She, the Kingdom (She #1)(27)

“Morgan. Nice to meet you.”

Someone rapped on the screen door this time, startling me. I turned to face the visitor with my hand on my chest.

“Max,” I said, surprised.

He opened the door and slipped past me, standing in the middle of the living room. He froze when he saw Colton, and his expression turned severe when he recognized that the young man was putting on his boots.

“Nice to see you, Colton,” Max said.

Colton finished slipping on his boot, pulled down on the bottoms of his jeans, and then stood, wiping his hands on the denim. He extended his hand to Max. “Mr. Kingston.”

“Is there an electrical problem?” Max asked.

Colton held up the satchel. “Nope, just forgot my tools.”

“Fantastic,” Max said, walking across the room to hold open the door. “Have a nice day.”

“Uh… thanks,” Colton said, adjusting his cap. He nodded to me. “Good to see you again, Morgan.”

I nodded to him, only able to offer a contrived smile.

Max closed the door behind him, and I sighed. “What the hell was that?” I said, letting my hands fall to my thighs.

Max returned to the center of the room, nearly pacing. He was fidgeting and upset. “I come over unannounced, Colton’s putting on his boots, and you’re standing there in your robe, for Christ’s sake.”

“So?”

“So, that’s a bit inappropriate, given the circumstances.”

“No.”

“No? What do you mean no?”

“I mean no, it’s not inappropriate. He came over to retrieve tools. And if someone wants to put on their boots while I’m wearing a robe in my house, then so be it.”

Max looked as if he might explode and then he finally exhaled, desperation taking over his expression. “I shouldn’t have said that to you on the phone earlier. That’s not what I meant.”

I looked around the room as my brain raced through memories of our last conversation. “What did you mean?”

“I don’t find you disagreeable. At all, actually. I quite enjoy our time together.”

“That’s… great.”

He took off his sport coat and tossed it onto the couch, noticing the confused expression on my face. “It upsets me that you feel you’re being taken advantage of.”

“Did I say that?” I asked.

He paused. “Not in so many words.”

“I don’t think I did.”

He sat down on the couch, resting his elbows on his knees and pressing his fingers together, touching his fingertips to his lips. He looked outright distressed. I sat next to him and he turned to me. “Morgan, you have to know I would never want you to feel used or manipulated in any way. You’re very important to me. I feel sane and happy again, for the first time in a long time.”

“You do?” I asked, noticing how close we were. Being with him when his head was between my legs was somehow more comfortable than sitting a few inches away.

His line of sight fell to my lips, and he breathed a few times before abruptly standing. “Yes,” he said, straightening his tie. “I have to know what you’re thinking.”

“Right now?”

“When you said that to me on the phone.”

I shook my head, trying to think of my exact thought process. It wasn’t that long ago. He must have run out of the hospital and jumped into his car before speeding to my house. I looked up at him. “I, um… I guess I was thinking that all of these people bend over backward for you, and it… I guess it crossed my mind that I’m not the only one you’ve convinced to do things for you and Sophie.”

He paced while he listened, pinching his bottom lip between his thumb and index finger. I watched his lips closely, knowing exactly how they felt when they closed in around my clit. It was strange to share something so intimate with someone and feel a strong friendship developing at the same time. I could see in his eyes that he needed me. And he’d done so much, had been so caring, it was hard not to acknowledge what his friendship had meant for me. But the only thing between us was business, and that was a boundary that couldn’t be crossed.

“I see,” he said, still thinking. “How can we rectify the situation?”

“We?” I asked.

He nodded once. “Sophie and me. She’s very committed to your utter happiness.”

I frowned, and then shook my head, sending Max into a near panic. He splayed out his fingers, sat next to me, and grabbed my hands. “Don’t quit on me. I won’t mention Sophie again. I know it makes you uncomfortable.”

“No, she’s your wife. You should be able to mention her name. It’s just…”

“Strange?”

I nodded, and he did, too.

“Okay. Anything else?”

The way he looked at me made me feel empowered for a few seconds before guilt set in. He was rested for the first time in months. Maybe years. No matter how much she wanted a break, it had to be difficult for Sophie to know he was finding so much comfort in my bed. I couldn’t imagine my husband needing another woman that much.

“As long as you hold up your end of the agreement, I’m not going anywhere.”

Relieved, he puffed out a breath of air and smiled. “Wonderful. That’s exactly what I’d hoped to hear.”