Page 27 of Kneeling for Them

I blush harder.“I have to go to the restroom.”

Kingston sits back and smirks.Sebastian, too.They got to me so fast.One minute, regaling me with South American adventures, the next, getting my panties so wet, I’m worried a spot will show through on my denim skirt.Thankfully, the denim is a dark wash.

After using the toilet, I’m washing my hands when two women walk into the restroom.

“You know Bastian Crown,” one woman states, pointing at my chest.

The two come up to stand at the counter on either side of me.Red wine has stained their lips and they’re a little unsteady on their feet.

I nod, although I’m not really sure where this conversation can go.

“Is he fantastic in bed?”the first one asks.

“You’re the chick who sang with him,” the other one says.“I could tell you guys were banging, like, your chemistry on stage was so amazingly hot.I bet he’s a great lover.A bit old for us, but hey, doesn’t seem to be stopping you—”

“I need to go,” I say.

They follow me out of the bathroom.I walk faster, but they remain on my heels.

“Introduce us to Bastian, okay?”one of them says loudly.

“Um…” I’m not sure how to say no without sounding like a dick, but these women are being really pushy.

I walk faster.Kingston and Sebastian are watching me approach, and Kingston stands up suddenly, probably reading the panic on my face.Sebastian stands, too, but he hangs back as Kingston strides forward.Sebastian coming forward probably wouldn’t help the situation at all—the women want to talk to him.But Kingston comes right up to me and glares at the women, who seem to decide they have other places to be.

“You all right, little girl?”Kingston murmurs, walking me back to the table.

“Yeah,” I say.

“I’ve already paid.Let’s get out of here.”Sebastian scowls at the women, who watch from a table across the room.

I nod and allow the men to lead me out of the restaurant.

“Where to?”Kellan, the driver, asks.

“Just drive for a few minutes,” Sebastian says.His hazel eyes are dark and he frowns at nothing.

I want to make things better, but I’m not sure what’s wrong with him.When I look at Kingston with a question in my eyes, he just shrugs.

“Is everything okay?”I ask Sebastian.Something’s different with him.Thinking back, this darkness has been present within him ever since last weekend—the night we got together, after Kingston fired Joel.It could have to do with me, I suppose, although I’m not sure what I’ve done wrong.I hate to be insecure and jump to conclusions that he’s lost interest in me already…but I’m insecure and those conclusions are rising up in front of me.

“Yeah,” he says, voice gruff.“I’m okay.I’m just pissed that those people were harassing you.”

“I don’t mind,” I say.“I mean, I didn’t like it, but I’m not going to let it ruin our date.Are you?”

He leans back slightly, as if surprised.Then a smile grows on his face and he exchanges a look with Kingston.“No, princess.We’re not going to let it ruin our date.”

“Vice?”Kingston says.

Sebastian shakes his head.“Too crowded, and I’m usually recognized there.How about a movie?”

Kingston pulls out his phone and the list of movies that are playing.We bicker good-naturedly over what film to watch.Kingston wants some depressing historical war movie, Sebastian wants car chases, and I want a good, old-fashioned romantic comedy.We end up compromising, which is to say, I get my way and Kingston orders us tickets for the rom-com.

At the theater, nobody is paying attention to us.It’s less of a place for people-watching, I suppose, and lots of people are rushing through, probably late for whatever flick they’ve chosen.

We’re nearly late for ours, and the trailers have already started playing.As Kingston, Sebastian, and I settle into some seats toward the rear of the theater, I kiss each man on the cheek—Sebastian’s bearded one, and Kingston’s stubbled one.

“It’s not very crowded in here,” Sebastian remarks.