Page 28 of Cold Foot King

“I’ve been the DJ tonight,” she told King. “I’ve picked every song since Gary—that’s the banjo player over there drinking with Ruth—finished his set. Ruth was kind of mean at first, but she has complimented my musical taste two times now, haven’t you, Ruth?”

Ruth looked up. “Little Freak has fished for compliments on her musical taste two times.”

“Don’t get mad at her,” Kat told him. “Little Freak is a term of endearment.”

“No it’s not,” Ruth assured him as King bit back a smile. “Want a drink?”

“I don’t think a drink will help tonight,” King said. “Can we get water?”

“Sure thing.”

While Ruth made a couple ice waters, his attention drifted to the table in the corner. The light was off over there, and there was a familiar someone sitting in the shadows. She had a matching scar on her face. He nodded a hello to Silver.

Silver stood and made her way toward the door, offering him a little tired smile as she passed.

“Silver?” Kat asked.

Silver sighed and turned around. Her eyes were cool on Kat. “Yeah?”

“What are you doing here?”

“I’m here to make sure you don’t fuck up your spot in the Crew.” She gave a little wave and left without looking back.

“Did you ask her to come watch me?” Kat asked.

“Nope.”

“Oh,” she said, her frown aimed at the door where Silver had disappeared. “I wonder why she didn’t tell me she was here. I would’ve come over and talked with her.”

“Maybe she didn’t want that.”

There was the ghost of hurt in her eyes for just a moment before she put on a mask of indifference, but King had seen it. There were feelings there. He would bet Silver was the friend she’d talked about sharing Rook with.

This woman had a complicated past, but those layers were so interesting to reveal. He was totally hooked on her story. They hung out for another half an hour, and then she faded quick as the high of freedom turned to the exhaustion of an overwhelming and long day.

She said goodbye to her newfound friends, and they waved to the shifters who were still hanging by the firepit out front.

The snow that had melted slightly during the day was freezing to ice right now, and the ground was slick. Kat nearly busted it, so she held onto King’s arm as they walked. He didn’t mind it. In fact, he liked it. Really liked it. That little pressure of her hand on his inner elbow was turning him on.

“Why didn’t you kiss me?” she asked suddenly, pulling him to a stop in front of the hotel door.

He inhaled deep and shoved his hands deep into his pockets, then settled his gaze back on her. “Because kissing means something, and what happened that day couldn’t mean anything. Neither one of us wanted it like that. The drugs fogged my head. I don’t know what yours did, but mine took part of my control. I fought, just so you know. They said they were bringing me my first breed. Said you were ovulating. I didn’t sign up for that shit, Kat. They told me they were bringing you to me the day before, and I beat the shit out of my cell.” He inhaled deep and looked up at the sky, just to find relief from this moment. “I don’t want to revisit it. If I could’ve stopped it, I would’ve.”

Kat didn’t say anything. Maybe she hated him all over again. When he felt her hands slide around his middle, and her cheek rest against his chest, he closed his eyes and blew out a long breath, and with it, tension he hadn’t realized he was holding in his body.

He wrapped his arms around her and lowered his head, rested his cheek on top of her head, and felt the scratch of her beanie against his cheek. “I’m sorry, Kat.” He meant it with every fiber of his being.

“I couldn’t stop it either,” she whispered thickly. “I’m sorry too.” And he could tell…he could tell without a shadow of a doubt…Kat meant that apology with every fiber of her being as well.

“You never have to say that again. Not for this.”

“Same for you. It happened. It was done to us. I don’t want to hate you anymore. Hell, it was myself I hated. I just needed someone to blame for the confusion. My body liked it.”

“Mine too. It’s not the way…”

“Go on.”

He swallowed hard. “That’s not the way I sleep with a woman.”

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