Total pages in book: 75
Estimated words: 71275 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 356(@200wpm)___ 285(@250wpm)___ 238(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 71275 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 356(@200wpm)___ 285(@250wpm)___ 238(@300wpm)
“So, no, I’m not fucking Scotlin. I will never fuck Scotlin again. Over the years, we made peace with the past. Our families are connected. I can’t call her a friend because I don’t trust her. I don’t even like being around her. But this is a job I have to see through. Even if I hate every fucking moment.”
When he took a step toward me, this time, I didn’t move.
“I’m so sorry,” I breathed as I stared up at him.
“Long time ago, sweets,” he said, running his hands up my bare arms. “Now, tell me, what else do you want to know? Ask anything. I’ll tell you.”
What else did I want to know? He’d hit me with this information that made my chest ache for him. I couldn’t ask him to share anything else. What other skeletons were in his closet that I could unintentionally drag out? I didn’t think I was ready for that.
“That’s enough,” I replied.
“That’s all you need to know? You sure? Because I do not want to go through another day like that again. I hate being away from you and not being able to check in on you. It fucks with my head, sweets.”
I did have another question. One I had to ask. If what he was doing, what we were doing, wasn’t going away. If he was going to keep talking to me like this. Making me feel these things. I had to ask.
“What are we? You … you say we’re friends, but this … this doesn’t feel like friends, King. This feels like more, and to me, it is more. And if it’s not more to you, then I can’t keep doing it and survive it. Survive you.”
“You’re right. We’re not friends. I thought we could be, but I need you. I want you with me all the damn time. When shit gets dark, all it takes is your smile to ease the demons inside. Does it need a label?”
Yes. No. Ugh! Why was I pushing? This was all new. Perhaps I was too inexperienced in life and I was asking for something I shouldn’t.
“I guess not,” I replied.
His hands grabbed my waist and pulled me against him. “Those eyes of yours are saying something different. You want security. Your trust in me is gone, and I deserve it.” He lowered his head and pressed a kiss to the corner of my mouth. “I don’t know what to call this. I just know you’re all I think about. The only one I want to fuck. The only person I miss. Yeah, it sounds like a relationship, but I’ve seen what happens when people fall in love. That shit isn’t real. It’s just a word. It ends in disaster, and I could never live with myself if that happened to us and I lost you. My life … this world I live in isn’t one that builds strong relationships. It rips them apart. I’ve seen it happen over and over. So, let’s not label it. Let’s just live in the moment. Enjoy how this feels.”
There were no right words here. At least, I couldn’t think of any. I just nodded, and he brushed his lips against mine as his hands tightened their hold on me.
“When this is over, move into my house with me,” he said, then nipped at my top lip with his teeth.
“What?” I asked, breathless.
“You heard me.”
“When what is over?” I asked him, needing clarification as my heart soared.
He trailed kisses over to my ear and pressed a kiss to the tender spot beneath it. I shivered, and my hands fisted in his shirt.
“When I find Scotlin’s stalker and the Insantos are handled, I want you in my house. With me.”
The way the heaviness from earlier lifted from my shoulders should have been a warning. One for me. Reminding me just how much power he had over me. Every step I took closer to him, I was only losing more of my heart. And he didn’t believe in relationships.
King wrapped his larger hand around mine and flashed me a crooked grin as he led me out the door of the library. He didn’t slow his pace as we reached the foyer, where Maeme and Storm still stood.
“She’s going with me for the rest of the day,” King informed them without pausing for a response.
“What about tonight?” Maeme asked him. “You’re Scotlin’s date at her father’s dinner party this evening.”
I would not let that bother me. I had to find a way to control the jealous surge that came whenever I heard her name and that King would be with her. If I was going to do this with him, I had to trust him even if he’d done little to earn my trust back.
King’s grip on my hand tightened. “Rumor can stay in my room at the stables while I go. I’ll come back there tonight when it is over.”