Page 22 of The King Contract

NOAH

Nauseating

It wasn’t the alcohol that had me acting that way last night.

I was clearheaded enough to know Millie dry humping me was so fucking hot I didn’t want to stop it.

Since I woke up this morning, I haven’t stopped thinking about Millie rubbing up against me or how I got to explore some of the most intimate parts of her with my hands, running them over her silky skin in near darkness.

I’m getting hard again thinking about it.

We slept on the couch last night. Millie passed out in my arms, and I didn’t want to move her. Eventually, I drifted off too. When I woke up there was a blanket covering us, which Callum likely draped over us before he took himself to bed.

The storm carried on throughout the night and conditions warn a surf is out of the question, even for us. Callum messaged to say he was going back to sleep, so I’ve spent the better part of an hour staying still to not wake Millie, needing to piss, and replaying last night.

When Millie’s eyes eventually flutter open, there’s a heartbeat where she looks as if she’s blissfully unaware of any troubles.

She smiles at me, almost confused as to why we’re still wrapped up together.

A couple of blinks later, I see her reality set in, and she sits up, subtly moving away from me.

“Morning,” she says huskily, holding the blanket up to her chin.

“Morning, Maelstrom. Did you have a good sleep?”

“Yes. Like a rock. Your couch is comfy.”

“My chest is too.” I smile at her to ease any discomfort she might have, and she smiles back. “Bet the orgasm helped as well.”

Her jaw drops. “Noah!”

“You little minx,” I chuckle.

She slaps me on the arm before covering her head with the blanket. “I want to die.”

I tear the blanket from her head to see her crimson cheeks peeking out from her dishevelled curls. “It was hot. Who cares?”

“I don’t know what I was thinking.” She runs a hand through her tangle of curls, worry etched in every corner of her face.

“Let’s forget about it.” I ignore the unexpected taste of disappointment trickling down my throat. “It doesn’t change anything. Think of it as a one-time release sort of thing.”

Relief floods her reddened features. “Really?”

“Definitely. It was bound to happen. Look how much time we’re spending together, pretending we fuck.”

Millie blushes again. “Did . . . did you, you know . . . don’t make me say it.”

I grin. “Sorry, I’m not sure what you’re getting at. You’ll need to say the words.”

“Noah!”

I love it when I can embarrass her. “No, I didn’t, Maelstrom. I’ve got the worst blue balls of my life.”

Millie sinks back against the couch, but I think she’s pleased from the way she’s biting her lip. Her mouth tips downward when she reaches for her phone, her eyes wide with alarm. “What the hell?”

“Yeah, the photo of us blew up last night.” I run my hand through my hair. I posted it after Millie fell asleep. I saw the likes and comments come flying in right before my phone died. “Figured it was time I tagged you.”

She taps away at her phone, her eyes bulging. “I have over a thousand friend requests.”

“Ignore them.”

She looks baffled. “How can this many people be interested in a moody foot photo?”

“It’s a good photo.”

“What’s Millie shrieking about?” Callum walks into the living room, his hair in all directions and has nothing on but boxers. Millie’s gaze travels across his torso and the unfamiliar sensation of jealousy gnaws in my gut.

“Put some clothes on, bro,” I snap.

Callum raises his eyebrows in surprise. “Why?”

Great question. When have I ever had a problem with my mates walking around here shirtless? We’ve seen each other naked many times thanks to the quick changes for surfing and the number of debauched nights we’ve participated in. Not to mention the fact I’m also shirtless.

“I don’t want my girlfriend ditching me for you,” I joke.

“You like what you see?” Callum flexes his pecs and I smile when Millie rolls her eyes.

“There’ll be a whole bunch of nakedness when we go camping,” Callum points out. “I’m breaking Millie in gently.”

Shit. The camping trip. I’d forgotten. Our group of friends try to go every year. My schedule sometimes makes it difficult, but I always do my best to make it back. It’s only ever for a couple of nights, but it’s always the best time.

“Camping?” Millie looks between us.

Callum gapes at me. “You haven’t told her about the trip? Awkward.”

“You’re definitely invited,” I assure her. “I forgot about it, to be honest.”

Callum scoffs. “How?”

I’ve been busy lying my ass off. “I’ve had a bit on.”

Callum starts telling Millie all about it. The lazy swims at the rock pools, the morning surf sessions, stargazing if the sky is clear and cracking a beer at nine a.m.

“We kayaked last year, which was pretty sick,” Callum adds.

Millie’s nose wrinkles. “Kayaked?”

Callum smirks. “Not a kayaking type of gal?”

“I can barely stay alive on solid ground,” she points out.

“We’re not kayaking this year,” I promise. “But you’re welcome to join us for a surf.”

“No, thank you.”

Callum flops on the couch across from her. “Have you ever tried?”

Millie shakes her head, and Callum pretends to be wounded. “You’re killing me, woman.”

“Coordination isn’t exactly my strong suit.” Millie crosses her arms over her body and glares at me. “I’m not camping if there’s pressure to do activities.”

I roll my eyes. “Fine. You can watch while we surf. The scenery at Pebble Cove is breathtaking.”

Millie’s eyes light up. “Can I bring my camera?”

I ignore the pang of guilt about the one lost to the ocean. “Of course.”

Seeing her excited about the things she likes is endearing and I smile, affectionately smoothing my thumb over her chin. Millie’s eyes flare with heat at the contact.

“You two are nauseating,” Callum grumbles.

Millie’s eyes widen and I drop my thumb, unsure of what came over me. Pretending is coming so naturally I forgot Callum was even in the room.

Millie deflects. “Do you have a girlfriend, Callum?”

I snort and head into the kitchen. “Yes, Callum, do you have a girlfriend?”

When I look back at him, he’s giving me the finger. “No, I don’t have a girlfriend.”

“You should ask him that in front of Steph when you meet her,” I taunt, firing up the coffee machine. “She’s coming on the trip.”

Millie’s lips curl into a smirk. “Uh-oh, I sense tension.”

Callum sits up, his voice hard as he says, “Steph and I have an arrangement.”

“Oh, one of those,” Millie says, nodding. “I’m sure it’s balanced and not at all complicated.”

Callum points at Millie. “Don’t you start.”

Millie smiles cheekily at him and asks him questions about himself as I make the three of us coffee.

Callum’s laughter and Millie’s snorts echo around my house and I find myself grinning.

It’s been a long time since I’ve smiled at the sounds in my home.

I’ve spent too much time partying and not enough time focused on the things that really matter, like coffee and jokes with the people I care about.

“You’ve surfed your whole life?” Millie asks, as I place our coffees on the table.

“Cheers mate.” Callum reaches for his. “I’ve surfed for a long time, but not as long as King, and I’m nowhere near as good.”

“I’d say it’s not a competition, but that’d be a lie,” I say, handing a cup to Millie.

“Thank you.” She takes a sip and moans as she swallows. I glance at her, quirking an eyebrow and she hides her face behind her mug, fighting off a smile.

“You’ve got to try it,” Callum insists, oblivious to our interaction. “King, tell her.”

I settle in beside Millie. “She will. Once the weather dies down, I’m giving her a lesson.”

Millie turns to me. “Since when?”

“Since now. What do you think?”

“Did you not hear my earlier comment about coordination?” she grumbles.

I grin. “I did, but I know you well enough to know you’re your own worst critic. Come on, you might be good at it.”

“Unlikely.”

I wiggle my eyebrows. “I’ll make it worth your while.”

Millie twists her mouth into a smile before taking another sip of coffee as Callum scoffs. “Nauseating.”