She, the Kingdom (She #1)(64)

“You’ve mentioned it.”

He put the gear shift into drive, and then pulled away from the shoulder and onto the highway. He reached for my thigh, and then slid his fingers up to my panties again. I relaxed back against the leather seat, allowing him full access to play. The Bentley surged forward after he pulled back to taste me again.

“We need to get home. I want to bury my face in that.”

My thighs tightened and my insides contracted, already begging for him again. I turned my head to the side, watching him grip the steering wheel with both hands. The dashboard light made his eager smirk visible.

Max was right. He was happier than I’d ever seen him, and that was my doing. I smiled, feeling victorious, but at the same time my eyelids grew heavier each time I blinked. I fell asleep, knowing I was worshipped by a man like Max Kingston, and it was almost effortless. As the glow from the dashboard faded to black, I wondered how I’d gone from single and broke to debt-free and in love, but it was happening and I deserved it. Josh and Hannah deserved it. I couldn’t wait for them to come home, and even in my sleep I tried to work out in my subconscious how I could meet Max’s needs and the needs of my children. I wanted both. Women did it all the time. I just had to figure out how.





Chapter Eighteen I glanced at the clock on the nightstand, and then turned to face Max. “Do you want to try to get another hour of sleep?” I asked. He was breathless, sweaty, and red-faced from an impressive hour of sex, and a second, even more intense orgasm than the first. It was Saturday, but the sun still hadn’t pushed its way out of the night sky.

He considered my question for a moment, and then his eyes settled on my lips. “What time will the children be here?”

“Nine, I think. Nick is usually late.”

“Then yes.” He turned on his back and pulled me closer, settling back against his pillow.

“You don’t need to…?”

“Do you want me to?” he asked, lifting his head. “I’m always up for that.”

“Not necessarily. I just thought to fall back asleep.”

“I don’t always need to with you. It’s always surprising when I don’t. I’m curious to see what the difference is. Let’s try it this way, first.”

His answer left me feeling comforted and relieved. I didn’t want him to get dressed and leave. Not yet. The bed felt empty without him there. Lying in his arms as he fell asleep had become one of my favorite things, and Max being excited about the prospect of falling asleep normally. I’d never say it to Max, but in the back of my mind were quiet questions. What would a long-term relationship be like with a man of his needs? Five to six nights a week would turn into every night. If he couldn’t sleep without being between my legs, I had to wonder if I would tire of it as Sophie had, or if the real reason was that she’d never loved him. What would change once the children were here full-time? Would I ever be faced with sharing him?

I held Max’s arms against me, prompting him to hold me tighter, and soon, he inhaled more deeply, taking more time to breathe out. His grip on me loosened. He was asleep.

*

Max woke me with a kiss, standing up just as I opened my eyes. He was grinning while fastening his cuff links, the morning sun at his back. With his body, he was shielding my eyes perfectly from the bright light. “Morning, love. I’m off. Call me if you need anything.”

I sat up quickly, looking at the clock on the nightstand. It was eight o’clock. Despite my excitement to see Josh and Hannah, I felt a strange, sinking feeling.

“Wait,” I said. “Don’t leave yet.”

He checked his watch.

“I just… we need to talk.”

He stopped moving, staring down at me with a forced smooth expression. He blinked a few times, and then sat on the bed next to me, waiting to hear what I might say.

I reached for his hand, and he obliged, sliding his fingers between mine. “I feel like once you leave, things will change.”

“Only if you want them to. Are you worried?”

I nodded.

His shoulders relaxed. “I’ll do whatever you need me to do to make sure the children are happy. I’ll stay away until you feel they’re ready.”

“What do you mean by ‘stay away’?”

He touched my cheek. “From the children. Not from you. I’ll only come after bedtime.”

“What if they’re sick? What if they have a bad dream?”

“I’ll hide until they fall asleep, and then I’ll leave.”

“But what about sleep?”

“Morgan, I’m responsible for that, not you. I’m fully aware you’ll put your children first. I was aware of that from the beginning. I told you. I did my homework.”

“What if someone finds out about us? As if any child needs a reason to get picked on here. Josh already gets enough guff as it is.”

“Guff?”

“They give him a hard time at school. He’s quiet.”

“Then we’ll be discreet.”

“People already assume.”

“We can’t help that. We can abstain from proving them right.”

“What if I miss you?”

“Then call me. I’ll come. School starts soon. We have time during the day and nights. I own the hospital, Morgan. I don’t have to be there every second.”