Page 23 of Submitting to Them

I shake my head and give him a wry smile.“When would I do that?”

“Good point.”His frown is full of sympathy.“Have you thought of cutting back your hours—”

I hold up my hand.“I have some pretty big news.”

“What’s that?”

“I, um, impulsively quit the pub.”I wince, waiting for Kingston’s judgment.

Instead of telling me that my decision was rash and foolish, he laughs.“Seriously?”

“Yeah.Was it the wrong call?Nicholas was being horrible, and Kevin might not come back, and I just couldn’t do it anymore.I have enough to cover my rent and everything still, it’s just going to be kind of tight—”

“Bash and I have been plotting an intervention to convince you to quit,” he says, his blue-gray eyes twinkling.“We hadn’t gotten far, because I got too busy with my own stupid concerns.But this is great news.You’ll have more time, and you won’t be working in the evenings.It’s going to be great.”

I shake my head.“I’m going to look for a new job, to replace Bartleby’s.”

“What?”He looks stricken.“No, Ella, listen.You can move in with me.I’d love nothing more than to live with you, wake up with you every morning, fall asleep with you every night.”

“I love you,” I say, “but I’m just not ready to move in like that.Having more sleepovers, great.I would even accept a drawer in your dresser and some space in your closet.Leave a toothbrush here, and toiletries.”

“But you’re not ready to move in entirely,” he says, sighing.

“No.I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay, baby girl.Whenever you’re ready, okay?”He takes my hand in his and gently squeezes my fingers, his calluses rough and comforting at the same time.

His phone chimes with a notification.To his credit, he doesn’t look away from my face, and instead kisses my nose, then my cheek.

“Don’t you have to check your phone?”I ask.

“No,” he says, kissing my other cheek.“Tonight is for you.”

Next, his mouth moves to my lips.I drink in his taste, breathe in his scent.I want this man so fucking much, all the time.

The phone chimes a second time, then a third.Then it begins to ring.Giving me an apologetic smile, Kingston says, “Hang on just a second—I’m going to turn it off.”

As soon as he glances at the screen, though, his face pales and he answers the call.“This is Kingston Tyler.”

The voice on the other end of the line is muffled, but official-sounding.

“I understand.Yes, yes, of course.”

Kingston ends the call and looks at me, a bleak expression on his face.

“What happened?”I ask.“Another work emergency?”

He shakes his head.“Yes and no.It goes beyond work.”

Grabbing his hand, I say, “Please just tell me what’s going on.”

“It’s Kristin,” Kingston says.“She was kidnapped right outside the office building, twenty minutes ago.”

Six

Kingston

Ella’s mouth twists in horrified concern.“Kidnapped?”