try to ignore it.

"It's not my business I'm aware... but I heard you mention your parents, do you miss them?" I can tell by the hesitancy in his voice that he was walking on eggshells with what he said.

I exhale a short laugh and quickly cover my mouth with my hand before my already shaky breathing gets out of control.

"So you don't miss them?" He seems to be working out the jigsaw puzzle although the middle pieces are missing.

"They're a sensitive topic to me and my siblings" I turn to face him but keep my eyes at floor level

"I'm sorry to hear that" he sounds genuine "would you like to talk about it to someone who you aren't related to?" I look up at him and he serves me a sympathetic smile.

"I'm not sure" I reply honestly. On one hand perhaps getting it all off my chest would help, on the other what if i talk to deeply about it and burden Killian with my troubles. He might not ever offer me his shoulder to cry on again.

"It's okay we have all day for you to decide, even if it takes us till daytime tomorrow morning that's alright" he pulls his hands out of his trouser pockets and rubs them together quickly as he tries to lift the mood slightly by saying "in the meantime while we wait how about a cup of tea? Do you like tea?" He doesn't wait for my answer as he turns and heads to the open kitchen I hear him say to himself "I'm making you one anyway"

He begins pulling out two mugs and fills the kettle I noticed he owned in the corner. Turning back to the mugs he adds sugar and reaches for a box in the cupboard and pulls out a teabag each.

Once the kettle has finished he smoothly spins and grabs it then pours the water in. He stirs each mug before throwing the used teabags in the trash.

"Milk?" He asks glancing up at me as he adds milk to what I assume is his mug. I nod in response and watch him repeat the process.

Once finished he gently picks up the hot cups which have steam radiating from them like it's nothing to him.

"Does that not hurt?" I ask concerned as he approaches me holding out the handle for me to take.

He shrugs replying "slightly but I don't mind if it means you don't need take it from me in this way" I repress the small smile that reaches my mouth as I appreciate the small gesture that has saved my fingertips from 10 seconds worth of pain.

Killian walks to the conversation pit and takes a seat, placing his tea on the floor beside his feet. I glance in the direction of my room and then back to the man who is being so nice to me.