“You need something?” he asked, not looking up from his phone.

  I didn’t say anything, not sure he was talking to me. He hadn’t actually put his eyes on me. Maybe he was talking on speakerphone.

  He lifted his head then and locked his gaze on me, then took the cigarette from his mouth. “Do you?” he asked.

  I walked fully into view then and managed a smile. The man made me nervous.

  “Uh, no. I was … I just didn’t want to bother you.”

  He took a drink of his coffee as he studied me.

  “I, uh … I was going to Maeme’s.”

  He put the cigarette back between his teeth, then started in my direction. “All right.”

  I stood there, unsure if that was the end of our conversation or not.

  He walked past me. “You coming or not?”

  Coming? With him? No, that would not work.

  “What?” I asked, stalling.

  He sighed heavily, then turned back around and looked at me. “You can’t walk to Maeme’s alone. I’ll drive you over.”

  Okay, that wasn’t a completely bad thing. I’d get there a lot quicker and have time with her before King showed up. I doubted Thatcher was going to stay and visit.

  “Oh, um, thank you,” I replied.

  He turned back around, and I followed him outside into the warm morning air, then toward a black SUV parked closest to the barn. I watched him toss his cigarette onto the ground and put it out with his boot. At least I wouldn’t have to worry about the secondhand smoke. I was pretty sure that was bad for the baby. He didn’t open my car door, but I hadn’t expected him to. I was just so used to King, Sebastian, and Storm doing it. I thought maybe that was a thing with these men.

  Once we were inside, Thatcher said little as he backed up and turned the vehicle toward the exit. My hands fidgeted in my lap nervously, and I kept my eyes on the road. Being alone with this man wasn’t something I had ever planned on doing, but I could survive it to get to Maeme’s.

  “You pissed he didn’t come back?” Thatcher asked, breaking the silence.

  I glanced at him. He had one hand on the steering wheel, and the other still held his mug as he rested it on his thigh.

  “No.”

  He smirked, not looking over at me. “Don’t believe you. You’re running off. Knowing when he gets back and you’re gone, he’ll act stupid.”

  “No, that’s not what I’m doing. I wanted to go get a book and see Maeme. That’s it.”

  He turned his gaze toward me and narrowed his eyes, then let out a deep chuckle that verged on evil. “Yeah. Sure. Y’all might come in different wrapping, but inside, you’re all the same. Smart, calculating, and you wield your pussy like a weapon.”

  I wanted to set him straight, but then I didn’t trust him. He was dangerous in a way the others weren’t. Sure, they all killed people and did questionable things, but this one, I was pretty sure he’d kill for sport and then smoke a cigarette over the bleeding corpse.

  Relieved at the sight of Maeme’s house, I decided to keep my mouth shut. He pulled up to the walkway and stopped the SUV.

  “Thank you,” I said, reaching for the handle.

  “Don’t fuck with his head, yeah?”

  I paused and looked back at him. “I would never do that.” I almost said I loved King, but I caught myself. “He’s important to me.”

  Thatcher said nothing while he put the truck back in drive. Clearly, he was done talking. I wasn’t going to say more either. I had to use this time while I had it.

  I closed the door and headed toward the house. Thankfully, I was here before King returned, and I’d get to ask my questions. Hopefully, I’d also get some waffles and bacon. I wondered if she had whipped cream and chocolate sauce for the waffles.

  • Eighteen •

  It’s the only way I’m going to survive this.

  Rumor

  Maeme took the seat across from me in the sunroom. “All right then, what do you want to talk about?” she asked, looking concerned, although I had assured her that the baby and I were fine. At least as far as I knew, we were. My lack of knowledge on this topic was why I was here.

  “I threw up this morning,” I told her. “I know that’s to be expected, but I guess I didn’t think about the fact that I know absolutely nothing about being pregnant. I mean, I ran a hot shower, and at the last minute, I realized it might be bad for the baby, so I cooled it down. What things are bad? Does secondhand smoke affect it? And what do I tell King when I get sick around him?”

  Maeme reached over and squeezed my hand. “Breathe. It’s okay. You’re getting worked up, and there ain’t no need. Women have been doing this since the beginning of time.” She sat back and gave me a reassuring smile. “Now, there are a lot of rules and suggestions for healthy pregnancies that were not around back in my day. I’ll get on the internet and order you a book. One that you can read, and it can give you direction. I want you and the baby to be healthy too. I can even get Doc over here this weekend to talk to you. He can answer all your questions, and we can see about getting you something for the nausea.”

  I nodded, feeling somewhat relieved.

  “As for King seeing you sick, then I guess it was a blessing that he had to run to his house last night. I’ll see what I can do to make sure he’s not in bed when you wake up the next two mornings, and then by the time he gets back, Doc can have you all fixed up.”

  I let out a breath and relaxed for the first time since I’d thrown up. “Thank you.”

  She frowned. “Don’t thank me. I take care of mine. It’s what family does, and you are and will forever be family now. You’re gonna be the momma of my great-grandchild. Speaking of which, are you hungry? Have you eaten anything?”

  Hearing her call me her family put an instant lump in my throat. I didn’t want to hold on to that too deeply. I wasn’t sure what would happen once King knew. But I couldn’t imagine Maeme would turn her back on me.

  I fought back the tears and shook my head. “I came straight here.”

  She slapped the top of her thighs, then stood up. “Well, what sounds good to you?”

  “Waffles … and bacon,” I said hesitantly.

  She laughed as her smile spread across her face. “Then, waffles and bacon it is,” she said, holding out her hand for me to take. “Come on with me to the kitchen. I’ll get you some juice.”

  I took her hand even though I didn’t need help standing up. I realized she needed me to take her hand more than I did. Once I was standing, she let it go and nodded her head toward the kitchen.

  “RUMOR!” King’s voice called out.

  Maeme winked at me. “Right on time.” Then, she cupped her hands over her mouth and shouted, “We’re in the sunroom!” When she glanced back at me, she patted my arm. “He sounds worked up because you weren’t where he’d left you. That’s a good thing.”

  I wanted to believe her. Loving King and my need for him seemed to morph into something even more powerful now that I knew I had our child growing inside of me. I felt … clingy. Having him with me soothed me. It gave me reassurance that he was always going to be there. That even though I was holding a secret that would change his life as he knew it, he would want me. Want us. The fear that it would push him away, however, was there, keeping me from letting myself hope for more. Believe that he’d one day love me too.

  King stalked through the doorway, his gaze swinging to meet mine. “Are you okay?” he asked, concern furrowing his brow.

  I nodded. I was now. He was here.

  “Yes. I just came to see Maeme,” I told him.

  “And I’m making waffles. It’s your lucky day,” she informed him.

  His eyes barely glanced in her direction before coming back to me. “Then, something is wrong,” he stated, his eyes now narrowing as he took three long strides until he was in front of me. Cupping the side of my face, he studied me closely. “What is it?”

  “Oh, for heaven’s sake! I have company, and I want to make waffles. Stop acting ridiculous,” Maeme said, but my eyes were on him. Soaking him in.

  I almost pressed my cheek into his hand, aching for his touch. His security.

  “I’m sorry I am just now getting back,” he said, his eyes dropping to my lips. “I wanted to be with you.”

  “It’s okay,” I breathed.

  He was here now. I had him with me.

  “I’ll go start breakfast,” Maeme said, but King didn’t look back at her or even acknowledge her words.

  I wanted to thank her as she walked away, but with him looking at me like I was his breakfast, I found myself so mesmerized that I couldn’t say anything. I was lost in King. His touch. His gaze. Being with him.

  “I didn’t like coming back to my room and you not being in my bed,” he said as he ran his thumb over my mouth. “I fucking hate that you got in a truck with Thatcher.”

  I let out a soft sigh. “He just gave me a ride.”

  King shook his head, then lowered his head until his lips brushed the corner of mine. “Don’t care. I hate it. I should have been there. You need something, and I take care of it.”

  I was a puddle on the floor—or at least it felt like it. I was on the verge of weeping—again—and throwing myself into his arms and begging him not to go this weekend, which I knew he had no control over.

  “You’re here now,” I said before his mouth covered mine.

  I slid my hands up his arms, wanting to pull him closer. A low groan vibrated his chest, and every nerve in my body responded. Shivering in response, I savored his taste. The powerfulness of how he wrapped his arms around me, pulling me closer to him until our bodies were pressed against each other, eased all the worries fighting for the number one spot in my head. He was here. This was enough.

  “After waffles, we are going back to the stables,” he said against my lips, then began to kiss a path down my neck. “I’ve got to stay buried in you until I leave. It’s the only way I’m going to survive this.”

  I arched my neck, giving him better access. “We still have two days.”

  He paused, and although it was brief, it brought me out of the haze he’d been putting me under. The warmth of his breath heated my neck, and normally, that would cause me to tremble and sink further into the moment. But I felt it. The change in him. There was nothing good coming from that.

  “I have to leave in the morning,” he said gruffly.

  I stilled. An ache already forming in my chest at the idea of him being gone.

  “Why?” I asked, trying not to sound as pathetic as I felt.

  More days with her. Alone. The two of them pretending.

  “Orders. They want her out of town,” he explained, his tone tight.

  My hands slid to his chest, and I found myself grabbing handfuls of his shirt, as if I had the power to hold him. Keep him from going with just my strength alone.

  “I hate this,” he ground out.

  “Me too,” I managed to say, although the tightness currently squeezing my neck like a vise made it hard to say anything.

  “Fuck,” he growled as his arms completely wrapped around me and held me against his chest.

  He buried his face in my hair, and I held on to him just as fiercely. We stood there in silence as the smell of waffles wafted into the room. I wasn’t hungry anymore. Nothing sounded appealing. Not when I was faced with King leaving me.

  • Nineteen •

  I think you just ruined me.

  Rumor

  “Maeme sent breakfast,” King said, dropping off the food she had sent with us back to the stables.

  Thatcher was the only one in the lounge room. He was sitting on the sofa, looking at his phone, but the mention of Maeme’s food snapped his head up. “Smells like waffles.”

  “Because it is,” King replied.

  “Fuck yeah,” he said, shooting up from his seat. His eyes swung to me, and he gave me a crooked grin that didn’t fit him at all. “If she’s gonna cook for you like this while you’re staying there, then you just got a breakfast buddy.”

  King was tense as he turned, putting his body between the two of us, as if Thatcher was going to come close to me.

  “Relax,” Thatcher drawled. “I’m not the one with a hard-on for her. Sebastian’s the one you have to watch, and he won’t be here.”

  I slipped my hand into King’s, trying to ease the tension rolling off him in waves. His much larger hand engulfed mine as he clenched mine tightly, and then he turned toward the door, taking me with him. His pace was fast and purposeful. As if he had to get me to safety and quickly.

  The jealous, possessive way he reacted to others was the reassurance that I needed. I didn’t complain. Knowing he wanted to keep me as his was exactly the thing my current emotional state clung to.

  Shoving his bedroom door open, he nudged me inside, then slammed the door behind him. “Strip,” he demanded.

  I spun around, looking at him as he tugged his shirt over his head and tossed it away to land somewhere on the floor. The feral gleam in his eye was like a jolt of electricity between my legs. Reaching for the hem of my own top, I found myself mesmerized by his hands at the zipper on his jeans.

  “Now, sweets. I’ll rip that pretty little top right down the middle if I touch you.”

  My eyes widened as the image of his words played out in my head. A part of me wanted him to do just that. If I didn’t like this shirt so much, I would let him. Reluctantly, I slipped it off. His eyes were on my bra with a hunger glowing in his gaze.

  He made quick work of his jeans and boxer briefs, getting them off at the same time. My mouth watered at the sight of him, and I was so caught up in taking him all in that I forgot that I was supposed to be doing the same.

  King stalked toward me then. “Not fast enough,” he growled as he took the front of my bra, ignoring the clasp and jerking it open with one hard pull.

  I heard the rip and gasped as his hands went to my shorts. My hands covered his before he could ruin them too.

  “I got it,” I said, quickly unbuttoning them, then shoving them down, shaking my hips slightly to get them to shimmy down my legs. When I stepped out of my bottoms, I used my toes to nudge them away.

  King’s hands clenched my hips tightly before he got my panties off by ripping them at the seams. Staring at the shredded satin fabric as it fell to the floor, I shivered. My feet left the floor as King picked me up and deposited me on the dresser.

  “Open,” he ordered, taking my ankles and putting my feet up on the smooth wood, leaving me exposed to him completely. “Fuck,” he groaned before his head was there.

  The first flick of his tongue sent a pulse of pleasure through me so hard that I cried out, burying my fingers into his hair, wanting to hold him there. It was more intense. Something was different. This had been incredible when he’d done it before, but it was better. My body. I was more sensitive.

  “Goddamn, sweets, you taste fucking delicious,” he swore as he began to go at me as if I were his favorite candy.

  I was lost in the little jolts of nirvanic bursts. Letting go of his head, I had to lean back on my hands to keep from falling against the wall. This was more … almost too much.

  It came on so fast and powerful that the world seemed to explode without warning. Screaming out his name, I lifted my hips to meet his mouth, trying to keep his mouth there as the crashing waves of sheer bliss shook me. While my body reeled from the power of my orgasm, I could hear King, but he felt far away.

  “FUCK!” The roar that tore from his chest was matched with the hard thrust as he shoved inside of me. The sharp bite of his fingers dug into my flesh as he held on to my hips while he began to pump into me.

  As I gasped for breath, my eyes flew open and locked with his. There was a primitive flare in his blue eyes. His jaw was clenched tight as he began to pound into me. The dresser thumped loudly as it hit the wall.

  “Mine,” he said through clenched teeth. “Mine,” he repeated.

  I lifted my legs, then pressed my knees against his ribs as the building promise of my climax drew closer. I was going to have another one. Watching his beautiful body flexed, damp with sweat, his veins standing out, as those eyes I loved looked at me like I was all he would ever need or want sent me breaking into another shattering orgasm.

  “FU-UCK!” he shouted as he slammed into me one more time, then stilled. His body shuddering as his release began to fill me.

  His arms wrapped around me, pulling me against his chest as he continued to pulse inside my walls, causing them to contract and squeeze. I shivered against him.

  This was different. Sex with King had always been fantastic, but everything had felt elevated. There wasn’t anywhere on my body not humming with pure pleasure. I clung to him as tremors still ran through me.

  He ran a hand over my head, then wrapped my hair around his hand and held it tightly. “Jesus, sweets. That was … incredible,” he breathed. He moved to press his lips to my temple. “I think you just ruined me.”

  Unable to keep from smiling, I turned my face to press against him as I listened to his heart beating rapidly inside his chest. It wasn’t just me then; he’d felt it too.

  What had that been? Why had it been so … so mind-blowing? I had no words to describe it.

  We stayed like that, with him still inside of me, for several more moments while we waited for our breathing to level out. When he finally moved back enough to slide out of me, I wanted to sink my nails into him and hold him there. Keep him with me. This brought me a peace unlike anything else.

  “Wait,” I begged, not ready for this to end.

  “You know I want to see it,” he replied in a husky voice.

  Shivering with pleasure, I watched him stand back, taking my legs and holding them open as his complete focus was there, where he had been. The dark, pleased look that came over his face made my heart clench tightly. It was kinky and possibly very twisted, but I liked it as much as he did.