Page 42 of King

King grins and nods again. “She accepted… but only after adding her own twist to the bet.”

A smile tugs at my lips as I take another sip of wine. “Let me guess, she knew he couldn’t beat her.”

“Oh, he knew it.” King chuckles. “But it was her own unique way of accepting his proposal.”

I suppress the urge to let out a dreamy sigh and instead focus on my wine. “That’s quite romantic.”

“Romantic and badass,” King adds, a proud glint in his eye. “That’s true love.”

“Hmm,” I murmur, turning back to the cilantro.

Next thing I know, King is beside me, taking the knife from my hand. He turns me to face him, hands on my shoulders. “I know you’re only interested in casual dating, but you don’t believe in true love?”

I shrug, look away to gather my thoughts and then back to him. “Let’s just say my faith in it was battered so I’m not sure.”

“Your ex-husband,” he says grimly. “He did a number on you.”

I don’t want to talk about Scott so I turn it around on him. “Why do you believe so deeply in it?”

King’s eyes sparkle. “Because I saw it every day in my life growing up between my parents. I saw it last night between Hendrix and Stevie. Why not believe when I’ve seen proof?”

Everything about those words screams danger to me and yet I can’t help but be utterly charmed by King’s sincerity. I’m also scared because he’s a good man and I don’t want to break his heart. I should walk out of here right now because he’s the type who would want me to believe in it again. Instead, I kiss him.

Not a soft kiss but one that immediately turns deep and hot.

King responds eagerly, his arms wrapping around me as he takes the kiss even further. The electricity between us is undeniable, crackling like a summer storm. I can feel his heart racing against my chest, mirroring my own erratic pulse.

As we finally pull apart, King studies me with a mix of desire and understanding in his eyes. “I see you, Willa,” he murmurs, brushing a strand of hair away from my face. “You don’t have to believe in true love right now. But believe in this moment. In us.”

I am torn between the walls I’ve built around my heart and the overwhelming urge to let them crumble in the face of this connection. In King’s arms, I feel safe yet vulnerable, desired yet respected. It’s a dangerous combination that both thrills and terrifies me.

But as he leans in to kiss me again, I try to suppress my doubts and fears, allowing myself a little bit of room to be swept away by the passion. At this moment, I choose to believe not in fairy tales but in the magic of two people connecting through pleasure, because that’s all I have the capacity for.

King’s lips on mine ignite a fire within, melting away some of the ice around my heart. Intimacy requires a certain level of care between two people—this much I know to be true and necessary.

Pulling away, I put my hand on his chest. “King, can I ask you something?”

“Sure,” he says, pressing his lips to my forehead.

“What are you really looking for with me?” I ask, keeping my tone casual, even though the question feels anything but.

King’s expression turns serious. “I’m looking for something real. I want someone to share my life with, someone to build something lasting with.”

I swallow hard, not sure how to respond. “That’s… that’s a lot. I mean, it’s great, but it’s a lot.”

“And I don’t know if you’re the one.” Those words actually calm me a bit, the certainty by which he can admit that this is new and we don’t know what lies ahead. His fingers brush along my jaw. “I know it might seem intense, but I really feel like we have a connection and I want to explore it. That’s it… let’s see where it goes.”

“I’ve been through a lot, King. My divorce was really hard, and I’m still dealing with the aftermath. I don’t know if I’m ready for something serious.”

“I accept that.” His thumb strokes my face. “As long as you can accept that maybe you can move past your bad experience.”

“I just don’t want to lead you on or hurt you. I can’t promise more than what this is right now.”

“And what is this? Right now?” he asks.

I answer with the same kiss I gave him before this conversation started. My hands slip around his neck and I press my body against his. When his mouth opens, I slide my tongue along his and revel in the groan that produces. “Let’s finish dinner later,” I suggest in a murmur against his lips.

King’s head jerks back, his eyes searching mine. Filled with lust and heat, I can see the uncertainty. The war within him to be a gentleman and do things properly and in a certain order. I wait him out, because he has to be all in.

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