N9ne: The Tale of Kevin Clearwater (King, #9)(84)

I nod. “You know, the kids are kind of pissed at us for getting married at the courthouse. They wanted to be there.”

King gently places his hand on my throat. A possessive hold that I’ve come to love. “Couldn’t wait any longer.”

“Me either,” I admit.

He leans in and presses a soft kiss to my lips.

“Ewwwwwww!” Sammy cries.

We break apart and look to Sammy, who is pointing at us, wrinkling his little nose. “That’s gross.”

King laughs. “Mind your business, boy. You won’t always think it’s gross.”

Sammy shakes his head. “No way. It’s gross, and I’m not changing my mind.”

Max pops out from behind the thick trunk of the oak tree in the center of the yard and squirts Sammy from behind. He lets out a shriek of surprise then takes off after her.

“Maybe they need to see us get married,” King laments.

My head snaps to him. “What?”

He watches the kids for a moment longer before turning to look at me. “I want them to see that what’s between for what it is. Something good. Something strong.” He stands and grabs my hand, pulling me up with him. His hand goes back to my throat. “Go pick out a white dress, Pup. ‘Cause you and I are having a wedding.” He kisses me slowly, but it’s not tender, it’s a slow possession of my mouth and body. He pulls away. “Now that you’re mine in every way, I think that’s something worth celebrating. Don’t you?”

All I can do is nod because just like every time he kisses me, he’s stolen my breath away.

“See you in a bit,” he chuckles. “Don’t let them kill each other. At least not until I get back.” He kisses our little one then heads down the porch steps and runs up behind Sammy, holding him up into the air so that Max can get a good shot at him. He puts down Sammy, and the kids take off running yet again.

King places a kiss on top of Nicole Grace’s head then walks over to his bike. Each stride he takes makes my breath quicken. He straddles the big black bike and the engine roars to life. He flips his baseball cap around then takes off down the driveway.

I’m left gaping at him like a school kid with a crush because damn that man is still the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.

I pick up the baby and hold her on one hip. I go down into the yard and scoop up Nicole Grace, setting her on my other hip. I yell to the other two kids that I’m going to put the younger ones down for a nap.

When I emerge from the house a few moments later, Max and Sammy are sitting in the grass, watching ladybugs crawl over dandelions.

A car pulls up on the driveway that I don’t recognize. My shoulders stiffen.

“Sammy, Max! Get inside, now!” I order.

Sammy and Max do exactly as I ask. Standing up and running past me into the house because they know my serious voice. They also know that mama doesn’t play around when there’s even a small possibility of a threat, especially when it comes to my kids.

They slam the screen door. I watch as a woman steps out from the shiny black BMW. She’s beautiful and blonde. Thin with not a hair out of place. She’s tall wearing trendy large sunglasses and sky-high heels not meant for a gravel driveway, but somehow she tackles the walk with ease.

“Is King around?” she asks, with a sweet southern drawl that makes my arm hairs stand on end.

“Around here we introduce ourselves before we ask questions,” I tell her, crossing my arms over my chest.

She doesn’t answer. Because she’s distracted by something. She takes off her glasses and stares up into the front window where Max and Sammy are peering out over the top of the couch.

No, she’s not looking at both kids. She’s staring at Max.

Dread pools in my stomach.

“As a matter of fact, there is something you can help me with,” she says. “I’m Tricia. I’m Max’s—”

“No, you’re fucking not,” I finish for her.

She looks to me with determined brown eyes. “Oh, but I am.”

“Why are you here?” I ask, clenching my fists at my sides. I thought this bitch was dead.

She touches the tip of her sunglasses to the corner of her mouth. “Why, I’m here to see Max, my baby girl.”

Inside I’m shaking with rage. Outside I stay cool and calm as I make my way slowly to bottom step. I’m eye to eye with the bitch when I say, “Over YOUR dead body.”