Page 267 of By His Vow

I hated seeing him on edge. I’ve never known him not to be in control of a situation, but long before we even stepped foot inside that house, all he wanted to do was turn around and run.

His anxiety over spending the afternoon at his mom’s was palpable, and I hated it. All I wanted to do was make it better, and easier for him. But there wasn’t anything I could do. The bitterness he feels toward his mom has been festering for a long time. It's going to take a hell of a lot more than a few words from me to make it go away. And there’s a chance it never will. The betrayal he feels might always be there. No one could blame him if it is.

Relationships between children and parents are complex. I know that just as much as he does. Sometimes, people can work through it. Other times, it’s just too big an obstacle to overcome. But the fact he still tries says a lot about him and the love he has for his family, especially his brothers.

As soon as we got back earlier, he changed and disappeared into his home gym.

I wanted to stop him, to demand he talk to me and try and get it off his chest, but I knew he needed more than that. So, I let him go do his thing while I poured myself a glass of wine and then ran a bath, needing to kick back before a new manic work week begins.

With the scent of my favorite bath salts filling the air and soft, relaxing music playing quietly on my cell on the counter, I think back over the past few weeks.

But no matter what, my thoughts always come back to Kingston today.

The look on his face, the hard set of his shoulders. All of it felt wrong.

But just like all the other things I’ve learned about him over the past few weeks, it helped me to feel closer to him. And that’s a problem.

I swear, with every day that passes, he’s becoming a bigger part of my life, a more important part. One I’m not sure I want to lose anytime soon.

I don’t realize that I drift off to sleep until a bang jolts me awake. My eyes fly open as my heart jumps into my throat the moment I discover a shadow looming over me.

“Oh my god,” I gasp, my heart beating out of control as Kingston drags his sweaty clothes from his body and moves closer. “What are you—” My words falter the second my eyes meet his.

They’re dark and haunted in a way I’ve never seen before. If I thought that hitting the gym would banish his demons, then I was wrong. Very, very wrong.

“What’s wrong?” I ask as he steps into the tub with me.

The water level immediately rises as he sinks down into the water, causing it to slosh over the edge.

“Nothing,” he lies. “Come here,” he demands before reaching for me and effortlessly lifting me onto his lap.

The second he has me where he wants me, he threads his fingers through the damp hair at the nape of my neck and drags my mouth to his.

His kiss is desperate and full of all the emotion I could see in his eyes.

I feel it all the way to my toes.

Wrapping my arms around his shoulders, I hold him as tight as I can, letting him know that I’m here, that it’s okay.

In only minutes, the heavy emotion gives way to desperation, his grip on my hip tightens, and he moves me, grinding my pussy over his length.

“Oh god,” I gasp into his mouth.

Without breaking our connection, I reach between us and line him up.

I don’t need any more foreplay than this. I’m ready for him.

“Tatum,” he moans into our kiss as he pushes inside me.

“Take what you need, King. I’m here. Use me.” The words make my chest ache because they’re so painfully true.

He thrusts, filling me in one move. I sit up a little to get a better angle and rest my forehead against his.

His stare burns into me, but I don’t open my eyes. I can’t. I’m scared.

Terrified of what I’ll find staring back at me.

“Shit, baby. You’ve no idea how much I need this. How much you being there today meant to me.”

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