Page 59 of Kings & Queen

I played along, allowing him to deny me. It was poetic since I had denied him the opportunity to make love to me for our first encounter. When he said he’d send Alek or Nik in after, I wanted to beg him to stay, but asking would have fallen on deaf ears. He broke me, and I didn’t want anyone else to put me back together but him.

Today, I’d be leaving to go to their parents’ house. The chance of me seeing him again was slim to none. So despite how sore my body was, I cherished each painful twinge, as it reminded me he had said goodbye in his broken way. I finished getting ready and turned to the task at hand. There was so much to do. I needed to pack and say goodbye to the household staff.

Tears lined my lashes just thinking about it. Pulling out one of the suitcases from my closet, I put it on the bed. Then walked back in, staring at all the clothes. I had no idea what to grab.

Footsteps sounded behind me, and I turned to find Alek walking into my room. “Kitten,” he called tenderly. Running into his arms, I let him hold me. “Shhh, sweetness. It’s going to be okay. I promise you.”

“I hate…hate that I have to leave. Aleksandr King, the best day of my life was when you walked into the Woodinville Café,” I sobbed into his chest.

“You’ll be safe at my parents’ house, and not only that, but I’ll come by and see you. Nik will too. If you think by going, that’ll keep us from having our nights with you, you’d better think again.”

“We can’t at your parents’. That would be wrong.” I sighed as he nuzzled my neck.

“Let’s finish packing. I’ll take you over and help get you settled.”

“I think it would be better if Marcus just drops me off.”

“Not happening. Can I tell you I think you’re brilliant?”

“Me? That’s a bit of a stretch.” I walked back into the closet to get more clothes.

“No, seriously. You staying with my parents is fucking brilliant. They’re going to fall in love with you.”

His presence followed close, warm and grounding. He reached into the drawer without a word, hands moving with quiet familiarity.

“That’s highly unlikely. I think your mother would prefer you to be in a proper relationship, and what we have is anything but.”

He grabbed me around my waist, grazing my breast, and I yelped. A frown marred his handsome face as he pulled back, and I flushed ten shades of red.

“It’s nothing,” I murmured, hugging him closely. He pushed me back, lifted my shirt, and pulled my bra down, causing me to yelp again. “Fuck,” I shouted as I slapped his hand away.

“Language, young lady.” He swatted my ass in response and growled. “What the hell? Ivan did this? I’ll fucking kill him.”

“No you willnot. What happened between Ivan and me is between us. I just don’t have anything to put on it to make it not hurt so much.”

“Stay here,” he murmured. Tension radiated from his frame as he turned and left, returning minutes later with the lanolin. He put a generous amount on my nipples, and I sighed; the relief was almost instant.

“This level is unnecessary,” he said gruffly. He murmured some more about Ivan under his breath as I repositioned my bra and shirt. “I’ll respect your wishes and not kick his ass, but these are as much mine and Nik’s as they are his. He’ll need to at least take better care of you, or he’ll lose access, and you can best believe I’ll tell him that.Motherfucker.”

I raised my eyebrow. “He tried last night. He wanted to send one of you in. I didn’t want that, so don’t be too angry. Truthfully, you don’t have anything toworry about. The next three weeks will be all about you and Nik since he’s done with me.”

“Kitten—”

“No, last night was our goodbye,” I said as tears filled my eyes again. Wanting to hide them, I turned away and went to get more clothes.

We lapsed into a comfortable silence as he helped me pack. He insisted I pack a second suitcase, and I didn’t have the heart to argue with him. One was more than enough, but he was clearly stalling. Nik came in a few minutes later and hooked his finger at me. I rushed over.

“Careful, her nipples look like she’s been breastfeeding an infant not properly latched. Damn baby,” he mumbled as Nik’s face twisted with confusion.

“Don’t listen to him. Ivan came to see me last night,” I said sheepishly, and his eyebrows rose as he grinned. “Don’t look like that. It was goodbye, but he got a bit carried away with my nipples, is all.” Not to mention my pussy, but I kept quiet about that.

Of course, Nik had to look as well. “Seriously?” He sucked in his breath.

“Don’tseriouslyme. I swear mine looked and felt this exact way from you one time, too, big Daddy,” I said, reminding him how he had left me sore.

“Shit, okay. Do you have something for them?”

“I do. Alek got some lanolin for me. I’ve got it packed.”