Page 35 of The Rebel King

“Nothing to be done about that right now.” I adjust myself as well as I can. “But you’re deep throating my cock tonight, by the way,”

“Gladly,” she says, swinging the door open.

Kimba’s impish grin teases me over the rim of her wine glass. Vivienne avoids eye contact, but there is a carnation-pink flush washing her cheeks. She’s either embarrassed or turned on. Maybe both. Wallace, sitting in the window seat tucked into the corner with Lennix’s bookshelf, holds some tome open on his lap.

Vivienne stands and brushes a hand over her skirt. “Um, I have an early fuck… Ahem, I mean an earlyflight. I have an earlyflightto catch.”

Kimba’s hearty laugh booms. “Real smooth, Viv. Let’s go back to my place so I can get alone and work out all thesefeelingsLenn and Maxim have inspired in me.”

“Ugh.” Lennix drops her head into her hands. “Could you just not rub this in?”

“Girl, I’m rubbing itoutsoon as I get home.” Kimba winks.

“You didn’t hear anything,” Lennix says, biting her nail like she hopes they didn’t.

“I didn’t hear a thing,” Kimba says. “Exceptahh, ahh, that’s it, Doc. I’m gonna co—”

“Okay,” I cut in, fighting back a huge grin. “It’s been great catching up. Kimba, I’m sure we’ll connect about the campaign now that things have settled down.”

“Yes,” she says, still smirking. “I think we’ll saveThe Viewuntil after Owen announces.”

“Fine with me. Just coordinate with Jin Lei to make sure I’m in the country.”

“Good seeing you again,” Vivienne says, reaching up to hug me. “You guys are still adorable together.”

She turns to Lennix, and tears gather in her eyes. “Oh, Lenn, I’m so glad you’re home. It would have been like losing my sisterandmy brother.”

Lennix nods, blinking at the tears rimming her lower lashes. “Love you, Viv. I’ll be in New York with Owen soon, and I want to see my niece.”

“She would love to see Aunt Lin Lin.” Vivienne turns toward her brother. “You coming, Wall?”

“Uh, yeah.” He stands and slides the book back into its home on the shelf. “In a little bit. I need to chat with Lenny first.”

I tense at Lennix’s side and fold my arms across my chest. If he thinks I’m leaving the room, he’s deeply confused.

“Good,” he says once Kimba and Vivienne leave. “You’re staying, Maxim.”

I look at him, unblinking, waiting for what he has to say.

“What’s up, Wall?” Lennix asks, her brows knitting in that tender way she seems to reserve for this particular friend. I know it’s not a romantic way, but it’s closeness. And I want to be closer to her than anyone else, so it bugs me.

“Maxim,” he says, looking at me and swallowing convulsively like I scare him. “I think we got off on the wrong foot.”

“Oh, you do?” I ask, cocking one brow. “How so?”

“I sense a certain…hostility, and I can only assume it’s because you know Lenny and I used to date, and you were under the mistaken impression when you first came back that she and I were—”

“That’s not why I’m hostile.” I slide my hands into my pockets, deliberately relaxing my posture. “Maybe when I thought you were still dating I didn’t like you, but you’re right. I’m angry with you now.”

His expression clouds. “What? Why? If we—”

“At Owen’s house, at dinner, I asked you outright if this trip was safe, and you told me it was. You said you would never do anything to put Lennix in danger.”

“Doc, come on,” Lennix says. “You can’t—”

“I can.” I don’t look away from Wallace. “I’ll never trust you with her again.”

“Obviously I feel awful about what happened,” he says. “But how could I have known about the kidnappers?”

---