Page 59 of Broken By A King

Twenty-Eight

STONE

I'm awestruck by her.

Not just because she's drop dead gorgeous, that's a given, but because it's so fucking obvious that she doesn't know it. That's what makes her even more attractive.

She stands up to leave. To run. I'm not sure why she's so frightened. Maybe she can smell that I'm reeking of lust. That it's taking every ounce of self-control I have not to pick her up and toss her over on my bed.

"You should wear your hair like that more often."

"I told you, it's not practical."

"For work but work isn't everything, Ariana."

"Why do you always say my name like that."

"Like what?"

"Like I've never heard it before. Like I don't know that it's my name. Like you want to make sure that I understand how to pronounce it."

"It's your name."

"I'm well aware, Stone."

"It's a beautiful name."

She sighs as if she's exasperated.

"Take the compliment," I tell her.

"Thank you."

"It's the name your parents gave you. You should use it all the time."

"Your point?"

"I don't like your nickname."

"It's just a name. It doesn't mean anything."

"It's more than that to you and you know it."

"What are you psychoanalyzing me now, son of Jack?"

I grab her hand.

"You're not that hard to figure out, daughter of Nate."

"Don't use my lines."

I chuckle.

She pulls her hand back gently.

"I think I should head upstairs now and crash. Good night, Stone."

"You watchSupernatural,right?" I blurt out.