Page 265 of By His Vow

“Ah, the honeymoon period. Say no more,” Mom says with a wince, making me cringe. “Come on in. Dinner is almost ready. Everyone but your sisters are in the dining room. I’m yet to drag them from their pits.”

“Thanks,” I mutter, gripping Tatum’s hand tighter and stepping inside.

The scent of their house mixed with Mom’s home cooking wafts through my nose, but it doesn’t settle me at all.

“Is there anything you need help with, Elizabeth?” Tatum offers politely.

“Please, call me Liz, sweetheart. I’d love a hand; it’ll save me from trying to drag Neil away from talking football with Kieran. That’s if Kingston doesn’t mind, of course.”

“How badly are you going to interrogate her?” I ask, torn between letting Tatum go and refusing to let her out of my sight.

“Oh, I would never. I know Tate well enough to know that she’s strong enough to put up with you.”

“Lovely,” I mutter as I tug Tatum into my side and lower my lips to her ears. “Please,” I beg. “Be good.”

She laughs quietly. “Haven’t you heard, KC? I’m an angel,” she mocks.

“Angels don’t suck dick the way you do, baby.”

She gasps, but something tells me that it’s more from a rush of desire than it is shock.

“Go and play with your brothers. I’ll be there soon.”

Before she gets to escape, I wrap my hand around the back of her neck and drop my lips to hers.

“I’ll just be in the kitchen,” Mom says, excusing herself.

“I’m right here, King. All you’ve got to do is say the word and we’re out of that door,” she promises once I’ve released her in favor of staring her in the eyes.

“Thank you,” I whisper.

“Anytime. Now, go talk boy stuff.”

She spins away from me, and I stand there frozen as I watch her disappear.

No sooner has she disappeared around the corner do I hear giggles from above me.

Hiding my expression, I glare up at the banister and find exactly what I was expecting. Two dark shadows that belong to my half-sisters.

“Karma is a bitch, you know. She’ll come back and bite you in the ass.”

“We weren’t listening,” Mackenzie argues as they both step into the light.

“Of course you weren’t. I do remember being your age, you know.”

“Pfft,” Matilda scoffs. “I doubt it. You’re like…ancient.”

As they descend the stairs, I have to do a double take. With every day that passes, I’m sure they look more and more like Mom. It’s unnerving. I’m not sure Neil had any input on their DNA.

“Devil child,” I mutter before pulling them both into a hug. Honestly, despite being a royal pain in my ass, they are the best thing about this house.

“Where’s Tate? We want to see the photos,” Matilda says excitedly, staring up at me with her huge blue eyes.

“Oh, I see how it is,” I tease. “She’s in the kitchen.” They both take off running. “Be nice,” I call, but it’s too late. They’re gone. “Good luck, baby,” I mutter under my breath as I make my way to the dining room.

Deep voices rumble long before I get to the door, and they pause the second I step into the room.

“Kingston,” Neil says, the same shock he has on his face he does every time I turn up here.

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