Page 61 of Forbidden King (Magnolia Falls)

The feel of his hand wrapped around mine, the slight buzz still coursing through my veins.

The memory of how he made me cry out his name in the tub the other night.

All of it.

It was a challenge not to be affected by King.

My forbidden King.

“It always kept the nightmares away when you’d fall asleep with your hand in mine,” he said.

“It did. You scared all the bad guys away.” I chuckled, even though he wasn’t laughing.

“I remember those days like it was yesterday.”

“Me, too,” I whispered.

He shook his head and pulled his hand from mine. “All right. Let’s get you into bed, and I’ll head home.”

Once he was standing, I crawled up toward the headboard and slipped beneath the covers. “How about you lie here with me for old time’s sake?”

“I can do that,” he said, kicking off his shoes and flipping off the lights before he moved to the other side of the bed. The mattress dipped low when he stretched out, staying above the covers while I was beneath them. We both rolled onto our sides so we were facing one another. I reached for his hand, just like I used to do every night all those years ago.

Kingston Pierce had always been my serenity.

My safe place.

And now he was all grown up, and he still felt like my safe place.

“Your hands are still just as small as they always were,” he said, his voice deep and gruff.

“Or you just have really giant hands.” I chuckled. I loved his hands. They were strong, and it was obvious he worked hard by the callouses on his palms.

“Did you have fun tonight?” he asked.

“I did. I probably drank a little too much,” I admitted. “My dad called on my way out to Whiskey Falls. He wants me to come out and see him and Constance and the kids on Sunday.”

“Really? I didn’t know you still talked to him.” His voice was quiet, void of emotion. He knew my brother despised my father, and rightfully so.

“Not very often. He reached out after I graduated from college, and then again after I completed my MBA.”

“I didn’t see him there either time,” Kingston said, not hiding his irritation. Hayes and all the guys had come to my graduation for both undergrad and grad school.

My mother hadn’t been there because Barry had fallen off a ladder at the house the first time around. And then when I’d walked at the commencement for my MBA, my mother had not been able to take the time off work.

None of that mattered to me.

Hayes had always been there.

Kingston had always been there.

They’d all always been there.

“You’re correct. But I don’t think he particularly felt welcome knowing how much his son despises him.” I closed my eyes at the feel of his thumb stroking my wrist. “But Hayes and I don’t have to feel the same way about him. I’m not saying I forgive him for leaving us, but I still want to know him.”

“You’re so fucking good to your core, Dandelion.” Kingston leaned forward and kissed my forehead. “So, are you going to go?”

I hesitated and let out a long sigh. “I want to. I really want to. And with Hayes being gone, I wouldn’t have to even mention it and get him all pissed off. I could tell him after, and if it goes well, maybe I could convince him to come with me the next time.”

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