King's Reign (Sydney Storm MC #6)(42)

It was these unguarded moments with King that meant so much to me. He didn’t give them to me often, which only made them more special. But when he did give them to me, the whole world opened up with bright light. I was the happiest I had ever been in my entire life.

After we had a shower, where King fucked me again, I was too exhausted to go on. He’d been ready for another round, but I just didn’t have it in me, so he’d bundled me into bed and wrapped his arms around me while we lay facing each other.

I reached up and ran a finger down the scar on his face. “How did you get this?” I asked softly. It was so jagged that I knew it had to have hurt him, and that caused my heart to hurt. It was crazy, because King was so strong and capable, and seemed unbreakable, but that scar reminded me that even the toughest men could be hurt.

His features darkened. “My father.”

It felt like he didn’t want to give me more than that, but I was at the point where I wanted more. I hadn’t pushed him for anything yet. This, I would push for. “How old were you?”

His jaw clenched. “This is old shit that doesn’t need to be rehashed.”

“It’s not old to me, King. I hardly know a thing about you. I know you’re bossy and moody and demanding and giving, and that you love your family and your club.” I put my hand to his chest, to his heart. “I want to know what’s in here, too.”

He stayed silent for a beat, and then after exhaling hard, he said, “I was eight and I pissed him off one Saturday afternoon when I didn’t steal the right tins of spaghetti for him from the supermarket. He took a knife to me, letting me know how badly I’d screwed up.”

I stared at him with my heart in my throat and tears at the backs of my eyes, unable to comprehend a parent doing that to their child.

When I didn’t say anything, because I was lost for words, he said, “My parents were the fucking scum of the earth, Lily, and I don’t wanna get into a conversation about them, but for what it’s worth, they both went to prison for kidnapping, raping and murdering teenage girls. She lured the girls, he did everything else. I fucking had to listen to and watch some of that shit. And yeah, he slashed my face and beat me up and burnt his fucking cigarettes into my body, but I refuse to give that cunt another fucking thought, so don’t mention him to me again.”

I wiggled closer to him and placed my hand on his cheek. “He’s responsible for the scars on your back, too?”

He nodded once but didn’t say anything.

I wasn’t the kind of person who hated people. It was such an extreme emotion, and I didn’t feel it was a useful one. But I hated King’s parents. And I hated what they’d done to him physically and emotionally.

I pressed my lips to his and kissed him. It wasn’t one of our usual kisses, more of a softer, quick kiss. He didn’t push for more, and I didn’t give more. When I ended it, I said, “Thank you for sharing that part of yourself with me. I won’t bring them up again, but if you ever wanna talk about stuff, I’m always here. I just want you to know that.”

His eyes searched mine for the longest time. He didn’t respond to that, but I knew he took it in. Finally, he said, “Roll over and go to sleep. You’re tired, and I have plans for this body in the morning.”

I rolled over.

I also wiggled my ass against him, loving the grunt that came from him when I did that.

He tightened his embrace and hooked a leg over mine, pinning me in place.

I loved every second of being in this bed with him.

And I was already ready for his plans for the morning.





19





King





“Kree still giving you hell?” Hyde asked late the next afternoon when he got back to the clubhouse after taking care of some club business.

I placed my phone down on the office desk after just having finished a call I’d rather have avoided with Eric Bones about some bullshit I’d have to take care of tomorrow, and stretched my legs out in front of me. “Yeah. I’ve got Havoc taking care of her ex. Just waiting to hear back from him when it’s done, and for Griff to then confirm she’s safe before I rip those fucking cameras from her house.” I jerked my chin at him. “You heading home?”

“No, I’m on my way over to Monroe’s shop. She’s got some renovations for me to take care of.”

I stood and met him at the door. It was time for me to leave, too. Lily’s oven was playing up, so I’d told her I’d take a look at it. I’d just opened my mouth to reply to Hyde after stepping out into the hallway when a fist came flying at me. Having not seen it coming, I stumbled backwards, hitting the wall hard.

Zane came at me with another punch, but I was ready for him this time and blocked him. Grabbing hold of his fist, I shoved him back and bellowed, “What the fuck, Zane?” In all the years we’d known each other, we’d never had a problem between us.

He yanked his hand from mine, fury rolling off him in waves. “I fucking told you I had the Don situation under control, and you went ahead and stuck your fucking nose in it anyway. And caused Kree a major fucking problem in the process.”

Anger surged from deep inside me, and every inch of my body tensed. “What the fuck did you just say to me?”

“You should have stayed the fuck out of it, King. I was handling it.”