She, the Kingdom (She #1)(17)

My thoughts drifted to when I’d arrived home from the spa, a delivery truck and the locksmith were waiting. While three men put together my bed and secured my mattress and box springs, another duo installed the lock on my bedroom door.

A soft knock snapped me to the present, and I tried not to rush to the door. I twisted the knob and pulled it open, revealing an exhausted but grinning Mr. Kingston. He was holding up a set of keys, and I held my breath. “I thought the Lexus RX Hybrid would be a good fit for you. It’s marketed as fearless.” He handed me the keys, and I stepped onto the porch, barely able to see the outline in the dark drive. “Smokey Granite exterior. Heated and cooled leather seats. V6. All-weather drive. Panoramic view and backup camera. Movie monitors with headphones, in the back for the kids. Dual heat and air. Navigation. The Bluetooth hooks up to your smart phone. Touch-free power open and close rear door. Every single mom’s dream. I think. If I were a single mom, I’d love it.”

“A Lexus?”

He tensed. “Is it unsatisfactory? Sophie helped me choose…”

“No, no, it’s amazing, thank you.”

“My pleasure,” he said, putting the keys in my hand before walking into the house.

I stared at the keys in my palm, and then the vehicle in my drive for another few seconds before turning on my heels and following Max in. I was still running on euphoric fumes before I stopped in the bedroom. He was holding an envelope, and placed it on the dresser. “Your signing bonus and first month’s pay. Please take a look at it before we get started.”

I stepped over to the table, put down my new keys, and opened the envelope, trying not to grin like an idiot at the amount on the check. I read over the second line.

Thirteen-thousand dollars and no/100—————-

While I glanced over the check, Max removed his Kansas Royals hoodie, and then his loafers. His royal blue basketball shorts came next, leaving him in a white V-neck T-shirt and navy blue and forest green plaid boxers.

“Boxers,” I said. The second I realized I’d said it out loud, I wanted to find a place to hide.

Max looked down. “I suppose so.”

I swallowed. “Is everything in the house to your liking?”

He glanced around. “Lovely. How do you feel about the bed?”

“It fits. The bedding is gorgeous.”

“Yes. Sophie chose the least romantic color she could find, but she is nothing if not stylish. And the mattress?”

The mention of Sophie caught me off guard, especially since we were both standing mostly naked in my bedroom. “Um… the mattress? You’re going to sleep very well in it.”

“Fantastic,” he said with a sigh. His eyes were blood shot. I could see that it had been several days since he’d slept.

“So… what now?”

“If you’ll just lay down on the bed. Get comfortable. Make sure the lamp and your things are within reach.” He glanced at my nightstand. “Water and a book. Very good. What are you reading?”

“The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks. I thought non-fiction would be more appropriate.”

He nodded. “Impressive choice. Skloot writes her ass off in that novel.” He was fidgeting, but he wasn’t nervous, just eager to get started.

I sat on the end of the bed and scooted back, situating the pillows behind me.

“Did they bring an extra pillow and throw?” he asked.

“They did,” I said, pointing to the chair in the corner.

Max grabbed them and pulled the bedding back, gesturing for me to lift my legs so he could pull the sheets all the way to the end of the bed. He spread the throw over my lap. “In case you get cold. Once I fall asleep, it’s important to stay as still as possible. This could take some getting used to. After a while, hopefully you’ll be able to sleep as well.”

“If not, I can sleep during the day while the kids are at school. Like third shift. I don’t sleep much, anyway.”

“I know. I did my homework. Comfortable?” he asked.

I tried not to frown at his answer. Who would know besides Amelia and Nick that I don’t sleep well? My back was surrounded by pillows. If I got tired, I could let my head fall to the side and fall asleep. I glanced around. “Yes.”

“You’ve prepared?” My robe’s hem fell at my knees, and my freshly shaven legs were crossed at the ankles. My toes were painted, my feet soft, and my newly waxed lady parts were exactly to his specification. As I hesitated, he seemed to grow more impatient.

“Yes, Max.”

He gripped the bottom hem of his shirt and pulled it over his head, revealing the V and all six, perfectly maintained ab muscles, the rise and fall of his pecs, and the lean bulges that were his biceps. I swallowed as he switched off the light and crawled onto the bed toward me, uncrossed my ankles, and positioned my legs apart, keeping my knees slightly bent. I reached over to switch off the lamp, and, without warning, he lay between my thighs, buried his hands beneath my ass, and he sheathed his tongue between my lips, tracing a line down to my perineum, and then back up to the top of my clit. While he wetted me to his liking, I tensed, but he ignored my reaction, doing the same movement again, this time flattening his tongue and moving more slowly.

“Christ, you taste good,” he murmured. He settled in, taking my clit into his mouth and gently tasting me while his entire body relaxed.