Fionn rode down the street at a slow pace, his thoughts fixed entirely on Kiara. Regret weighed heavily; the memory of throwing her out of her own house gnawed at him.
Ooh God, he'd messed up. How would he start talking her into marriage? Where would he even find her? He didn't have her contact, and there was no way he was showing up at the Miracles Residency.
All Fionn had left was a faint hope that she'd return to reclaim her flat, or that fate would somehow let their paths cross again.
Yes, just like that, miraculously, he caught sight of someone familiar up ahead. It was her… at least, he hoped he wasn't hallucinating.
Fionn watched in quiet amusement as she fidgeted with her short skirt, clearly uncomfortable. He couldn't help but chuckle a bit.
But then again, just like the previous night, his heart started aching.
Why does it always hurt when I meet her? If this is how it will be every time, then maybe I don't want to meet her ever again.
The skirt was kinda revealing; Fionn couldn't help but wonder why she'd chosen to wear it. Then he asked himself, why do I care? Who is she to me?
He tried to suppress the concern, to convince himself it didn't matter. But deep down, somehow, he cared, even if he barely understood why.
Still, he needed her, if not for romance, at least for the sole reason of posing as his wife. That alone made her impossible to ignore. Fionn had to pursue her.
He pulled up right in front of her. She was so lost in her thoughts that she didn't even notice someone stop beside her.
"Looks like you need a lift," he said.
Startled, Kiara turned to him, blinking in confusion. Something about the gesture struck Fionn as oddly cute.
"You look both nervous and confused. What's going on?" He asked.
Removing his helmet, their eyes met.
"Tch, it's you, fool," she snapped.
"Calm down," Fionn replied with a faint smirk. "Let's save the hate for later."
He shrugged off his overcoat. "Here. Take this." He held it out to her.
Kiara gave him a strange look that screamed I don't want your help.
Fionn couldn't blame her; helping her even to himself felt like trying to buy his way out of guilt. After all, why was he helping her at all when he had been the one to kick her out of her own flat?
Her skirt wasn't even terribly short; he'd seen plenty of women wear skirts like that, but seeing half of Kiara's beautiful thighs exposed ignited some kind of possessiveness in him.
Fuck, why the sudden surge of jealousy at the thought of other men seeing her like that? Have I fallen in love with her? Is this what people call love at first sight?
"Don't be ridiculous. You need it," He muttered.
His eyes sneaked another glance at her thighs, feeling like some pervert in a porn movie.
Still, when she didn't take the coat.
"It's like you enjoy men seeing you like that," He continued.
Oh god, I'm only making matters worse.
"Hey, hey. Don't make it seem like I'm some sort of harlot. Why are you even helping?" She snapped.
She then snatched the coat from him and slipped it on.
"Hop on," He ordered.
Fionn knew he was helping her, yet for the first time, it didn't feel necessary to boss someone around, but then again, that was typically just him.
"Does it hurt to be polite for once?" she asked.
Fionn didn't answer.
She swung herself onto the bike.
"Hold on tight," he said, handing her his helmet. No extras to spare.
"What about you?" she asked.
She needed it more than he did. If she knew what Fionn was about to do, she wouldn't have even climbed on.
Was he being evil?
"Just put it on."
He guided her hands, sliding them gently across his waist.
"What do you think you're doing?" she snapped, yanking her hands away.
"I was only making sure you'll be safe."
With that, Fionn popped the clutch, making the bike surge forward, which forced her to hold onto him tightly.
It was terrifying, every second of it, but Fionn only laughed, as if her fear were some kind of joke to him.
"Please don't do that again," she pleaded. Kiara had no choice but to obey whatever he said, while he kept laughing, completely unfazed by her panic.
"So, princess, where are you rushing off to?" he asked between chuckles.
"David and Advocates. Lower Baggot Street. I need to be there in ten minutes," she replied, clutching onto him like her life depended on it, and in that moment, it actually did.
Despite the forced embrace, she couldn't deny the strange comfort she found in it.
But it was undeniable that that fool of a man was doing it all on purpose. He sped through the streets at a reckless pace, weaving through traffic with infuriating ease.
"You fool! Please, slow down!" Kiara screamed.
Half in fear, half in anger, she instantly regretted getting on his bike; he wasn't even following the traffic rules.
"We need to be there in ten minutes, remember?" he chuckled, completely unfazed. Luckily, to her relief, the building with David and Advocates emblazoned across its front soon came into view.
"We're here," Fionn said as he parked right at the entrance.
She heard him, but for a moment didn't respond as she was lost in the embrace of the warmth radiating from his body. Kiara could've stayed like that forever, holding onto him, unwilling to let go.
"I see, you can't let go of me, then I have a proposition, let's get married," he teased, though his tone was serious.
"What!!" She exclaimed. "What did you say?"
"Are you deaf. I said, let's get married."
"I heard you in the first place," Kiara said as she climbed off the bike.
"Here," she handed him his helmet, and then continued.
"Me marrying you? Over my dead body. If to you marriage is some casual game. To me, it isn't, and I won't be taking part in that game. To begin with, I barely know you. I don't even know your full name. Talk about marriage?... That's ridiculous."
She then went on to remove his coat, but before she could, he stopped her.
"Don't be stupid, keep the coat."
How sweet of him. He's actually letting me keep it.
"Why is it so hard for you to realize that you need it?" He asked.
Of course, she'd realized; she just didn't want to owe him anything. So she stayed quiet, letting him talk.
"So now you're planning to go in there and show all the men how beautiful your hips are? Yes, they are, but you don't have to show them to everyone."
Why is he sounding so? Like he actually cares. Is he just guilty? Or. Wait, that can never happen. He isn't possibly into me?
"If you saw them, why can't they? Why do you even care?" She asked.
"Care?" he huffed. "Who said I care? Just put it back on."
"Helping me out today doesn't erase what happened yesterday. Just know I'll still sue you."
Was a lawsuit really necessary? Probably not, but her pride wouldn't let her let Fionn off the hook so easily.
"Do as you please. I don't care, but what I really care about... and actually, I'm serious, we have to get married. I'll let you think about it. The next time we meet, I need your answer, hopefully it isn't a no," he said with a casual glance back before zooming off.