Page 9 of Dark King (Advantage Play 2)

After showering and getting dressed in a white tank top and shorts, I head to Kingston’s office. I haven’t been here long, but I’ve already learned where Kingston spends the majority of his time.

“Hey.” I knock against the doorjamb, and he glances up at me before his mouth quirks.

“Hey. How’d you sleep?”

With a shrug, I step over the threshold and take a seat across from him. “Fine, I guess.”

“Lie. What’s going on?”

“Nothing. I just missed you,” I admit, surprising myself with my vulnerability.

The truth brings a smile to his lips before he leans back in his office chair and lifts his chin. “Come here, Ace.”

Pushing myself up from my seat, I walk around the desk, and he pulls me into his lap. The scruff from his beard scratches my neck as he nuzzles into me and places a kiss along the column of my throat, making me close my eyes.

“I have some work to get done today,” he admits. “We have a lot of shit going on, and I’m trying to keep all of it moving in the right direction while also keeping Regina’s disappearance under wraps. But how about I take the night off, and we’ll grab a bite to eat?”

I don’t miss how he states it like a question instead of an order, and I have to bite my lip to keep from grinning.

“I’d like that. Would you be okay if I go to the diner today?”

Kingston’s brows pinch as his hand rubs up and down my back, making my muscles melt under his touch.

“That place you used to always go?”

“Yeah, Dottie’s. I have a friend there. A pretty close friend, actually. I wanted to let her know that I won’t be coming around for a little while because of everything that’s going on. I don’t want her to be worried or anything.”

Reaching around me, he grabs his phone off the top of his desk and dials a number before waiting for the other person to pick up. When he does, Kingston barks, “D, I need you to take Ace to a diner.”

The room is silent as Kingston listens to his right-hand man on the other end before answering, “Yeah, I know. She’ll be thirty minutes, tops.”

More silence until Kingston looks me up and down as I sit in his lap. “Yeah. Sounds good. She’s ready to go.”

Hanging up the phone, Kingston lifts his chin. “D will be here in five. You can go with him. He’s got shit to do though, so you’ll have to be quick.”

I smile then wrap my arms around his neck and plant a loud, smacking kiss against him.

“Deal.”

* * *

“The food any good here?” D grunts, eyeing the place.

“Yup. Their eggs and hashbrowns are amazing, but my friend loves the pancakes, waffles, and French toast too.”

With his lips tilted up in amusement, D offers, “So pretty much everything on the menu then.”

“Pretty much,” I laugh, swinging the door open.

Dottie comes rushing over and throws a big hug around me. “Oh, thank the Lawd!”

My arms hang awkwardly at my sides as she squeezes the crap out of me before putting me at arm’s length and assessing the damage to my face that’s still an angry purple and blue.

“I was so worried ‘bout y’all!” she adds while fretting over me like a mother hen.

I look over at D to see the same confusion painted on his face. Even he can tell this greeting is unusual.

“Everything okay, Dottie?” I ask, sensing her anxiety.

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