Page 84 of Forbidden King (Magnolia Falls)

“Yes. We’ll go all out for Peyton’s bachelorette. I think this sounds fun, though, even if it’s tame,” I said, trying hard to pull myself together while his thumb was grazing along my inner thigh.

“And we’ve got the bridal shower in a few weeks that your mom and grandmother are throwing, so we’ve got lots of wedding stuff coming up.” Ruby raised a brow at Peyton, as if to say that this was Demi’s day, so she should do what she wanted.

“Snooze fest.” Peyton rolled her eyes and then barked out a laugh. “I’m kidding. The shower will be so fancy and fun, and your mom did mention a mimosa fountain. I can live with that.”

“Ahhh… and this is the party that I’m not invited to?” Kingston asked, with a wicked grin on his face.

“Well, I told her that you and Cutler were a little disappointed, and she said she was going to make an exception for her two favorite guys. But you have to come late so you don’t sit through all the girly games.” Demi smiled.

“Ahhh… Beefcake and I made the cut. I love it.”

“Damn. I hope you guys crash the bachelorette party to liven things up.” Peyton raised a brow.

“I know we’re having the bachelor party on the same night, but we don’t plan quite the way you all do. We just pull it together as we get closer. I think we’re doing it at my house, and we’ll do whatever Romeo wants.”

“Well, at least we know where to go when ours ends.” Peyton waggled her brows.

Kingston’s hand moved between my thighs, and I sucked in a breath when he grazed his thumb along my most sensitive area.

Oh. My. Gosh.

I wrapped my hand around his wrist and pulled slightly because I wouldn’t be able to control myself if he continued touching me like this. He pulled his hand away and winked at me as he continued making small talk.

Lionel came over to tell us that Kingston had already paid our bill, and we all thanked him and pushed to our feet. We hugged goodbye and walked toward the door. River was waiting outside to pick up Ruby and had offered everyone a ride. Kingston said he was on his way home, as well, and he’d walk with me.

River nodded, and I didn’t miss the look between him and Ruby. I just waved goodbye, and we started walking when they pulled away from the curb.

Once they were out of view, I turned and smacked him on the arm. “What was that?”

“What?” He put a hand on my back to keep me walking.

“You can’t do that to me in the middle of a bar. I could feel my cheeks turning pink, and everyone would have known what you were doing if I hadn’t pulled your hand away,” I said, throwing my arms in the air.

“And wasn’t that kind of thrilling? Our little secret? Knowing that I couldn’t wait to touch you. To taste you. It’s all I’ve thought about all day. So yeah, I went to that bar, and I fought the urge to throw you over my shoulder and tell all of them exactly what I had planned.”

I came to a stop, hands on my hips, as I turned to face him. “And what exactly do you have planned?”

He smiled, and I squeezed my thighs together. This man was too good-looking for his own good. His thick hair was slightly disheveled, dark eyes heated and raking over me, and his smile did crazy things to me.

“I plan to strip you bare, spread you wide, and taste every inch of you. To make you come so many times you can’t see straight. Does that sound all right?”

Ummm… yes, please.

“I think I can live with that.” My teeth sank into my bottom lip, and I tried hard not to laugh at how awkward I was. “That’s a pretty big plan, but still no sex, huh?”

“Nope. Not until we tell Hayes what’s going on.” He ran a hand through his hair. “I mean, he won’t be happy with me that we’ve done anything, but at least he won’t murder me.”

“You do know how insane this is, right? You won’t have sex with me until you get my brother’s blessing?” I shook my head and started walking. “This isn’t the 1800s.”

“I hate to break it to you, Dandelion. But I don’t think there has ever been a time period where the dude asked the brother if he could have sex with his sister.” He barked out a laugh. “This isn’t about me asking him for permission to fuck you. Trust me. I’m not stupid. He’d never be okay with that. This is about you and me figuring out if this thing is over before he even gets home. It’s not about the sex. It’s about doing the right thing regarding a guy who’s like a brother to me.”

I rolled my eyes and kept walking. I wanted to be irritated, but as much as it annoyed me that he was so worried about Hayes and how he’d react, I also sort of loved him for it.

My brother was a really good man. He didn’t love many, but those that he loved, he’d walk through fire for. So, I understood why Kingston was worried.

“Again. We’re two consenting adults. And let’s just see if you’re still coming around in a few days. It’s very possible that you’ll be tired of this by the end of the week.” I chuckled as we turned down his street after he asked me to come to his place.

“How about you? Were you hoping I’d stop by the bar? Were you thinking about last night the way that I’ve been thinking about it all fucking day?” He pulled his keys from his pocket.

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