King Me (King Me Duet Book 1) Read online

  “He should know. Maybe he can call his brother and talk some sense into him.”

  “It hasn’t worked before,” I said.

  “But now that he’s seen you…”

  “We both know he isn’t likely to change his mind unless he has proof. I’m living proof.”

  “When are you coming home?”

  “When it’s done,” I said.

  “Call or send me a text each day, letting me know you’re okay?”

  I knew she worried. When I was deployed, it was tough on her. I was all she had, if you didn’t count Uncle Ted and Grant.

  “Sure. But don’t worry. I’ll be fine.”

  After I ended the call, I went into the bedroom. I’d forgotten about Natalie until I heard the shower running. I dropped my bag on the bed, remembering how cute she’d been demanding that she take the couch. Though I’d been honest about not offering to take the couch, I was way too big for it, I had considered offering her to share the bed. It was a king. We could both easily sleep on it and never touch.

  Though she’d been bundled up, she was just a slip of a thing. Tiny. Time would tell if she was tiny all over or not. Down, boy.

  My phone rang. A glance at the screen said it wasn’t Grant, but Carrie. I walked back into the living room, not sure why other than to give Natalie space.

  “Hey,” I said when I answered.

  “Liam. Are you still in New York?”

  “Yeah,” I clipped.

  “Can we talk?”

  “I think all was said before.”

  “Liam. I’ve always loved you.”

  “If you loved me, you wouldn’t have slept with my brother.” I waited a beat. “You know he’s married.”

  “He wasn’t married when I was with him. And you and I weren’t together.”

  “Only because you broke it off with me. I would have waited for you.”

  “Did you?” she asked, sounding pissed off now.

  “Why does it matter?”

  She was quiet a moment and I took several cleansing breaths. I didn’t want to fight with her.

  “Do you still love me?” she asked.

  I didn’t think so, but I wasn’t bastard enough to say that. “It doesn’t matter if I still love you. You crossed a line there is no turning back from.”

  “So that’s it?”

  “Yes. I care about you, Carrie, but that’s as far as it will ever go.”

  “Liam.”

  “I have to go.”

  I hung up. A few seconds later, Natalie walked in wearing pjs with tiny unicorns all over them. And she wasn’t tiny all over. The oversized outfit couldn’t hide the curves of her generous breasts. It was going to be a very long night.

  Four

  Natalie

  After the best shower ever, don’t get me started on the multi-head shower jets, I walked out of the bedroom and heard Liam tell someone I still love you. I reversed course not wanting to interrupt as I puzzled over what that meant. Though I guess I could thank my lucky stars he was taken. Whatever physical and pure sexual attraction I had wouldn’t be acted on.

  Switching gears, I spent another ten minutes in the bathroom and dried my hair, which I hadn’t before because I wasn’t sure if he wanted to shower before his food arrived. When I came out a second time, he wasn’t on the phone. I caught him staring out the windows as I had when I arrived.

  “Everything okay?”

  He shifted and his magnetic eyes landed on me. “No. Everything’s fine. I think I’ll grab a shower before the food gets here.”

  I nodded and watched him walk away because he did have a truly fantastic ass. I waited a beat before inching toward the bedroom door. After hearing the water running in the bathroom, I went back into the living area and dialed Jody.

  “Hey, stranger,” she answered. “I thought you were a Law and Order SVU victim at this point. Did you not receive my one hundred and one texts?”

  “I texted back that I was good.”

  “And anyone could say that. He could have had your phone.”

  “Well, I’m fine. I had a cold shower and I’m good,” I muttered.

  “I don’t blame you on the cold shower, that boy is hot. H.O.T. hot. Should I repeat myself?”

  “No. I think I got it.”

  “No, I don’t think you do. He’s like maroon on the AQI scale.”

  I sighed. “What is the AQI?”

  “Air Quality Index. And just so you know, maroon is hazardous to your health. You know like emergency conditions; I can’t breathe he’s so hot. He’s the kind of guy you forget religion for. Like he wouldn’t have had to convince me to share his hotel room.”

  It was hard not to laugh when she got going. “You do realize that a lot of serial killers are considered attractive, like Ted Bundy.”

  “I say it’s not a bad way to go.”

  I giggled harder. “You’re not serious.”

  “Okay, maybe not. But even if he wasn’t a serial killer, I’d probably die by orgasm.”

  “You’ve made your point. Which is why I need you to talk me down. I’m pretty sure he has a girlfriend or maybe… a wife.”

  “And?” she asked like that didn’t matter.

  “You’re killing me.”

  “I know. You love me. But he could have both and be ready to break up or filing for a divorce.”

  “It’s for the best. Considering…”

  It was her turn to sigh. “Have you decided what you are going to do about that?”

  “You mean the bargain I struck with the sperm donor?” I said, jokingly referring to my father.

  “Uh-huh.”

  “What choice do I have?”

  “I don’t know, Nat, but you have to figure it out.”

  “I know.”

  I didn’t want to think about my dad and the ultimatum he’d given me for the bargain we’d struck.

  “So where is the hottie?” Jody asked.

  “Back to that?”

  “What else is there? Any other hot men you’ve met in New York.”

  “How about we talk about what I’m going to do about my living situation. Do I just come back home? You’re not there.”

  Jody was working an internship at the Capitol while finishing up her degree. “You can always come to D.C. You can share my studio.”

  “If I’d gotten an assignment there, I would have. But New York is choice. The pay is among the highest in the country. If I leave with short notice, it’s unlikely I’ll get this opportunity again. At the same time, I can’t afford to live in a hotel. I don’t know. I should be looking for rooms to rent.”

  “Okay. I guess adulting is a thing. And leaving probably won’t look good on your resume. So you should look for somewhere to rent. That doesn’t mean harmless fun isn’t allowed.”

  I looked toward the door knowing he’d be out soon, or the food would arrive. “Even if I wanted to. I can’t. He said I still love you to someone, which doesn’t sound anything like something he’d say to his mother. Which means he’s at the very least emotionally involved with someone. I’m not going there.”

  “Maybe you misheard. You should ask him.”

  “I should let him think I was spying on his conversation by bringing it up.” I shook my head. “What am I even saying? I just met him, and he’ll be gone in a day or two.”

  “You said he’s from Clinestown. Which is practically up the road from home. You could very well see him again.”

  “In a few months. I’m here in New York, assuming I stay for that long.”

  “Sigh. You are making this more complicated. If he makes a move, ask him. You’re good at reading the bullshit meter.”

  “I’ll think about it. Anyway, I have to go. Our food is going to arrive soon, and I promised Mom I’d call.”

  Mom’s phone went to voicemail. She was probably napping. I left her a message and sat on the sofa. I closed my eyes for a second or at least I thought I did.

  I woke up when I heard voices, but th
at isn’t what shocked me fully awake. Liam stood at the open door with nothing but a towel wrapped around his waist as the waiter arranged the food on the table. Then, the waiter was gone, and I did my best to keep my jaw off the floor. The man was ripped. Was there such thing as an eight pack?

  His eyes dropped to his towel. “Sorry. When they kept knocking, I thought maybe you were in the other bathroom.”

  “Umm…” Words, Natalie. Use words. “I nodded off. I was more tired than I thought,” I babbled, grateful I’d yet to drool.

  “I should probably get dressed.”

  Bobbing my head was a good thing considering I was having a hard time thinking.

  “Go ahead and eat what you want. I’ll be back.”

  Still bobbing like a bobblehead. What the heck was wrong with me? You’d think I’d never been around a good-looking guy in my life. I had. And generally speaking, if they didn’t have a girlfriend, they were jerks. The good ones were always taken.

  I wanted to ignore my stomach, but the growling sounds that filled the room made it impossible. I eased over to the table and lifted one of the stainless-steel domes. The aroma that wafted up to me was intoxicating. I shifted the chair so I could sit, unable to deny my hunger a second longer.

  Only my luck would have it so I’d practically unhinged my jaw to take a huge bite when he showed up, dressed, unfortunately.

  “Looks good,” he said.

  It was too late to stop eating. My molars had already touched down on the bun. If I pulled it out, there would be teeth sized marks there. I went all in and chomped down like an all you can eat champ.

  I murmured something inconsequential because there was a party in my mouth. Maybe I was still standing out in front of the hospital, in a frostbite haze. How did a burger taste so good? A burger was a burger everywhere wasn’t it? My taste buds were doing the cha-cha as my brain tried to process.

  “That good?”

  I looked up as I felt ketchup, or whatever condiments were on this heavenly creation, at the corners of my mouth. I used two fingers to wipe at the edges before nodding like a crazed woman.

  “I thought so based on the sounds you were making,” he added.

  Tomato probably couldn’t describe the color of my cheeks based on the heat I felt there. “I’m sorry.”

  “Don’t be. It was cute and is a good recommendation for the burger.” He lifted the dome and took a fry first. I would have watched him if that wasn’t so creepy. My focus did shift to him again when he picked up one of the wine bottles. “Nice. I didn’t order these. Want some?”

  “Sure.” Last thing I needed was to get drunk around this man. But one glass wouldn’t hurt and maybe it would calm my nerves.

  He reached for the glasses and I took note of his worn jeans that hugged his ass nicely as he shifted to reach the bottle opener. I totally needed to forget about his ass. I wasn’t ever this horny. I’d never sexualized a man in this way. Jody, yes. Me, no. I’d admired good-looking guys, but I never pictured myself naked with them.

  “Here you go,” he said, handing me a full glass.

  Crap, I’d been in a daze, I hadn’t noticed his return. I took it eagerly and had a sip. I wasn’t a wine expert, but it worked with the burger. Fancy. Who knew?

  It wasn’t long before all the food was gone and so was all the wine.

  What came next could have been predicted. Too much alcohol made me giddy and bold. As I giggled, with the tip of my index finger in my mouth while I was staring at his. I dumbly asked, “Do you have a girlfriend?”

  Five

  Liam

  Damn she was cute. “No. I don’t have a girlfriend.”

  Her giggle was infectious, and I chuckled.

  “Are you sure about that?” She dragged each word out and slurred slightly.

  “Yes. I’m pretty sure I’d know if I had a girlfriend.”

  She tilted her head to the side. “How about a wife?”

  “No wife either.”

  “Are you in love with someone?”

  “No,” I said, grinning. I hoped her head had gone the same place mine had.

  “Have you ever been in love?”

  I didn’t lie. “Once. A girl I thought I might marry one day.”

  She eyed me for a second more from across the table. “What happened?”

  “Life. She went to college. I went to basic training. Though, I’d planned to ask her to marry me until she called it quits. She didn’t want us to try the long-distance thing. I still believed we would be together one day.”

  “And now?”

  “She slept with my brother.”

  “Wow,” she said, as the words sounded like five.

  “Yeah. There’s no turning back from that.”

  “People make mistakes,” she said, sounding more thoughtful.

  “There are some things you can forgive and others you can’t. How about you? Have you ever been in love?”

  Her head shook wildly as she grinned. “Nope. Absolutely not.”

  “Why is that?”

  “No one worthy. Or maybe they were all afraid of my father.” She shrugged and turned the tables back on me. “How do I know you’re telling the truth?”

  I arched a brow and she giggled. “I guess you don’t. You’ll just have to trust me. Why the twenty questions?”

  “Because I want to decide when.” I was confused a second until she added, “I want to do this.” She got up and stumbled toward me and fell into my lap. “Whoa.”

  Whatever else I might have said was swallowed by her kiss. The wine tasted sweet on her tongue. Better yet, her soft ass on my lap and her breasts pressed against my chest had me hard and ready.

  I wrapped my arm around her and let my hand glide down to the small of her back. I didn’t know this woman and I was just shy of drunk and didn’t care much. It wouldn’t be the first one-nighter I’d had with a woman.

  Even though I was wearing jeans, I knew she felt me as she wiggled against my erection.

  “What are we doing here?” I asked.

  “What do you think?”

  “You made the rules before we got here. I don’t want you to regret anything.”

  She ran her nails over my scalp and drew me down. “Stop talking.”

  We kissed for another few minutes before I got to my feet with her cradled in my arms. The walk to the bedroom would serve us both some good. It would give her a chance to change her mind.

  I kicked the door open with my foot and turned sideways to get us in. I gently placed her on the bed.

  “We can always stop,” I offered as she looked up at me all doe-eyed.

  Slowly, her head shifted side to side before she tucked her thumbs in the waist band of her pajama bottoms. I watched in anticipation as she slid them down her legs, leaving only a scrap of lacy black fabric covering her. I tried not to be disappointed she hadn’t made a move to take off her top.

  Instead, I let her run the show and licked my lips. “What next?”

  “How about you get on your knees and remove my thong?”

  “The lady knows what she wants.” I liked a woman who knew her mind, and I did as she asked, one knee at a time. Once there I reached over and slid a finger under the seam to test the waters. She raised up on her elbows to watch me. Her head fell back when the pad of my finger slid through silky dampness of her center.

  Fuck, she was dripping for me. I didn’t waste time. I shifted the material and went for it. The first taste was everything I’d hoped for. Her moans only fanned the flames that she wanted this as much as I did.

  I parted her pussy to get to the pearl. Just that had her thighs quivering in seconds. I added a finger into the mix, just enough to give her that extra stimulation that would surely send her over the edge. My cock throbbed, wanting to be where my finger was. But this was for her. I did reach up with my other hand and slid it up her belly under her shirt. I cupped her generous breast and tweaked her nipple, pinching it between my fingers.

  When
her core began to spasm, she cried out, “Oh my god, oh my god,” repeatedly.

  I let a self-satisfied smirk cover my face when she finally let go of my head. I sat back on my haunches when I realized too late one important fact. Sighing, I moved to lay next to her on my back.

  “That’s it.” Though she was panting when she spoke, there was no mistaking the hint of disappointment.

  “Unless you have a condom. I don’t.” I had been singularly focused on meeting the man who was my father on my trip to New York. Even knowing I’d likely see Carrie, I hadn’t made sure I had any. That was telling. Maybe I’d always known when she broke up with me and I hadn’t put up a fight that it was over between us.

  “Nope. Fresh out of condoms,” she declared. “But that doesn’t seem fair.”

  She was on her side, with her head propped up by her left hand as she eyed my crotch. I didn’t stop her when she put her hand just above my waistband. I just watched as she undid the button of my jeans. I held my breath as she slid down my zipper.

  There were several ways this could go and all of them were good. I sucked in a breath when her small hand wrapped around the head of my cock and squeezed. I took things a step further and wrapped my hand around hers. I guided her hand with the right pressure down the length of my shaft and up again until we found a rhythm that send me into orbit. I stared in her eyes as we moved our hands as one. When the time came, I had to shift my shirt up with my free hand as my orgasm blew all over my chest.

  But there was one thing I didn’t think I would ever forget. She dipped her finger in it and touched it to the tip of her tongue before wrapping her perfect lips around to lick it clean. Holy fuck, I could have come again. It was almost better than a blow job. Almost.

  “Let me go get something to clean you up,” she said, hopping off the bed, giving me a show of her beautiful ass. I could kick myself for not bringing a condom.

  Next time or would there be one? I wasn’t sure what the morning would bring. But I didn’t expect what I found.

  Six

  Natalie

  Waking up next to Liam would have been perfect if not for my guilty conscience. What had I been thinking? At least someone was looking out for me because he hadn’t had a condom. I’d almost let my drunken brain tell him we could skip it. Luckily, I hadn’t.