Total pages in book: 35
Estimated words: 32796 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 164(@200wpm)___ 131(@250wpm)___ 109(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 32796 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 164(@200wpm)___ 131(@250wpm)___ 109(@300wpm)
“Oh goody, I get you to myself for a few more hours.” I burrow into his neck. King’s hand engulfs the cheek of my butt. Last night was different, softer, smoother, less hurried. Even if we weren’t looking in one another’s eyes, it didn’t matter. I could feel the power in his hands that skated along every inch of my body he could touch, the way he murmured sweet-nothings, praising me for being an incredible woman, how strong I am, how happy I make him. I’m pretty sure a few tears streamed down my cheeks. The need to tell him how much he means to me, that I love him, was almost overwhelming, but I couldn’t do that, not while we were facing away from one another. Plus, with the necklace he just gave me, I wasn’t popping those three words out for him to think I’m saying them after receiving a gift like that.
“We do. Give me your lips, temptress. Then I’ll go to the employee kitchen and see if I can’t scrounge up something for us to eat.” I lift my head, wrinkling my nose. The coffee here sucks. Kings knows I refuse to drink the sludge. It doesn’t matter how much cream or sugar you put in it, the normal aroma that you love is not there. It’s burnt to a crisp and is strong enough to put hair on your chest. “Don’t worry, I’ll clean the pot, make it fresh like we’re at home.” What did I say about him reading my mind?
“Alright,” I concede. He presses his lips against mine then deepens the kiss, taking what he needs, morning breath, rumpled hair, not having a shower after coming inside me be damned. Kingston doesn’t mind, a fact I had to get used to because there was no other way around it. He spoils me, not in the material ways but the way he is right now, giving me the softer side of him, much like he has more recently.
“Stay here, I’ll be back.” Ugh, I don’t mind that we fell asleep here or that we’re snowed in, but it would be nice if there were a bed beneath our bodies and King wouldn’t leave. I know it’s impossible for him, though; he’s probably been awake for a while, staying still so I can sleep a little longer.
“Alright, if you must.” I groan as he slides out from under me. He grabs the blanket we didn’t need with the heat radiating off his body. There’s nothing worse than a leather couch that’s cool to your bare skin.
“You act as if you won’t be back asleep in five minutes, temptress.”Getting called out at your own game. I settle into the back of the couch, eyes closing. Between working, the driving from my place to King’s, keeping up with the lies I keep telling Mae, and the late nights being kept up in the best way possible, I’m exhausted. The pit in my stomach, though, it’s definitely the worst. Food doesn’t taste the same. Candy isn’t even exciting. A fact I’m shocked King hasn’t picked up on seeing as how the dish he surprised me with in my office is still as full as when he brought it to me. Attempting to shut the outside world out for a little bit longer, I close my eyes. The soft footsteps trailing off tells me King is walking away to take on his morning tasks, and it’s time for me to catch a little bit more sleep.
19
KINGSTON
I’ve always been an early bird, waking up earlier than most at five o’clock no matter if sleep didn’t find me until two in the morning. Functioning on little to no rest was ingrained in me at a young age. Between work and college then a baby, there wasn’t any other way. It’s stayed with me even though I’m closer and closer to hitting forty years of age. The coffee is made, and there are a few pastries along with fruit left over from last night the caterers must have put away. Not that I’d know. Tessa and I slunk off to my office, to never resurface until this morning. Even still, she’s passed back out. Believe me, I had made coffee, was about to pour her a cup when I checked on her and she was asleep, blanket covering her from chest to feet, arm across her eyes to shield her from the light, and there was no way I was waking her up. Instead, I straightened a few things up in the front of the office, putting the chair back in the waiting room. The décor was in the supply closet. I knew damn good and well Tyra or Tessa would make sure everything was back in order before we opened up again, meaning one of them would come in on their day off. I had nothing better to do, so I drank a cup of coffee and had a croissant and fruit while I put everything away, which isn’t going to hold me over for long. The good thing about Vegas is that while we may be snowed in, it won’t last long, especially once the sun has been shining for a few hours.