But wait.There’s a distinct uneasiness in the way he’s looking at me. He grits his teeth, shaking his head. Great. Well, this can’t be good.
“Can I talk to you for a sec?”
I back up, opening the door wider for him. “Sure. What’s up?”
As he enters the room, he rubs his hand over his jaw, almost like he hasn’t quite made up his mind what he wants to say. He lets out a heavy sigh, pointing at my bed. “Can we sit?”
Frowning, I nod. “Yeah.” My mind tumbles and turns, trying to sort out what’s got him acting like he is. And then, anxiety getting the better of me, I blurt, “You’re freaking me out.”
He huffs out a stiff laugh. “Sorry.” He sits with his elbows resting on his thighs and grasps the back of his neck with both hands, looking down between his feet.
Hiking up my leg, I sit sideways so I can face him, keeping one foot on the floor. His body language isn’t helping my nerves.
He turns his head, peering at me. “I don’t fuckin’ know where to start.” His chest expands against his formfitting black T-shirt, stretching it across his broad back.
“Well, there’s been a lot going on lately. Are you here as the head of Hawthorne Hall, as one of my sponsoring brothers, as my friend, or—”
His head snaps to the side. “All of the above. Everything.” He sits up and rubs his hands over his thick jean-covered thighs. The tightness around his eyes—I’ve seen Kingston angry before. I’ve seen him in tough situations. But he’s always very much in control. And right now, I sense he’s scattered. Unfocused.
He reaches out with the hand closest to me and puts it on my bare knee. “Wear some fucking athletic shoes tonight. Use your head.” He clears his throat, eyeing me. “I can’t say more than that without breaking the rules, and you know how I feel about that.”
I nod, now chewing on my lip in earnest. The Games. He won’t cheat and tell me what’s happening, but he’s also not the same guy who let me walk into the first game in my flip-flops. Or maybe he’s the same guy, and we’re simply not the same people we were to each other when this started. “Got it. What else is bothering you?”
His lips press into a tight line. “You’ll let us help you deal with Nick. Nonnegotiable.”
This topic makes me squirm and has my hackles rising. I look away, my jaw jutting out.
“Elle. If that asshole thinks he has any claim on you at all now…” He shakes his head, his jaw locking hard. After a beat, he grits out, “He’s fuckin’ wrong. You’reours.”
It’s hard to be mad when he says stuff like that. “Can we get through The Games tonight, then discuss what you’re thinking? He could be blowing smoke for all I know.”
Kingston works his jaw back and forth before murmuring low, “Elle, what did I just say?”
I roll my eyes at him—on purpose. “You said it was nonnegotiable. But”—I shrug—“everything is negotiable to a certain point.”
He’s quick like a snake, grasping my chin with his fingers and bringing our faces close together. “Not when it comes to you. I won’t allow him to hurt you any longer.” His whisper is low and stern. “You told me that whatever he was doing to you was why you were cutting. If you think for a goddamn second I don’t want hisblood,you’re wrong.”
I wet my lips, staring into the pale depths of his green eyes. He means it. My voice is shaky when I ask, “Do Archer and Cannon know? About…”
His head jerks back like I’ve slapped him. “No. I didn’t tell them anything. Like you said the other day, that was private information that you entrusted me with.” He rubs a hand over his face. “They will find out, eventually, Elle, if we keep on this same path we’re walking together. And they will have questions, believe me. Because I have plenty, but I’m trying like hell not to push you because I don’t want to be the one who breaks you.” His voice is filled with such anguish, I’m positive he’s remembering Juliette.
My brow furrows, and the need to ease the tension in him hits me hard. “Kingston,” I breathe out, “I’m not going to break.” My eyes slam shut because I’m terrified that I’ve just lied through my teeth. The next thing I know, he’s dragged me to him and is holding on like he’ll never let go, his face buried in my neck. I hang onto his broad shoulders and concentrate on breathing.
I have no idea how long we hold each other like that when Kingston’s hand slides under my tank top, finds my breast and groans aloud. With his lips on my neck, he mumbles, “I want to see it.”
“What?”
He stands with me in his arms and flips me over onto my back at the edge of the bed. A rush of tingles spreads through me as he braces himself over me on one forearm. The cool air from the fan above my bed teases my skin as he pushes my tank top up with his free hand. I shudder with want. His fingers trail over the lacy cup of my bra, making my heart beat faster. What’s he after? He’s entirely intent on whatever it is as he pulls the cup down. With my breast freed, my nipple immediately puckers under his hot gaze, he makes a grunting noise deep in his chest. His focus lies on the side of my breast where he traces his fingers over the skin.
“What are you looking at?”
“The mark I left on you last night.”
I shift, squirming to see what he’s looking at. Sure enough, there’s a purple spot right on the side of my boob. He lowers his mouth to the bruise, sliding his tongue over it before he gently sucks the skin into his mouth.
A low moan rips from me as I hold his head to my chest, and his hardening cock between my legs nudges my clit through my cotton shorts. Slowly, he rocks against me as his lips, tongue, and teeth wreak havoc. He teases my skin, his hot breath coming in gusts as he makes his way up to my neck, burrowing his face there as he thrusts over and over. My entire body throbs for him, my chest rising and falling quickly as I try to catch a breath, but I can’t—he’s everywhere. I’m surrounded by all things Kingston. His touch, his crisp, clean scent, and then his taste as his mouth finds mine.
“Need to be inside you. Need—” He exhales hard. “Need you to know—” He rears back, unfastening his jeans and ripping the zipper down, freeing his cock. It springs out, hard and thick and already leaking pre-cum. He doesn’t bother to take off my shorts but grasps the fabric in his way and pulls it to the side, exposing my pussy to his hungry eyes. He slides his fingers through my wet folds, then takes his dick in hand and uses my arousal as lubricant, swiftly stroking himself as he stares at my pussy. I’ve never seen anyone do that before, and it sets my blood on fire. I’m gushing wet for him. He can see it, I know he can. He groans, fitting the head of his cock to my opening and pushing slowly inside me. It feels so good the way he fills me up, the smooth slide of him moving in and out of my body. I swallow hard, watching the ever-changing emotion on his face. I can’t help but ask because I want the words he wouldn’t give me a moment ago. “Kingston… what is it that you need me to know?”
