Chapter 22: Chapter 21

“WHO KEEPS TEXTING YOU?” Peyton asked.

“Oh, it’s just my mom asking about having lunch this weekend.” I stretched the truth. She’d texted once, but all the other texts had been from Kingston. He’d left after we’d made out again at my house when we said our goodbyes last night.

And then we’d ended up talking on the phone for hours until we couldn’t keep our eyes open.

I’d never been with a man who I was this comfortable with. We could talk about anything and everything.

He told me all about the kitchen renovation he was doing, and he was so passionate about it. He took pride in his work, and he loved what he did.

We talked about childhoods, my lack of stability, and his guilt that his grandparents had lost their chance to retire and enjoy old age because they’d raised him and his brother. I assured him that it was the greatest joy of their lives, because anyone who knew them knew it was true.

And then we read a few chapters of the latest romance book of his choosing. He was dabbling in historical fiction and telling me how he thought he would have thrived back then if he’d been alive.

But who was he kidding? The man would thrive in any time period.

“How are things going with your mom?” Ruby asked.

“We’re making progress.” I fiddled with my cocktail napkin. We’d met at Whiskey Falls for a quick happy hour drink and a few appetizers. “I’ve told you guys that my mom struggles with depression, so it’s a daily battle for her most of the time.”

“I understand that. Slade struggled for a long time when he was younger, and I think a lot of that led to him turning to drugs and alcohol to deal with it. But he’s really making progress and learning that it’s okay if you’re struggling. You just need to talk about it.” Demi sipped her martini, her eyes filled with empathy.

“That couldn’t have been easy for you growing up in a home with a mom who struggled with depression, and you didn’t have the tools to help her back then.” Ruby studied me.

“You’ve got your therapist hat on.” Peyton chuckled. “I know you aren’t a therapist, but you’re an emotional problem solver, Rubes. Just own it.”

Ruby chuckled. “Whatever. I’m just saying that it couldn’t have been easy for you or Hayes.”

“I think it’s why she chooses the partners that she does. Maybe she’s drawn to the toxicity. I’m fairly certain she and my father had a volatile relationship, as well. And after he left, things only got worse. It’s also why my brother wanted to get us both out of that house as soon as he could.”

“Yeah. I know he can be overly protective, but it’s coming from such a good place, you know?” Demi said.

“I never doubt that. He just needs to be reminded that I’m not a little kid anymore.”

“He’s definitely protective.” Ruby took a sip from her wineglass. “And that was nice of King to go with you to meet your dad and his family. Even if they were batshit crazy.”

I’d filled them in on how odd the whole experience had been, and they’d been pretty floored by all of it.

“Yeah. He’s the best.” I could feel my cheeks heat, and I tried my best to act casual. I couldn’t get him out of my head. The way he’d kissed me out in the water. The way he’d made me feel.

“You two sure spend a lot of time together,” Demi said, as she waggled her brows.

Kingston and I had made a deal to keep this between us, and I’d asked him not to talk to my brother about it, so this wasn’t something I could share with anyone.

And I was fine with it because it was something that I only shared with him.

“We’re good friends.” I popped a tater tot into my mouth as all three studied me.

They didn’t push.

It was obvious they suspected something was up. I wasn’t going to blatantly deny it, but I wasn’t going to offer it up, either.

Kingston had never been in a relationship. And now he was fooling around with his best friend’s little sister. The minute Hayes found out about it, he would freak out, and this whole thing would blow up. I just wanted a chance to see where this went before all the noise brought it to a quick end.

I knew I was playing with fire, but I was willing to get burned for this man.

That’s how strongly I felt about him.

“Just be smart, all right?” Ruby whispered to just me, her eyes giving me that knowing look as Demi and Peyton added more food to their plates.

“I wish you’d just jump the man’s bones. He’s so hot. I don’t know how you hang out with him all the time without anything going on.” Peyton sipped her cocktail and shrugged.

At least only one of them appeared to be suspicious.

“Never crossed my mind,” I said, and we all laughed because they knew that was a big, fat lie.

No one could meet Kingston and not think about it.

There was just something about him.

“Speak of the devil,” Ruby said, and I turned to see him walking toward us.

“Ladies,” he said, his hand landing on the small of my back. “Did you forget to invite me to happy hour?”

Everyone chuckled, and my heart raced because I knew he was here for me.

He can’t stop thinking about yesterday either.

“Are you out trolling tonight, King?” Peyton said, her voice all tease.

“Nope. I seem to have retired my trolling days, Peyt.” He reached over and took a tater tot and popped it into his mouth. “I was just on my way home from work and thought I’d grab a beer.”

Ruby was looking between us, but Demi and Peyton seemed to buy it.

Hell, I was buying it. We had plans to meet up later, but I hadn’t expected him to show up here.

Lionel, Ruby’s father, brought a beer over and made small talk with Kingston while we finished our drinks. He’d pulled up a barstool in between me and Peyton and made himself right at home.

“Okay, so we’re all set for the bachelorette party, right?” Peyton asked. “Even if you want it to be tame, we’re still going to make it fun.”

“I know you’re bummed, Peyt. I’m more than aware that you wanted it to be some wild Vegas trip, but it’s just not my thing. So, we’ll come to Whiskey Falls and dance and have some fun. But I promise, when you get married, we’ll do all the crazy things, okay?”

“Fine,” she huffed, and we all laughed.

Kingston’s hand found my thigh beneath the table, and I sucked in a breath. Our shoulders were touching because the table wasn’t large, and his hand climbed up my thigh without any warning. I jumped a bit and cleared my throat to cover it.

“Yes. We’ll go all out for Peyton’s bachelorette. I think this sounds fun, though, even if it’s tame,” I said, trying hard to pull myself together while his thumb was grazing along my inner thigh.

“And we’ve got the bridal shower in a few weeks that your mom and grandmother are throwing, so we’ve got lots of wedding stuff coming up.” Ruby raised a brow at Peyton, as if to say that this was Demi’s day, so she should do what she wanted.

“Snooze fest.” Peyton rolled her eyes and then barked out a laugh. “I’m kidding. The shower will be so fancy and fun, and your mom did mention a mimosa fountain. I can live with that.”

“Ahhh… and this is the party that I’m not invited to?” Kingston asked, with a wicked grin on his face.

“Well, I told her that you and Cutler were a little disappointed, and she said she was going to make an exception for her two favorite guys. But you have to come late so you don’t sit through all the girly games.” Demi smiled.

“Ahhh… Beefcake and I made the cut. I love it.”

“Damn. I hope you guys crash the bachelorette party to liven things up.” Peyton raised a brow.

“I know we’re having the bachelor party on the same night, but we don’t plan quite the way you all do. We just pull it together as we get closer. I think we’re doing it at my house, and we’ll do whatever Romeo wants.”

“Well, at least we know where to go when ours ends.” Peyton waggled her brows.

Kingston’s hand moved between my thighs, and I sucked in a breath when he grazed his thumb along my most sensitive area.

Oh. My. Gosh.

I wrapped my hand around his wrist and pulled slightly because I wouldn’t be able to control myself if he continued touching me like this. He pulled his hand away and winked at me as he continued making small talk.

Lionel came over to tell us that Kingston had already paid our bill, and we all thanked him and pushed to our feet. We hugged goodbye and walked toward the door. River was waiting outside to pick up Ruby and had offered everyone a ride. Kingston said he was on his way home, as well, and he’d walk with me.

River nodded, and I didn’t miss the look between him and Ruby. I just waved goodbye, and we started walking when they pulled away from the curb.

Once they were out of view, I turned and smacked him on the arm. “What was that?”

“What?” He put a hand on my back to keep me walking.

“You can’t do that to me in the middle of a bar. I could feel my cheeks turning pink, and everyone would have known what you were doing if I hadn’t pulled your hand away,” I said, throwing my arms in the air.

“And wasn’t that kind of thrilling? Our little secret? Knowing that I couldn’t wait to touch you. To taste you. It’s all I’ve thought about all day. So yeah, I went to that bar, and I fought the urge to throw you over my shoulder and tell all of them exactly what I had planned.”

I came to a stop, hands on my hips, as I turned to face him. “And what exactly do you have planned?”

He smiled, and I squeezed my thighs together. This man was too good-looking for his own good. His thick hair was slightly disheveled, dark eyes heated and raking over me, and his smile did crazy things to me.

“I plan to strip you bare, spread you wide, and taste every inch of you. To make you come so many times you can’t see straight. Does that sound all right?”

Ummm… yes, please.

“I think I can live with that.” My teeth sank into my bottom lip, and I tried hard not to laugh at how awkward I was. “That’s a pretty big plan, but still no sex, huh?”

“Nope. Not until we tell Hayes what’s going on.” He ran a hand through his hair. “I mean, he won’t be happy with me that we’ve done anything, but at least he won’t murder me.”

“You do know how insane this is, right? You won’t have sex with me until you get my brother’s blessing?” I shook my head and started walking. “This isn’t the 1800s.”

“I hate to break it to you, Dandelion. But I don’t think there has ever been a time period where the dude asked the brother if he could have sex with his sister.” He barked out a laugh. “This isn’t about me asking him for permission to fuck you. Trust me. I’m not stupid. He’d never be okay with that. This is about you and me figuring out if this thing is over before he even gets home. It’s not about the sex. It’s about doing the right thing regarding a guy who’s like a brother to me.”

I rolled my eyes and kept walking. I wanted to be irritated, but as much as it annoyed me that he was so worried about Hayes and how he’d react, I also sort of loved him for it.

My brother was a really good man. He didn’t love many, but those that he loved, he’d walk through fire for. So, I understood why Kingston was worried.

“Again. We’re two consenting adults. And let’s just see if you’re still coming around in a few days. It’s very possible that you’ll be tired of this by the end of the week.” I chuckled as we turned down his street after he asked me to come to his place.

“How about you? Were you hoping I’d stop by the bar? Were you thinking about last night the way that I’ve been thinking about it all fucking day?” He pulled his keys from his pocket.

“I thought about it all day, King. I’m not denying it.” I followed him inside when he pushed the door open.

“Fuck, Saylor. I’m so fucked.” He pressed my back against the door. “I don’t know what you’re doing to me. I’ve never wanted someone more than I want you. Not even fucking close.” He dropped to his knees, catching me off guard.

“What are you doing?”

“I’m going to taste you right here in my entryway. And then I’m going to carry you to my bedroom and take my time with you tonight and do all the things I’ve dreamed of doing for a long fucking time.”

He pushed my skirt up around my waist, and my head fell back against the door when he tore my panties right off my body like he couldn’t wait another minute.

“King,” I whispered as his fingers trailed up the inside of my thighs.

“Spread these pretty little legs for me, Saylor. Let me see that perfect pink pussy, baby.”

My breathing was already erratic, and my legs started trembling.

“Hey, look at me.” His voice had my head springing forward and my eyes opening.

“Hi,” I said, my voice just above a whisper.

“Is this too much? Your legs are shaking.”

I shook my head. “No. I-I’ve wanted this. I just have never done, er, this before.”

“Never done what?”

“I’ve never had a man… you know, taste me. Grahame and I just didn’t do that kind of stuff.” I attempted to cover my face with my hands because this was mortifying, seeing as I was a grown woman. But I definitely hadn’t had a lot of experience in this department. King reached up and pulled my hands down. “There’s nothing to be embarrassed about. I’m honored that I get to be the first man lucky enough to taste you. To please you this way. And I promise you, Saylor, this will feel really good, okay? I’ve got you. Always. Do you trust me?”

“Of course, I do.”

“All right. If for any reason you don’t like it, or we’re moving too fast, you just tell me to stop. There’s no rush.”

I nodded, and my fingers tangled in his hair as he buried his head between my thighs. His tongue swiped along my seam, and I gasped at the sensation.

He continued licking and teasing me over and over. His hands came around behind my butt, and he lifted me up, pulling my legs over his shoulders so he could support me.

He looked up at me, eyes blazing with need, lips wet with my desire, and he smiled. “Sweetest pussy I’ve ever tasted.”

And then he covered my clit with his mouth, slipping a finger inside of me while my hips found their rhythm. I was grinding up against his face, tugging at his hair, desperate for more. He slipped in another finger, and the pressure had me gasping. My breaths were coming hard and fast, and I couldn’t get enough.

“Kingston, it’s too much,” I whispered.

“Never too much, baby,” he said when he pulled his fingers out. And just when I thought it couldn’t get any better, his tongue slipped inside me. Sliding in and out, as his thumb moved to my clit, knowing just what I needed.

Bright lights lit up behind my eyelids, and my entire body was overcome with the most euphoric feeling I’d ever experienced.

I cried out his name as pleasure tore through me, and I rode his face into oblivion.

I had no shame.

I was lost in this man.

My forbidden King.