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And now my eyes were misty for a completely different reason.
I pulled back slightly to look up at King. His eyes burned down at me, the emotion in his eyes I was afraid to name. Because from where I was standing, it looked a hell of a lot like love.
I pulled his head down to mine and kissed him with everything I had. And he kissed me back just as hard.
As we tumbled into bed, it felt different. His eyes held an intensity I’d never seen before. His fingers moved over my body with a tenderness that brought tears to my eyes. Everything felt deeper than ever before.
Unnamed emotions danced between us.
I knew my eyes promised things I was afraid to say out loud. But I felt them just the same. It was too scary to be the first one to leap off the cliff.
So I bit my tongue and kept quiet.
Or as quiet as King’s talented fingers and mouth would let me be.
Chapter Twenty-Two
King
I woke the next morning with Briar snuggled up close to my side, one of her arms over me, the other flung over her head, and her long, blonde hair tangled all around her face. I was pretty sure this was my new happy place. As I stared down at her, I couldn’t help but think about last night. It’d felt like everything had changed, but we hadn’t gotten around to talking about it or labeling it. But it was time to reassess our little agreement.
I hoped like hell she felt the same.
More than anything, I wanted to stay where I was and wake her up the fun way, but I had some unfinished business to take care of.
With my late call time, I took advantage of it, slipped out of bed, got dressed, and headed over to the guesthouse to have a long-needed conversation.
I stood on the back step and knocked on the back door. It might’ve been my property, but I wasn’t going to just barge right in. After a few moments, my mom opened the door with a cup of coffee in her hand.
“King. Um, good morning. I wasn’t expecting you.” She paused and winced. “I mean, it’s nice to see you. Come on in. Would you like some coffee?” She stepped back and gestured with her cup for me to come inside.
“Uh, sure. Thanks.”
Mom set her cup down on the counter and busied herself making me a cup. “Sugar? Cream?”
I shook my head as I sat on the stool at the counter. “Just black. Thanks.”
“Here you go.” She slid the cup across the counter to me and buried her face in her cup.
The awkward silence between us was excruciating. I didn’t know what to say—how to start this conversation—and she was clearly just as lost as me.
Damn, anything was better than this weird tension. I cleared my throat and started talking. “It’s been brought to my attention that my marriage with Ariel is still a sore spot. I’m sorry that I ran out the other night. We were finally getting on and patching things up until I ran away like an immature asshole.”
“No, it’s my fault, Kingston. I shouldn’t have brought her up. Whatever happened in your marriage is your business. You don’t have to explain yourself to me. I’m sorry I stepped all over your boundaries.”
“God, this sounds like a conversation with my therapist. Can’t you guys just let go and be fucking real?” Nix asked from his slouch against the backdoor. Judging by his shirtless and sweaty torso, he’d been up and running on the beach while I’d been snuggling Briar in my bed.
“Nice to see you too, asshole.” I laughed and rolled my eyes. “Anything else you want to get off your chest?”
“Nah.” Nix stood and headed for the corner cabinet and grabbed himself a cup then filled it at the sink. “I pretty much just say what’s on my mind all the time.”
“You never have to wonder where you stand with Phoenix.” Mom pursed her lips and raised her eyebrows at me.
I just shook my head. “Some things never change. But are we good? I am glad you came, and I’d love to work on this and foryou to get to know Zoe. I’m sure Briar would appreciate some down time. She’s been working straight through because of my schedule with this movie. I’d promised her a break next week but—”
I cut myself off as I remembered why her break hadn’t come through as promised. Awkward.
“But what?” Mom asked
