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When he came home a few minutes later, I’d already resolved not to bring it up.
I grabbed the mugs from the cabinet and said over my shoulder, “I’m so sorry for the way my parents acted today. I swear they’re normal people when they’re not meeting abnormal people.”
King chuckled. “And I guess I’m the abnormal person who threw them off today?”
“You said it, not me.” I laughed. “But seriously, I’m sorry it got messy there between me and my dad. I never knew how much my divorce affected him. It’s…it’s humbling, I guess.”
“I get it. He’s a great dad. You’ve got nothing to apologize for.” King hitched a shoulder. “You were in pain, and he loves you.”
Tears burned my eyes, but I’d be damned if I’d let them fall. I cried so much after my marriage failed. After that ass walked off into the sunset with his new family. I didn’t want to cry anymore.
But apparently, that wasn’t up to me.
I spun to face the cups as I felt the first tear streak down my cheek. Sniffling, I poured steaming water into the mug and hoped like hell the activity would muffle my tears.
I didn’t even know why I was crying. My dad. The divorce. My failure. So much guilt over my parents’ feelings. It was all a jumbled mess.
Iwas a mess.
I needed to get out of here before King realized I was falling apart. I’d already been a mess once in front of him. I really didn’t want to do this again.
I cleared my throat. “You know I’m really tired. I think—”
“Everything okay, Briar?” King’s voice came right behind me.
There was no hiding now.
My shoulders slumped as I swiped at my tears with a dish towel. “I don’t even know why I’m crying. I just…I’m sorry. I’m going to go to bed.”
I didn’t even take one step away before King tugged me into his arms. My head rested perfectly on his chest as his arms came around me.
“You apologize way too much,” he murmured against my hair. “It’s like ‘I’m sorry’ is your default. What even is that?”
I gave a sobbing croak that should’ve been a laugh if I hadn’t been fighting my tears still. “You’re right.”
“Of course I’m right. It’s what I do.”
This time my laugh was full and out loud. God, he was so freaking arrogant. It was ridiculous.
I tipped my head back and gave him a watery smile. “Thanks, King. And I’m not going to say I’m sorry for crying in front of you.”
“Good.” King smiled down at me.
It was a sweet moment.
And then it shifted.
I can’t even remember if he leaned down or if I reached up. All I knew was that we went from smiling at each other to…kissing.
King’s lips were on mine. His tongue was nudging against my lips, so I parted them and groaned as his tongue invaded. We went from him comforting me to me all but grinding on him.
And it was fantastic.
King’s lips were magic. I swear to god, they made me tingle all over.
And then it was also over way too soon.
After the best kiss of my whole entire life, King ripped his lips away from mine. His breathing was uneven as he panted. “Shit.”
