Izzy popped her head out of the bathroom. “Is everything alright with Kingston?”
“What?” I swiveled my gaze between them. “Why would something be wrong with Kingston? Is he alright?”
She shrugged. “He normally leads things today. Or, rather, the King of Camelot Court does, but if you’re here…”
Max smirked. “The King decided to shirk his duties, I guess. Gee. What a guy.”
She eyed him suspiciously, taking in his arm propped over my head, which he hadn’t corrected with the nickname catch. When he slid his arm away, Izzy smiled. “Okay, just curious!”
She winked at me and disappeared back into the bathroom.
Max narrowed his eyes on the door before glancing at me. “Kingston asked me to cover for him. I’m thinking it has to do with giving you space…”
“Oh.” While I hadn’t been expecting to see him today, finding out he’d eschewed tradition to give me space formed an ache in my chest. “I guess we should go, then?”
He scoured my face for a sign of my feelings, but I’d been hiding the war raging in my chest all day because I didn’t want to give him any more reason to hate Kingston.
Unfortunately, that onyx gaze saw right through me.
He thumbed my chin up and dropped his voice. “You know I’m here if you want to talk about it, right?”
I nodded. “I do. I’m sorry, I just…I need to figure out how I feel about it first, I guess.”
He nodded. “I’ll be here when you’re ready.”
Breathing a sigh of relief, I wanted to hug him. But the door to the room was open, and if any of the Ladies came into Camelot Courtyard, they’d see us. Not to mention Izzy, who I suspected wasn’t asout of sightas she appeared.
“Alright, Max Dread,” she called from the bathroom before walking out. “Lead the way.”
I laughed, shaking my head at her use of his full name as I marched out the door. “Bonding time. Yayyy.”
While we’d gotten a gentle knock at our door, Max took a different approach for the rest of the Ladies. One by one, he pounded on their doors before stepping into the center space.
“Alright, Ladies, look alive!” His voice boomed as he barked out the directive like a drill sergeant. “It’s time to go. Line up in five minutes or I leave your asses here.”
I rolled my eyes. And I didnotget in line behind him. Plopping down into one of the chairs at the nearest bistro table instead, I smirked at him.
“Lady Everly, I’ve been given permission to throw you over my shoulder and carry you, if that’s what it takes.”
“Oh yeah?” My eyebrows rose. “On whose orders?”
He braced one arm on the table beside me, leaning down and bringing his face an inch from my nose.
“Mine.”
His low growl vibrated through me, igniting a flare of arousal neither of us could act on. My lips parted with a quiet gasp, and his dark chuckle that followedruinedmy damn panties.
He practically purred as I shifted in my seat, whispering so no one overheard. “Just like you’ll be tonight.”
I swallowed hard, the wave of lust leaving me dizzy as he straightened and stepped back.
Flicking his eyes down to my chest, where my nipples had taken it upon themselves to signal their approval, his gaze darkened. He continued his descent over my crossed legs, his nostrils flaring as he passed the apex of my thighs.
A door in Camelot Courtyard opened before I jumped from my seat and mauled him. And when he stepped away, a long, low whistle came from my left.
My cheeks burned as I met Izzy’s wide-eyed stare.
“Girl.” She wiped her brow and fanned herself. “Holy shit.”
