Page 47 of Endgame

“Damn, that feels good. Thanks, King. I owe you.”

“I’ll hold you to that,” King chuckled, even as he tried to will his growing erection away. He loved touching her, loved the sounds she made. He tried not to picture all the ways he’d had her, all the ways he knew her. Thank fuck for throw pillows. Otherwise her feet would have been stabbed by now.

King blew out a frustrated breath then looked over and saw that Lila’s eyes were closing. Within minutes, she was asleep. He slipped out from under her and gently picked her up, cradling her body against his. She stirred then let out a sigh and burrowed into his chest, and he tried to focus on getting her up the stairs and safely tucked into bed rather than dwell on how great it felt to have her so close. He laid her gently down on her bed and covered her with a blanket.

As he looked at her, he couldn’t fight the urge to bend down and kiss her forehead softly, breathing her in for just a moment. Then he made his way back downstairs, turned off the TV and the lights, and made sure the door was locked behind him as he walked out into the balmy summer night.

Chapter 25

“Iappreciate you agreeing to meet with me, darling,” King’s mom, Eleanor, said from across the table. After a particularly emotional email from her, King had agreed to meet up, in spite of his misgivings. He’d chosen The Pub, mainly because it was familiar and because they’d seat him in Lila’s section if he asked. Today, he needed all of the moral support he could get.

“Yeah, well, it’s been a while since we’ve seen each other without Solomon present.” He couldn’t help the bitterness that tinged his words.

“True. I didn’t get the chance to congratulate you for your national championship…”

King held his breath, waiting for her to finish the sentence. He hoped that perhaps it would be an apology, but he was almost positive she was going to take him to task for something.

“Because you stormed off like a spoiled child.”

And there it is.

He rubbed at Lila’s crown necklace hidden beneath his shirt to calm himself.

“I’m not going to apologize for feeling blindsided by Solomon and some random MLS scout. But I am sorry I didn’t come over and say hello. That was rude of me.”

At that moment, Lila approached with a smile. “Hey King.” She turned her head to take in King’s mom, most likely noting the family resemblance in their hair and eyes, and her smile grew. “I didn’t realize you had an older sister.” It was cheesy as hell but just the kind of compliment his mom reveled in.

“Oh, my precious girl, you are too much. I’m actually his mother.”

Lila’s expression was appropriately awed and stunned, and King couldn’t help but appreciate her efforts to charm his mother. “My goodness, Mrs. Spencer, you must let me know what’s in the water you’re drinking, because you look incredible. I could have sworn you were in your early 30s.”

King’s mom was 56. Needless to say, Lila had just become her new favorite person.

Eleanor trilled with laughter. “Now how do you know my Solomon?” King noted how Lila stiffened when she heard Eleanor refer to him by his first name and tried not to find her protectiveness completely sexy.

“I met King last year through a mutual friend.” Her subtle emphasis on his preferred name only increased his admiration. “Here at the restaurant, actually. Our friend Jason used to work here with me, and he sent me over with refills when their glasses were already full.”

“Such a trickster, that Jason,” King added with a smile.

“Agreed.” Lila’s smile lit up her face in such a way that made King want to kiss the shit out of her, and it was a much better feeling than the one he was experiencing when he was left alone with his mother.

“Anyway, sorry to chat your ear off. I’m sure you two are ready for some drinks? Maybe an appetizer or two?”

Eleanor closed her menu. “Actually, I think we’re ready to order. I’ll have a lemon water and a garden salad with no dressing, please.”

“I’m good with my usual, La. With a raspberry lemonade because I’m feeling dangerous today.”

“Coming right up.”

Once Lila had left them, Eleanor looked at King knowingly. “I like her.”

“I’ll make sure to let her know,” King replied, and they both shared a smile. It was a pleasant moment, one that was short lived because of what his mother said next.

Her face fell. “Solomon, I wish you had more respect for your father,” she remarked sadly.

“Mom, first off, please stop calling me Solomon. I go by King now, and if you can’t respect that boundary, then we’re not going to be able to see each other. Okay?”

Eleanor gave him a look that resembled her We’ll talk about this later expression, but she nodded nonetheless.

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